MIRABAI PAGE
MiraBai was born about the end of the 15th century to a noble
Rajput family. The legends about her say that from her childhood her soul was
dedicated to Sri Krsna. Although she was married off to a Rajput prince, her
overwhelming devotion to Krsna remained uppermost in her life. When she was
widowed, she did not have sati as the Rajput princesses were supposed to. Coming
from the Rajput ruling caste, whose women were subject to some of the heaviest
restrictions of anyone, she broke all the rules in her passionate love for Krsna.
MiraBai was severely persecuted by her in-laws and she fled from her home. She
visited the Braj of Vrindaban and also went to Dwaraka in Gujarat. Her bhajans,
mystical love poems for the Dark Lord, are still known and loved among the greatest
devotional poetry in the Hindi language. To this day, it is said, the Rajput
ruling caste hates her and none of the Vaishnava sects accepts her as an official
saint. But she is a beloved saint in the hearts of the people.
Mirabai (1498-1547)
Mirabai or Meera is perhaps the most famous North
Indian singer and saint. She left her life as a Rajasthani princess, having
renounced her royal life for one devoted to Lord Krishna, her beloved aspect
of the Divine.
"But the radical love of their utterances sheds light to this day,
and makes it possible for us, less intense and less poetical creatures, to catch
fire, draw flame, from their faith. Meister Eckhart remarks that it is the birth
of Christ now in the heart of the devotee that matters. This miracle
still happens. As we read Meera's poems, Krishna is once again present; we hear
the flute; we rise and go."
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Persecution
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The
Sisodiyas had ample reason to fear Mirabai. For in her
life, having chosen to forsake all other concerns for her
Krishna, she ignored many of the social values the
Rajputs's held dear. She would visit the temple and dance
and sing in public which was exactly counter to the
exclusiveness of a Rajput princess. She mingled with
other devotees, regardless of gender or caste. There is
reason to believe that Mira accepted Raidas who was a
leather-worker by trade (a very low caste) as her guru.
There are stories of several attempts made on her
life. The murder attempts include poisoning, snake-bite,
and a bed of nails. In her songs, Mira attributes her
salvation to the grace of her beloved Krishna.
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TRAVEL
At some point, perhaps in 1527 after her father was killed in
battle against the Mughal emperor Babur, Mira left the palace for
good and began a life of wandering. After the attempts on her
life, she returned to her original home for refuge and to worship
in the Chaterbhuj temple which is still associated with her.
After a brief respite, Mirabai travelled to
Vrindaban, the site of Krishna's youth and a gathering place for
many devotees. It is here that she encountered Jiva Goswami, a
guru of the Gaudiya Vaisnava sect who had refused to see Mira on
the grounds that she was a woman. Mira promptly corrected Jiva by
reminding him that in the context of Vrindaban, Krishna is
considered to be the only male as all of his devotees are
identified with the gopis,
or cowherd girls, who adore him. Jiva Goswami admitted his error
and recanted.
1498-1547
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barasai badariyaa saavan
kii,
saavan kii man bhaavan kii.
saavan me.n umagyo mero manavaa,
bhanak sunii hari aavan kii..
uma.D ghuma.D chahu.n disase aayo,
daamaNa damake jhar laavan kii.
naanhii.n naanhii.n buu.ndan mehaa barasai,
siital pavan sohaavan kii..
miiraa.N ke prabhu giradhar naagar,
aananda ma.ngal gaavan kii.. |
It is raining in the month of Savan,
I like the rain coming down.
In Savan, my heart starts to pine,
I hear the sound of Hari coming.
The clouds have rolled in from all sides,
lightening occurs and it pours.
Tiny drops come from the clouds,
and I enjoy the cool breeze.
O lord of Mira, called Giradhar Nagar,
The cloudy season is for singing joyfully. |
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herii mhaa darad
divaaNaa.N
mhaaraa darad n jaaNyaa.N koya.
ghaayal rii gat ghaayal jaaNyaa.N
hiba.Do agaN sanjoya..
jauhar kii gat jauharii jaaNai
kyaa jaaNyaa.N jaN khoya.
miiraa.N rii prabhu piir miTaa.Ngaa
jab vaid saa.Nvaro hoya.. |
I am crazy with pain,
and no one understands it.
Only the wounded knows the pain of the wounded
saving the fire in his heart
Only the jeweller knows the values of the gem,
not the one who lost it.
O lord, Mira's pain will only go
when the Dark One is the healer. |
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