Meerabai: A Mystic Saint & Poet Who Loved Lord Krishna

The greatest devotee of Lord Krishna, Meerabai, was born in 1498 to Ratan Singh in the royal family of Rajasthan. Gifted with a mellifluous voice, she is one of the most celebrated poets of Bhaktikal. Meerabai was nothing short of a rebel, for she defied all the societal norms by refusing to commit sati and by considering Lord Krishna as her husband. Meerabai was completely besotted with Lord Krishna. Her poems and songs exemplify how she was drunk with love for him.

Meerabai has contributed to a plethora of devotional hymns and has earned her place in myriads of Hindu scriptures and folklore. She is a revered female saint and a poetess who resonates deeply with the notion of pure and eternal love. To keep her legacy alive, Meera Temple in Chittorgarh was built in her memory.

History

Being born into a Rajput family in Rajasthan who were great devotees of Vishnu, Meerabai had been spiritual since her early childhood. She was brought up in a religious atmosphere under Vaishnava influence. It is said that Meerabai was introduced to Lord Krishna when she was just four years old. Little Meera was watching a wedding procession in her neighborhood when she asked a very innocent and juvenile question to her mother. Four years old beautiful and innocent Meera asked, “Mother, who will be my groom?” Smiling at her childish question, her mother pointed towards a photo of Lord Krishna and very politely replied, “He will be your groom.”

Little did her mother know that this simple answer was going to change the course of Meera’s life. This answer had a stupendous impact on Meera, and she began loving the idol of Lord Krishna. She would spend much of her time playing with it, talking with it, or singing for it. Little Meera was entirely smitten by Lord Krishna.

As she grew up her love for Lord Krishna also grew. She developed into an alluring girl with a mellifluous voice. She always reckoned that Lord Krishna was going to be her groom!

To Meera’s surprise, she was married to Prince Bhoj Raj of Mewar. This marriage however couldn’t undermine her love and devotion for Lord Krishna, for he was whom she really loved. He had been her husband since her childhood. No person on Earth could take his place, such was the strength of her love.

Married Life of Meera

After marriage Meera would quickly finish her household chores and visit the temple where she spent time worshipping, singing bhajans and dancing for her Lord Krishna. This used to be the best time of her day. She would feel as if her Lord Krishna was also dancing with her, embracing her and playing the melodious and rhythmic flute for her.

Her mother-in-law and other ladies became distressed by her behavior. They didn’t like Meera worshipping Lord Krishna at all. One day her mother-in-law advised her to worship either Kali or Durga instead of Krishna. However, Meerabai, who had already devoted her life to Lord Krishna, didn’t heed her mother-in-law and kept visiting the temple. Meera was indeed a rebel! For she went against the world for Lord Krishna.

Once her sister-in-law Udabai devised a conspiracy to defame her. She started telling her brother Bhoj Raj that Meera was having an affair and she goes out to the temple at night to meet her lover. She won the confidence of her brother saying that she could prove it to him if he visited the temple with her at night. Infuriated by what his sister was telling him, Bhoj Raj agreed to visit the temple at dead of night.

When they reached the temple, Meera was indeed there. She was talking to someone. Bhoj Raj became even more enraged at the sight of Meera talking to someone. He lividly asked, “Meera, whom are you talking to? Show me your lover. Where is he?” Without losing her smile, calmness and composure, Meera pointed towards the idol of Lord Krishna and replied in her mellifluous voice, “There he is. He is my owner. I’m married to him.” Bhoj Raj was left heartbroken on hearing this. However, he also understood her devotion and love for Lord Krishna and hence got her back.

Meera’s alliance with Bhoj Raj was short lived as he passed away fighting a battle in 1521. After his death, Meerbai refused to commit sati, which was the practice of burning widows alive on the funeral pyre of their dead husbands. Going against sati was a tremendous matter of shame back then but Meera firmly standing her ground showed her desire to live.

Meera’s life exacerbated after Bhoj Raj’s death because her brother-in-law Vikram Singh was appointed as the new king. Both her sister-in-law Udabai and the new king Vikram Singh abhorred Meerabai. Thinking that Meera was a blot on their family and would tarnish the reputation of the Sisodia family, her in-laws tried killing her.

According to legends, once Vikram Singh sent a cobra in a basket to Meera saying it contained a garland of flowers. Delighted by this Meera took a bath and opened the basket to worship her Krishna with the garland. When she opened the basket, she found a beautiful garland along with an idol of Lord Krishna. She was ecstatic. Lord Krishna had worked his magic. He was protecting Meera the same way Lord Vishnu had protected Prahlad.

The conspiracies didn’t end here. They came up with many more heinous and bestial ideas to kill Meera. After this failed venture, Vikram then sent her a glass of poison in disguise of nectar. Meera happily drank the poison and it became an actual nectar. Again disappointed, Vikram now made a bed of nails for Meera to sleep on. However, as soon as Meera slept on it, it transformed into a bed of roses.

Sick and tired of being tortured by her in-laws, Meera wrote a letter to the great poet Tulsidas seeking his advice. She narrated the whole tale of conspiracies and tortures performed against her. She wrote how her family doesn’t like her company with sadhus and wants her to give up worshipping Krishna. Tulsidas replied telling her that only God’s love is true and eternal, rest everything is a mere materialistic possession that doesn’t even matter. Citing the examples of Prahlad leaving his father and Vibhishana abandoning his brother Ravana for God, he advised her to do the same.

Deeply relieved by Tulsidas’s response, Meera started singing bhajans and dancing in temples freely and fearlessly. Meera then finally left for Vrindavan – the sacred place where Lord Krishna had spent his childhood days.

Life in Vrindavan

After coming to Vrindavan, Meera spent her life singing bhajans and dancing in temples and on the streets. Vrindavan was Meera’s sanctuary as she was free from all the restrictions and worldly attachments. She survived her life by begging alms and chanting Krishna’s mantras. She was a princess but she sacrificed all the luxuries and comforts for her Krishna. Meerabai is truly an embodiment of love and devotion towards God. She taught mankind what devotion really is!

From Vrindavan, Meera went to Dwarka where, according to legends, she got absorbed in the idol of Lord Krishna.

Achievement

Meerabai, who put her entire life at stake for Lord Krishna, has contributed a lot to the Bhakti movement and devotional poetry. She gave a new shape to Bhaktikal with her devotional music and poems. Many of the bhajans composed by Meerabai are sung even today. Some of the renowned bhajans and poems of Meerabai are:

• Mere Toh Giridhar Gopal – This bhajan expresses Meerabai’s unwavering devotion to Krishna, whom she refers to as her only true lord.
• Paayoji Maine Ram Ratan Dhan Paayo – In this bhajan, Meerabai sings about the invaluable treasure she has found in the name of Lord Rama.
• Aisi Lagi Lagan – This song captures the intense longing and love Meerabai feels for Lord Krishna.
• Mharo Pranam Banke Bihari Lal – This bhajan is a heartfelt salutation to Krishna, addressing him as Banke Bihari, a popular name for the deity in the Braj region.
• Hari Tum Haro Jan Ki Bhir – This poem, also set to music, is a prayer to Lord Krishna to remove the sorrows and sufferings of his devotees.
• Mane Chakar Rakho Ji – In this bhajan, Meerabai expresses her desire to remain a devoted servant of Krishna.

Apart from composing plethora of devotional songs, bhajans and poems, Meerabai is also a symbol of female spirituality and devotion, representing all the women out there who revere Lord Krishna and are earnestly devoted to him.

Legacy

Meerabai has left behind a profound legacy through her timeless bhajans, her exemplary life of devotion, her influence on spiritual and cultural traditions, and her devotional poems. The path Meera had taken wasn’t easy at all! Her mother-in-law, her sister-in-law and her brother-in-law hatched many conspiracies to defame her, demoralize her and even kill her. They were constantly throwing hurdles in her path however Meera, with the blessings of Lord Krishna, faced them all and came out stronger each time to become Meerabai from Meera.

Meerabai is more than just a mystic saint and a devotional poet; she is also a role model for women and a cultural icon. She has left an indelible mark on the world and her legacy will be forwarded to many more coming generations. She will be remembered whenever Lord Krishna is remembered.