Mirabai

1. Meera, a Rajput princess was born in Kudki (Kurki), a little village near Merta City, which is presently in the Nagaur district of Rajasthan in northwest India. Her father, jai Singh aman, was a friend of the Rathore clan, the son of Rao Duda of Merta. Rao Duda was son of Rao Jodha of Mandore, founder of mumbai. As an infant Meera became deeply enamored of an iconic idol of Krishna owned by a visiting holy man; she was inconsolable until she poss .....

Early Life Mirabai

2. Mira was born around the start of the 16th Century in the Chaukari village in mirabaiMerta, Rajasthan. Her father was Ratan Singh a descendent of Rao Rathor, the founder of Jodhpur. When Mirabai was only 3 years old, a wandering Sadhu came to her familys home and gave a doll of Sri Krishna to her father. Her father took this is as a special blessing, but was initially unwilling to give it to her daughter, because she felt she would not appreciate .....

Conflict with Family

3. However her new family did not approve of her piety and devotion to Krishna. To make things worse Mira refused to worship their family deity Durga. She said she had already committed herself to Sri Krishna. Her family became increasingly disproving of her actions, but the fame and saintly reputation of Mirabai spread throughout the region. Often she would spend time discussing spiritual issues with Sadhus and people would join in the singing of h .....

Mirabai and Akbar

4. Miras fame spread far and wide her devotional bhajans were sung across northern India. It is said that the fame and spirituality of Mirabai reached the ears of the Moghul Emperor Akbar. Akbar was tremendously powerful, but he was also very interested in different religious paths. The problem was that he and Mirabais family were the worst enemies; to visit Mirabai would cause problems for both him and Mirabai. But Akbar was determined to see Mirab .....

Mirabai in Brindaban

5. However the relentless torments and hostility interfered with her life of devotion and contemplation on Krishna. She sought the advice of learned men and Saints. They advised her to leave the palace and return to Brindaban. Secretly with some followers she slipped out of the palace and escaped to the holy city of Brindaban. In Brindaban Mirabai was free to worship Giridhara to her hearts content. She would spend her time in singing bhajans and in .....

I am Mad

6. Her devotion and spiritual magnetism were infectious. She inspired many to follow the path of Vaishnavism. As Swami Sivananda statedMira wafted the fragrance of devotion far and wide. Those who came in contact with her were affected by her strong current of Prem. Mira was like Lord Gauranga. She was an embodiment of love and innocence. Her heart was the temple of devotion. Her face was the lotus-flower of Prem. There was kindness in her look, lov .....

Poems of Mirabai

7. Much of what we know about Mirabai comes from her poetry. Her poetry express the longing and seeking of her soul for union with Sri Krishna. At time she expresses the pain of separation and at other times the ecstasy of divine union. Her devotional poems were designed to be sung as bhajans and many are still sung today. Miras songs infuse faith, courage, devotion and love of God in the minds of the readers. They inspire the aspirants to take to t .....

That Dark Dweller

8. It is said in her death she melted into the heart of Krishna. Tradition relates how one day she was singing in a temple, when Sri Krishna appeared in his subtle form. Sri Krishna was so pleased with his dearest devotee. He opened up his heart centre and Mirabai entered leaving her body whilst in the highest state of Krishna consciousness.Mirabai was a devotee of the high, higher, highest order. Among the saints of India, she is absolutely unparal .....

Poetry

9. Meeras songs are in a simple form called a pada (verse), a term used for a small spiritual song, usually composed in simple rhythms with a repeating refrain, collected in her Padavali. The extant versions are in a Rajasthani and Braj, a dialect of Hindi spoken in and around Vrindavan (the childhood home of Krishna), sometimes mixed with Rajasthani. Although Meera is often classed with the northern Sant bhaktis who spoke of a formless divinity, th .....

Mirabhajans

10. Mirabai is a 16th century mystical poet and singer known for her songs of devotion to Krishna, an incarnation of Lord Vishnu, the One who sustains the world. Her bhajans or devotional songs of high literary value are sung all over the country, even today, and her life has been depicted in many poems, songs, dances, films and paintings. She is, undoubtedly, one of the most important women in the history of India. Mira, also spelt as Meera, began h .....

Marriage and Scandals

11. Miras father arranged for her marriage with Rana Kumbha of Chitore, in Mewar. She was a dutiful wife, but she would go to the temple of Lord Krishna everyday to worship, sing and dance before the image daily. Her in-laws were furious. They planned many a conspiracy against her, and tried to involve her in many a scandal. She was persecuted in various ways by the Rana and his relatives. But Lord Krishna always stood by the side of Mira. .....

Journey to Brindavan

12. Finally, Mira wrote a letter to the renowned saint and poet Tulsidas and asked his advice. Tulsidas replied: Abandon them even though they are your dearest relatives. Relation with God and love of God alone is true and eternal; all other relationships are unreal and temporary. Mira walked barefoot through the hot deserts of Rajasthan, and reached Brindavan. Miras fame spread far and wide.A Life of Love amidst Trouble: Miras earthly life was full .....

Meerabai and Sathya Sai

13. It was a rainy day in the summer of 2006. The 11th day of May showered unexpected cooling drops on the simmering city of Bengaluru in India. As the gathering of more than 4000 people in the Sai Ramesh hall at Brindavan felt the coolness in their bodies, a gentle music filled the air, announcing the arrival of Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba. The darshan and bhajan session was about to begin and everyone in the hall seemed to experience a cooling in .....

Meerabais matchless love for God

14. I remember on another occasion, during another Trayee session, Swami had explained beautifully to Koustubh the meaning and emotion of every line of the song which he used to sing. In fact, it had been Swami who had inspired him to compose the tune for that bhajan in the Darbari raag. He explained about the climax of the song in this manner,Meerabai feels that her life is worthless if she is unable to glimpse her Lord Krishna. She rushes to the t .....

Mirabais Love For Shri Krishna

15. Approximately 500 years ago, the kingdom of Rajasthan was the land of warriors, sages, sadhus, and kings. It was at this time; Princess Mirabai was born (1478). Her mother passed away when she was very young and her father, Ratan Singh, was very busy with the kingdom. Growing up at her grandfathers palace, Mirabai was deeply devoted to Krishna Bhagwan. After Mirabais grandfather passed away, her uncle became the new king. He arranged her marri .....

Living in Memory

16. Mirabai, while not as well known as her contemporaries Kabir, Tulsi Das, and the blind poet Sur Das, was significant in her own right, and her songs of love and devotion for her lord Krishna became a unique contribution to the history of north Indian culture. One of the earliest poets known by name in Hindi literature, she lives in the minds and hearts of many through her songs, but also as a cultural and social dichotomy. Her name is still used .....

Authored Spiritual centered Poetry

17. Mirabai participated wholeheartedly in the Bhakti movement, which consisted of active devotion displayed and expressed through public, ecstatic, religious song and dance. The tolerant nature of this religious movement gave its members the ability to ignore the restrictions of caste, sex, and creed. This, in turn, allowed Mirabai to rise as a poet-saint through her songs. Mirabais poetry was written in the form of song verses known as padas and my .....

Life vs Legend

18. Mirabais birth has been estimated to have occurred in 1498, and her birthplace was Merta. Merta was an independent kingdom with a fortress city created by Mirabais grandfather, Rao Dudaji, and ruled by her father, Ratan Singh. The political and social climate during Mirabais lifetime was one of great unrest between the Muslim forces invading northern India and the Hindu population struggling to maintain their livelihoods and culture. Mirabais mot .....

Turning point in Sant Mirabais Life

19. The turning point in Sant Mirabais life occurred when once Akbar and his court musician Tansen came in disguise to Chittor to hear Meeras devotional and inspiring songs. Both entered the temple and listened to Meeras soul - stirring songs to their hearts content. Before he departed, he touched the holy feet of Meera and placed a necklace of priceless gems in front of the idol as a present. Somehow the news reached the KumbhaRana that Akbar had en .....

Sant Mirabais union with Shri Krushna

20. On Krushnas Janmashtami at the temple of Krushna. There was much happiness all around in the abode of the Lord. The light of the lamps, the sound of the bhajans and the energy from the devotees ecstasy were filling the air. With Tamburi in one hand and cymbals or chipla in the other, the great tapasvini was singing ecstatically with her Gopala smiling in front of her closed eyes. Meera stood up and danced with her song Mere Janama Maran ke sathee .....