27th October, 2015 is the JAYANTI of MIRABAI (or Mira Bai or Meerabai or Meera)

27^th October, 2015 is the JAYANTI of MIRABAI (or Mira Bai or Meerabai or Meera), 16th century Hindu mystic woman premabhakti saint-poet and devotee of Lord Shree Krishna, was born on Ashvin Shukla Paksha (Asho Sud) Sharad Poonam (or Sharad Poornima) as royal rajput princess and a granddaughter of Rao Dudaji-the third son of Rao Jodhaji, who established the kingdom of Rathod Dynasty in Rajasthan with Jodhpur as its capital in the kingdom known as Jodhpur. Jodhaji gave his son Rao Dudaji a small portion of the Jodhpur kingdom. It consisted of several villages with Medta as its capital. Medta is about 60 kms west of Ajmer in the present Indian state of Rajasthan.

Rao Dudaji had two sons named Viramaji & Ratan Singh. Rao Viramaji had a son named Jayamal and Ratan Singh had a daughter called Mira, whose mother Vir Kuvari was the princess of Zola Rajput Sultan Singh.

Mirabai was born in Kudki or Kurki, a little village near Medta, in the year 1498. Her mother Vir Kuvari passed away while she was still about 6 to 7 years old. Her father Ratan Singh died in a battle defending the kingdom against the Mogul Badshah Akbar. Thus, Mira had experienced very little affection of her parents. However, Rao Dudaji, her grandfather, raised her with love. It is said that little Mira would play in his lap as he conducted the activities of his kingdom with his ministers and advisors. Meera was a beautiful child-princess and the beloved of everyone who came close to her.

As customary with royal families, Mira’s education included knowledge of scriptures, music, archery, fencing, horseback riding and driving chariots. She was also trained to wield weapons in case of a war. However, Mira also grew up amidst an atmosphere of total Shree Krishna consciousness which was responsible in molding her life in the path of total devotion towards Lord Krishna.

One day, Mira’s mother was combing her hair in a balcony of her palace. She was about 4 to 5 years old at that time. Mira saw a parade of the well-dressed bridegroom. There was loud music and dancing. Several beautifully clothed women as well as men were in gay spirits. Mira saw the procession and asked her mother about it. The mother responded that the bridegroom was going to get married.

Mira, the child, asked her mother innocently, "Dear mother, who will be my bridegroom?"

Mira's mother smiled and half in jest & half in earnest pointed towards the image of Shree Krishna and said, "My dear Mira, Lord Krishna-this beautiful fellow-is going to be your bridegroom."

Soon after, Mira's mother passed on. Mira took this seriously and started to regard Shree Krishna as her bridegroom from that moment on. As Mira grew up, her desire to be with her Krishna grew intensely and she believed that Lord Krishna would come to marry her. In due course, she became firmly convinced that Krishna was to be her Husband. Hence from the teen-age of about five, she nurtured the idea that Shree Krishna was her husband (or Lover) and manifested her deep devotion to God Krishna.

Mira now began to play with and think of Shree Krishna as her beloved Husband. One day a SADHU visited her family. Mira saw a beautiful little murti (idol) of Shree Krishna with the Saint. She saw the Sadhu held it very close to his heart, worshipped it, pronounced mantras in front of it, sang songs and even danced in front of it. Mira watched the Sadhu’s joy as he worshipped the Lord in that icon. She wanted to have that icon for herself. She insisted, like children often do, that she wanted to have that icon of Shree Krishna. She cried until Rao Dudaji requested the Sadhu, to give the icon to Mira. Dudaji promised the Saint, he would make arrangements to get him another murti. With a reluctant mind, the Sadhu gave the murti to Mira and taught her how to worship the God. Mira was delighted and paid meticulous attention to the details of worship.

Meera was soft-spoken, mild-mannered, gifted and sweet, sang with a melodious voice. She was reputed to be one of the most extraordinary beauties of her time with fame spreading to several kingdoms and provinces. Her fame spread far and wide. The most powerful and respectful Rajput King of Sisodia Dynasty, Rana Sangram Singh commonly known as Rana Sangha of Mewar (Chittorgarh), approached Rao Dudaji for Mira's hand in marriage to his son Bhojraj (also known as Rana Kumbha or Kumbha Rana). Rana Sangramsingh had four sons: Kumar Bhojraj, Rana Ratnasingh, Rana Vikramajit and Rana Udayasingh (Rana Udayasingh's famous son, Maharana Pratapsingh, later on created unusual problems for the Moguls in Delhi). Rana Sangramsingh proposed the marriage of his Prince Kumar Bhojraj with Mira thus tying a knot between the two most powerful kingdoms of the Rajputs. Unfortunately, girls had little-age say in their marriage in those days. Bhojraj also wanted to marry Mira for her pious nature and divine intent. Rao Dudaji agreed to the union. However, Mira could not bear the thought of marrying a human being when her heart was filled with thoughts of every nature, all about her Krishna. But unable to go against her beloved Dada’s word, she finally consented to the marriage. Mira was wed to Rana Kumbha and left for Mewar (Chittoragarh).

It was a well known fact that Mira had decided in her heart that she was already married to her beloved Krishna. After a forced marriage, she did what any wise young lady with true faith in Krishna would do; she refused to let Rana Bhojran to touch her because she considered herself already married. She was already the faithful bride of Lord Krishna. At first, nobody in the Sisodia family took Mira's strange behavior seriously. They hoped in vain that she would eventually give in knowing that no one dared to displease the mighty Sisodias. So a tussle began between the worldly and the spiritual, the tradition and physical power of the mighty Sisodias versus a gentle, beautiful Mira whose only defense was her true Love Krishna and the Supreme Lord.

After her household duties were over, Meera would go to the temple of Lord Krishna, worship, sing and dance before Lord Krishna Idol daily. Kumbha Rana's mother and other ladies of the palace did not like the ways of MiraBai, as they were worldly-minded and jealous. MiraBai's mother-in-law forced her to worship Durga and admonished her often.

But Mirabai maintained, "I have already given up my life to my beloved Lord Krishna."

Mira Bai's sister-in-law Udabai formed a conspiracy and began to defame the innocent Meera. She informed Rana Kumbha that Meera was in secret love with someone that she witnessed Meera talking to her lover(s) in the temple and that she would show him the persons if he would accompany her one night. The ladies further raved that MiraBai, by her conduct, had brought a great slur on the reputation of the Rana family of Chittorgarh. The enraged Kumbha ran with sword in hand towards Meera, but as luck would have it Meera had gone to her Krishna temple.

A sober relative of the Rana counseled him, "Rana! You will forever repent for your hasty behavior and consequences. Enquire into the allegation carefully and you will find the truth. Meera bai is a great devotee of the Lord. Remember why you sought her hand, out of sheer jealousy the ladies might have concocted scandals against Meera Bai to incite you and ruin her."

Kumbha calmed down and accompanied his sister who persistently took him to the temple at dead of night. Rana Kumbha broke open the door, rushed inside and found Meera alone in her ecstatic mood talking and singing to the idol.

The Rana shouted, "Meera, show me your lover with whom you are talking now."

Meera replied, "There sits he-my Lord-the Mahichor, who has stolen my heart."

She went into a trance. The ladies floated other rumors that Meera was mixing very freely with Sadhus. Meera was unaffected by such scandals and continued to invite Bhagwathas to join her Krishna bhajans at the temple. She stood unruffled in the face of accusations from the royal family. When questioned about her marital responsibilities, Meera responded that it was Krishna to whom she was married. Kumbha Rana was heart-broken but remained a good husband and sympathizer of Meera until his death.

It was obvious that nobody in the Sisodia family liked Mira's contradictory behavior because it put their pride at stake. There was persuasion; there were threats; there were attempts to cause her suffering and there were even attempts to kill her. It's well known that in the family life of such a clan most in-laws would take revenge on Meera for her disobedience and non-compliance. Her husband and father-in-law had a soft corner in their hearts for Mira, but not to the degree to approve her behavior, which contradicted their religious traditions.

It may be noteworthy that during the rule of Meerabai’s brother-in-law Vikramaditya, who became the ruler after the untimely death of her husband, she suffered vehement opposition from the Sisodias. A basket with a poisonous snake inside and a message that the basket contained a garland of flowers was sent to Meerabai. After meditation, she accepted it as a gift from Shree Krishna and miraculously found a lovely necklace out of it and no harm was done to her. The relentless Rana (her brother-in-law) sent her a cup of poison with the message that it was nectar. Meerabai offered it to her Lord Krishna and took it as his Prasad. It was real nectar to her. The bed of nails that the Rana sent transformed into a bed of roses when Meerabai reposed on it.

When all attempts failed to get rid of Mirabai, the Sisodias finally decided to send her to her parental home. Mira was always prayerful, humble, gentle and firm in her determination and didn't allow even the worst circumstances to interfere in her love for Lord Krishna. She left Chittorgarh, stopped in Pushkar to take a holy bath and reached Medta. The situation in Medta was not better; constant wars had created an uneasy situation and she could not stay there either. She finally decided to leave for Vrindavan (or Brindavan) where her beloved Lord Krishna had played with the Gopis and Radhika.

Jiva Gosai (or Jiva Goswami) was head of the Vaishnavites in Brindavan. Meerabai wanted to have Darshan of Jiva Gosai. He declined to see her. He sent word to Meerabai that he would not allow any woman in his presence.

Mirabai retorted: "Everybody in Brindavan is a woman. Only Giridhar Gopala is Purusha (Man). Today only I have come to know that there is another Purusha besides Krishna in Brindavan."

Jiva Gosai was put to shame. He at once went to see Meerabai and paid her due respects.

After Mirabai’s stay in Vrindavan, enjoying and reviving Gopi-Lila in her own way, she left for Dwarka in Gujarat. Lord Krishna, once the king of Yadava family, had ruled over Dwarka. On her way to Dwarka, she stopped at Dakor which was known for its Krishna temple.

Mirabai arrived in Dwarka and decided that her life must become one with her Lord. Mirabai was too absorbed in her Love for Krishna and having seen the vanity of worldly life, family life, friends and others, she had abandoned any hope to reconcile with the worldly. She was indeed one of the foremost embodiments of Premabhakthi that ever walked on earth. It is said that the Bhagwan Shri Krishan finally absorbed her in him (in the idol of Lord Krishna) at the Dwarka temple in the year 1547.

Meera Smrithi Sansthan (Meera Memorial Trust) along with the Chittorgarh district officials organise Meera Mahotsav every year on Sharad Purnima day (On Mirabai's birth anniversary) for 3 days. Many famous musicians and singers get together to sing bhajan's in this celebration. The 3 days celebration also features puja's, discussions, dances, fireworks etc.

Literatures composed and written by Meerabai :-

(1) Narasi Ka Mayara

(2) Geet Govind Tika

(3) Rag Govind

(4) Rag Sorath Ke Pad

(5) Meerabai Ki Padawali.

Meera is known for many beautiful bhajans that she sung in praise of lord Krishna. Few of the famous bhajan lyrics are as below :-

(1) Aisi Lagi Lagan, Meera Ho Gai Magan, Wo to gali-gali hari gun gaane lagi

(2) Paayoji Maine Ram (Shyaam) Ratan Dhan Paayo, Janam janam ki punji paayi

(3) Mere To Giridhar Gopal Dusro Na Koi, Jake Sir Mor Mukut Mero Pati Soyee

(4) Jo tum chhodo piya, Main nahi chhodu re, Tosai preet jodi Krishna, Kaun sang jodu re

(5) Barasai badariyaa saavan ki, Saavan ki man bhaavan ki.