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DI:Personality
Meerabai
The King's Daughter-in-law
Mira was brought up in the palace of her grandfather. Along with her general education
she received lessons in music and dance too. She acquired a good mastery over them. She
must have been especially proficient in music. The sweet musical quality of her songs is
rarely found in the lyrics of other poets. This melody is themain reason for the immense
popularity of her songs.
Sri Krishna had already filled her heart.
After Doodaji's death, his first son, Beerama Dev, became the Rana. He thought of
celebrating Mira's marriage. It was decided that she was to marry Bhojaraja, the crown
prince of Chittore. He was the son of Rana Sanga. The marriage was celebrated with great
pomp and grandeur in1516.It seems Mira had placed the idol of Sri Krishna by her side
even on the bridal seat. The royal family, which had the custom of placing asword
representing the bridegroom,by the bride's side might well have allowed this.
Mira had been worshipping Krishna right from her childhood. Nobody in her parent's home
had come in the way. On the other hand, they had encouraged it.
But as soon as she came to live with her husband, her devotion to Sri Krishna began to
cause displeasure among the members of her husband's family.
The family, which Mira entered, was renowned for bravery and heroism. Though the Rana
had to face all alone the adversities of life, he bore them with courage but never
accepted the Moghul rule in Rajasthan. Constantly fighting against the Moghals, he had
held high the banner of Rajasthan's tenacity,courage and heroism. Such a man was her
father- in-law. And his eldest son Bhojaraja was her husband. This brave spirit of
Rajasthan was the pride of India.Bhojaraja, too, was a hero. His family had been from
times immemorial followers of the Shakta cult; that is, they worshipped the Goddess of
Power in the forms of Durga, Kali, Chamundi and Parvathi. They did not so much like the
worship of Vishnu. Mira's mother-in-law, in particular, did not like it at all.
It may seem strange that one should regard God as the husband and behave accordingly.
But it is not a new thing in the Bhakti cult. There are several types of Bhakti
(devotion). They are classified according to the relation that exists between God and
the devotee. If God is regarded with parental affection, it is called as one's own dear
child 'Vatsalya Bhava' (or the devotion of a parent to a child). The relation between
Yashoda and Krishna is a good example of this type. Instead of this, if a devotee
considers God as his Master and firmly believes that he lives only by that Master's
Grace and owes everything in life to Him, the relation would be that, which exists
between Master and servant, It is called Dasya Bhava' (devotion of a servant to the
Master). The relation between Hanumantha and Sri Rama is an example of this.
When God is taken for an intimate friend, it is called "Sakhya Bhava' - the devotion of
a friend to a friend. The friendship of Sri Krishna and Kuchela is of this type.
When the relation between God and the devotee is one of love and of the intimacy that
exists between husband and wife, it is called 'Madhurya Bhava'. This is considered the
highest form of devotion. The devotee is the wife and -God is the husband. A wife serves
her lord in several roles. She looks after him with affectionate care like a mother;she
stands inattendance with respect and obedience like a servant; she treats him with sweet
familiarity like a friend. In 'Madhura Bhava' the devotee's relationship with God is
exactly that of the wife with her husband.
Right from her childhood Mira had cultivated this kind of love for God. At the time of
her marriage, she showed, in the presence of all people, that Sri Krishna was her
husband. That became the conviction of her life. In her mother's home there was no
hindrance to her devotion to Krishna. In fact it was only there this faith struck deep
root in her heart.
Obstinate or Crazy?
Though Mira had firmly believed even from her young age that Sri Krishna was her Lord,
there is nothing to show in real life that she neglected her husband. As an ideal wife
she might have returned his love and affection. But under no circumstances was she
prepared to forget her SriKrishna. In the entire world nothing was greater to her than
that love. She loved to sit before the sweet little image of Sri Krishna, sing about
Him in her sweet voice and dance. That was her life. She was born for only that. How
could she give it up?
But to others in her husband's house this looked like impertinence. It made them hate
Mira. Everybody at home advised the obstinate girl to mend herself.She listened to their
words. She would do whatever else she was asked to do; but, it she was told to forget
Krishna, she could not bear it.
In the view of others, her intense devotion was nothing but a craze. When they made sure
that she would not budge whatever they might say, they grew indifferent towards her. Day
by day she went on spending more and more time in the company of monks and other holy
people, meditating upon Sri Krishna. At last Bhojaraja got a temple built exclusively
for her near the palace. (Some say that this temple was meant to divert the large number
of Sadhus who came to the palace.) Anyway this provided Mira with a place where she could
worship Sri Krishna in freedom. She used to spend the whole day in song and dance
there.
"When the whole world is asleep 1, being away from my Lord, keep awake. Likewise some
one else separated from her lover sits in a luxurious mansion stringing pearls, I know.
Counting the stars I-spend the whole night. When will dawn the hour of happiness for me?
It is only after Giridhar, the Lord of Mira, comes that this suffering will end," so she
sang in great joy.
Her own people who had seen her sing, dance and go into ecstasy had concluded that she
had gone mad. But the monks respected her as a great saint.The number of those who came
to be blessed by her sight increased.
The prestige of the royal family of Chittore stood very high. How renowned and noble was
this family!
What a disgrace to such a family if the wife of the prince went on singing and dancing
with monks!
Besides, she had insulted her husband's family by not worshipping Mother Kali.
Such were the thoughts that crossed the minds of many in her husband's house. They were
angry and had nothing but contempt for her. But Bhojaraja had immense love for her.
herefore no one had the courage to say anything against her.
But Bhojaraja passed away in 1521. He had been wounded in a battle in 1518, and the
wounds proved fatal. Within about five years after her marriage Mira became a widow. She
was only, twenty-three thins.
The only link Mira had with the world had snapped. There was no one to care for her.
Branded as mad, she had already suffered everybody's contempt. But this apathy of her
own people only strengthe- ned her devotion. More than ever she clung firmly to her Lord
Krishna.
The Diamond Necklace Brings Grief
At home those who were opposed to her secretly till then, now began to talk about her
openly. Fretting and fuming they said that the honor of the family had fallen to the
dust. But she was known among the people as 'a great saint', and as the'Radha of
Kaliyuga'. Many people deemed it a great fortune to see her and came to touch her feet
in reverence.
Here is a story which a illustrates wide spread fame.
Akbar was a great Moghal Emperor. Tansen was a celebrated musician at his court. Tansen
had seen Mira. Akbar came to know about Mira. He had heard that she had won the Grace of
Krishna and that Krishna appeared before her when she sang in the ecstasy of devotion.
So Akbar also wanted to see her. Both Tansen and Akbar decided to go to the place where
Mira was living.
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