Meerabai was the Rajput princess of Rajasthan. She was devoted to Lord Krishna. Despite being born and married in a royal family, she underwent tremendous torture due to her devotion and love towards Lord Krishna. Her poems written for Lord Krishna remain the best and the most poignant in Indian literature. Meera Bai was a poetess who belonged to the Bhakti cult. There is no historical record about the birth anniversary of Meera Bai. However, the day of Sharad Purnima is observed as the birth anniversary of Meerabai.
Early life of Meerabai
Meera was born to the Rajput king Ratansingh of Kurki, Udaipur. Born in the year 1499, she unfortunately lost her mother very early and grew up under the tutelage of her grandfather. She was taught religion, politics, governance and music. She grew up seeing her grandparents who were staunch Vishnu devotees and she too herself started worshipping Krishna from an early age.
She was married off to Bhoj Raj, the prince of Mewar in 1516. He was wounded in the battle in 1518 and died of his battle wounds in the year 1521. Both her father and her father in law passed away subsequently and Vikram Singh became the ruler of Mewar. From this point onwards there were numerous attempts on the life of Meera bai, but miraculously she remained unharmed. Her intense devotion towards Sri Krishna was not favored and thus she was mentally harassed and coupled with other issues was tried to be killed too. It is said that once a poisonous snake was kept in the flower basket from which she was picking up flowers to string a garland for Sri Krishna, however, the snake turned into a garland when she picked it up. She believed herself to be married to Sri Krishna, she was that submerged in her devotion towards the Lord.
In midst of all odds, Meerabai went for a pilgrimage in Vrindavan. Here she composed some of her immortal lyrical poems dedicated to Sri Krishna. In Vrindavan she also came in touch with numerous Krishna devotees. It is widely believed that she was a disciple of Guru Ravidas, and also came in contact with Sant Tulsidas as well as Rupa Goswami. In the year 1546, in search of her Sri Krishna she went to Lord Krishna’s Kingdom Dwarka. According to legends, MeeraBai miraculously disappeared inside a temple by merging herself with a statue of Lord Sri Krishna in the year 1547.
Meerabai’s poetic works
Though there are thousands of passionate and lyrical poems which are attributed to Meerabai, only a few hundred of them are considered to be genuinely hers. Her poems are all lyrical padas, or lyrical metric verses in which Sri Krishna is portrayed as a Yogi and also a lover. Meerbai sees herself as his yogini (devotee), and his companion. Meerabai’s poetry portrays love, longing, impassioned mood, defiance against the societal norms, anticipation, joy and the ecstasy of meeting her lover and lord Sri Krishna. In numerous of her padas, Meerabai speaks of Krishna as her lover and her lord who could lift mountains even.
Celebration of Meerabai Jayanti
There are no temples dedicated to Meera Bai. She is considered as an epitome of devotion. On the auspicious occasion of Meerabai’s birth each year the Chittorgarh district officials along with Meera Smrithi Sansathan or the Meera Memorial Trust, organize a 3 day long Meera Mahotsav, where eminent musicians and singers take part in the maha sammelan (great congregation). There are puja, discussions, musicals etc held during the course of the 3 days.
In other parts of the country too, Lord Sri Krishna temples hold special pujas and kirtans featuring the beautiful lyrical poetries of Meerabai which are beautiful examples of the prema bhakti segment. There are special musical and discussions too conducted on this day.
Early life of Meerabai
Meera was born to the Rajput king Ratansingh of Kurki, Udaipur. Born in the year 1499, she unfortunately lost her mother very early and grew up under the tutelage of her grandfather. She was taught religion, politics, governance and music. She grew up seeing her grandparents who were staunch Vishnu devotees and she too herself started worshipping Krishna from an early age.
She was married off to Bhoj Raj, the prince of Mewar in 1516. He was wounded in the battle in 1518 and died of his battle wounds in the year 1521. Both her father and her father in law passed away subsequently and Vikram Singh became the ruler of Mewar. From this point onwards there were numerous attempts on the life of Meera bai, but miraculously she remained unharmed. Her intense devotion towards Sri Krishna was not favored and thus she was mentally harassed and coupled with other issues was tried to be killed too. It is said that once a poisonous snake was kept in the flower basket from which she was picking up flowers to string a garland for Sri Krishna, however, the snake turned into a garland when she picked it up. She believed herself to be married to Sri Krishna, she was that submerged in her devotion towards the Lord.
In midst of all odds, Meerabai went for a pilgrimage in Vrindavan. Here she composed some of her immortal lyrical poems dedicated to Sri Krishna. In Vrindavan she also came in touch with numerous Krishna devotees. It is widely believed that she was a disciple of Guru Ravidas, and also came in contact with Sant Tulsidas as well as Rupa Goswami. In the year 1546, in search of her Sri Krishna she went to Lord Krishna’s Kingdom Dwarka. According to legends, MeeraBai miraculously disappeared inside a temple by merging herself with a statue of Lord Sri Krishna in the year 1547.
Meerabai’s poetic works
Though there are thousands of passionate and lyrical poems which are attributed to Meerabai, only a few hundred of them are considered to be genuinely hers. Her poems are all lyrical padas, or lyrical metric verses in which Sri Krishna is portrayed as a Yogi and also a lover. Meerbai sees herself as his yogini (devotee), and his companion. Meerabai’s poetry portrays love, longing, impassioned mood, defiance against the societal norms, anticipation, joy and the ecstasy of meeting her lover and lord Sri Krishna. In numerous of her padas, Meerabai speaks of Krishna as her lover and her lord who could lift mountains even.
Celebration of Meerabai Jayanti
There are no temples dedicated to Meera Bai. She is considered as an epitome of devotion. On the auspicious occasion of Meerabai’s birth each year the Chittorgarh district officials along with Meera Smrithi Sansathan or the Meera Memorial Trust, organize a 3 day long Meera Mahotsav, where eminent musicians and singers take part in the maha sammelan (great congregation). There are puja, discussions, musicals etc held during the course of the 3 days.
In other parts of the country too, Lord Sri Krishna temples hold special pujas and kirtans featuring the beautiful lyrical poetries of Meerabai which are beautiful examples of the prema bhakti segment. There are special musical and discussions too conducted on this day.
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