Meera Bai
1.) Introduction
Mira Bai was born in 1498 in Merta, Rajasthan. She was daughter of Ratan Singh ( Who was died in the war before Meera's Birth). She was a well-known Hindu mystic poet whose writings are famous all over India. She has written about 1300 prayers of devotion & poetry in her Rajasthani language. She was a disciple of Sri Guru Ravidas. People know Meera Bai as a Sant who dedicated her whole life to Lord Krishna. She is a supreme example of the great definition of devotion. Her selfless love and devotion towards Krishna made her immortal among us.
2.) Meera Bai's Childhood
It is said that when Meera Bai was only 3 years old a Sadhu came to her house to take alms. He had carried an idol of Shree Krishna. When little Meera saw the idol of Shree Krishna, she just kept looking and was deeply enamored toward Krishna. As Sadhu started to returning home after taking alms, Meera Bai requested him to give that Krishna idol to her. After her humble request and seeing her innocent face Sadhu could not refuse her and he gave that Krishna's idol to cute Meera. After getting that Krishna's idol she became very happy as if she's got everything.
One day, Meera was sitting on the balcony of his house, suddenly she saw a marriage procession came out on the street & she asked her mother innocently, "Who will be my husband ?" Meera's mother laughed and showing the idol of Shree Krishna, she jokingly said, "He will become your husband''. But Meera took it seriously and she started to consider Shri Krishna as her husband from that day. At around the age of 7 years, Meera's mother was passed away and Mira was brought up by her grandfather Rao Dudaji who taught her lessons in religion, politics, and government. She was proficient in music, literature, dance, and various arts. As time passed, the relationship between Meera and her Kanha Ji was getting deeper. At the age of 14, she has written many Devotee songs of Lord Krishna.
One day, Meera was sitting on the balcony of his house, suddenly she saw a marriage procession came out on the street & she asked her mother innocently, "Who will be my husband ?" Meera's mother laughed and showing the idol of Shree Krishna, she jokingly said, "He will become your husband''. But Meera took it seriously and she started to consider Shri Krishna as her husband from that day. At around the age of 7 years, Meera's mother was passed away and Mira was brought up by her grandfather Rao Dudaji who taught her lessons in religion, politics, and government. She was proficient in music, literature, dance, and various arts. As time passed, the relationship between Meera and her Kanha Ji was getting deeper. At the age of 14, she has written many Devotee songs of Lord Krishna.
3.) Meera's Marital Life With Bhojraj
As Meera grew up, her immense beauty and qualities were also discussed in the whole Rajputana family. Meera's grandfather Rao Dudaji Saab fixed Meera's marriage with Kunwar Bhojraj (The crown prince of Mewar), who was the eldest son of Rana Sangram Singh ( Known as Rana Sanga) of Chittor. Meera married Bhojraj for the honor of the family. But she was never given the status of husband to Bhojraj because she still considered Shri Krishna as her own husband, that's why she never had established any relationship of husband-wife with Bhojraj.
In the beginning, Bhojraj did not understand what to do. Because he was married to a Jogana. Bhojraj also tried hard to attract Meera to the world but he failed. Meera may not have given Bhojraj the right of her husband, but she always used to follow her wife's religion with all her heart. Soon a friendship relationship grew between them with love, care, trust, mutual-understanding, and respect for each other. Bhojraj loved Meera so much and cared too. He has protected his wife many times from the criticism of family and society. Bhojraj used to feel very sad when Meera Bai danced and sang with other Sadhu and devotees after going out of the palace after getting lost in the devotion of Krishna. That's why he built a grand temple of Shri Krishna for Meera Bai in the middle of the fort so that Meera Bai could serve as per the wishes of her God and she would not have to go out of the palace.
In the beginning, Bhojraj did not understand what to do. Because he was married to a Jogana. Bhojraj also tried hard to attract Meera to the world but he failed. Meera may not have given Bhojraj the right of her husband, but she always used to follow her wife's religion with all her heart. Soon a friendship relationship grew between them with love, care, trust, mutual-understanding, and respect for each other. Bhojraj loved Meera so much and cared too. He has protected his wife many times from the criticism of family and society. Bhojraj used to feel very sad when Meera Bai danced and sang with other Sadhu and devotees after going out of the palace after getting lost in the devotion of Krishna. That's why he built a grand temple of Shri Krishna for Meera Bai in the middle of the fort so that Meera Bai could serve as per the wishes of her God and she would not have to go out of the palace.
4.) Atrocities on Meera Bai
Durga Mata was the Kuldevi of Meera Bai's in-laws and Rana Sanga was her fierce worshiper. Seeing Meera Bai's devotion to Krishna, her in-laws wanted her to worship Goddess Durga in the same way but she was a devotee of Krishna, she did not worship Durga Maa. When she was absorbed in the devotion of Kanha, she used to leave the palace wearing the clothes of sadhus and used to sing and dance Kanha's hymns in the streets and temples. And it felt insulting to his family. Due to these reasons, hatred towards Meera began to arise in the mind of her family.
Uda Bai (Mira’s sister-in-law) was very jaloused of Meera because Meera Bai was much beautiful than Udabai and the people of Mewar considered Meera Bhai as a goddess and also used to join Krishna Bhakti with her. She started accusing Meera Bai with false accusations and spreading false exceptions to humiliate Meera Bai in the eyes of her husband and family members. But Bhojraj always protested Udabai and used to protect the honor of his wife.
Unfortunately, in 1521, Bhojraj was killed in the battle with Mugal. His death had a profound impact on Mira Bai's life because he was only one of her companions who always stood up to protect her from all the criticism, scandals, and atrocities by the family. After Bhojraj death, his brother Vikramaditya became the successor of Mewar. Who was a very cruel and ruthless king. However, the atrocities on Meera Bai started increasing by Uda Bai and Vikramaditya but Meera Bai was blessed by Shree Krishna that's why she didn't have effects of anyone's attacks. On the other hand, the reverence, devotion, and faith of the people towards Meera Bai were increasing day by day. The devotion of Meera Bai and the praise of her devotional songs were now becoming famous in every corner of the world. Seeing her growing admiration, Uda Bai and Vikramaditya got furious with anger and jealousy. They conspired to kill Meera Bai.
One day they along with some envious persons accused Meera Bai of false treason and declared her the death penalty. The next morning, Meera was called in the Rajya Sabha and given a cup of poison to drink. Meera Bai drank all the poison by taking the name of her Krishna, but there was so much power in her devotion that even the poison became nectar for her. Even after this, they made tireless efforts to kill Meera Bai but every time he had to face defeat.
Durga Mata was the Kuldevi of Meera Bai's in-laws and Rana Sanga was her fierce worshiper. Seeing Meera Bai's devotion to Krishna, her in-laws wanted her to worship Goddess Durga in the same way but she was a devotee of Krishna, she did not worship Durga Maa. When she was absorbed in the devotion of Kanha, she used to leave the palace wearing the clothes of sadhus and used to sing and dance Kanha's hymns in the streets and temples. And it felt insulting to his family. Due to these reasons, hatred towards Meera began to arise in the mind of her family.
Uda Bai (Mira’s sister-in-law) was very jaloused of Meera because Meera Bai was much beautiful than Udabai and the people of Mewar considered Meera Bhai as a goddess and also used to join Krishna Bhakti with her. She started accusing Meera Bai with false accusations and spreading false exceptions to humiliate Meera Bai in the eyes of her husband and family members. But Bhojraj always protested Udabai and used to protect the honor of his wife.
Uda Bai (Mira’s sister-in-law) was very jaloused of Meera because Meera Bai was much beautiful than Udabai and the people of Mewar considered Meera Bhai as a goddess and also used to join Krishna Bhakti with her. She started accusing Meera Bai with false accusations and spreading false exceptions to humiliate Meera Bai in the eyes of her husband and family members. But Bhojraj always protested Udabai and used to protect the honor of his wife.
Unfortunately, in 1521, Bhojraj was killed in the battle with Mugal. His death had a profound impact on Mira Bai's life because he was only one of her companions who always stood up to protect her from all the criticism, scandals, and atrocities by the family. After Bhojraj death, his brother Vikramaditya became the successor of Mewar. Who was a very cruel and ruthless king. However, the atrocities on Meera Bai started increasing by Uda Bai and Vikramaditya but Meera Bai was blessed by Shree Krishna that's why she didn't have effects of anyone's attacks. On the other hand, the reverence, devotion, and faith of the people towards Meera Bai were increasing day by day. The devotion of Meera Bai and the praise of her devotional songs were now becoming famous in every corner of the world. Seeing her growing admiration, Uda Bai and Vikramaditya got furious with anger and jealousy. They conspired to kill Meera Bai.
One day they along with some envious persons accused Meera Bai of false treason and declared her the death penalty. The next morning, Meera was called in the Rajya Sabha and given a cup of poison to drink. Meera Bai drank all the poison by taking the name of her Krishna, but there was so much power in her devotion that even the poison became nectar for her. Even after this, they made tireless efforts to kill Meera Bai but every time he had to face defeat.
One day they along with some envious persons accused Meera Bai of false treason and declared her the death penalty. The next morning, Meera was called in the Rajya Sabha and given a cup of poison to drink. Meera Bai drank all the poison by taking the name of her Krishna, but there was so much power in her devotion that even the poison became nectar for her. Even after this, they made tireless efforts to kill Meera Bai but every time he had to face defeat.
4.) Akbar Meet Meera Bai
Many historians believe that the Mughal emperor Jalaluddin Akbar wanted to meet Meera Bai because of her growing admiration and sweet voice of her famous devotional songs, which are becoming famous all over India. Although Meera Bai was the daughter-in-law of his worst enemy's family, Akbar could not stop himself from meeting Meera Bai after hearing her fierce praise. In this way, he went out to meet Mira Bai with his royal musician Tansen, disguised as a monk (Sadhu). Akbar had absolutely no faith in what he had heard about her before meeting Mira Bai. But once he met Meera Bai he saw her devotion for Shree Krishna and listened to the sweet hymns, he felt heaven on earth & he placed his diamond-pearl necklace at the feet of Meera. After that day, he also started respecting Meera Bai as a goddess.
4.) Meera Bai's Last Journey
Saddened by the constant atrocities of Uda Bai and Vikramaditya, Meera Bai decided to leave Chitor and went out to her home Merta. After staying for some time in Merta, she did not find peace there too, so she went towards Vrindavan. While staying in Vrindavan, she wrote many poems and hymns. Many of her devotees also became there. After living there for many years, she left Vrindavan and went to Dwarka, the city of her Krishna. Where she spent the last days of her life.
It is said that Meera Bai's death has become a mystery, for which no one has found any proof till date. Around 1546, it is believed that one day, Meera Bai went inside the temple to offer food to Krishna and did not return from there. People say that Meera Bai got absorbed in the idol of Krishna Ji. When Meera 
Bai did not come out from the temple for a long time, her devotees who were waiting for her all went inside and saw that miraculous lights were emerging from the idol of Kanha Ji which was spread all around the temple. They did not find Meera Bai inside the temple but they saw Meera Bai's things, her garland, her veena, and clothes pieces were at the feet of Shri Krishna. People said that Meera Bai finally got her real love, her real husband Shee Krishna in the last, and she went with her husband Krishna.
Many people also believe that Meera Bai was Gopi Lalita in her previous birth, who was also Radha's beloved friend. She loved Krishna very much but her family married her to another man and she died without seeing Krishna and thus she was reborn as Meera Bai. She has also mentioned in her poems about her previous birth as Gopi-Lalita.
Saddened by the constant atrocities of Uda Bai and Vikramaditya, Meera Bai decided to leave Chitor and went out to her home Merta. After staying for some time in Merta, she did not find peace there too, so she went towards Vrindavan. While staying in Vrindavan, she wrote many poems and hymns. Many of her devotees also became there. After living there for many years, she left Vrindavan and went to Dwarka, the city of her Krishna. Where she spent the last days of her life.
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Really nice article… I like it.
ReplyDeleteVery Nice 👌
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