Hari OM
Story-day is for cultural exploration, puraanas and parables and finding out about leading lights in spiritual philosophy
Mirabai was a great saint and devotee of Sri Krishna.
Despite facing criticism and hostility from her own family, she lived an
exemplary saintly life and composed many devotional bhajans. Historical
information about the life of Mirabai is a matter of some scholarly debate. The
oldest biographical account was Priyadas’s commentary in Nabhadas’ Sri
Bhaktammal in 1712. Nevertheless there are many aural histories, which give an
insight into this unique poet and saint of India.
Early
Life Mirabai
Mira was born around the start of the 16th Century in Merta,
Rajasthan. Her father was Ratan Singh a descendent of Rao Rathor, the founder
of Jodhpur. When Mirabai was only three years old, a wandering Sadhu came to
her family’s 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 his
daughter, because he felt she would not appreciate it. However Mira had, at
first sight, become deeply enamoured with this doll. She refused to eat until
the doll of Sri Krishna was given to her. To Mira, this figure of Sri Krishna
embodied his living presence. She resolved to make Krishna her lifelong friend,
lover, and husband. Throughout her turbulent life she never wavered from her
youthful commitment.
Conflict
with Family
Her new family did not approve of her piety and
devotion to Krishna. The 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 her bhajans. However this just made her family
even more jealous. Mira’s sister-in-law Udabai started to spread false gossip
and defamatory remarks about Mirabai. She said Mira was entertaining men in her
room. Her husband, believing these stories to be true, tore into her room with
sword in hand. However he saw Mira only playing with a doll. No man was there
at all. Yet throughout these hysterical slanders Mirabai remained unmoved by
both the criticism and praise of the world.
This infamy, O my Prince
is delicious!
Some revile me,
others applaud,
I simply follow my incomprehensible road
A razor thin path
but you meet some good people,
A terrible path but you hear a true word
Turn back?
Because the wretched stare and see nothing?
O Mira’s Lord is noble and dark,
and slanderers
rake only themselves
over the coals
Mirabai
and Akbar
Mira’s 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 Mirabai’s family were enemies; to visit Mirabai
would cause problems for them both. Akbar was determined to see Mirabai, the
Princess – Saint. Disguised in the clothes of beggars he travelled with Tansen
to visit Mirabai. Akbar was so enamoured of her soulful music and devotional singing,
that he placed at her feet a priceless necklace before leaving. However in the
course of time Akbar’s visit came to the ears of her husband Bhoj Raj. He was
furious that a Muslim and his own arch enemy and set eyes upon his wife. He
ordered Mirabai to commit suicide by drowning in a river. Mirabai intended to
honour her husband’s command, but as she was entering the river Sri Krishna
appeared to her and commanded her to leave for Vrindaban where she could
worship him in peace, which she did. After a while her husband became
repentant, feeling that his wife was actually a real saint. Thus he travelled
to Vrindaban and requested her to return. Mirabai agreed, much to the
displeasure of the rest of her family.
However, soon after, Mira’s husband died; (fighting in
battles with the Moghul emperors). This made the situation even worse for
Mirabai. Her father in law, Rana Sanga, saw her husband’s death as a way to be
rid of Mirabai. He commanded her to commit Sati. However Mirabai, with the
inner direct assurance of her beloved Sri Krishna, said that she would not do
this; “I will not commit sati. I will sing the songs of
Girdhar Krishna, and will not become sati because my heart is enamoured of
Hari.”
After this experience her family continued to torture
her. They restricted her movements and sought to make her life as uncomfortable
as possible. Yet in the face of all these trials and tribulation she remained
detached from her physical suffering. There was nothing that could disturb her
inner connection to Giridhara (epithet of Sri Krishna as young cowherd boy). It
is said that twice her family tried to kill her, once through a venomous snake
and once through poisonous drink. On both occasions it is said Mirabai,
protected by the Grace of Sri Krishna, came to no harm.
Mirabai
in Vrindaban
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 Vrindaban. Secretly, with some followers, she slipped out of the
palace and escaped to the holy city. There, Mirabai was free to worship
Giridhara to her heart’s content. The riches of the world offered no attraction
to Mirabai.
I
am Mad
Her devotion and spiritual magnetism were infectious.
She inspired many to follow the path of Vaishnavism. Even learned Sadhus would
come to her for inspiration. There is a story of one respected Spiritual
Master, who refused to speak to Mirabai because she was a woman. Mirabai replied
there was only one real man in Vrindaban, Sri Krishna; everyone else was a Gopi
of Krishna. On hearing this the Spiritual teacher accepted the wisdom of
Mirabai and agreed to talk to her. Later Mirabai would become his student.
Poems
of Mirabai
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.
Mirabai was a devotee of the highest order. She was
immune to the criticism and suffering of the world. She was born a princess but
forsook the pleasures of a palace for begging on the streets of Vrindaban. She
lived during a time of war and spiritual decline, but her life offered a
shining example of the purest devotion. Many were inspired by her
infectious devotion and spontaneous love for Sri Krishna. Mirabai showed how a
seeker could attain union with God, only through love. Her only message was
that Krishna was her all.
My Beloved dwells in my heart,
I have actually seen that Abode of Joy.
Mira’s Lord is Hari, the Indestructible.
My Lord, I have taken refuge with Thee,
Thy slave.
That
Dark Dweller
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.
[sourced with gratitude from Biography OnLine.]
