Vageesh Express

July 2006 Edition

Vedic Guru

Saint Meerabai

One of the most renowned saints of the Bhakthi tradition, Meerabai was a mystic poet from the 16^th century whose songs, also called as Bhajans, are still popular for their sweet and passionate devotion expressed towards Lord Krishna.

Life of Meerabai

Meera was born in Merta, Rajasthan in a royal family to Ratan Singh, a descendant of Rao Jodhaji Rather, the founder of Jodhpur. Meera’s mother passed away when she was ten years old.

A wandering saint gave little Meera a figurine of Lord Krishna which she also played, sang and talked to. When Meera turned eighteen, she was given in marriage to Prince Bhoj Raj. But her deep devotion for Lord Krishna made her neglect all social and regal duties. Her only passion and consentration was Lord Krishna. She had to face a lot of hardships due to this. Eventually, unable to lead the life of domesticity, she left the royal palace and travelled to several places like Mathura, Vrindhavan, Dwaraka, forever singing the glory and praise of Lord Krishna.

Meerabai did not believe in social and caste discrimination and honoured Ravidas, who was a cobbler by profession, as her guru. She broke many social norms. When her husband died, she refused to perform the self-immolation act, called Sati.

Saint Meerabai’s devotion for Lord Krishna is epitomimzed by the belief that she entered the sanctum of the temple in a state of singing ecstacy. The sanctum doors are believed to have closed on their own and when they opened, the saree of Meerabai was seen wrapped around the idol of Lord Krishna, signifying the culmination of her divine union with the Lord.

Philosophy and teachings

Meerabai is said to belong to the Saguna class of worshippers, who believed that the human body is the only barrier between the Aatma and the Paramaatma. Once the human form is dropped, the individual soul attains divine union with the higher consciousness.

Meerabai's poetry ebbs with love, longing, surrender and deepest devotion for Lord Krishna. She perceived Lord Krishna as her husband, lover, lord and master. She knew nothing but her Lord. Her poetry was largely in Vraja-bhasha, a dialect of Hindi spoken in and around Vrindavan (the childhood home of Lord Krishna). A Meera Bhajan is traditionally called a Pada. Her collection of songs is called the Padavali.

Translated by A.J. Alston, one of her poems reads :

Life in the world is short,

Why shoulder an unnecessary load

Of worldly relationships?

Thy parents gave thee birth in the world,

But the Lord ordained thy fate.

Life passes in getting and spending,

No merit is earned by virtuous deeds.

I will sing the praises of Hari

In the company of the holy men,

Nothing else concerns me.

Meera's Lord is the courtly Giridhara.

-Meerabai

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