The Poetry Of Mirabai: “Don't forget love; it will bring all the madness you need."

by Mīrābāī

Meerabai (also spelt Mirabai) was born a Rajput princess belonging to the Rathore clan in 1498 in Kudaki, Rajasthan in northern India. Despite being one of the most significant saints in the Bhakti tradition and an immensely popular religious poet as well as the subject of many films, books and stories throughout India and beyond, very few facts are actually known about her life including her date of birth. It is clear that her mother died when she was very young and she was greatly influenced by her father, also a worshipper of Krishna. From a young age, Meera’s devotion to Krishna was absolute surrender and complete devotion and although reluctant due to this all consuming relationship, she did marry Prince Bhoj Raj of Chittor, arranged by her uncle in 1516. Her marriage only lasted 5 years due to the death of her husband and shortly after this her father-in-law, who was her protector, also died. Whilst it is not known exactly when her private spiritual zeal for Krishna as master, lord and lover became public, it is clear that she attended Satsangs (religious meetings) where she would sing and dance with others who shared her passion. She was forced to move from Chittor as she was persecuted by her remaining in-laws who wanted her to renounce all public displays of her faith, particularly by her brother-in-law, Vikramaditya, then king of Chittor, who it is believed tried to harm and kill her. She travelled throughout northern India always expressing her love for Krishna which was central to her life and inspired some 1300 bhajans (sacred songs) which were usually composed in a simple rhythm with a repeated refrain. Meera’s poetry used everyday language with a sweetness of emotion and an underlying charm that brought instant and eternal popularity as is evident in this volume of her works. It is popularly believed that she spent her last years as a pilgrim in Dwarka Gujarat and miraculously merged with the image of Krishna in 1546.

Genres: Poetry

30 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 27, 2014

About the author

Meera [(ca. 1498-1547)], also known as Mira Bai, was a 16th century Hindu mystic poetess and devotee of Krishna. She is celebrated as a poet and has been definitively claimed by the North Indian Hindu tradition of Bhakti saints.

Meera was born in a royal family of Rajasthan, and her education included music, religion, politics and government. She married Bhojraj the crown prince of Mewar in 1516, her husband was wounded in 1518 and died in 1521 after a Hindu-Muslim battle, her own father died in a war with Babur's army in 1527, and little else is known about her life with any certainty. She is mentioned in Bhaktamal, confirming that she was widely known and a cherished figure in the Indian bhakti movement culture by about 1600 CE. Most legends about Meera mention her fearless disregard for social and family conventions, her devotion to god Krishna, her treating Krishna as her lover and husband, and she being persecuted by her in-laws for her religious devotion. She has been the subject of numerous folk tales and hagiographic legends, which are inconsistent or widely different in details.

(from Wikipedia)

Reviews

[Alina · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars

Mirabai writes beautiful devotional poems to show her undying love to Sri Krishna. I highly enjoyed them.

[Inés Chamarro · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fabulous read. Her poems are short and sweet and amazingly full of mystical ecstasy. She's the Hindu equivalent of St. Teresa of Avila. Her passion is devoted to Krishna, and she makes me think of Dionysus, Khayyam, Rumi and the Spanish mystics, all at the same time. I am very glad to have discovered her work.

[Nonie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I appreciated some lines such as "My heart is fit to break", "The dagger of love has pierced my heart" or "The earth looked at Him and began to dance / Meera knows why, for her soul too is in love."

3.5/5.

[Paulia BSN, RN · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this little book of poetry; it is even nicer when read out loud. A few of them I will revisit from time to time.

I Am Mad With Love
I am mad with Love
And no one understands my plight.
Only the wounded.
Understand the agonies of the wounded,
When the fire rages in the heart.
Only the jeweller knows the value of the jewel,
Not the one who lets it go.
In pain I wander from door to door,
But could not find a doctor.
Says Meera: Harken, my Master,
Meera's pain will subside
When Shyam comes as the doctor.