Bhakta Meera Bai - Dr Gopinath Pareek 'Gopesh'
Meera Bai
Gopinath Pareek 'Gopesh'
President, Sahitya Sarovar Sanstha
Jaipur
Rajasthan, known as the land of warriors, has also been a land of saints and devotees. Among them, Meera stands out as a devotee whose every vein pulses with warmth, whose every movement resonates with rhythm, and whose every word exudes sweetness. It is rare to find such a unique blend of sweetness, fearlessness, and compassion elsewhere. Swami Vivekananda once said, "One who becomes one with the boundless is truly a hero and genuinely fearless. Worshipping Brahman eliminates all fears and ensures unending bliss."
Meera fearlessly immersed herself in devotion to Shri Krishna, who embodies Brahman, and found eternal bliss. When a devotee surrenders their heart to God, God, too, must surrender His heart to the devotee:
"Sādhavo hṛdayaṁ mahyaṁ sādhūnāṁ hṛdayaṁ tv aham।
Mad-anyat te na jānanti nāhaṁ tebhyo manāg api॥"
(Śrīmad Bhāgavatam 9.4.68)
In the Bhaktamala, poet Namadasaji explicitly praises Meera, a devotee who, even in this Kali Yuga, expressed Krishna's love as profoundly as the Gopis:
"Playing the drum of devotion, she was not ashamed;
She renounced societal conventions and family bonds to worship Giridhar."
Meera was born in Marudhara Rajasthan, in the city of Merta, as the granddaughter of Rao Duda, the ruler of Merta and the son of Rao Jodha, the founder of Jodhpur. Meera was born in the year 1561 (Vikram Samvat) in Merta Nagar. Her father's name was Ratan Singh, and her mother was Kanta Jhalani, a brave lady. While Meera was still in the womb, her mother listened to and reflected on the Bhagavatam with deep devotion for nine months.
One of the names of the Sun is Mihira, which means "one who is radiant." When Meera was born, her brilliance was apparent, prompting her grandfather to name her Mihira, which later evolved into Meera.
When Meera was about 4–5 years old, a saint named Madhavendra Puri visited from Braj. He gifted her an idol of Giridhar (Lord Krishna). Meera became deeply devoted to the service and worship of that Giridhar idol. To ensure Meera received proper education, Rao Dudaji appointed Pandit Gajadhar Joshi under the supervision of the royal priest for her academic studies, Acharya Biharidas for her musical training, and Saint Nivritinath for yoga education.
One day, Meera and her mother were watching a wedding procession pass by their palace. She saw the groom seated on an elephant, adorned with grandeur, and asked her mother, "Who is that?" Her mother replied, "He is a groom." Innocently, Meera asked, "Mother, where is my groom?" Her repeated questioning prompted her mother to answer, "Your groom is none other than Giridhar Gopal."
After this, Meera wholly accepted Giridhar Gopal as her divine husband. She became even more engrossed in worship, singing, and dancing in His devotion. Her feelings are beautifully expressed in her bhajan:
Māī mhāne supnā meṁ parṇyā, Dīnānāth।
Chappan koṭ janā padhārā, dūlhā śrī Vṛjanāth॥
Supnā mā mhāne parṇ gayā, pāyā acal suhāg।
Mīrā nai Giridhar milyā rī, purab janam ro bhāg॥
(O Mother, in a dream, I was married to the Lord of the needy.
Fifty-six crore guests attended, and the groom was Lord Krishna of Vrindavan.
In that dream, I was wed and blessed with an eternal bond of love.
Meera found her Giridhar; such was the fortune of her past birth.)
After the demise of Rao Dudaji, the throne of Merta was inherited by his eldest son, Veeram Dev, who took great care of Meera and loved her dearly. When Meera turned twelve, she was married into the Sisodia dynasty of Chittorgarh to Rajkumar Bhojraj, the son of Maharana Sanga.
During her wedding, Meera brought her idol of Giridhar Gopal and placed it in the wedding pavilion. She circled the sacred fire (pheras) not only with her husband but also with the idol of Giridhar. When her companions asked the reason for this, Meera replied:
"Aise var ko kya varoon jo janme aur mar jaaye।
Var bario Gopal ji, mharo churlo amar ho jaaye॥"
(Why should I accept a mortal groom who is born and will eventually die?
I have chosen Giridhar Gopal as my eternal spouse, for my bond with Him will never perish.)
In Rajasthan, young girls traditionally worship Gauri (Goddess Parvati) for a handsome and virtuous husband, and married women pray to her during the Gangaur festival for their husband’s long life and unbroken marital bond. When Meera was asked to participate in the Gangaur worship, she refused and responded:
"Na mhain poojaan Gaurakhya ji, na poojaan an dev।
Mhain poojaan Gopal ji, the koi jaano bhev॥"
(I do not worship Gauri, nor do I worship any other deity.
I worship only Gopal, for only He knows the depth of my devotion.)
This unwavering devotion toward Krishna set Meera apart even from an early age, marking the beginning of her journey as a true devotee, transcending societal norms and expectations.
Indeed, there have been countless women who consider their husband to be God, but Meera was unique in considering God as her husband. While Meera’s true husband was Giridhar Gopal, she never displeased her worldly husband, Bhojraj. Bhojraj never opposed Meera’s devotion; rather, her compositions brought him immense joy. He felt honored to have a devout and spiritually gifted wife like Meera. So inspired was he by her devotion to Krishna that he built a Krishna temple in Chittorgarh, where Meera would sing devotional songs, engage in congregational worship (kirtan), and hold spiritual discourses with saints.
Unfortunately, after five to seven years of marriage, Bhojraj passed away due to illness. Following his death, Meera was pressured to perform sati, the self-immolation practice. However, Meera firmly refused, declaring that she was not a widow because her true spouse was eternal:
"Giridhar gāsyāṁ sati na hosyāṁ,
Mheṁ var pāyo dhan nāmī।"
(I will not perform sati for I am wedded to Giridhar, my eternal treasure.)
In 1527 CE (Vikram Samvat 1584), Meera’s father and uncle attained martyrdom fighting alongside Rana Sanga against Babur in the Battle of Khanwa. Shortly thereafter, Rana Sanga himself passed away. Following Rana Sanga’s death, his second son, Ratan Singh, ascended the throne of Mewar. Ratan Singh did not oppose Meera in any way, but his reign was short-lived. After his death in 1531, his younger brother, Vikramaditya, assumed power.
Vikramaditya was a man of harsh temperament and narrow-mindedness. His companion, Banvir, a concubine’s son instigated by Sanga’s younger brother, Prithviraj, further poisoned Vikramaditya’s mind against Meera. They disapproved of her conduct, claiming that a widowed princess should not sing, dance, play the ektara, or mingle with saints in temples. Vikramaditya strongly objected to Meera’s devotional practices and ordered her to stop.
However, Meera paid no heed to her brother-in-law’s opposition. Her spirit remained unshaken, and she continued her devotional journey. She boldly sang:
"Baraji main kāhū kī na rahū,
Tērā koī nīṁ rokanhār,
Magan hoy Meera chalī।"
(I will bow to no one’s will,
None can halt my path,
Meera moves on, immersed in bliss.)
Despite the growing hostility from her royal family, Meera’s unwavering devotion to Krishna became her guiding light, inspiring countless others to rise above worldly constraints in their spiritual pursuit.
When Meera refused to abandon her devotional practices despite warnings, her adversaries plotted to kill her. She was given poison, and a snake was sent to her concealed in a box. However, the poison transformed into Krishna’s charanodak (sacred water offered at Krishna's feet), and the snake miraculously turned into a Shaligram idol. Meera remained unharmed, her unshakable faith in her Lord protecting her from every peril. With full confidence in her beloved Krishna, she fearlessly declared to her brother-in-law:
"Thāri māri nā marūṁ, mero rākhaṇhāro aur।"
(I will not die by your attempts; my protector is someone else.)
Meera continued to express her anguish and longing to her beloved Krishna, pouring her heart into her songs of devotion:
"Jālāṁ re Mohanā, jāṇāṁ thārī prīt।
Prem bhagati ro paiṛo mhāro, aur nā jāṇāṁ rīt।
Imrit pāī viṣ kyūṁ dījai, kuṇāṁ gāṁv rī rīt।
Meera re Prabhu Hari avināśī, apṇā jan ro mīt॥"
(O my dearest Krishna, I know only Your love.
The path of devotion is my only way; I know no other custom.
Why give poison in exchange for nectar? Is this the way of the world?
O eternal Lord Hari, You are the eternal companion of Your devotees.)
These words reflect Meera’s unwavering faith in Krishna’s eternal love and protection. Her ability to endure hostility with grace and humility while maintaining an unbreakable connection with her Lord made her a beacon of spiritual devotion and resilience.
Eventually, Meera left Chittorgarh at the request of Veeramdev, the ruler of Merta, and his son Jaymal, who was Meera’s brother. She returned to Merta, where she stayed for about five years. However, during this time, in Chittorgarh, Banvir, the son of a maidservant, murdered Maharana Vikramaditya and seized the throne.
Even though Meera had all the comforts in Merta, her heart remained restless. With her mind set on Vrindavan, the "capital of devotion," she expressed her desire to visit the sacred land. Upon reaching Vrindavan, she felt immense joy and sang:
"Ālī, mohe lāgai Vrindāvan nīko।
Ghar ghar Tulsi, Ṭhākur sevā, darshan Govind jī ko॥"
(O friend, Vrindavan appears delightful to me!
In every home, there is Tulsi worship, service to Lord Krishna, and the vision of Govind.)
Meera stayed in Vrindavan for about two years, immersing herself in the sacredness of Krishna’s lila sthalis (places of His divine pastimes). She visited these places with profound devotion, feeling closer to her beloved Lord.
During her time in Vrindavan, many spiritual leaders from various bhakti sects were deeply impressed by her wisdom and devotion. They invited her to join their sects, but Meera declined. She chose to remain independent of any sect or formal tradition, dedicating herself solely to Krishna. It is worth clarifying here that Meera did not accept Saint Ravidas as her guru, contrary to popular belief. For Meera, Krishna alone was her everything—her guru, companion, and ultimate refuge. She was a Vaishnava devotee, free from sectarianism or the constraints of guru-disciple traditions.
The belief that Meera was a disciple of Ravidas likely arose from a historical conflation. It was Jhali Rani, the mother of Maharana Sanga, who had received initiation from Saint Ravidas—not Meera. This distinction underscores Meera’s unique path of devotion, where her unwavering connection with Krishna transcended all sectarian boundaries.
From Vrindavan, Meera traveled to Dwarka. There, she had the darshan of Dwarkadhish (Krishna) and settled at the temple of Ranchod Rai in Dakor. She spent her days singing, dancing, and composing devotional songs, often singing:
"Mhāro man har līnhō Ranchhoḍ।"
(Ranchhod has captivated my heart.)
Meera was always accompanied by her close companion, Lalita, who also composed and sang devotional songs. Together, they immersed themselves in Krishna's devotion.
Meanwhile, in Mewar, Panna Dhai, the loyal caretaker, saved Uday Singh, the youngest son of Rana Sanga, from Banvir’s treachery and raised him in secrecy. Eventually, the nobles of Mewar deposed Banvir and crowned the thirteen-year-old Uday Singh as the ruler of Mewar.
After ascending the throne, Uday Singh desired that the revered Meera Bai return to Chittorgarh. Under the leadership of Surdas Champawat, a group of royal priests and nobles approached Meera and earnestly requested her to return. However, Meera, deeply engrossed in her spiritual life, was reluctant to leave. Upon their insistence, she responded that she would seek permission from her Lord.
Meera entered the temple of Ranchod Rai and, in her characteristic devotion, prayed to Krishna. As the priests and nobles waited outside, they realized that Meera had not returned. Upon entering the temple, they found that Meera had merged into the idol of Krishna. She had become one with her divine beloved, fulfilling her lifelong yearning.
Meera, who lived her life entirely for Krishna, ultimately became one with Him, embodying the perfect union of devotee and divine. Her life, a testament to unwavering devotion and surrender, remains a source of inspiration for all seekers of spiritual truth.
Devotion (bhakti) is said to have four levels: Dāsya (servitude), Vātsalya (parental affection), Sakhya (friendship), and Madhura (romantic love). In the spiritual realm, Madhura Bhakti holds the same significance as śṛṅgāra rasa (romantic sentiment) in worldly aesthetics. Acharya Rupa Goswami, in his work Ujjvala Nīlamaṇi, extolled this form of devotion as the highest, calling it Ujjvala Rasa and the King of Rasas (Rasarāja). The complete surrender of the devotees in this form of devotion is referred to as Gopī Bhāva, the sentiment of the gopīs toward Krishna. Meera attained this Gopī Bhāva, embodying it through her life and devotion:
"Mhārā janam janam rā sāthī,
Thāṁ nai nā visarūṁ din rātī॥"
(You are my eternal companion;
I will never forget You, day or night.)
Even within Madhura Bhakti, there are two divisions: Tadiya Rati and Madiya Rati. In Tadiya Rati, the devotee expresses, "I am Yours," while in Madiya Rati, the devotee proclaims, "You are mine." Meera, like the gopīs, was a practitioner of Madiya Rati, singing with unmatched devotion:
"Mere to Giridhar Gopal, dūsaro na koī।"
(My only beloved is Giridhar Gopal; there is no one else for me.)
Meera’s love for Krishna was nurtured with her tears and was a culmination of her devotion across lifetimes. Her heart’s longing was for union with Krishna because she considered herself not just His devotee but His most beloved consort. Whether one views her as an incarnation of a gopī or as Radha herself, Meera descended to this earth to teach the sanctity of love and inspire profound devotion.
The fabric of bhakti, woven by many great saints, was ultimately adorned by Meera, the intoxicated lover of Krishna. A folk verse beautifully captures this sentiment:
"Bhakti kā kapās Jagdīsh boyā, Jāt Dhanā,
Dādū dhuniyā ne chun sāf kar chhoṛā thā।
Karmā Jāṭnī ne kiyā kāt kāt sūt tyār,
Kabīr tunind maṛhā chāru chīr chhoṛā thā।
Nāmdev chhīpā ne vichāy bhāvvedī par,
Nām nām bhav bhakti rang meṁ nichoṛā thā।
Dey kar tārī phir tāro Giridhārī kahī,
Soī chīr Mīrā matwārī tūne oṛhā thā॥"
(Jagdish sowed the cotton of devotion,
Saint Dhana the Jat cleaned it like a meticulous cotton carder.
Karma Bai spun the thread with great care,
Kabir, the weaver, shaped it into a beautiful cloth.
Namdev, the tailor, laid it on the altar of love,
And dyed it in the hues of the Lord’s divine name.
Finally, Meera, the intoxicated devotee, wore this glorious robe of devotion.)
Meera, through her songs, her life, and her love for Krishna, embodied the pinnacle of devotion, inspiring countless seekers to tread the path of eternal bhakti.