Why is Queen Mirabai of Mewar famous?

In the Bhakti tradition of India, Mirabai's name is taken with great respect and reverence. She was not just the queen of a royal family, but also a great devotee, poetess and saint. Mirabai's fame is still alive due to her love for Krishna, sacrifice, devotion and creations. Her life is an example, which showed that true devotion is not dependent on caste, gender, society or situation.

Early life of Mirabai

Mirabai was born in Kudki village of Nagaur district of Rajasthan around 1498 AD. Her father Ratan Singh Rathore was a Rajput Kshatriya. Mirabai was immersed in the devotion of Lord Krishna since childhood. It is said that when she was just 4-5 years old, a saint came to her house and gave a beautiful Krishna idol. From then on, Mirabai considered Shri Krishna as her husband.

Mirabai became the queen of Mewar

When she grew up, Mirabai was married to Bhojraj, the son of Rana Sanga of Mewar. Bhojraj was brave and intelligent, but could not understand Mirabai's devotion to Krishna. Mirabai remained detached from worldly life even while living in married life and considered Shri Krishna as her husband. This was not liked by her in-laws. They tried to convince Mirabai many times, but Mirabai did not deviate from her path.

Difficulties in the path of devotion

Mirabai's devotion faced opposition in society and the royal family. When Bhojraj died, her situation became even more difficult. The in-laws even threatened Mirabai to leave the house. Conspiracies were hatched against her, attempts were also made to poison her, but Mirabai was saved every time by the grace of Krishna. She endured all these difficulties considering them as God's prasad.

Mirabai's devotion and poems

The biggest reason for Mirabai's fame is her devotion and the bhajans composed by her. She wrote simple and emotional poems in Braj language, which reflect her deep devotion towards Lord Krishna. In her poems, she calls Shri Krishna as a friend, a lover and a maid.

Some of her famous lines are:

“Paayo ji maine Ram Ratan dhan paayo.”

“Mere to Girdhar Gopal, dusro na koi.”

“Charo par andhiyaara, deepak bale re Meerabai.”

Mirabai’s poems still touch the hearts of devotees. Her compositions contain love, separation, dedication and the call of the soul.

Mirabai who broke the shackles of society

According to the traditions of that time, a woman had to spend her life in the service of her husband and family. But Meerabai broke these rules of society. She listened to the call of her soul and adopted the path of devotion by becoming a sadhvi. She showed that men and women are equal in devotion to God.

Pilgrimages and search for Krishna

After leaving the palace, Mirabai traveled to many places of pilgrimage. She went to Vrindavan, Dwarka and other religious places. It is said that she met many saints in Vrindavan. The people there were so impressed by her devotion that they started giving her the status of a saint. She dedicated her life to the devotion of Krishna, singing bhajans and dancing.

Death and folklore

Many stories are famous about Mirabai's death. It is said that she merged with the idol of Shri Krishna in Dwarka. According to one legend, she was singing bhajans in Krishna's temple, when she merged inside the idol. It is believed that in the end God gave her a place at his feet.

Reasons for Mirabai's fame

1. Unwavering devotion to Krishna: Mirabai's life was completely dedicated to Krishna. She did not leave Krishna in every situation.

2. Poetry composition: The bhajans composed by her are still sung in temples, kirtan assemblies and devotional music.

3. Example of women's freedom: She challenged the traditions of society and inspired women to become self-reliant.

4. Respect as a saint: Mirabai is counted among the saints of Hinduism. Her devotion is considered to be a part of the Bhakti movement associated with the Sufi and saint tradition.

5. Message of non-violence and love: Mirabai did not harm anyone throughout her life, she responded to hatred with love.

Conclusion

Mirabai was not just a princess or queen, she was a unique devotee. Her life is a symbol of sacrifice, love and faith. She taught us that true love should be done with God, who never changes. Mirabai is still alive in the hearts of millions of devotees. Her bhajans show us the path of true devotion. That is why Mirabai is remembered as the great saint, poetess and call of the soul of the Bhakti movement.