Great Devotee
-:
Meera Bai
:-
Introduction
:
One
of the greatest devotees of Lord Krishna. The daughter of a prince and the
daughter- in-law of a prince, she gave up every thing and faced per-
secution. Her songs live on the lips of people to this day
One of the greatest devotees of Lord Krishna. The daughter of a prince and
the
daughter-in-law of a prince, she gave up every thing and faced persecution.
Her songs live on the lips of people to this day
Mira Bai
Sree Giridhar aage nachungi
nach nach piva rasik
rizhavu,
premi jan ko jachungi!
prem, preeti ke bandh
ghungharu,
surath ki kachani kachungi
II
Lok laj kul ki marjada,
ya me ek na rakhungi!
Piya ke palanga ja powdungi II
Mira Hari rang rachungi II
"I shall dance before Giridhar Gopal, I shall dance till he is supremely
delighted. I honor even those who love him. I shall tie round my ankles the
tinkling bells of love and compassion, and wear the dress of His
remembrance, and dance. I do not care for honor or the good name of the
family which people consider important. I go and lie in the bed of my lover,
Hari, and enjoy the bliss of His love.
"Sri Krishna alone is my lover. I ha gone mad with grief."
"I will have no peace of mind unless Sri Krishna comes to me."
"Mira is the bond slave and the L is He, Sri Krishna."
The woman who composed this song, who was thinking always of Sri Krishna and
desired only His love, was not a character in a story nor was she a Gopi
from Gokula, but a historical figure who lived about four hundred years ago.
She was Mira Bai, the daughter of a king and the daughter-in-law of a king.
She dedicated her entire life to God and endured all the difficulties of
life. Awake or
asleep, all the time she thought only of Sri Krishna. Thus Mira lives in the
hearts of the
people of India as the very embodiment of Bhakti (or devotion to God).
Even today people sing the songs of Mira whom, forgetful of everything, was
in love with Giridhar Gopal and offered herself entirely to Him. 'Mira
Bhajan' has developed into a unique tradition in Indian Music.
She was a princess. She lost her mother in her childhood. She married a
prince, but she lost him also when she was young. Her husband's family
objected to her worshipping Krishna. Even the king was against it. They
attempted to murder her. But whatever happened, the same words lived in her
heart and on her lips: 'Giridhar is the Lord and Mira in His servant.'
This is all that we know for certain about her.
People narrate several stories about Mira Bai's life. It is difficult to
distinguish facts from fiction in such narration. Such stories get changed
as they descend from generation to generation. It is not fair to dismiss all
the stories as mere legend. Some details may be wrong but from these tales
we can get at least a clear idea about achievements.
Mira was a devotee of Sri Krishna. She is worthy of being ranked with the
mystic; poets. The mystics give no importance to their personal lives. They
see only God in everything and forget themselves. That is why not much is
known about them. Mira too has not said about her life. She has mentioned in
some of her songs that she was from Medatha and belonged to the family of
Doodaji. She has also described in her songs how she suffered at the hands
of the Rana.
We wish we had more informants about this great devotee.
Sri Krishna's Idol In Child's Hands
There are no two opinions about the fact that Mira belonged to Medatha in
Rajasthan. She calls herself in one of her songs a 'Medathani' (a woman
who belongs to Medatha). She has also stated that she is a Doodajini (one
of Doodaji's family) of the Rathod royal dynasty. There were several petty
feudal states in Rajasthan. Medatha was one of them. Rao Doodaji was its
Rana. Princes in Rajasthan were usually called Ranas. Rana Rao Doodaji had
four children. The eldest was Beerama Dev and the youngest, Ratan Simha.
Ratan Simha was "a brave
warrior. For a long time he did not have children. At last, by the grace of
God, a daughter was born to him. She was named Mira. She was probably born
in 1498. When she was only a child she lost her mother. At that time there
were several kingdoms in India, some large and some small. Besides, it was
the age of the Moghals. Wars were frequent. Since Ratan Simha, the father of
Mira, had to spend most of his time in wars,the child had to grow up in the
palace of its grandfather. Doodaji.One day a procession was passing in front
of the palace. Mira was yet a small girl. People in the procession bowed to
the Rana and proceeded.
It was a wedding procession. The bride- groom was very attractively dressed.
Mira saw him. He might have looked like a big doll to those innocent eyes.
"What is that?" She asked her grand father.
"He is a bridegroom," replied he. But the little girl could not quite
understand the meaning of the word bridegroom.
"I too want one like that to play with. Please get me one" the girl said.
What could any one say to such a request of the child? It is but natural of
children to ask for every new thing they see. Without a second word the
grandfather brought out a lovely idol of Sri Krishna and placing it in her
hands, said, "Look, my dear, here is your bridegroom. Take good care of
him."
Mira got what she had asked for; what else did she care for? She played with
that idol and behaved as if Krishna was her husband.
This is one story about Mira. There is nothing improbable in it. But it
cannot be said for certain that this is what really happened.
One more story about how Mira got the idol of Sri Krishna is worth
considering.
Rao Doodaji had much respect for monks and saints. Almost every day some
monk or the other came to the palace as a guest of honor. Once a hermit
called Raidas came to the palace. He was prominent among the disciples of
Saint Ramanand who had spread the Vaishnava cult in North India. He had a
beautiful idol of Sri Krishna. He used to worship it as his personal deity.
Mira saw it and wanted it. She asked for it. She would listen to no
one. She was stubborn and insisted on having it. Who would be prepared to
part with his personal deity just to pacify a child? The hermit left the
palace after enjoying the king's hospitality.
Mira did not stop crying. She gave up food and drink and went on crying for
the idol.
Next morning Raidas returned to the palace and placed the idol of Sri
Krishna, so dear to him, in Mira's hands. Her joy knew no bounds.
Greatly surprised, "What is this?" asked Doodaji. The hermit said, "Last
night Sri
Krishna appeared in my dream and said: "My beloved devotee is crying for me.
Go and give the idol to her.' It is my duty to obey my Lord's command, that
is why I came back running. Mira is a great person." So saying the hermit
blessed Mira and went away.
This is another story. Some scholars say that this happened about the year
1501-2. There are also people who say that the sanyasi was not Raidas but
somebody else. Mira herself has said in a song:
"My mind has become one with Hari. I can see my path clearly. My master
Raidas himself has given me the pill of wisdom. The name of Hari has been
deeply inscribed on my heart...
Thus Mira has clearly stated that Raidas was her spiritual master. So the
story narrated earlier may be believed. The problem lies not so much in the
story as in the name of Raidas mentioned in it.
Raidas, the disciple of Ramanand, was born in or about the year 1400. The
story can be true only if Raidas lived for more than a hundred years. One
other important point is that Raidas was a devotee of Rama. Therefore many
persons do not believe that he had an idol of Lord Krishna. But it cannot be
said that he never wor- shipped Krishna and that he did not have an idol of
Krishna at all. Brindavana, Dwaraka, and the banks of river Jamuna, which
are associated with Krishna's life, are places in North India. So naturally
the people there were particularly devoted to Sri Krishna. In such circums-
tances, it would not have been unusual even if Raidas had an idol of Sri
Krishna.
Some scholars say that the hermit of this story was only a disciple of
Raidas. It was a tradition to give the same name of the Guru to the disciple
succeeding to the Guru's position. So this view may be correct.
Somehow or the other, the idol of Sri Krishna came to the great tiny hands
of little Mira, as a gift from some holy man.
Sri Krishna became her companion all through her life.
The King's Daughter-in-Law
Mira was brought up in the palace of her grandfather. Along with her general
education she received lessons in music and dance too. She acquired a good
mastery over them. She must have been especially proficient in music. The
sweet musical quality of her songs is rarely found in the lyrics of other
poets. This melody is themain reason for the immense popularity of her
songs.
Sri Krishna had already filled her heart.
After Doodaji's death, his first son, Beerama Dev, became the Rana. He
thought of celebrating Mira's marriage. It was decided that she was to marry
Bhojaraja, the crown prince of Chittore. He was the son of Rana Sanga. The
marriage was celebrated with great pomp and grandeur in1516.It seems Mira
had placed the idol of Sri Krishna by her side even on the bridal seat. The
royal family, which had the custom of placing asword representing the
bridegroom,by the bride's side might well have allowed this.
Mira had been worshipping Krishna right from her childhood. Nobody in her
parent's home had come in the way. On the other hand, they had encouraged
it.
But as soon as she came to live with her husband, her devotion to Sri
Krishna began to cause displeasure among the members of her husband's
family.
The family, which Mira entered, was renowned for bravery and heroism. Though
the Rana had to face all alone the adversities of life, he bore them with
courage but never accepted the Moghul rule in Rajasthan. Constantly fighting
against the Moghals, he had held high the banner of Rajasthan's
tenacity,courage and heroism. Such a man was her father- in-law. And his
eldest son Bhojaraja was her husband. This brave spirit of Rajasthan was the
pride of India.Bhojaraja, too, was a hero. His family had been from times
immemorial followers of the Shakta cult; that is, they worshipped the
Goddess of Power in the forms of Durga, Kali, Chamundi and Parvathi. They
did not so much like the worship of Vishnu. Mira's mother-in-law, in
particular, did not like it at all.
It may seem strange that one should regard God as the husband and behave
accordingly. But it is not a new thing in the Bhakti cult. There are several
types of Bhakti (devotion). They are classified according to the relation
that exists between God and the devotee. If God is regarded with parental
affection, it is called as one's own dear child 'Vatsalya Bhava' (or the
devotion of a parent to a child). The relation between Yashoda and Krishna
is a good example of this type.
Instead of this, if a
devotee considers God as his Master and firmly believes that he lives only
by that Master's Grace and owes everything in life to Him, the relation
would be that, which exists between Master and servant, It is called Dasya
Bhava' (devotion of a servant to the Master). The relation between
Hanumantha and Sri Rama is an example of this.
When God is taken for an intimate friend, it is called "Sakhya Bhava' - the
devotion of a friend to a friend. The friendship of Sri Krishna and Kuchela
is of this type.
When the relation between God and the devotee is one of love and of the
intimacy that exists between husband and wife, it is called 'Madhurya Bhava'.
This is considered the highest form of devotion. The devotee is the wife and
-God is the husband. A wife serves her lord in several roles. She looks
after him with affectionate care like a mother;she stands inattendance with
respect and obedience like a servant; she treats him with sweet familiarity
like a friend. In 'Madhura Bhava' the devotee's relationship with God is
exactly that of the wife with her husband.
Right from her childhood Mira had cultivated this kind of love for God. At
the time of her marriage, she showed, in the presence of all people, that
Sri Krishna was her husband. That became the conviction of her life. In her
mother's home there was no hindrance to her devotion to Krishna. In fact it
was only there this faith struck deep root in her heart.
Obstinate Or Crazy?
Though Mira had firmly believed even from her young age that Sri Krishna was
her Lord, there is nothing to show in real life that she neglected her
husband. As an ideal wife she might have returned his love and affection.
But under no circumstances was she prepared to forget her SriKrishna. In the
entire world nothing was greater to her than that love. She loved to sit
before the sweet little image of Sri Krishna, sing about Him in her sweet
voice and dance. That was her life. She was born for only that. How could
she give it up?
But to others in her husband's house this looked like impertinence. It made
them hate Mira. Everybody at home advised the obstinate girl to mend
herself.She listened to their words. She would do whatever else she was
asked to do; but, it she was told to forget Krishna, she could not bear it.
In the view of others, her intense devotion was nothing but a craze. When
they made sure that she would not budge whatever they might say, they grew
indifferent towards her. Day by day she went on spending more and more time
in the company of monks and other holy people, meditating upon Sri Krishna.
At last Bhojaraja got a temple built exclusively for her near the palace.
(Some say that this temple was meant to divert the large number of Sadhus
who came to the palace.) Anyway this provided Mira with a place where she
could worship Sri Krishna in freedom. She used to spend the whole day in
song and dance there.
"When the whole world is asleep 1, being away from my Lord, keep awake.
Likewise some one else separated from her lover sits in a luxurious mansion
stringing pearls, I know. Counting the stars I-spend the whole night. When
will dawn the hour of happiness for me? It is only after Giridhar, the Lord
of Mira, comes that this suffering will end," so she sang in great joy.
Her own people who had seen her sing, dance and go into ecstasy had
concluded that she had gone mad. But the monks respected her as a great
saint.The number of those who came to be blessed by her sight increased.
The prestige of the royal family of Chittore stood very high. How renowned
and noble was this family!
What a disgrace to such a family if the wife of the prince went on singing
and dancing with monks!
Besides, she had insulted her husband's family by not worshipping Mother
Kali.
Such were the thoughts that crossed the minds of many in her husband's
house. They were angry and had nothing but contempt for her. But Bhojaraja
had immense love for her. Therefore no one had the courage to say anything
against her.
But Bhojaraja passed away in 1521. He had been wounded in a battle in 1518,
and the wounds proved fatal. Within about five years after her marriage Mira
became a widow. She was only, twenty-three thins.
The only link Mira had with the world had snapped. There was no one to care
for her. Branded as mad, she had already suffered everybody's contempt. But
this apathy of her own people only strengthe- ned her devotion. More than
ever she clung firmly to her Lord Krishna.
The Diamond
Necklace Brings Grief
At home those who were opposed to her secretly till then, now began to talk
about her openly. Fretting and fuming they said that the honor of the family
had fallen to the dust. But she was known among the people as 'a great
saint', and as the'Radha of Kaliyuga'. Many people deemed it a great fortune
to see her and came to touch her feet in reverence.
Here is a story which a illustrates wide spread fame.
Akbar was a great Moghal Emperor. Tansen was a celebrated musician at his
court. Tansen had seen Mira. Akbar came to know about Mira. He had heard
that she had won the Grace of Krishna and that Krishna appeared before her
when she sang in the ecstasy of devotion. So Akbar also wanted to see her.
Both Tansen and Akbar decided to go to the place where Mira was living.
But it was not so easy for a MogulEmperor to go and see a Rajput lady in
Rajasthan. It
was risky to go undisguised. Many of the Rajputs were hostile to Muslims.
Though Akbar was able to make friends with quite a few of them, he had many
enemies too. So according toTansen's plan bothentered Chittore in the guise
of monks. Hindus do not harm monks. Moreover, the guise of ascetics made it
easier for them to see Mira.
So,both Tansen and Akbar camedisguised as hermits to the temple where Mira
lived.
At that time Mira was singing and dancing before Krishna. Her face was
glowing like a lamp. Her voice was so sweet that the listeners stood amazed
and thrilled. Forgetful of the entire world she was singing of Lai Giridhar
and was dancing. Seeing Mira in that state, the Mogul Emperor was filled
with wonder and devotion. He felt ashamed that he stood before such a saint
in the false guise of a monk. He reproached himself in his mind.
"Tansen, come let us confess before this great saint who we really are and
beg her to forgive us," said Akbar. "My Lord, if these people come to know
that we are not really monks, just think of the conse- quence. If they find
out that you, the Mogul Emperor, have come to see a Rajput lady, they will
never allow us to go alive," warned Tansen.
Akbar was overcome with devotion and forgot himself in the song and dance of
Mira.
The song and the dance ended, and Mira offered her salutation to Sri Krishna
and sat down.
Akbar went up to her and bowed in salutation touching her feet. Then he took
out a fine diamond necklace and was about to place it at her feet. Mira
said, "Please don't do it. I do not take gifts of this kind."
"Mother, this I have brought as an offering to Sri Krishna. Pray accept it
for Giridhar. I
cannot take back what I have brought for Sri Krishna.Please do not
refuse,"implored the Emperor.
"All right, it is Sri Krishna's," said Mira and put it round the neck of Sri
Krishna's Idol.
The necklace was dazzling. It caught the eye of every visitor. All wondered
who could have given such a gift.
Some one identified it as belonging to Akbar.
Then how did it come there?
By and by the news spread: the great Mogul Emperor had come to the temple to
see Mira and he touched her feet in reverence and offered a preciousdiamond
necklace to Sri Krishna.
Rathan Simha the Second was then the Rana. This news reached him. He burned
with anger. To him it was a question of the honor of the family. "A Mogul
has not only stepped upon the sacred Rajput land but has gone back alive
even after touching a Rajput lady. What a disgrace to the family!"
He thought that Mira herself, by leading the life of an ascetic, was
responsible for it. So he began to harass her.
So goes the story. Historically viewed certain details are not correct.
Tansen entered Akbar's court in 1562, that is, 15 years after Mira's death.
If this story is true, Akbar could not have been on the throne at the time
of the visit. Mira is said to have breathed her last in Dwaraka in 1547,when
Akbar was only a five year-old child. But it is not certain that Mira died
in 1547. There is also a version that Akbar was a crown prince when he met
Mira Bai. Anyway, this is a very popular story about Mira Bai. Whatever the
truth of the details, it must be true that later Mira wassubjected to
terrible tortures.
The indignant Rana and his men ma several attempts to kill her.
Mira accepted everything
without protest. She came out of every danger safely. Her own song testifies
to this:
Samp pitaro, Rana bhejo
Mira hath diyo joy I
Nai dhby jab dekhan lagi
Saligram gayi poy I
Jahar ka pyala Rana bhejyo
Amarit diyo vanoy
Nai doy jaI pevan lagi
amar hogayi joy II
Sul sej Ranane bheji
dijo Mira suvoy I
Sanjh bhayi Mira sovan lagi
mano phul bichoy II
Mira ke prabhu sada sahayi
rakho vidhan hatoy I
Bhakti bhav me mast dolti
Giridhar pai bali joy II
"The Rana sent to Mira a basket full of flowers with a snake concealed in
it. Mira,
engaged in worship, put her hand into the basket to take some flowers. What
a wonder! The snake had changed into a saligrama." (A saligrama is a small
round - shaped stone picked from thebanks of the river Gandaki;it is
worshipped as a symbol of Lord Vishnu by the Vaishnavites.)
"Determined to kill Mira somehow the Rana sent a cup of poison. She prayed
to Lord Krishna and drank the poison. The poison turned into nectar.
"The Rana got a bed of sharp nails made. Mira lay down on it as soon as it
grew dark. The nails instead of piercing her body became flowers. Mira was
saved from all these dangers by none other than her Lord. Intoxicated with
immense love, she wanders all over in search of her Lord, dedicating herself
to him entirely."
Since several of her songs mention a number of tortures inflicted on her by
the Rana, the account must be true. How was Mira able to escape from so many
dangers? Mira believed it to be only the grace of her Lord. Her devotees
also have the same belief.
The Rana never tried to kill her openly. May be he thought it was a sin to
kill a woman and feared it, or he thought that such an act would enrage the
people who loved her very much. When all his secret plots failed and Mira
stood unscathed through all acts of violence, he cursed her, "Why shouldn't
this ignoble woman drown herself and die?"
'I Have None But Giridhar Gopal'
Mira came to know about this wish of Rana. She too thought that it was
right. If she were drowned it would be a great relief toher mother-in-law
and her relations. And she too could join her Lord, Sri Krishna. It was the
simplest solution. With these thoughts Mira went to the river.
Standing on the edge of the water she prayed in her mind to Lal Giridhar,
Sri Krishna: "0, my Lord! Take me unto thy self."
She was about to jump into the river. But a voice seemed to address her: "it
is a great sin to kill oneself. Don't do it, don't jump into the water. Go
to Brindavan."
Brindavan was the place where Krishna spent his childhood. Mira set out for
Brindavan. None troubled her there about family prestige. No codes of
courtly conduct curbed her freedom. She was free from the constant fear of
the Rana.
In happy abandonment Mira sang and danced before Sri Krishna: 'Mere tho
Giridhar,Gopal, Dusaro na koyi' (Except Giridhar Gopal I have no one).
The Only
Man In Brindavan
There is a fascinating story connected with Mira's life in Brindavan. There
were many
saints in Brindavan. Jeeva Goswami was prominent among them.He followed a
very strict vow. He would not allow even the shadow of a woman to touch him.
So women could never go and see him. Having joined Chaitanya Dev's Bhakti
Movement he was spreading the cult of Bhakti.
Having a high regard for saints and sages Mira went to see this great man.
At the very entrance of the hermitage she was stopped by a disciple of
Goswami. He said, "The Swamiji will not see anywoman."
Mira only laughed at this and said,"Ithought the only man in Brindavan is
Sri Krishna.
Now, I see there is a rival to Him." These words pierced the heart of
Goswami like a sharp pointed lance. He came out of his
cottage and walked up barefooted and conducted Mira into the hermitage with
all honor.
This is the story.
In the Bhakti cult the love of the wife for her husband is said to be the
best form of
devotion. According to this all are women in this world. God is the only
Man. In Brindavan the only man is Sri Krishna. All the rest, the devotees,
are Gopis. There is no distinction of sex among devotees. They should imbibe
the feeling that God is their husband. If a devotee has this feeling he
cannot obstinately refuse to see women. Knowing this, if he behaves with the
presumption of being a man,it amounts to being a rival to God.
After leaving the palace Mira came in contact with many great men and famous
poets. This strengthened her devotion and poetic talent.
In Dwaraka
The political condition in Medatha and in Chittore had changed very much.
Nobody cared for Mira. Every one had branded her as a disgrace to the
community. Her uncle, Beerama Dev, had to fight hard to retain his kingdom.
He had no time to think of Mira. She, too, did not bother herself about
these things. In a state of utter detachment she went on pilgrimage with
saints. Finally she halted at Dwaraka. The temple of Ranchodji (another name
for Sri Krishna) in Dwaraka became her shrine.
Though Mira was extremely popular, the royal families of Rajasthan hesitated
to own her. The news that the Rana had been very unfair to Mira had spread.
After Ratan Simha the Second was murdered, Udaya Simha was crowned. He
thought that if Mira lived alone in the company of monks, it would bring a
bad name to the royal family. So he requested her to return to
Chittore.Having once suffered many tortures there, the pious Mira did not
wish to return to that cage. There is an interesting tale about this.
Udaya Simha soon realized that Mira would not come back in deference to his
words. He sent five Brahmins of Chittore to meet her.They requested herto
return toChittore. Mira felt that if she went back to thepalace, the same
old tale would be repeated. She was probably about forty-eight at that time.
Even while her husband, Bhojaraja, was living it had been difficult for her
to worship Sri Krishna in the palace. Mira had to shift to a temple. Now
twenty-five years had passed since her husband's death. The royal family had
even tried to murder her. So she had come to live in Dwaraka, far away from
them all. She had resolved that she was related to nobody except Giridhar
Gopal.
Was she to go back to that palace, to that prison? "I shall not come," she
said.
It was the Rana who had sent the Brahmins. They dared not stand before him
with dull face, without Mira. They implored, they entreated and they tried
more than one way to persuade her.
"No," said Mira, "I shall not come." Then the Brahmins used their last
weapon. "We shall not return without you," they said, "If you do not come
with us,we shall fast here unto death."
Mira was in difficult situation. She did not like to go to Chittore. But she
could not be
responsible for the death of these Brahmins. So she requested them to wait
that night in the temple itself. She agreed to go to Chittore with them the
next morning. The Brahmins felt very happy and stayed in the temple.
Where Is
Saint Mira?
The day dawned.
Mira was not to be found anywhere.
The Brahmins got scared. They searched for her. Other devotees and sanyasis
also
searched for her. But she was nowhere to be seen.
Only her dress was found lying in front of Ranchodji's shrine.
The devotees concluded that she might have got merged in her dear Lord, Lal
Giridhar.
Even now devotees have the same belief.
There are people who do not believe this story. But there cannot be a more
beautiful
conclusion to the story of Mira's life. People who believe this to be true
think it must have happened in 1547. Another Ponclusion is, that Mira did
not die but escaped in disguise. But they cannot say anything about her life
after this time. Nothing was heard of her anywhere. Among the stories people
narrate about her this is none after this date. Therefore it is only
appropriate to believe that Mira who had remained firm in the midst of all
troubles realized at last the union with her dearest Lord.
The Drop Of
Nectar In The Poision
Mira's achievement in music is remarkable. She herself has set tunes to her
songs and has mentioned the ragas. 'Rag Govinda' and 'Rag Mira Malhar' are
her own creations. Mira's songs can easily be set to music. And this is why
those songs have been on the lips of people for over four hundred years.
There are several compositions on record said to have been her work. But
only the lyrics known, as Padas (songs of folk style) are important. So far
more than four hundred such songs have been collected.
Mira's name is not mentioned in any of the royal chronicles of Rajasthan. No
details of any kind can be found in the writings of contemporary historians.
From all this, it is obvious that there was a deliberateattempt to wipe out
her name from history. Some people had tried to kill her when she was alive.
Probably they tried to prevent all mention of her in history. This would not
be surprising. Jealousy and hatred make a man stoop to any mean act. The
moving songs of Mira who had won the hearts of the people are still on their
lips and so she lives still.
Those kings in power in
those days not only hated her and treated her with contempt but also tried
to expel her from the pages of history. Today while we look for material in
books of history for Mira's biography, we have to ignore them. But Mira who
had suffered their cruelty neither did not hate them in return nor showed
any anger. Like a drop of sweet nectar preserved unspoiled even in the midst
of poison, in the midst of hatred, violence and scandals, Mira fixed her
mind on Lal Giridhar and sang in praise of him. We feel as if we hear Mira
say with a smile, 'A devotee suffers any kind of hardship for the sake of
his God, He never gives up his God. By minding his own business, he reaches
his goal.'
The song comes floating across f hundred years:
"Mere tho Giridhar Gopal
doosaro na koyi II
Mata chodi, pita chode,
Chode saga soyi I
Sadha sang baith baith
Lok laj khoyi II
Santh dekh dowdi aayi,'
Jagat dekh royi I
Prem aasu dar dar
Amar bel boyi I
Marag me taran mile
santh nam doyi I
Santh sada sees par
Nam hridou hoyi II
Ab tho bath phail gayi,
Janou sab koyi I
Dasi Mira Lal Giridhar
Honi so hoyi II
"I have no one but Giridhar Gopal. I gave up my mother. I gave up my father,
and gave up all my kith and kin. I gave up my shyness in the company of
sages. I ran eagerly seeking the saints but the ways and manners of the
world came in the way. Then I shed tears. Those tears have kept the creeper
of love alive. Saints and the holy name of Sri Krishna were the guiding
lights I found along my path. Sri Krishna from within and the saints from
without have illumined my path. My Lord, this slave Mira is yours. And you
are the goal she wishes to reach. Let people gossip as they please. What
does it matter?"
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