The Saintly Mirabai

By Dinashyama das Vanacari

Upon studying the life and times of saintly persons in the past who
dedicated their lives in devotion to the Supreme Personality of
Godhead Sri Krishna, I came to cross upon a female saint whose life
story is very exceptional and one cannot take not to notice of her
poems and her devotional songs.

Who is Mirabai?

She is a 15th century poet, singer and saint [1498 – 1567 CE] and is
considered to be the most quoted and remembered woman in the history
of India. Many films are made for her veneration and versions of her
songs still sung today throughout India.

Mirabai was born as a very beautiful princess of Rathod clan and

belonged to Medath of Rajasthan her father was Rana Ratan Simha
[Rana means Rajah or king] and at an early age princess Mira was
passionately- attached to her personal deity - Giridhari Gopal which
is a form of Lord Krishna and this was about when Mira was in the
tender age of 5 [1503CE].

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This is due to being influence by people around her especially her
relatives because they were Vaishnavas and even her father the King
was very affectionate to sanyasis and saintly people.
During her childhood was filled with miraculous pastimes with the Lord
and she exhibited wonderful spiritual traits that indicated that she
was a devotee of Lord Krishna.

When Princess Mira was about 14 years of age [1516] her hand was
given in mariage to the crowned Prince of Chittor: Prince Bhoj Raj of
the Rajput Kingdom of Mewar during those time and the early 16th
century it is said Mewar was the most powerful Rajput State. Although
married to the prince she claimed to the prince that she had already
given her heart to Lord Krishna and they were already married since
she was 5 years old. The prince out of her love for the princess
accepted it as a fact and accepted that he was no match to the Lord.

Mirabai’s problems and trials in her life started when she refuse to
worship her husband’s family deity the Goddess Durga, remember that
pure bhakti devotees never settled for anything less than pure bhakti
itself. It is the ultimate goal of a sadhaka to achieve Prema Bhakti
and not settle with mixed types of bhakti such as: karma-misra and
jnana misra or any kind of liberation [sarsti, salokya, sarupya,
samipya and even sajyuja]

The women family members of the prince are the ones who created so
much difficulties to Mirabai for she refuse to accept gifts of silk
clothings and jewelries from them and other family members thinking
that she does not need those things and she was a total renunciate
from material enjoyment and luxuries. Also her desire and request to
associate with sadhus and community of Krishna bhaktas [devotees] even
made the prince family members more infuriated with her. But the
crowned prince out her love and understanding give her so much freedom
to do her devotion.

One time there was a big celebration to be held in the palace where in
the King Rana Sangh her father-in-law, the father of Prince Bhoj Raj
was having. As a model daughter-in-law she volunteered to be in charge
of the food preparations. She cooked the best and delicious food
preparations and offered all to the Lord with love. Indeed it was the
biggest and most delicious feast but one thing is missing in the food;
there was no meat, for all was vegetarian preparations and all the
king’s family members and guest were dismayed because they were not
vegetarians.

Mirabai has served her Prince Bhoj Raj hand and foot as an ideal Hindu
wife for 3 years until the death of her husband and her father-in-law
the King. She declined to commit Sati wherein she is to be burned
together with the dead body of her husbandin the funeral pyre. This
made the present King her brother-in-law furios because it is highly
expected and customary within high caste Rajputs women during those
times that the widowed wife will join the cremation of the husband.

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Mira claimed that the death of her earthly husband freed her of her
obligation and now she will devote her time more on her bhajans,
praying, singing and dancing before her beloved Giridhari Gopal. So
with this incident Mira attracted many devotees, sanyasis, pilgrims,
wandering saints and spiritual seekers and thus more and more devotees
of the Lord were attracted and filled the palace premises wherein her
late husband gave her permission to held her devotional services.

Mira found great comfort within the association of devotees of the

Lord and the devotees of the Lord found her association to be purying
and enlightening and increased their devotional sentiments and
transcendental knowledge while they are listening to her songs, poetry
and teachings.

The new ruling king, the Rana her brother-in-law was not pleased with
Mira’s odd conduct and behavior which is not up to standard of their
royal household. This led the Rana to plot against Mira and many
instances wherein the Rana would make attempts to kill Mira, like
Prahlad’s father King Hiranyakashipu devises many plans to kill
Prahlad the Rana arrange plans to kill Mira.

One time the Rana sent a basketful of flowers to Mira with a snake but
the snake turned into a Saligrama stone! (Saligrama is a small round
shaped black stone from the Gandaki River in Himalayas and is
worshipped as a symbol of Vishnu) Also in some stories the Rana sent
with a basket with a deadly cobra telling her to be a garland for her
deity and when she opens the basket to take the flower garland it was
indeed a beautiful garland.

Another time Mira was sent by the Rana some milk filled with poison
enough to kill 5 grown up men and because all that the saintly Mira
ate was only prasad; she prayed and offered first to her Lord the cup
of mik thus it became nectar. There was also one time when the Rana
ordered his servants to make the bed of Mira full of sharp nails
brushed with poisonous snake venom and covered it with rose petals so
that Mira would not notice but the deadly poisonous nails has no
effect to the soft body of Mira because the nails turned into fragrant
rose petals adding more comfort to Mira’s bed.

Mira was saved from all these dangers that the Rana worked out for her
by no other than Giridhari Gopal Himself. Being so much anger of his
failed plans the Rana ordered Mira to not anymore conduct her
spiritual congregations inside the palace. Thus Mira had no choice but
to conduct her practice outside the palace and started doing her
worship and bhajans in public places.

Some of Mira’s songs reveal her agony and persecution on her life that
she experienced from her husband relatives and all these trials she
have surpassed only by the mercy of her beloved Sri Krishna.Thus more
and more people take notice of songs and she gained so much popularity

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and the sentiments of the common people that it affected and
humiliated the family of her in-laws to the glare of the public.

Thus the Rana became even more furious and ordered his soldiers to
take Mira and returned her back to the palace, then the new King
ordered Mira to go drown herself in some lake or river because she
only caused so much humiliation to her dead husband and her in-laws
and even to her family that there is nothing more she can do to
rectify such disgrace she caused but only to kill herself.

Being submissive to her brother-in-law and fulfilling his desire, Mira

proceeded towards a river to drown herself for she did not wish to
bring so much distress to her royal-in-laws so if jumping into the
river will amend the situation, she is willing to accept.

This is similar to the story of Haridas Thakur when it was almost

sundown wherein the guards who were striking Haridas with their
bleeding hands that are already swollen for countless striking to
Haridas’s body with whips and canes that they could not anymore lift
their hands to strike out of pain and exhaustion.

Upon hearing their cries, Haridas Thakur understood that he was

causing so much pain and fear to the guards for if they could not kill
him at sundown they themselves will be killed for not carrying out
their orders from the higher authorities. Thus Srila Haridas Thakur
left his body and all his external senses was not anymore functioning.
Thus the body of Haridas lay dead.

So similarly the pure devotee of the Lord does not want to cause any
pain or suffering to any other living entities. Thus Mirabai jumped
into the river to kill herself but in the nick of time the
transcendental Lord, the beloved of all gopis and the lifeair of the
queens of Dwarka caught hold of Mira’s hand and stop her from jumping
thus Mira was save by none other Giridhari Gopal Himself.

For sometime seemingly Mira loss her consciousness and when she
regained her awareness still her Dark-Beloved Lord was with her and
instructed her to go to Vrindavan and continue her devotion to Him.
Thus Mira proceeded towards Vrindavan and there she meets one of the
the six goswamis: the famous Srila Jiva Goswami.

There in Vrindavan Mira takes darshan and partake the dust of the
lotus feet of Srila Jiva Goswami and receives instructions from him
and listened to his Hari-Katha. Infused with divine mercy and
spiritual blessing from Srila JivaGoswami, Mira intoxicated with
feelings of immense loving separation from her beloved, she wrote a
song that describes her Lord leaving the company of gopis and mother
Yasoda and taken an appearance of a sanyasi with shave head and skimpy
yellow [pitambar] garments in the form of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu.

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After that Mirabai went to Mathura and then Dwarka there she past her
life is glorifying her beloved Sri Krishna until she passed away
merging in her Deity Giridhari Gopal at the temple of Ranchod at
Dwarka in 156 7AD.

The saintly Mira gave instructions and suggestions to spiritual

aspirants that one must do one’s bhajans, to love and live for the
darling Son of Nanda and one’s love for Him must be pure and
unattainted. This is the central theme of Mirabai’s message.

Songs of Devotion

There are about more than 400 songs that were ascribed to her and in
each of her song it is said that she herself personally composed and
set the tunes. Whenever she sings her songs it is infused with so much
love, devotion and surrender that it has captivated the hearts of the
devotee listeners and even the common people.

Even in the Giti Guccha the devotional songbook compiled by Srila

Gurudeva – Srimad Bhaktivedanta Narayan Maharaj we have Mira’s song in
Hindi titled “Ali Mohe Lage”

“mira ke prabhu giridhari nagara bhajana vina nara phiko

Ali mohe lage vrindavana niko”

“The Hero Giridhari is the master of Mira,

who says that without bhajana a person is dull [dry]
Oh friend! I like Vrindavan so much”

Mira’s Giridhari Gopal Deity

According to ancient stories, Princess Mira has received that deity of

Giridhari Gopal from a saintly person by the name of Raidas. The saint
is believed to be a prominent disciple coming from a Vaishnava sect
who is headed by the renowned saint Ramananda from Northern India and
the story is as follows:
“Mira’s father King Ratan Simha was very respectful to sanyasis and
saintly people
and usually everyday some saintly person or pilgrim came to the palace
and was treated as guest of honor by the king.

Once the saintly Raidas came to their palace

carrying a beautiful deity of Giridhari Gopal
and Mira upon seeing the beautiful deity
she was captivated at first sight.

Mira was so anxious that she has asked Raidas for the deity

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 although everyone was telling her request is not possible to be
granted
Mira was so insistent and did not listen even to her father King
Ratan Simha.
It seems that even the king could not make up Mira’s mind to change,
for the young girl was very persistent and determined

The saintly Raidas thought very deeply,

who would be prepared to part with one’s personal deity?
who he had worship everyday? - just to pacify a little child?

after accepting the king’s hospitality, the saintly Raidas left the
palace
with a heavy heart, of not accomodating Mira,s request.

Throughout the night, little princess Mira

did not stop crying for Giridhari Gopal
She did not even touch her food nor drink water during the whole night
and she just kept on crying and crying.

But the next day the saint came back to the palace and upon seeing
Mira,
the saintly Raidas placed his much-loved deity Giridhari Gopal to
Mira’s hands.
Thus the little princess joy knows no bound.

King Ratan Simha was greatly surprised by the saint’s action

thus the king asked him why he gave Mira his personal deity.
The saintly Raidas answered, that last night in his dream
Lord Krishna appeared before him
and said that His beloved -Mira was crying for Him
and asked Raidas to give Mira the Giridhari Gopal deity.

Thus the saintly Raidas explained to the king that

princess Mira was a great devotee of his Master
and that it was his duty to follow his Master’s instruction [Lord
Krishna]
thus upon waking up he hurriedly went back running to the palace.

The saintly Raidas before leaving blessed

and gave instructions to the little princess and then went away.”

Mira accepted Diksa from Srila Raidas

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It is been a question that the saintly Mira has not accepted a guru
but one of Mira’s song gives clue that she has accepted a spiritual
master…

"My mind has become absorb 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..."

Story of Mirabai taking Siksa from Srila Jiva Goswami

After being instructed by Sri Krishna Himself to set of for Vrindavan,

Mirabai went without delay. Vrindavan is the where the wonderful
pastimes of Sri Krishna and the gopis took place, it is where Sri
Krishna played with His cowherd boyfriends and where Sri Krishna gives
joy in the hearts of Mother Yasoda and Nanda Maharaj and other parents
of the gopas and the gopis. It is also where the forever blissful blue
boy played and interacted with different animals and plants.

Better yet, Vrindavan is where the abode of the pure devotees, holy
men and the six goswamis, where they stay to constantly remember the
Lord in meditation. Srila Jiva Goswami during that time was staying in
Vrindavan after the disappearance of his Masters: Srila Rupa Goswami
and Sanatan Goswami. Srila Jiva Goswami was a sanyasi and was very
strict when it comes to the association of women that he would not
associate with them for no valid reason.

Thus it is understood by his students that he is not accustomed to

meet with women. Mirabai upon arriving in the place of the Goswami was
stopped and asked by his disciple and said “Swamiji will not see any
woman for he has taken sanyasa and for men in the renounce order of
life does not mix freely with women.”

Mirabai’s nature was very persistent that she knows that she has to
have darshan and ask instructions from the saintly Jiva Goswami, then
she answered the disciple intelligently; Mira gave a small laugh and
smiled “I though the only Man in Vrindavan is Sri Krishna. Now I see,
there is a rival to Him!" For Mira understood that the six Goswamis
true forms in Vrindavan are actually female maidservants in reality.
So there is nothing wrong with both women are talking with each other.

Upon hearing the astounding answer from Mirabai, the disciple

immediately went to his master and explained the situation.

Mirabai's words made Srila Jiva Goswami smiled and at once stood up
for he understood the hidden meaning. He came out from his hut and
welcomed Mirabai; the beautiful saintly princess offered her respects

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to Srila Jiva Goswami and after that the Goswami happily escorted her
to his hut.

In connection with the Bhakti-rasa-bodhini commentary (anuccheda 489)

on Bhaktamala mentions of Mirabai engaging in Krishna-katha with Srila
Jiva Goswami.Her story is to be found in the 22nd chapter of Bhakta-
mala

The result of her taking siksa from Srila Jiva Goswami Mirabai and
taking hold of his lotus feet she has composed this devotional song
that describes that her Dark- Colored Beloved Lord Krishna is has now
appeared as the Golden – Yellow colored Lord Caitanya.

This is a poem of Mirabai taken from the foreword of a book that was
published by the Sri Gopinatha Gaudiya Matha, Hindi translation by Sri
Vanamalidasa Sastri; the book was Srila Rupa Goswami’s - Sri Padyavali

ab to hari naam lou laagee!

"ab to hari naam lou laagee, saadho!

saba jaga ko yaha maakhan choraa,
naam dharyo vairaagee! //1

kita chodi vohu mohan murali?

kita chodi saba gopi?
moond mundaayi dori kati bandhee,
maathe mohan topi ! //2

maata yasomati maakhan kaaran

baandhi jaaki paam,
shyaama kishore bhayo nava goraa,
caitanya jaako naam ! //3

pitaambar ko bhaava dikhaavai,

kati kaupeena kase,
gora krishna ki daasi meeraa,
rasanaa krishna base ! //4

O pious souls! Now, my consciousness is absorbed into the

Divine Names of my Hari! I surrender myself to His Holy Name
The entire world addresses Him as the 'Butter Thief'.
But now, He has earned another popular Name for Himself,
as 'Vairaagi'- the dispassionate wandering Sanyasi

O my dearest Mohan (Enchanter, Krishna)!

Why have You discarded Your intimate companion, Priya-Sakhi, the
Divine Flute?
And why have You renounced all Your eternal Sweethearts, Gopis?

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You appear now with shaven head and ochre cloth at Your waist!
But looking at the Mohan's diadem on Your head this clever Gopi
recognizes Your disguise!

You're the same Thief whose legs have been tied up

by Mother Yasoda for stealing butter!
My Dark Beloved has now reappeared in bright
new golden Form whose blessed Name is ‘Caitanya’!

Though clad Himself in skimpy rags, His Pitambara (Yellow Divine

Attire)
as well as His inner most Divine Love Sentiments are revealed to me.
Now Meerabai is the Hand-Maid of Golden-yellow Krishna,
and He resides ever on her blessed tongue as His glorious Divine Name!

Conclusion

I hope these will give some light on the life story of the saintly
Mira and will erase some misconceptions on her being labeled as a
sahajiya and not being a pure devotee of Sri Krishna and having not
initiated by diksha by a vaisnava master. For she has taken both
diksha from a bonafide sampradaya of the Ramanuja and siksha from the
famous Srila Jiva goswami on the gaudiya line.

I offer my unlimited obeisances unto her lotus feet and hoping that
she may be please and bestow to me even a little drop of her
unwavering devotion and her deep-hearted bhajans to Sri Krishna and
Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.

And this is not possible without the mercy of my Srila Gurudev Srimad
Bhaktivedanta Muni Swami Maharaj who had given me shelter at His lotus
feet.

Om ajnana timirandasya jnanananda

salakaya caksur unmilitam tasmai Sri Gurave namah

Vancha kalpatarubhyas ca krpa sindhu eva ca

Patitanam pabnebhyo vaishnavebhyo namo namah

Written on 6th of February 2013

Wednesday, Sat-tila Ekadasi

Dinashyama das Vanacari

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