Meera's Devotion

Meera,an epitome of devotion ,upon hearing whose name every religious Indian find bliss, preached the path of Bhakti though the example of her own life. As in the Gita ,we find 'Yad Yad Acarati Sresthas' whatever deed is performed by a great soul,people follow those footsteps .Specially ,in 16th century ,the medieval society had many predicament components .So, Meera ,a Royal princess upon hearing the pastimes of Sri Krishna developed the mellow of Bhakti, She was married to an another royal family against her will.For Meera,Sri Krishna is her only Husband  ,Jake Seer Mor mukut mero Pati Soi , My husband is he ,who has the peacock feather on his crown .

               In her Childhood,once  a saint gave her a deity of Lord Krsna .While her playtime,one-day her mother told her that Krsna is her husband had deeply influenced her. The little Meera then developed her faith by hearing Bhagavata leels from her maternal grandfather .After Her marriage,her devotional attitude gave distress to her in laws.Her devotional singing and dancing put an ill-name on the royal family,so her in laws tried many times to execute her.But unharmed Meera everytime fulfilled the saying of Gita na me bhaktah pranasyati.Her bhakti changed the material distress of many ,such as Udabai, a relative of her husband .Udabai created a covin against her and defamed Meera by false allegations .Not stopping on that,They tried to kill her by sending poison and through other means .Uda was changed latter on her life by the grace of Meera . 

      Meera was so humble and respectful towards the devotees of Sri Hari . When She met Sant Ravidas,She humbly bowed down to Him. Worth mentioning that Ravidas was from a so-called untouchable caste .But a true devotee is beyond all these bonds of birth based caste,religion,language etc.Ravidas is often considered as the Guru of Mirabai too. Goswami Tulsidas advised her to renounced everything which was an obstacle in the path of Bhakti .Meera first went to Vrindavan and then Dwaraka ,wherever she migrated,there held great observance of devotion and prayers .     

 

At Vrindavana, She went to see Sri Jiva Gosain (one of the six Gaudiya Goswamis.while one version says it was Rupa Goswami,not Jiva!) ,But His disciples did not allow her to go inside his math. As in popular Chaitanya charitarmrita too mentions a difference between man and woman .Moreover polygamy and Sati too practiced in Bengal ,the native land of Gaudiya even during and after the Sri Chaitanya Movement ,so there can be a valid reason for Jiva Gosain to not to see Mirabai .Upon his refusal Meera said that Krishna is the only Purusha in Vrindavana ,all others are prakirti .Until he knows the concept of man,woman and Brahman ,he can't  reckon the affairs of Gopis and Krishna . She returned ,but Jiva Goswami realizing the offence begged her pardon . The kind Mira,not only forgave but also offered her obeisance to Him.

    Meera was the embodiment of forgiveness and love. She was fearless;for her only her Lord was the goal Mere toh Giridhar Gopal dusro na koi,Mine is the Mountain lifter Gopal,none other!She declared herself as a servant of God (Dasi Meera Lal Giridhar) rather than a Guru or self worshiping phenomenons .In her songs,she portrayed different bhavs like Dasya,Birah,Darsahananada,Guru mahima.She often cited the examples of Gajendra,Ajamil,Ahalya,Draupadi to conclude that the Grace of God is for all,all can embrace devotion and find their peace .Her divine ecstatic experience through her songs exerts an impression on the listener .Her poetry is included in the literature of Sikhism too.The Main theme of her bhajan is Madhurya ,but this Madhurya is different from the Sahajiyas as Meera's Krishna is always God,never a Human !    

      In the Vedic Tradition ,the place of women is not only restricted to the domestic duties ,but In Vedas and Upanisads ,Women are Brahmavadins,Rishikas and so on . In the Brihadaranyaka of Yajur Veda,there's mention of Gargi ,the great Brahma Vadini !These positions were latter suppressed in the post Vedic era . So, through Bhakti Movement , the glorification of womenhood and spiritual position of women was reestablished through the Bhakti of Andal,Meera,Muktabai,Padmavati,Sahoja ,Bhuvenswari and many other women saints. Devotion is the greatest spiritual way ,an answer to all social evils too ! Meerabai's love and devotion is the greater boon than the liberation, in her words -

Ram Ratana Dhana payo .

(I've derived conglomeration of cyclic existence,yet it's been lost in the worldly contamination !But now I've received the precious jewel ,namely Rama.)