Mirabai's Devotion to Krishna

Mirabai was born around 1498 into a Rathore royal family in the village of Kudki near Merta. Her father's name was Ratan Singh. Mirabai was devoted to Krishna from childhood, and her parents lovingly called her Meera.

One day, little Meera stood on the palace terrace watching a wedding procession pass by. When she saw the bridegroom seated in the procession, she asked her mother, “Mother, who will be my bridegroom?”

Her mother pointed toward an image of Krishna and said, “There is your bridegroom.”

Those words remained in little Meera's heart. According to devotional tradition, she accepted Krishna as her husband in her heart. Meera remained absorbed in devotion to him. She decorated his image and sang sweet bhajans for him.

When Meera grew older, she married Bhoj Raj, the son of Rana Sanga, the ruler of Mewar. She came to be known as Mirabai. Mirabai regarded Krishna, rather than a worldly marriage, as her true beloved. She took her cherished Krishna image with her to her marital home.

As the years passed, Mirabai's devotion to Krishna grew stronger. She sang bhajans and danced for Krishna in temples. She often stepped beyond the boundaries of the royal palace to sing among ordinary people and saints.

Some members of the royal family disapproved of her singing and dancing openly among the people. They tried many times to stop Mirabai from worshipping Krishna, but her faith in him remained stronger than every obstacle.

After some time, Mirabai left Mewar and travelled first to Vrindavan and then to Dwarka. Wherever she went, she continued singing of her love for Krishna. Devotional tradition holds that while worshipping in a temple at Dwarka, she merged into Krishna's sacred image. History and oral memory differ about some details of her life, but her songs remain a powerful voice of love, surrender, and fearless devotion to Krishna.