This is a story of a princess who dedicated her whole life seeking for love.
A love between the God and a human.
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| Meera (drawing) |
A princess was born in Merta District in the kingdom of Rathod Dynasty in Rajasthan (1557 AD) to Ratan Singh (Father) and Vir Kuvari (Mother). She was named as "Meera", a beautiful princess and the beloved of everyone who came close to her. When she was five years old, a saint came to the palace with a Lord Krishna vigraham (statue). On seeing the vigraham she stopped what she doing and went after him. Saint Ravidas was greeted by the king Ratan singh. Meera went near the saint and asked him to give the vigraham to her. On seeing this, her mother advised her not to do. But the saint gave the Lord Krishna's vigraham to her. He saw the divine love for the Krishna in her eyes. From that day meera only spend her whole time playing, singing and dancing with the krishna's vigraham. Everyone didn't consider about her love for krishna. They thought it was her childishness.
When she became 13, her love for krishna not a little changed. It became even strong. She had a very beautiful voice and she wrote many poems, songs about Krishna. Her voice echoed all over the India. At the time where everyone has been mesmerized by her songs. It also captivate the king of Mewar, Khumba Rana. He wanted to marry Meera for her pious nature and divine intent. The marriage proposal was sent to the Merta palace. This news delighted everyone in the palace except meera. She told her father about her love and marriage is only with lord Krishna . Those words were unbelievable for him. He said, "You are the princess of Metra and has the responsibility to lead the family's generation. Your love for Lord krishna is not possible.You have to accept the proposal of King Rana or to accept my decision". Everyone in the palace were trembled by the king's words towards Meera. He ordered the servant to present the prepared poisoned milk before Meera. He gave two choice one to marry or to drink the milk. Meera hold to the Krishna's vigraham her thoughts about loving krishna didn't changed. She told to Lord Krishna "All of my heart is filled by you Krishna, nobody can change my love for you and my seeking for love from you will never end". She choose to drink milk and she thought this is the only way to go to Lord Krishna. After she drink the milk, she became unconscious. Divine miracle was happened on that day.The poison didn't affect her instead the vigraham (statue) in her hand turn into blue. Everyone saw the power of her love for Krishna. But this miracle didn't help her to stop the marriage. She thought that Krishna didn't want her to sacrifice her life. In the respect of her father's words she unwillingly accept to marry King Rana.
Meera was married to Rana Kumbha, before she turned 14. She left for (Chittorgarh) Mewar with the Rana Kumbha. KumbhaRana's mother and his sister did not like the ways of Meera, as they were worldly-minded and jealous. Meera requested Rana to allow her to temple to worship Lord Krishna. Rana accepted her request though everyone against it. Rana decided to spend time with Meera alone so he asked her opinion to choose a place. Her choice was always temples of Krishna. Though she was King's wife she only liked to be simple. When she go to temple she only wears brown saree without gold ornaments and use tambura (a musical instrument) to sing.
Rana's sister formed a conspiracy and began to defame the innocent Meera. She informed Rana that Meera was in secret love with some one, that she witnessed Meera talking to her lover in the temple. These thoughts created hateness in Rana's heart towards Meera. After her household duties were over, Meera would go to the temple of Lord Krishna, worship, sing and dance before Lord Krishna Idol daily. Due to her melodious voice and poetic songs everyone in the kingdom were enchanted. Akbar was one of the great Mughal emperor who was also enemy of Rana's kingdom came to know about Meera's songs. One day Birbal (an adviser of King Akbar) sang Meera's song infront of Akbar which attracts the King. Akbar likes to hear Meera's song himself so he went disguised to the Krishna temple in Rana's kingdom. After heard the song he personally went to meera and gave a pearl chain jewellery as gift. This news was sent to Rana's ear in a negative way that his wife was in relationship with his enemy. He went to temple and shouted at Meera, "Meera, show me your lover with whom you are talking now". Meera replied, "There sits my Lord-Krishna who has stolen my heart". Rana starred at the jewelry that Akbar gave to her was on the Krishna's neck. He became furious. He ordered Meera, "Drown yourself in the river and never show your face to the world in future. You have brought great disgrace on my family". Meera realized the relation with Krishna and the love of God are the only elements that are true and eternal; all other relationships are unreal and temporary. She obeyed the words of Rana and proceeded to the river to drown herself. She sang and danced in ecstasy on her way to the river. When she raised her feet from the ground, a hand from behind grasped her and embraced her. She turned behind and saw her beloved Krishna. She fainted on him.
After a few minutes she opened her eyes. Lord Krishna smiled and gently whispered: "My dear Meera, your life with your mortal relatives is over now. You are absolutely free. Be cheerful. You are always been mine." Meera walked barefoot on the hot sandy beds of Rajasthan. On her way, many ladies, children and devotees received her with great hospitality. She reached Brindavan (or Vrindaban). It was at Brindavan that she again met and was inspired by Saint Ravidas. She spend her days in brindavan by worshipping Lord Krishna. Atlast she left for Dwarka in Gujarat ( Lord Krishna, the king of Dwarka). After some years Rana realised his cruelty against Meera by hearing from his surroundinds. He went to search Meera for his forgiveness. By the time he arrived, Meera already went to her love Krishna.
"My Dark One has gone to an alien land.
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| Lord Krishna |
So I've stripped off my ornaments, jewels and adornments, cut my hair from my head.
And put on holy garments, all on his account, seeking him in all four directions.
Meera: unless she meets the Dark One, her Lord, she doesn't even want to live.
After making me fall for you so hard, where are you going?
Until the day I see you, no repose: my life, like a fish washed on shore, flails in agony.
For your sake I'll make myself a yogini, I'll hurl myself to death on the saw of Kashi.
Meera's Lord is the clever Mountain Lifter, and I am his, a slave to his lotus feet"
— Meera , Translated by John Stratton Hawley.
