This is a story of a fifteenth-century poet and saint, mātā Meerā bāi ji and who she was in her previous birth.
Past Life: Mādhavi a Gopi of Dwāpar yug
Mādhavi a girl from Brij married a boy from Nand-gaon called Sundar. Sundar happened to be a good friend of Śri Kṛṣṇa. Mādhavi’s mother was well aware of Śri Kṛṣṇa’s mesmerising face and hence she told her daughter to stay away from Shri Krishnā, and never ever to look into his eyes or get into any conversation with him. Given that she had heard similar tales about other Gopis in Nand-gaon, her mother was concerned about Mādhavi and her marriage should she fall in love with Kānhā.
When they were a little older, Sundar took Mādhavi to his Nand-gaon residence. On their way, they met Śri Kṛṣṇa. Kanhiyā, who was 6 to 8 years old, requests to meet his Bhabhi. But Mādhavi was disinterested and completely ignored Śri Kṛṣṇa. Kṛṣṇa was dishearten and while leaving, he says to Mādhavi that going forwards it will be her turn and she will be the one longing to see or be with Kṛṣṇa.
Time passes by, and after few days, months, years, Nand-gaon village was about to be drowned in flood due to heavy rain. The villagers were informed to get closer to Girirāj Parvat (a mountain by the name Girirāj). Mādhavi joined other villagers, and after reaching she notices sudden absence of rain. She looked around and everyone was standing in dry, in-spite of heavy rain falling around. She finally found that they were all standing underneath the mountain, Giriraj, which was lifted by Śri Kṛṣṇa on his little finger. It is said that it rained for seven days and seven nights, and the gwals (shepherds) and gopis may have noticed the time but not Mādhavi. She kept looking at Śri Kṛṣṇa without noticing on how the days and nights passed by. She realised her mistake and finally went to Śri Kṛṣṇa and asked for forgiveness. To which Śri Kṛṣṇa said to her that in this birth she would be able to see Śri Kṛṣṇa but she will not be part of any of thakorji’s Leela. She will have to take another birth in Kalyug, this is when they will become one. Mādhavi was born as Meerā bāi in Kalyug.
Time is a great balancer, so the saying goes. Whilst in Dwāpar Yuga, one mother told Mādhāvi to avoid Śri Kṛṣṇa, in Kalyuga, another mother marries her daughter Meera to Kṛṣṇa in a form of a toy, an idol. This was the event that changed Meera bai’s life and she believed Girdhar Gopāl as her husband.
Rebirth: Mātā Meerā bāi, Śri Kṛṣṇa’s devotee in Kalyug
In Kalyuga, Mādhavi, the gopi, took birth as a princess of Mertā (Rajasthan, India), her name was Meerā bāi.
Meerā bāi married to Bhojā Rājā, and became the queen of Mewār, the son of Rañā Sanga, the great Rajput king of Mewār. Her in-laws were the kings/Rānā of Chittor, meaning she was also related to Rañā Pratāp of Mewār.
Meerā bāi was not interested in wealth and materialistic life. She was longing to become one with that Śri Kṛṣṇā who she saw lifting the Girirāj Parvat, she wanted to be one with Girdhar Gopāl, the shepherd who lifted the Giriraj (Gir-dhar).
The tide and time were against her in this birth as well, she was again tested by the circumstances.
Meerā Bāi’s worship
After her husband’s death, Meerā Bāi dedicated her time worshipping Lord Krishna, until she passed away.
There is no samādhi sthal (burial or funeral place) of mātā Meerā Bāi ji because the last she was seen was in the Dwārkā temple having darshan of Shri Dwārikā nāth ji.
The doors of the temple sanctum suddenly got closed by itself living mātā Meerā Bāi alone with Shri Dwārikā nāth ji, and when the doors got opened by itself, Meerā bāi ji was not found inside. Her sāri/dupatta/chunni was found in the hands of Shri Dwārikā nāth ji, meaning she finally got one with Shri Hari.
Meerā Bāi and the 15th Century Devotional Movement
It’s fascinating to learn about the circumstances around this occurrence. This happened in 1500-1550 almost 500 years ago. Even now, women are not permitted to hold positions of supremacy in religious institutions in developed countries. Meerā bāi was praying and dancing in front of strangers who were bhakt (devotees) and sant (saints). Even when this was being done within maryādā, within the permitted rules of the royal family it was still unacceptable. During the Mughal era, Islam was forcibly imposed on the native Hindu population. Saints like Meerā bāi fought not just against outsiders but also within their family, and in their homes, throughout this period.
Summary: Meerā bāi Will Be Known For Her Courage
Many things can be mentioned, and the article might go on indefinitely, because it is an endless joy to sing glories of the true devotees.
It is preferable to conclude with the note that best defines Meerā bai by Narabhdas ji’s lines quoted in his book Bhakta Māl1,
सदृश गोपिका प्रेम प्रगट कलिजुगहिं दिखायौ।
निरअंकुश अति निडर रसिक जस रसना गायौ॥
दुष्टनि दोष विचारि मृत्यु को उद्यम कीयौ।
बार न बाँकौ भयौ गरल अमृत ज्यौं पीयौ॥
भक्ति निसान बजायकै काहू ते नाहिन लजी।
लोकलाज कुल शृंखला तजि मीरा गिरिधर भजी॥
Meaning: She was a gopi that appeared in Kaliyuga to demostrate/teach us love. She was a devotee and a female, but one who was courageous and boundless. She was given poison but she drank it as nectar, a true yogi who does not separate between likes and dislikes. It did not matter to her of what others would think of her, when others thought of Bhakti (devotion) as eccentric, she made it as her sole objective of life. She lived what she thought she came on the planet for, and devoted her life to the prayers of her Girdhar (Gir-dhar: one who lifted Giriraj mountain).
In my conversation with Saubhaya Kunwari Ranawat2 didi, I tried to figure out from where did Meera bai gather the courage to overcome everything in her path simply to be with Krishna. Didi replied that it was her “bharoso” (faith) on Sri Krishna. The bharoso provided her enormous power since she knew Sri Krishna was always with her and there was nothing to worry about.
The true meaning of “Bharoso” can be nicely explained by Ashray Pad written by another contemporary of her, Surdās ji.
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References
- Hindi Book-Shri Bhaktmal By Shri Nabha Ji : Shri Nabha Ji : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive ↩︎
- Sri Meera Charit (Hindi Text) by Saubhagya Kunwari Ranawat : Soubhagya Kunwari Ranawat: Amazon.in: Books ↩︎
Bhavin Shukla 
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