MEERA BAI .. By Lokkur Vasanthi Rao
In these days “Life/Style”, has become a password for everything, with the media giving it great deal of space, while, Cable TV also, endorsing it as part of the same, “ Internet”, has, revolutionalised the way information has exploded, not just in communication but, it has created a culture of it’s own. One of the subjects familiar to both Cable TV and Internet is information on Very old traditions, which are still living traditions. Also related to “ Life Style”. There are Channels devoted to. “ Spirituality” whether, in relation to Science Of., or in purest traditional sense, as in Bhagawath, told n 2000 year old “ oral tradition ‘ the Bagawaths were more than story tellers they educated and enlightened those who heard it in an” Open house” atmosphere, even the, “street wise”. Sense. The name which occurs quite frequently is that of “Meera Bai’, in a way relevant to “ Life Style ‘, Royalty ‘s Charisma has always been apart from power and authority it was a and is “Life Style ‘, Meera is one saint who is still quoted often by contemporary ‘Bhagawaths ‘she had found her own despite being a member of “Royal Family “
‘‘ Hay Ree Maito …Darad Diwani’’’’. Mero Darad Na Janay koi!!’’ Translated;…’’’’no one knows my pain !.’’. how poignant . the opening lines .are! Why is she, the mystic poet, in ‘’Pain’’? ? , Descended from Rao Jodha, founder of Jodhpur, according to some sources, an only child of Ratan Singh was born around 1498 lost her mother at a young age. She had been given an idol of Krishna by a wandering Sadhu, seemed to have developed an obsession with ‘’ God Krishna’’, there are legends about how she became a saint poet, but the facts are more interesting reflects her personality, more than miracles attached to her having been ‘’untouched by poisonous drink ‘’or ‘’snake bite.’’………….. Might have well been harmless considering the fact that she was a much loved princess. Who came from a family who worshipped Krishna unlike other Rajput families who traditionally had Durga as family deity?
Those were times when a Rajput princess was expected to commit, ‘’Jowhar ‘’or commit’’ Sati’’, burn herself on the funeral fire, in the event of, her husband, dieing. Or defeat this was held in great regard by the Rajputs, as a matter of honour , people expected this of their Royalty. This was much revered tradition as far as Culture of wars or more likely battle, the culture of wars or more precisely battle the victors could do what they wanted to do with the women. Royal or otherwise. Meerabai was born to this culture, one can very well believe the story, of that of her mother who had pointed out the Idol of Krishna in a procession passing by, as her real husband.
This was the time when the Bhakthi cult had made an impact. occording to which A favored God was considered as Master, the devotee a ‘slave ‘’ . in another movement Lord Krishna was both master a , where the devotee identified herself with Radha who was in fact a metaphor for ‘’ sage ‘’Where the ideal goal in ones life was to merge with god in ecstasy, which was more, satisfying ly blissful than with union with a human lover.
The “Dasa Award “was given to a devotee who was required to not just know all the legends of Krishna but it1s ''Adhyatmic '', [oneness/philosophy] meaning. here Krishna was God. Who was accessible to anyone who had the heart, mind to reach him? To graduate to Dasahood they had to become real, to live the life of wandering saints. Singing his praise, describing his form identify themselves with the sages in the form of one of the Gopis. [Metaphor for saints.
Beauty, tenderness, magnetism, the spiritual quest often was poured forth in a spontaneous burst of poetry set to music.
Meera`s compositions say it all. She composed them in Brijbasha used Gujarathi folk tune, as her destination was Dwaraka the Holy city accompanied by Single string Tampura. Having been tutored in music and other arts. She was well equipped to do justice to her’’ Call.’’
In her poems she writes about her experiences, it is a’’ hard life.’’ She has been ‘’locked up’’, ‘’watched.’’ her family has’’ rejected her.’’ The family here is that of her husband. Who died soon after? Her marriage. Her brother-in – law the new king was dead against her, which made matters worse. She had wandered away, keeping, ‘’ company of saints ‘’.
She has written of dieing her clothes, which was usually of saffron colour ’ ‘…’’the colour of her Lord’’ as her Guru, has dressed ‘like a yogi’’, her hair is matted ‘. Her senses ‘are stilled ‘’, when she dances with ‘’bells around her ankles ‘’, ‘’she is thought of as mad’ she mentions the fact that she has been ‘initiated ‘. ‘’She has sprinkled her body with coal dust,’’ has ‘’deerskin around her neck.
The most telling bit of biography are the lines, ‘why should I mount my husband’s funeral pyre?
There are other references to ‘funeral pyre. . The way to sainthood she pursued as she says herself was not an easy one it was like lying on bed of life coal, her ‘heart was stung by the black serpent ‘’ was it mean she had succeeded in being ‘enlightened’’, When it is not known if in fact she did succeed. . The journey both as a metaphor and in the physical sense to Dwaraka. As strenuous, she was an object of ridicule. And direct insults ‘why should I ride on donkey when I ride on elephant?’’ she also refers to the different kinds of beds she has to sleep on and food.
Meera wrote in the language of Brij at that time that was expected of this cult. And the original songs Bhajans were folk tunes, which have a catchy tune rhythm that invites one to dance in ecstasy. In some areas of Gujarath they are still sung in the way she composed them. She as she sings she was jeered. .
According to one source her cloths were found at the shore of the river. Unlike the more familiar one of her soul merging with the image of deity Krishna.
What is remarkable is her determination to have her own way in a hostile place. Her total commitment to her goal, bearing all the physical hardship to be accepted by the sages. To have become a yogi. But there is no proof if she did enter ‘Samadhi’’
She as, ‘’wife ‘’of God Krishna need not commit Sati. Cremation while still alive following husband’s death.
At the tail end of her life the Raja had sent Brahmins to induce her to return. But she had managed to evade them, she was declared ‘dead ‘in 1547. Her body was never found.
She is to date quoted by contemporary Bagawaths who are carrying on the story telling traditions, to reach millions on Mass Media here and abroad.
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Sources include. Songs Of Meera by Baldoon Dhingra, Published By Orient Paperbacks,
Live rendition of Meera Bhajans as she had composed them originally in Gujarathi Folk music style. Bombay.
Lokkur Vasanthi Rao , Tel 26577580, 65633095.
G1 Rajatha Manor,
30/2 Patalamma Temple Street,
Basavanagudi,
Bangalore 560004.
