Mirabai
16th-century Hindu mystic poet and devotee of Krishna.
Meera, better known as Mirabai and venerated as Sant Meerabai, was a 16th-century Hindu mystic poet and devotee of Krishna.
- born
- 16th century, Kudki (modern-day Beawar district, Rajasthan)
- died
- 1547 (legendary, by merging into a Krishna idol after poisoning)
- field
- Hindu mystic poet, Bhakti saint
- nationality
- Indian (Rathore Rajput royal family)
- known_for
- Devotional hymns (bhajans) to Krishna, fearless disregard for social conventions, persecution by in-laws
Lore & Background
Mirabai was born into a Rathore Rajput royal family in Kudki and spent her childhood in Merta. She was the daughter of Ratan Singh Rathore and granddaughter of Rao Dudaji of Merta. Both her father and father-in-law (Rana Sanga) died a few days after their defeat in the Battle of Khanwa against Babur. After Rana Sanga's death, Vikram Singh became ruler of Mewar. Legends state her in-laws attempted to assassinate her multiple times, including sending poison and a snake, but she was miraculously unharmed. One legend says she tied a sacred thread on a Krishna murti for protection, sometimes cited as the origin of tying rakhi on Krishna's murti. Other stories claim she left Mewar and went on pilgrimages, living in Dwarka or Vrindavan in her last years, where she is said to have miraculously disappeared into a Krishna idol after being poisoned by her brother-in-law in 1547.
Reader's Guide
Mirabai's significance lies in her role as a key poet-saint of the Bhakti movement, expressing madhurya bhava (sweet, loving devotion) toward Krishna through her poems. Her hymns, called bhajans, are famous across India, though only a few hundred of the millions attributed to her are considered authentic by scholars, with most first written down in the 18th century. Her poetry uses lyrical padas in Rajasthani, often invoking the epithet Girdhar nagar and exploring themes of love, separation, and surrender. Her appeal transcends social boundaries, resonating with high-caste individuals through her royal suffering and with low-caste groups who admire her renunciation of status. Some Hindu temples, such as one within Chittor Fort, are dedicated to her memory. Legends about her life, of contested authenticity, have been the subject of movies, films, comic strips, and popular literature in modern times. Scholarly analysis shows significant regional variation in her hagiography, with some texts portraying her as sedentary in Udaipur rather than traveling after conflicts.
Did You Know?
- Only two poems attributed to Mirabai have been found in manuscripts dating from before the early 18th century.
- One legend states that when her in-laws attempted to murder her with poison, she tied a sacred thread on a Krishna murti and was saved by divine intervention.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are Mirabai's most famous works?
Her legacy centers on a body of devotional bhajans addressed to Krishna, expressing raw personal longing and spiritual surrender. She wrote with a fearless disregard for the social norms expected of a royal Rajput woman, which made her both celebrated and persecuted.
Where was Mirabai born and what was her background?
She was born in Kudki, in present-day Beawar district of Rajasthan, into the Rathore Rajput royal family. Her royal status later became a source of conflict when her in-laws opposed her public devotion to Krishna and attempted to suppress her.
How did Mirabai die?
According to the most widely told legend, Mirabai was poisoned by her in-laws in 1547. In her final moments she is said to have merged into a statue of Krishna, symbolizing her ultimate union with the divine.
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