Mirabai- Encyclopaedia of Saints of India (Part-16)

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The name of Mirabai is well-known in the annals of our history. Married in an orthodox family, she became a widow at a young age. From her younger days, her devotion to Lord Krishna was proverbial. His devotional poems and her message of Bhakti deserve much appreciation from her devotees. Brindaban- Leela is respectfully attached to her name.

The theme contains ten chapters which deal with her religious and devoted career. These are her early career, the Divine Singer, Brindaban- Leela, Race of Heroes, Darkness to Light, Songs of Meera, in praise of the Lord, Devotional poems, her message and legacy.

This work would be useful for teachers, students and others who have much respect for Mirabai.

Contents include: Early Career; Mira: The Divine Singer; Brindaban-Leela; The Race of Heroes; Darkness to Light; Songs of Mira; In Praise of the Lord; Devotional Poems; Mira's Message; Her Legacy.

Dr. S.R. Bakshi, Ph.D., D.Litt. is an eminent scholar of Modern Indian History and is the author of several works on Indian nationalism and freedom movement. His recent works include 'Encyclopaedic History of Indian Culture and Religion' (in 5 Vols.), The Great Marathas' (in 5 Vols.), The Great Rajputs' (in 6 Vols.), 'B.R. Ambedkar: His Political and Social Ideology' (in 2 Vols.), 'Encyclopaedic History of The Sikhs and Sikhism' (in 6 Vols.), The Great Moghuls' (in 8 Vols.), and 'Development of Women, Children and Weaker Sections' (in 5 Vols.). Dr. Bakshi is member of several academic institutions having deep bearing on historical research.

Dr. Sangh Mittra, LL.B. Ph.D. from Lucknow University, is Dy. Director (Research) in Indian Council of Historical Research. Her Ph.D. thesis on 'Iconographic Study of Minor Brahmanical Deities in Northern India' is published along with more than 20 Research Papers in reputed historical journals. She is Life Member of several academic institutions and a reputed examiner of Ph.D. thesis of Universities of North India. Besides she has actively participated in numerous national and international Seminars.

Mirabai was a Rajput princess who became deeply involved in her pious devotion for the Krishna cult. Regarded as a great saintess of India, her outpourings of this Krishna love touched the hearts of millions of people. It is said that when she was very young, a passing ascetic once handed to her an idol of Krishna. The little girl took an instant fascination for the icon, saw divinity in its compact form and kept in close to her for years to come.

When in her teens, she was wedded to a prince, she would worship only this dear Krishna of hers, not Kali, the goddess of the Rajput Ranas. As ill-luck would have it, only five years after her marriage to the heir-apparent, her young husband died in a battle. The widowed Mira grew even more attached to Krishna and spent long hours in song and devotion to him. When Ratan Singh, her husband's brother, became king, circumstances became difficult for the god-intoxicated Mira, for she was becoming a downright embarrassment to the royal family. Perhaps he also had some political motivations for his dislike of the other-worldly princes.

Many moving tales, have been told about how the king conspired to get rid of It is said that the king once hid a venomous snake in a basket of flowers that she was to receive. Lo and behold, when musical Mira opened the present, the secret serpent had turned into another idol for her to worship. On another occasion, a fatal poison was sent to her, camouflaged as a refreshing drink. Gentle Mira drank it calmly, but the poison did her no harm.

**Contents and Sample Pages**