Meerabai

01Merta and Chittor

She was a granddaughter of Rao Duda, founder of Merta, and grew up there; the family tradition says a Krishna image given to her as a child became her husband in her own heart. Around 1516 she was married to Bhoj Raj, eldest son of Rana Sanga of Mewar. Bhoj Raj died young, and Meera, refusing to commit sati or give up singing and dancing before Krishna among sadhus, was opposed by the court. Her own pads speak of a cup of poison sent by the Rana that she drank as charanamrit.

02Vrindavan and Dwarka

She left Mewar for Vrindavan and later went to Dwarka. Tradition names Sant Ravidas as her guru, and several of her pads say so. The court of Mewar, after troubles fell on it, is said to have sent Brahmins to bring her back; she asked leave to go before Ranchhodji one last time, and the Dwarka tradition says only her sari was found on the image. Her songs, “Mere to Giridhar Gopal, doosro na koi” and “Payo ji maine Ram ratan dhan payo”, are sung in temples and homes from Gujarat to Bengal.

Place · Guhila capital from the 8th century (by tradition Bappa Rawal, c. 734)ChittorgarhThe hill fortress of Mewar, 180 m above the plain and some 13 km round. It was besieged and taken three times, in 1303, 1535 and 1568, and each time the women chose jauhar. The Vijay Stambh still stands over it.Read →