Sant Mirabai

Sant Mirabai

News: The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi participated in Sant Mirabai Janmotsav, a program to celebrate the 525th birth anniversary of Sant Mirabai in Mathura, Uttar Pradesh.

Background:
• The Prime Minister said that the 525th birth anniversary of Sant Mirabai is not merely a birth anniversary but “a celebration of the entire culture and tradition of love in India.”

Who was Sant Mirabai?
• Sant Meerabai, better known as Mirabai, was a 16th-century Hindu mystic poet and devotee of Krishna. She is a celebrated Bhakti saint, particularly in the North Indian Hindu tradition.
• Mirabai was born into a Rathore Rajput royal family in Kudki, which is in the modern-day Pali district of Rajasthan.
• Her life and devotion offer several important lessons, particularly in the context of faith and women empowerment.

Lessons that can be imbibed from Sant Meera Bai’s life are as follows:
• Embrace Devotion and Faith: Meerabai’s everlasting devotion to Lord Krishna exemplifies the strength of faith. She saw herself as God’s beloved, which gave her enormous strength and the ability to conquer all challenges. Her story teaches us the significance of having confidence in something higher than ourselves and finding consolation in devotion, no matter what obstacles we face.
• Challenging Social Conventions: Meerabai was born into a royal family but chose to forego her wealth and position in order to devote her life to the pursuit of spiritual enlightenment. Her actions highlight the necessity of challenging societal conventions and expectations that may stifle our personal growth and fulfillment. She reminds us that staying true to ourselves, even if it means going against the grain, leads to true happiness.
• Women Empowerment: Meerabai is considered one of the few women saints in India that achieved immense heights in the field of devotion or bhakti towards God. She was successful in attaining huge popularity among the masses by about 1600 CE. Her songs and praises about Shri Krishna truly reflect her class of devotion towards Krishna. So, Meerabai became a blessed soul. In spite of accusations and denial by the general public and even the Royals, Meerabai never stopped her practice of Bhakti towards Krishna. Until her last breath, Meerabai breathed Krishna and only Krishna. Such was her belief, devotion, and love towards the Supreme Power that manifested on Earth in the form of Krishna.
• Overcoming Adversity with Resilience: Meerabai’s journey was not without difficulties. Due to her devotion to Lord Krishna, she faced resistance from her own family and community. She never wavered in her commitment, standing firm in her convictions. Meerabai’s endurance and fortitude in the face of adversity teach us a vital lesson. She reminds us that challenges are a natural part of life’s journey, and our ability to overcome them determines our character.