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| Mirabai: She Gave Her Heart To Krishna an Amar Chitra Katha comic book, Volume 535 |
Today, I read an Amar Chitra Katha comic book. Have you heard of Amar Chitra Katha? I hadn't either, but they are incredibly famous in India, and generations have now been able to enjoy them. There are more than 400 titles, in more than 20 different languages, that retell stories from the great Indian epics, mythology, history, folklore, and fables in comic book format. It was originally created by Anant Pai, beginning in 1967.
Mirabai: A Rajasthani princess whose mother (jokingly?) told her as a child that Lord Krishna was her husband. (She was about 5 years old)- Mira was eventuall married to prince Bhojraj of Chittor, who hated the Mughals and was known for his valour
- Her new family goddess was Durga, but Mira refused to give up her devotion to her Lord Krishna
- Bhojraj's sister Uda was offended at this, and spread rumors that Mira went every evening to another man -- this enranged her husband Bhojraj
- Bhojraj decided she was insane, so he humored her and built her a temple where she could worship her "stone lover"
- Mira's devotion spread far an wide, and a Mughal emperor, Emperor Akbar wanted to know what these songs were. They came to the temple disguised as Hindus, and were brought into a trance by her song. Overwhelmed, they brought a necklace to her feet, touched them, and offered her the necklace in the name of Krishna
- This was forbidden, her husband found out a Mughal had touched her, and her ordered her to drown herself in a river.
- A true and faithful Hindu wife, she went to the river, but just as she was about to jump, Krishna appeared and saved her! She fainted, but when she was revived, her told her that her previous life was over, and now she was to go and worship him in Brindavan.
- They were ecstatic that once more there would be singing and dancing in Brindavan. "She is Radha reborn!"
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| Krishna and Radha seated on a terrace, Brooklyn Museum |
- Her husband heard that she was alive, and traveled to her and asked her forgiveness. She forgave him, and went back to Chitor with him, where she continued her worship of Krishna.
- 10 years later, her husband Bhojraj died. Her father in law told her to prepare herself for Sati. She refused.
- The new King told her that she could not worship Krishna in the palace, or mix with holy men, or dance. So, she decided to go to the public temple.
- Miracles:
- the new king wanted to poison her, so sent a snake to the temple as a "gardland" for Krishna. When Mira opened the basket, it was indeed a garland, stunning the deliverer.
- They removed her bed mattress and replaced it with poison tipped nails, covered with rose petals. Mira went to sleep, not noticing anything and it felt as soft as petals beneath her.
- Poison mixed into nectar intended for Mira. The poison turned into nectar, after it was offered to her in the name of a gift for Krishna.
- She wrote to Tulsidas, a saint of her times, and asked him what she should do. Tulsidas advises her to shun those who come in the way of her worship, even if they are the closest of relatives.
- So, she left the king's palace in Chitor, and went to the palace of her Uncle in Merta.
- She began growing old, and went on pilgrammage to all the places that were important to Krishna:
- Mathura
- Brindavan
- Dwarka -- she stayed on here because the call of Krishna became loud and more insistent. One day during her worship and dance, she fainted and fell at the feet of Krishna, and here she died, and Krishna took her to become on with him, her bridegroom.
Dwarka: associated with Dwarka Kingdom, the ancient Kingdom of Krishna. It is one of the Sapta Puri, the 7 most holy ancient religious cities in the country. It is one of the Chardhums, the four Holy Hindu pilgrammage sites.
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| Mirabai is usually shown with an instrument, a Dotara or a Veena |
