Mirabai and Dwarka

Mirabai, who gave her heart to Giridhar Gopal, spent her last years at Dwarka and, according to tradition, merged into the deity of Ranchhodrai.

Mirabai was a great sixteenth-century saint-poet devoted to Shri Krishna. She was born into the Rathore royal family of Merta in Rajasthan and married into the royal house of Mewar. Tradition says that even as a child she took an image of Giridhar Gopal as her all, and that the splendour of palace life could not lessen this love. Her company with sadhus and her open kirtan brought fierce opposition in her husband's family. Popular stories tell of a cup of poison turning into nectar, which devotees take as a sign of the Lord's protection.

In the end Mirabai left the palace. She went first to Vrindavan and then to Dwarka, where she spent her last years in devotion to Dwarkadhish, known in Gujarat as Ranchhodrai. According to tradition, messengers came from Mewar to take her back. Mira asked to have one last darshan of her Lord; she entered the sanctum, singing, and merged into the deity of Ranchhodrai, leaving only her scarf (chunari) behind. Devotees cherish this story as the summit of loving devotion; as history it should be understood as tradition.

Mirabai's songs are sung in Rajasthani and Braj, and many padas in Gujarati are also sung in her name. Her bhajans have echoed for generations in Gujarati homes, temples and bhajan mandalis, and she is felt to belong to Gujarat's own devotional heritage. Her songs are full of longing, surrender and the single-hearted faith of one for whom Giridhar Gopal is everything.

Pilgrims who come for darshan at the Jagat Mandir in Dwarka remember Mira too, the queen who showed that true love rises above kingdom, public opinion and fear.

District

Devbhumi Dwarka