Saint Mira

Author(s): T L Vaswani
Publisher: Saint Miras English Medium School

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SAINT MIRA
Mira listens not to Uda Bai nor to any of her other friends. She quickly leaves the palace, singing the Name of the Beloved. The true bhakta never turns back. The true bhakta's watchword is, “onward!” Mira, devoted to her one Lord, runs fast, leaving her palace and all worldly comforts behind. The midnight stars shine on her as she descends, step by step, and then wanders along the bank of the Ganges, crying :“Shyama! Shyama!" The beauty of murmuring waters passes into her face, making it all the more beautiful.
Mira leaves Chitor, in the darkness of the night. Alone, she moves out. Such, indeed, is ever the fate of those who would meet the Lord. They must tread the path alone!
This period is a difficult one in Mira's life. A difficult period, yes,and a blessed one. In this period it is that she passes through her destined “darkness of the soul”.
Mira is a Rajput girl. Heroically, she moves out with love and longing in her heart. Heroically, she travels on the road alone. She passes through village after village. She blesses all who meet her. Boys and girls of cowherds come from many places to greet her, to serve her and be blessed by her. She moves on! In her heart is the Image of her Beloved alone.