Sambodhi 2004 Vol 27

Author(s): J B Shah, N M Kansara
Publisher: L D Indology Ahmedabad

Page 37

Vol. XXVII, 2004
MĪRĀBĀI IN GUJARATI TRADITION
31
there is no life for me. Only object of my life is to love Him and live in His love. I do not want anything else in life. I have nothing to do with the people of the world. I have no life apart from my beloved Krsna. He is my life, happiness and everything. He is the master of my mind and heart. I belong to Him and Him only, none else. In His love, I am so engrossed that, I cannot do any household work. I do not like food and get no sleep.' (MSP-6,7).
Her love and devotion for Krsna was so intense that she danced in ecstasy before the image of Krsna in temples and home. She would often wear anklets and dance before the idol of Krsna, singing, 'God has come, God has come. I go with Him.'
“Tying anklets upon her feet, Mira dances in ecstasy.
Rāna, people say, Mira has gone astray, she has gone mad.” (Ghugharā bandhine hu nācu, Rānāji, Koi kahe Mirā bhayi re bāwārī, koi kahe jogan madamāti" MSP-13, 11).
Mīrā was obsessed of Krsna (Hari). She was having a gopi-Bhāva, i.e. Gopis were mad in Krsna's love. Besides, the Gopis of Bhāgavata, Mīrā is the only example of that kind of devotion. People said that Mīrā has gone made. Mad in love of Krsna. Mad ? Yes, I am mad, replies Miră in one of her poems : "I am obsessed, obsessed, obsessed by Hari, but I found virtue in this obsession or madness. I have become mad due to merit of my previous birth. I have obtained the true object of human birth through this obsessive madness. Evil-minded people cannot understand the bliss of this madness. She says, "the bliss for which in vain, even gods and goddesses pray, He has made us mad and made pure as well. Due to love of past birth, Hari has held us in His arms.
("ghela ame bhale thayā re, bai, māre ghelāmā guna lādhyo.” MSP-43, 44).
Devotees and lovers of the Lord are branded as mad by the worldly-minded people. These devotees are absorbed in the Lord's love and ordinary people cannot comprehend their inner state of bliss. Mīrā says, 'to attain such a deep love for the God, is the object of human birth and if this is achieved, nothing else remains to be achieved.'
Lord Krsna was everything to her and she fancied herself as wedded to Him. She considers herself to be Krsna's bride and used to weep for Him night and day, till her eyes became red due to lack of sleep. She expresses this idea in several of her poems : "If I marry, it will be to my beloved. He is my imperishable good fortune. I have no fear of widowhood." (paranun to prītam pyāro, akhanda