Mira Bai (1498–1547)

Indian queen, poet, and songwriter. Name variations: Meera; Mirabai. Born in Merta in 1498; died in Dwarka in 1547 (some sources cite 1573); brought up in the court of her grandfather in the worship of the Hindu god Vishnu; married Prince Bhoj Raj of Mewar, in 1516.

A rebel in thought and religion, Mira Bai was educated at home, as was often the case with members of the Indian nobility, receiving a thorough religious and musical training. At age 18, she married Prince Bhoj Raj of Mewar; it was a short alliance as he died of wounds sustained in battle in 1521. After his death, the local king tried to poison her. "Mira is dancing with bells tied on her ankles," she wrote. "People say Mira has gone mad." Fleeing, she devoted the rest of her life to the worship of Krishna, a reincarnation of Vishnu, leaving her palace to travel on foot to Krishna's sacred places. She began to care for the poor and was severely criticized for her involvement with the untouchables. Humorous, daring, and elated, she sang songs and wrote poems that demonstrate her religious fervor.

Mira Bai is India's best-known woman poet. Though her poems were written in Hindi, they were translated early into other Indian languages. A biography has been written by Usha Nilsson.

sources:

Barnstone, Aliki, and Willis Barnstone. A Book of Women Poets From Antiquity to Now. NY: Schocken, 1980.

Cohen, Aaron I. International Encyclopedia of Women Composers. 2 vols. NY: Books & Music (USA), 1987.

John Haag , Athens, Georgia