A LOVE SONG OF MIRABAI

 

A LOVE SONG OF MIRABAI

Mirabai (also spelled as Meera) was born a princess in 1498 in Kurki, Rajasthan. She passed away in 1546 in Dwarka.  She lived the life of a mystic poet and life-long worshipper of Lord Krishna.  Her innumerable devotional songs are addressed to him and have been used by many religious and social historians as examples of Hindu devotional poetry. She is also a great attraction for musicians and film-makers.

Historically Mirabai belongs to the group of Bhakti poets who believed that God is one and all human beings are His equal children.  Like her contemporary mystics, she also did not believe in meaningless superstitions and wasteful rituals.  She discarded the prevailing caste system.  To serve humanity, especially the poor, the sick and the needy, was one of her firm creeds. She showed equal respect to all religious beliefs.    

           Lovers of God compose their poems like those of ordinary    lovers of men and women.   They use the same vocabulary and figures of speech to express their devotional feelings and emotions. Like romantic men and women they, too, yearn for union with the one to whom they are devoted.   Union with the loved one is a continuous dream; separation is the constant reality. And it is this perpetual state of painful separation which gives birth to their pathetic poetry. Most of Mirabai’s innumerable songs depict this restless state of her heart and mind.

          The poem given below was composed by Mirabai in Hindi.  It was translated into English by Mrs. Keay almost one hundred years ago and was included into an anthology entitled POEMS BY INDIAN WOMEN edited by Margaret Macnicol, L.R.C.P. & S.E., Poona. According to my information, Association Press (Y.M.C.A.). Calcutta published it as one of the Heritage of India books.

          The English translation of the poem reads as follows:

                            SEPARATION      

The clouds, driven to and fro, have come,

But they have not brought any news of Hari.

The frog, the peacock and the sparrow hawk utter their cries,

And the cuckoo calls aloud.

In the black darkness the lightning is flashing,

And terrifies the women whose husbands are away.

 

The pleasant wind produces a sound like music,

And the rain is streaming down continually.

The coil of separation is like that of the cobra with its

       hissing sound,

But Mira’s heart is set on Hari.

       .     .     .    .     .    .    .    .      .   

For lack of the vision of him my eyes are aching.

Ah, my Lord, ever since thou hast been separated from

        me my heart has found no rest.

 

Hearing thy voice, my heart begins to tremble.

Thy words are very sweet to me.

 

My eyes are fixed on the way of thy coming.

One night seems to me like six months.

 

O my companions, to whom shall I tell the pain of

    separation?

The whole night is passed by Mira in restlessness,

 

O my Lord, when shall I find thee,

So that thou mayst remove my pain and give me happiness?

                                      --------

 

 

18^th August 2020                                                          G.R.Kanwal