Canvas
Mirabai

The Poet · 1498 – 1546

मीराबाई

Mirabai

Region

Mewar

Language

rajasthani / braj bhasha

Signature rasa

Shringara

Works · archive

197

In the vast tradition of Indian devotional literature, Mirabai stands as an absolute force of fearless independence. Born around 1498 into a royal Rajput family in Rajasthan, she rejected every expectation placed upon a woman of her aristocratic stature.

Following the death of her husband, she refused to commit Sati, refused to mourn according to courtly protocol, and instead declared herself eternally married to Lord Krishna. Her entire life became an act of spiritual rebellion against feudal patriarchy.

She left the palace, mingled with the lower castes, accepted the leather-worker Ravidas as her guru, and composed ecstatic, deeply personal poetry (bhajans) that mapped the fierce agony and joy of divine love. According to enduring historical memory, she survived multiple assassination attempts by her furious in-laws before leaving Mewar entirely.

Five centuries later, her voice remains universally alive. Her songs are sung in temples, villages, and classical concerts across the subcontinent.

She did not merely write Bhakti poetry; she weaponized devotion to achieve total personal liberation.

Chronology

A life, paced like a poem.

    1498

    Born in Kudki village, Rajasthan.

    1516

    Married Prince Bhoj Raj of Mewar, the eldest son of Rana Sanga.

    1521

    Widowed after her husband died of battle wounds; she refused to perform Sati.

    1530s

    Faced persecution from her in-laws for her ecstatic public worship of Krishna.

    1540s

    Left Mewar to live as a wandering saint in Vrindavan and Dwarka.

    1546

    Believed to have miraculously merged into the idol of Krishna in Dwarka.

Essential

Start with these.

Three doorways into Mirabai, chosen for how quickly they show you what this voice sounds like.

Aaj Mohin Laage Vrindavan Neeko

Shanta

01

आज मोहिं लागे वृन्दावन नीको

Aaj Mohin Laage Vrindavan Neeko

The clearest statement of shanta in this catalogue, begin here.

Read the poem →4 verses
Badal Dekha Dari Ho Syam Main Badal Dekha Dari

Shringara

02

बादल देख डरी हो स्याम मैं बादल देख डरी

Badal Dekha Dari Ho Syam Main Badal Dekha Dari

A shorter turn in shringara, 5 verses long.

Read the poem →5 verses
Ban Jaun Charanki Dasi Re

Shanta

03

बन जाऊं चरणकी दासी रे

Ban Jaun Charanki Dasi Re

A shorter turn in shanta, 1 verse long.

Read the poem →1 verse

Full Catalogue

Every composition, by mood.

197 entries · 5 rasas

View full catalogue →

शृंगार

Shringara

117 compositions

All 117 in Shringara →

करुणा

Karuna

18 compositions

All 18 in Karuna →

शान्त

Shanta

58 compositions

All 58 in Shanta →

वीर

Veera

1 composition

हास्य

Hasya

3 compositions