Meera

Meera, the great poetess saint was born a princess in Khudki in Rajasthan in early 16th Century. Her father was Ratan Singh- the youngest son of Rao Dooda, the then ruler of Medatha a small state in Marwar. From the time of her birth itself, it was predicted by Raidasji (a great saint) that Meera was meant for greater things and that her family would be known in through the decades because of her achievements.

When Meera is about 8-9 yrs old she wants a “gudda” whom she can marry.  Sant Raidasji gives her Lord Krishna’s idol, and Meera immediately falls in love with the Lord. Meera truly believes that the Lord is her husband.

Soon after, her marriage is fixed with Bhoj Raj, the son of Rana Sangha of Chittor. But Meera remained, in mind heart and soul, married to the Lord and never accepted the prince as her husband. Post her marriage her life was constantly engulfed in turmoil, as very few could understand her devotion and faith towards Lord Krishna. She was soft-spoken, mild-mannered, gifted, sweet, and sang with a melodious voice. She was one of the foremost exponents of the Prema Bhakti (Divine Love) and an inspired poetess.

Through this show we attempt to portray Meera’s story as that of an ordinary Rajput princess whose ultimate love and devotion to the Lord led her to question the set norms of the patriarchal society. It is a story relevant even in today’s day and age- as Meera embodies a woman’s true love and her ultimate sacrifice to remain loyal to that love even in the face of social stigma and opposition. A story of unquestioning and pure love.

Characters

Meera (played by Aashika Bhatia) : A rajput princess- born into the Rathod family of Rao Dooda, Meera from her very childhood became enamored by Lord Krishna’s idol. She believed Him to be her husband. Her devotion was so complete that even when she is forced to marry Bhoj Raj the son of Rana Sangha of Chittor, she walks around the holy fire carrying with her the idol of the Lord – almost symbolizing her marriage to Him.

Meera occupies indeed a sacred place in the history of Indian thought and culture for her deep and passionate religious devotion, as also for her poetry in which her genius was well revealed, and which was never bereft of beauty in the true sense of the term. Her odes and hymns are so rich, sweet and inspiring, not because of any high rhetoric or dexterity of language, but because they are characterized by a tenderness and simplicity of feeling as genuine outpourings of a heart completely dedicated to God