Mirabai
Mirabai was a 16th-century Indian mystic and devotional poet whose songs praise Krishna. Her poetry became a lasting part of the bhakti tradition.
Bhakti movement: A broad Hindu devotional movement emphasizing personal devotion to a deity. Mirabai’s songs belong to this tradition of devotion expressed through vernacular poetry and song.
Merta: A town in Rajasthan associated with Mirabai’s birth and early life. Mirabai is traditionally said to have been born into a Rajput family at Merta.
Ravidas: A North Indian poet-saint whose devotional verses challenge social hierarchy and emphasize devotion to God. Some traditions identify Ravidas as Mirabai’s spiritual teacher, though the historical relationship is uncertain.
Bhajan: A Hindu devotional song performed individually or collectively, often in praise of a deity. Mirabai’s verses are commonly sung as bhajans in homes, temples, and public gatherings.
Mirabai's poetry: A body of devotional songs attributed to Mirabai, centered on love and surrender to Krishna. The poems survive in varied versions, making authorship and textual history difficult to settle.
Krishna: A major Hindu deity, widely worshipped as an incarnation of Vishnu and the beloved of devotional traditions. Krishna is the divine beloved praised throughout Mirabai’s songs.
Rathore dynasty: A Rajput ruling dynasty historically associated with parts of Rajasthan and Marwar. Mirabai’s family background is linked to the Rathore rulers of Merta.
Surdas: A North Indian devotional poet traditionally associated with songs about Krishna’s childhood. Surdas offers a close poetic comparison within the Krishna-centered bhakti tradition.
Rajasthani folk music: The regional musical traditions of Rajasthan, including songs performed with local instruments and styles. Folk performance keeps versions of Mirabai’s songs alive beyond literary recitation.
Oral tradition: The transmission of stories, songs, and knowledge through spoken and performed forms. Oral circulation helped preserve Mirabai’s songs while allowing lyrics and attributions to change.