Meerabai Story | The Meera Temple of Chittorgarh

Meerabai Story | The Meera Temple of Chittorgarh

The Meerabai story is inspiring and fascinating. The Meera temple in Chittorgarh, Rajasthan, is a celebration of the divine love of Meera for Krishna.

Meerabai Story | The Meera Temple of Chittorgarh

The Meerabai story in many ways is synonymous with Bhakti or devotion. In the words of the great Hindu philosopher and saint Adi Shankaracharya in his famous devotional hymn, “Sivananda Lahari”, “That state of mind is called Bhakti, wherein all movements of thought go automatically to the lotus feet of the Lord.”

Meerabai, the 16th-century mystic poet who was immersed in her love of Lord Krishna and the Meerabai story are glorious examples of the devotion or divine love or Bhakti as described by Adi Shankaracharya himself. Though much of Mirabai’s (मीरा बाई) life is lost in the chapters of history and in a maze of myths and legends, the Meera temple in Chittorgarh, Rajasthan, India stands as silent testimony to the Meerabai story.

Meerabai Story – The Meera Temple of Chittorgarh

Meerabai Story
MeeraBai Temple Chittorgarh

The historic Chittorgarh Fort is one of the hill forts of Rajasthan that are listed together as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The other forts are the Amer Fort in Jaipur, the Ranthambore fort in Ranthambore, the Jaisalmer Fort, the Kumbhalgarh fort, and the Gagron fort. The kings of Mewar ruled from the Chittor Fort till Maharana Udai Singh II moved the capital to Udaipur.

Walking into the Chittorgarh (चित्तौरगढ़) Fort is like entering a living museum of history. It is one of the few, “living forts’, in the world. Glorious chapters from the colourful history of Rajasthan brush past you around each and every corner of the Chittorgarh Fort, making it one of the most important places To visit in Chittorgarh.

The Vijay Sthambh rises to the sky as a tribute to the gallantry of Mewar, Padmini’s Palace evokes the tragic cries of the queen jumping into the bowels of an inferno accompanied by her companions and the Meerabai Temple Chittorgarh stands in the shadow of the grander and bigger temple of Varaha, as a silent soliloquy to the Meerabai story.

Meerabai Temple Chittorgarh | Meera Bai Temple | Sri Meera Bai Temple, Chittorgarh Fort 

Meerabai Story-Meera Temple Chittorgarh
Meera Bai Temple Chittorgarh

We reached Chittorgarh late evening driving down from Ranthambore. We were on a road trip in Rajasthan and Chittor was the second of the places that we were covering on our trip. Our road trip had started from Jaipur, and after Ranthambore and Chittorgarh, we would be covering Kumbhalgarh, Ranakpur, and finally the trip would culminate at the beautiful city of Udaipur.

We drove down uphill towards the historic Chittorgarh fort after fortifying ourselves with a sumptuous breakfast at the Kukda Resort Chittorgarh where we had stayed overnight. As we drove past the 7 gates that lead to the interior of the fort, it seemed the years were falling away from us, and we were entering the fascinating pages of history.

There is no dearth of Tourist Places In Chittorgarh Fort and the first places that we visited there were the Kumbha Shyam Temple & Meerabai Temple, Chittorgarh.

The Meera Bai Ka Mandir or Meera temple Chittorgarh quite literally stands in the shadow of another huge temple that was originally built for Varaha, the third avatar of Vishnu. Though the original temple is said to date back to the 8th century, the temple was rebuilt in the 15th century by Rana Kumbha. As the original idol had been destroyed, an idol of Krishna was installed, and the temple came to be known as Kumbha Shyam temple after Rana Kumbha.

The smaller temple for Meera is also said to have been built by Rana Sanga or Sangram Singh who was her father-in-law. The temple built to Krishna was where Meera used to spend her time lost in the bliss of pure Krishna consciousness, singing paeans in praise of her beloved Krishna. History would remember her for her mystical poems that would become the guiding light to many treading the path of Bhakti or devotion.

Shikhara of Meera Temple in Chittorgarh
Shikhara of Meera Temple in Chittorgarh

The Meera Mandir, Chittorgarh, is built in the classic Nagara style of architecture that is ubiquitous in the northern part of India. The Meera Bai Ka Mandir is small but elegant. It consists of an Ardha Mandapa or entrance porch followed by a small Mandapa or hall.

Above the Garba Griha is a Shikhara which is topped by the Kalasha. The Shikhara is composed of three levels of smaller Shikharas or Urushringas. Inside the temple can be found Meerabai paintings and paintings of her beloved Krishna. There is a small Chhatri inside the sanctum which is believed to commemorate the memory of Swami Ravidas who is believed to have been the Guru of Mirabai.

About Meerabai | The Meerabai Story | Krishna And Meera Story \ Meerabai Life Story

Meerabai story

Just like many other ancient saints much of Meerabai’s History is clouded with myths and legends, some of them true and some of them not. But based on what is known and what is generally accepted by historians, here is the story of Mirabai in brief.

Lord Krishna and Meera though divided by the chasm of time figure together in the collective imagination of Indians. This in itself is a powerful vindication of the levels of devotion that Meera ascended through her total surrender to Krishna. Mira And Krishna epitomize the pure love of a devotee to God at many levels, both literally and metaphorically.

From the available information on Meerabai, it is known that she was attracted to Krishna from childhood. The Meerabai story and her devotion for Lord Krishna began when she was just a little girl. A saint visited her house once and he had with him an idol of Krishna. The young Meera was fascinated by the idol and felt a strange and strong attraction to it.

The little girl’s mind yearned to possess the idol, so when the saint was about to leave, she asked him for the idol. He told her that the owner of the doll needs to pray every day to it, to which she agreed, and her childish adamancy ensured that she possessed the idol. She was completely attached to the idol of Krishna and they were inseparable.

Though hagiographies of Meerabai differ in various respects, it is generally agreed that she was born in a place called Kudki in what is now the Pali district of Rajasthan in the year 1498. Her childhood was spent in Merta, a region of Rajasthan. Her father was Ratan Singh, a Rajput who was constantly engaged in fighting the onslaught of the Moghuls. Her mother was Veer Kumari. Theirs was a Rajput family who were devotees of Vishnu.

Mirabai was married to Bhoj Raj who was the eldest son of Rana Sanga or Sangram Singh of Mewar. Rana Sanga was the grandson of Rana Kumbha. Mirabai’s mind, however, was on a different plane altogether. Her childish fascination for the Krishna idol had blossomed into pure devotion which erupted in beautiful songs in praise of Krishna. She now lived and breathed for Krishna. Bhoj Raj initially tried to divert her attention towards more material and worldly matters, but her focus on her Lord Krishna was unwavering. He gave up and instead became her friend, respecting her spirituality.

But in a travesty of fate, her husband Bhoj Raj died of injuries in warfare, and her father-in-law who had built a temple for her too died. A series of events ensured that Vikram Singh became the ruler of Mewar. Mirabai whose devotion for Krishna was reaching a crescendo was looked upon with contempt by he in-laws, as her conduct was considered inappropriate for a woman of the royal family. There were numerous attempts to get rid of her, but she survived miraculously. There are many myths surrounding these incidents and though it is difficult to sort out myth from fact, nonetheless these incidents are fascinating in their own right and add to the mystical aura of Mirabai.

One of the famous incidents related to Mirabai is of the Rana Vikram Singh sending her a glass of poison, which she drinks, taking the name of Krishna. Miraculously the poison has no effect on her. In another incident, a snake is sent in a basket which turns into a garland of flowers when it reaches Mirabai.

The lilting songs of Mirabai and her devotion to Krishna has begun to spread. On the other hand, the persecution from her in-laws too had begun to increase. This prompted Mirabai to leave her home and become a mendicant visiting place like Vrindavan, Dakor, and then Dwarka, singing the glories of Krishna. Some accounts say that she was exiled by her in-laws because of which she took this path.

Mirabai’s mind was one with her lord and her physical existence was just coincidental. Soon the time came for her to merge her consciousness completely with her beloved Krishna. There are different accounts of how Meerabai’s life came to an end. However, it is generally believed that she went to Dwarka and merged with the idol of Krishna there.

How To Get To Chittorgarh

Gaumukh Kund Chittorgarh
Gaumukh Kund Chittorgarh
  • Krishna Devotee, Mirabai Temple in Chittorgarh fort, is located in Chittorgarh, Rajasthan, India
  • Chittorgarh is about 111 kilometres from the city of Udaipur in Rajasthan
  • The nearest airport to reach Chittorgarh is the Maharana Pratap Airport in Udaipur at a distance of about 92 kilometres

Are you inspired by the treasures of Chittorgarh and do you hear the call of Meerabai’s devotional songs? If you are planning a trip to Chittorgarh in Rajasthan, India then you can book a cheap flight through TripAdvisor or Agoda or CheapAir or Cleartrip or Makemytrip or Priceline right here. You can fly to Udaipur or Jaipur and then from there you can travel to Chittorgarh by road. Some of the options to reach Chittorgarh could be by self-drive car or cab or bus.

Where To Stay In Chittorgarh

Accomodation at Kukda resort chittorgarh
Kukda resort Chittorgarh

There are not too many hotels in Chittorgarh. We stayed at the Kukda Resort which is not far from the Fort. Read our review of Kukda Resort here. You can book this hotel or any other hotel in Chittorgarh or anywhere in Rajasthan

through TripAdvisor or Cleartrip or Agoda or Makemytrip or Priceline and save a lot by getting the best savings on booking your stay.

Click to book the best hotels in Chittorgarh

Meera Bai Temple Chittorgarh – Pilgrimage Tourist Place | Places In And Around Chittorgarh

Vijay Sthambh Chittorgarh
Vijay Sthambh Chittorgarh

The Meera Temple, Chittorgarh – Meera Bai Temple, is not the only place to visit in Chittorgarh, there are many places in and around Chittorgarh that one can visit and plan in their Chittorgarh itinerary. Here is a list of places to visit in Chittorgarh.

  • Vijay Sthambh
  • Kirti Sthambh
  • Meerabai Temple
  • Kumbha Shyam Temple
  • Gaumukh Kund
  • Padmini Palace
  • Rana Kumbha Palace
  • Ratan Singh Palace

You can plan your Chittorgarh itinerary and book your  Chittorgarh trips, right here.  So go ahead and book online places to see in Chittorgarh and popular activities in Chittorgarh and cover attractions in Chittorgarh.

Click here to know more and book Chittorgarh Best Attractions in Chittorgarh and Rajasthan

 

Mira Bai Books, Paintings, Idols etc.

You can buy here online Meera Bai Books, MeeraBai Idols, MiraBai Paintings etc.

FAQ – Meera Temple Rajasthan | Meerabai Life History | Meerabai Story

Meera Temple Rajasthan | Meerabai Life History | Meerabai Story

What are the Entry Fee, Visit Timings, and Things to Know about the Meera temple in Chittorgarh?

The Meera Temple Chittorgarh is located in the same premises as the Kumbha Shyam temple. It is open from 9.30 AM to 5 PM. There are no separate entry fees for the Meera Temple Chittorgarh, there is an entrance fee for the Chittorgarh Fort which covers all the attractions in the fort.

How did Meerabai die?

Many of the Interesting Facts about the Life of Meera Bai are buried in a maze of myths and legends. It is believed that she merged into the Krishna idol at Dwarka.

Who is Mirabai’s husband?

Mirabai’s husband was Bhoj Raj who was the eldest son of Rana Sanga of Mewar.

Is Meera and Radha same?

No, Radha is a mythological character who was a contemporary of Krishna in the Dwapara Yuga while Meera lived during the 16th century.

What happened to Meerabai?

Legend has it that in her 57th year she disappeared. Some say that she merged into the idol of Krishna at Dwarka, though there are many varying accounts in the Meerabai story.

Is Meera married?

In the physical sense, the Meerabai story points to the fact that she was married to Bhoj Raj, however in mind and spirit, she was married to Lord Krishna.

Why did Krishna not marry Meera?

Physically Krishna and Meera are from different Yugas. While Krishna is known to have lived in the Dwapara Yuga, Mira lived in the current Yuga, the Kali Yuga. But metaphorically Krishna and Meera did marry when the consciousness of Mira or her Atman merged with that of Krishna, Paramatma in Darka.

Is there a Meerabai Biography?

There are different hagiographies of Meerabai from which incidents of her life can be known, but there is no known authentic biography.

Who was the husband of Meerabai?

Bhoj Raj.

What is known about Meerabai’s death place?

According to the Meerabai story, she merged into God at Dwarka, Gujarat.

Which are the famous Meera Bai Songs?

There are many Mirabai Poems In Hindi attributed to her. Some of her famous Bhajans include, “Payoji Maine Ram Ratan Dhan Paayo”.

What are Meerabai Ke Pad?

The bhajans of Meerabai were composed in metric verses or padas in the Rajasthani language and are known as Meerabai ke pad.

Which are the Places related to Meera Bai – Mira Bai?

There are many places associated with Meera Bai, and these include Chittorgarh, Dwarka, Vrindavan, and Merta where she spent her childhood. there is a museum in Merta which documents her life and has Meera Statues and other exhibits.

We hope you liked our Chittorgarh blog post about the Meera temple in Chittorgarh as well as the fascinating Meerabai story. The Meera Krishna metaphor is indeed the pinnacle of the bond and love between a Bhakt and their God. Do let us know your thoughts about this post. We leave you with one of the Meera Bai Quotes attributed to the 16th-century mystic poet and Krishna devotee.

“Don’t forget love; it will bring you all the madness you need to unfurl yourself across the universe”.

 

PinitMeerabai Story | The Meera Temple of Chittorgarh

Meerabai Story | The Meera Temple of Chittorgarh

 

Meerabai Story | The Meera Temple of Chittorgarh

Do You Love Traveling?

Do you want to know how to travel the world? We have put together a very useful travel resources page with best travel tips. Go check it out now.

Thanks for visiting our site Voyager – imvoyager.com and taking the time to read this post!

If you wish to collaborate/work with us then reach us at [email protected]

We’d love if you’d comment by sharing your thoughts on this post and share this post on social media and with your friends.


[shareaholic app=”share_buttons” id=”27413782″]

Follow our journey on our social media channels:
Facebook   Twitter   Instagram  Pinterest  YouTube

If you found this article interesting and enjoyed reading it, join our community and subscribe to Voyager's blog to receive great content delivered right to your inbox.
[email-subscribers namefield=”YES” desc=”” group=”Public”]

60+ Million Users Trust TripAdvisor With Their Travel Plans. Shouldn’t You?Meerabai Story | The Meera Temple of ChittorgarhTripAdvisor
Trabug

9 thoughts on “Meerabai Story | The Meera Temple of Chittorgarh”

  1. They are so lovely and overwhelming especially when you sit to think what all this temple has seen and been through. The write-up has been made very brilliantly and the architecture of the temple is splendid. Visiting temples is like visiting the past time. We would absolutely love to take a trip to Chittorgarh!

  2. This is an interesting post and I knew the story of Meera Bai but would love to visit this temple one day. Tje temple is so beautiful and rich with Meera bai’s stories.

  3. Such great deal of information for readers is superb. I am from bhilwara but never went to Chittor. I am planning to visit this next vacation for sure. I love the details covering about meets. Wonderful Blog for sure

  4. Have heard a lot about this historic Chittorgarh Fort. Visiting hill forts of Rajasthan is exciting as it is and knowing that this temple is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site is like the icing on the cake.

  5. Oh wow I Never thought there would be a temple for Meera Bai, how silly of me! I have heard so much about Chittorgarh but have never visited it. I would love to visit this temple and see it for myself. I am on a temple spree these days and love visiting them for their architecture.

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.