The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions (1550 page)

BOOK: The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions
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see
AL
T
.
M
r
b
or Meera
.
Hindu saint-poetess (a Rajasthani princess) in the
bhakti
tradition of perhaps 15th–16th cent. CE. It is difficult to construct any accurate biography from the many stories which relate, e.g., how she flouted all convention by refusing to accept her Rajput husband, acknowledging only Lord
K
a
as her true bridegroom. After refusing to commit
sat
on the early death of her husband, she was persecuted by his family and became a wandering mendicant singing
bhajans
(chants) to K
a until finally being absorbed into his image in the K
a temple in Dv
rak
.
The grace, melody, and simplicity of her songs have been preserved in Hind
and Gujarati, and her songs are still popular in many parts of India.

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