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Mahadeviyakka and Mirabai: Devotional Poets

Mahadeviyakka and Mirabai: Devotional Poets

In their native Hindi language, the term "bhakti" refers to our modern idea of "devotion"·not only to gods or goddesses, but to individuals, and to the faith of the Hindu. Easily, we understand why Mahadeviyakka and Mirabai would have been called bhakti or devotional poets, as their devotion to spirituality is seen in their poetry, and can be understood and related to even in today's society. Through readings of Mahadeviyakka's "My head falls from my shoulders, and Mirabai's "Who can discredit me?", certainly we come to a better understanding of the intrinsic faith of these two women, but also, see an aspect of the Hindu faith that may have been otherwise foreign to a western world.

I shall think my thirst and hunger quelled.

I shall think them pouring for my bath.

I shall think it flower for my hair.

O lord white as jasmine, if my head falls from my shoulders

We know that Mahadeviyakka lived close to three hundred years prior to Mirabai·though they probably lived near the same area. Mahadeviyakka had been initiated into Shiva worship as a child, and from this point considered herself first and foremost a beloved of Shiva, no matter what actually befell her physical body.

Unfortunately, Mahadevi, as she was known, was forced into a bad marriage with the king, who loved her very much, but was upset that he could not bend her to his will, as she was completely devoted to Shiva. In much of her poetry, she would describe Shiva as her illicit lover, and the relationship was obviously of greater importance than that with her athiest husband.

In "My head falls from my shoulders," Mahadeviyakka expressed this very pure devotion to her lord, explaining, essentially, that no matter what might happen to her physically, she will see it as a gift from

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Mahadeviyakka and Mirabai: Devotional Poets. (1969, December 31). In LotsofEssays.com. Retrieved 21:05, March 28, 2024, from https://www.lotsofessays.com/viewpaper/1695267.html