Mirabai

Mira was a princess of a small kingdom in Rajasthan. From childhood she was devoted to Krishna. She was married queen into the royal house of Chittor. Though the family deity was goddess Durga, she continued to worship and sing of Krishna. Her songs of devotion to Krishna became popular and she came to be called a saint. She declared that she was married to Krishna. When her husband, the king died, she refused to be 'sati' or the wife that climbs the funeral pyre with the dead husband. Many were the tribulations she was subjected to. She braved them all. The end came as she wished, while she was singing of Krishna. Mirabai's 'bhajans' (devotional songs) are sung all over India by the masses as well as by masters of classical music.