“Where’s My Beloved?”

Mirabai's Prem Bhakti Marg

Abstract

This article by Andrew Schelling delves into the life and poetry of Mirabai, a 16th-century Rajasthani saint-poet whose passionate devotion to Krishna exemplifies the prem bhakti marg—the path of loving devotion. Schelling approaches Mirabai as both a radical mystic and a poet who refused societal norms, including those of caste, gender roles, and institutionalized religion. Her poetry, often defiant and intensely personal, expresses longing, ecstasy, and spiritual rebellion, positioning her as both a spiritual icon and a feminist figure avant la lettre. The essay explores the tension between Mirabai’s devotional surrender to Krishna and her fierce independence from patriarchal and marital expectations, portraying her not merely as a religious figure but as a poet who consciously articulated spiritual yearning through the language of love, song, and metaphysical defiance. Schelling also reflects on the transmission of Mirabai’s poetry across languages and centuries, emphasizing its continued relevance in contemporary spiritual and feminist discourse.