Meera Bai was called a great Satyagrahi by Mahatma Gandhi because her life reflected the core principles of Satyagraha:
- Truth (Satya): She upheld her spiritual truth fearlessly — ‘’Mharo to Girdhar Gopal, Dujo na koi” — showing absolute devotion to Krishna, just as a satyagrahi clings to truth.
- Non-violence (Ahimsa) : Meera resisted social and royal pressures peacefully. Despite persecution, she never responded with violence — a hallmark of non-violent resistance.
- Willing Suffering (Tapasya) : She embraced suffering and humiliation with love and grace — “Ya Badnami Mithi lage” — embodying the satyagrahi’s readiness to suffer for a just cause.
- Discipline and Devotion: Her steadfast daily worship, singing, and spiritual practices showed inner strength and discipline — essential traits of a satyagrahi.
- Detachment (Vairagya): She renounced royal luxury to live a simple, devoted life — reflecting the satyagrahi ideal of sacrificing personal gain for higher truth.
Great men who sacrificed their lives serving their motherland or adopted a moral life and philanthropy, the society gave them the status of divinity (Lok devta) and gradually the practice of worshiping them started.
Contribution in social and cultural progress:
- Promoted religious plurality, social harmony and equality. i.e., Ramdev ji,Gogaji
- They opposed untouchability and caste discrimination i.e., described harijan as a diamond of the necklace.
- Promoted value based society i.e., 29 rules of (vishnoi), 36 rules (jasnathi)
- They made people realize that the temple, idol and ritualism associated with them is meaningless. i.e., ramdev ji opposed idol worship.
- Promoted empowerment of women (Sahjo bai disciple of Charandasji)
- They protected the interests of the weak. I.e.., tejaji fought for lacha gujari’s cows.
- Sacrificed lives in service of society i.e., pabuji,teja ji protected cows.
- They promoted folk literature,regional languages i.e., 24 baniya by ramdev ji, Simbhudara and Konda by jasnath ji.
- Promotion of folk music and dance i.e., teraah tali, fire dance,jamma of ramdev ji,phad etc.
- They protected environment through their teachings i.e., “sir sathe rukh rhve,sasto saudi jan”
The biggest importance of belief in lok devta is that most of the rural people of Rajasthan have succeeded in understanding the basic mantras of culture;unity, meditation and the elements of moral life without studying religious philosophy.
