Name the poetess, dedicated to Krishna and also known as ‘Meera of Wagad’.

2025

Name the poetess, dedicated to Krishna and also known as ‘Meera of Wagad’.

  1. A.

    Gaura Dhai

  2. B.

    Panna Dhai

  3. C.

    Meera Bai

  4. D.

    Gavari Bai

Attempted by 7 students.

Show answer & explanation

Correct answer: D

Concept: In Rajasthan's Bhakti-era tradition, several later women saint-poets were honoured with the epithet 'Meera of <region>' when their Krishna-devotional poetry echoed the intensity of the 16th-century poetess Meera Bai, even though each remained a separate historical figure from Meera Bai herself.

Application: The historical region called Wagad corresponds to the present-day Dungarpur–Banswara belt of southern Rajasthan. The saint-poetess honoured there with the title 'Meera of Wagad' for her Krishna-bhakti hymns, still sung in the local Wagdi dialect, is Gavari Bai (Gavri Bai) of Dungarpur.

  • Gaura Dhai — a Marwar (Jodhpur) wet-nurse of the 17th century, remembered for sacrificing her own infant son to save the newborn prince Ajit Singh from Aurangzeb's court; a caretaker figure, not a devotional poetess.

  • Panna Dhai — the royal nurse of Udai Singh II of Mewar, remembered for sacrificing her own son to shield the prince from Banbir; likewise a caretaker role, not a poetess.

  • Meera Bai — the original 16th-century poetess-saint, born a Rathore princess of Merta and married into Mewar's Sisodia family, whose Krishna-bhakti tradition gave rise to the 'Meera of ___' epithets used for later devotees in other regions; she is the reference figure, not the Wagad-region bearer of the title.

So the Krishna-devotee poetess known as 'Meera of Wagad' is Gavari Bai.

Explore the full course: Rssb Senior Computer Instructor

Loading lesson…