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Sri Sarada
Devi (1853 - 1920)
"Rāmakrsna-gata-prānām
tannāmasravana-priyām
tadbhāva-ranjitakārām
visvamātr-svarūpinim
sneha-mayīm sivam
sāntām bhakti-mukti-pradāyinīm
sarva-jiva-trāna-kartrim
sāradām jnana-dāyinim".
--Swami Abhedananda[With
her life centred in Ramakrishna and mind ever delighting in
His thought, She (Sarada Devi) is veritably an embodiment of
his ideas; manifestation of Universal Motherhood;
overflowing with universal benevolence, goodness and peace;
bestower of devotion and salvation; redeemer of all Jivas
and giver of divine knowledge.] |
| Inseparable
from Sri Ramakrishna as is heat from fire, Sarada Devi was
the divine consort of Sri Ramakrishna. Born on 22 December,
1853 at Jayrambati (Bankura) in the pious ambience of a
Brahmin family, she spent her childhood in doing various domestic
chores as is the case with most girls of rural upbringing. But
hers was a spontaneous spiritual fervour that revealed
itself amidst the usual rigour of household works. Her marriage
to Sri Ramakrishna at the early age of five was indeed a
divinely ordained
dispensation as she was 'marked' for the great Master. However, her spirituality flourished into
full bloom after coming to Sri Ramakrishna at Dakshineswar.
'Do you want to drag me down into Maya?' -- at this
question she retorted to Sri Ramakrishna, 'I have come only
to help you in the path of religious life'. It was a period
of training and discipleship -- a silent and profound
process -- during which the 'Mother' in her became more
manifest, making her ready to take up the leadership of the
spiritual movement that the Master inaugurated. Her hours
were spent in tireless but silent service to the Master &
his disciples as well as in prolonged meditation &
devotional disciplines. She was the figurehead, the 'Mother'
of the spiritual ministry after the passing away of Sri
Ramakrishna -- serving as guide and the supreme inspiration
of the disciples who renounced all worldly ties for the sake
of God-realisation. She was the embodiment of all wisdom, as Sri Ramakrishna used to say, and this wisdom,
both worldly and spiritual, was the guiding force behind the
establishment of the Ramakrishna Mission in 1897). Hers was
a universal motherhood, characterised by unconditional love,
unruffled spirituality, extreme simplicity blended with
dignity and a loving temperament that accepted all
irrespective of nationality, religious affiliation or social
position. Even after she left her mortal coil in 1920, she
remains the soothing solace for millions of afflicted hearts
longing for her nonpareil, eternal bliss.
Books
on Sri Sarada Devi (Holy Mother):
Holy Mother Sri Sarada Devi -- Swami
Gambhirananda
Sri Sarada Devi The Holy Mother -- Swami
Tapasyananda
The Gospel of Holy Mother -- Recorded
by Her devotee-children
Sri Sarada Devi : A biography in pictures
The Mother as I saw Her -- Swami
Saradeshananda
Sarada Devi : The Great Wonder -- By Apostles, Monks,
Savants, Scholars etc.
Great Women of India -- ed. Swami Madhavananda & R.C.Majumdar
For Online
purchase and further details please contact:
www.sriramakrishnamath.org
www.advaitaonline.com
www.udbodhan.org
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Swami Vivekananda
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