Sri Saradamani Devi
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Sri Sarada Devi, the mystic of Bengal, was born in a Brahmin family on 22nd December,1853 at Jayrambati in Bengal,India. She was the wife of Sri Ramakrishna Paramhansa. Her father's name was Ramachandra Mukherjee who was a priest and mother's name was Shyamasundari Devi. Before her birth, Shyamasundari Devi enjoyed a mystical experience. One day, she was sitting under a bilva tree. A sweet little girl dismounted fro the tree and clasped close her neck with arms. She became faint but when she awakened, she felt that the girl entered into her womb. Simultaneously, her father Ramachandra saw a dream that a little girl embracing his neck said him that she would take birth to him. He felt that the Goddess of wealth- 'Lakshmi' own self was comming to brighten his house.
After birth she was given name- Thakurmani but she was popularly called as Saradamani. Ramachandra had seven children and Saradamani was the eldest. At her childhood, when all children played the usual games, she used to make the images of Goddess Kali, Lakshmi and offered bilva leaves and flowers to them.
Sri Ramakrishna married her when she was the age of 6, in 1859. After marriage, Sarada Devi stayed at her home and Sri Ramakrishna stayed at Dakshineswar to strive the austere endeavor. Sarada Devi met him at Dakshineswar when she was at the age of 14 and returned home after seven months staying there. During this period, Sri Ramakrishna taught her regarding household duties and spiritual matters. After seven months, she returned back at home taking bliss in mind and became more quiet and always absorbed in spiritual practice. At the age of 19, listening the gossiping of the villagers regarding the madness of Sri Ramakrishna, she decided to visit Dakshineswar and wished to provide service to Sri Ramakrishna if required. She accompanied with her father reached in Calcutta.
On the way of journey, she fell ill with fever and her father Ramachandra found a shelter and stayed that night there. At night Sarada Devi became senseless as the fever raged and in that state she saw a dream that a little girl was nursing her, giving her identity as sister of Sarada Devi and also told that she came from Dakshineswar. In the next morning, she was cured from fever and set their journey towards Dakshineswar and reached there that night.
Seeing her illness, Ramakrishna set about nursing her and she had been cured within four days. Seeing the intensity of service and care with love, Sarada Devi realized that Sri Ramakrishna was not really mad. She discarded the gossip of the villagers. Sri Ramakrishna then taught her about domestic duties and guided the spiritual practices related to music, service, meditation etc.
One day, the Guru Ramakrishna asked her an unexpected question if she had come to drag him to the worldly level. Sarada Devi denied that but considered that she came to help him to his chosen path. One day, when Sri Ramakrishna was taking rest and Sarada Devi was massaging his legs, Sarada Devi put a question to know about the concept of Sri Ramakrishna regarding her. In reply Sri Ramakrishna told that she was a form of blissful mother. He considered her as same mother who resided in the temple (Kali).
These words reflected his high regards of her as divine mother. On 5th June, 1872; he arranged all materials of puja for personal worship of Kali in his room and called Sarada Devi there. He started puja and after chanting few mantras, he requested Sarada Devi to sit on the pedestal to worship her and invoked Kali into Sarada Devi. He also done Shodashi Puja chanting mantras and offering six ritual activities. It led her senseless and he himself attained the Samadhi. After coming back to reality, Sri Ramakrishna prostrated to her as the Shakti of Shiva and Narayana. (To the Hindus-Shiva and Narayana are the God). After coming back to consciousness, Sarada Devi offered obeisance to Sri Ramakrishna.
Sri Ramakrishna taught her the mantras which can help her to render him awake from the tomb of thoughts by chanting mantras to his years. She used to maintain a regular life style. She would awaken at 3 am, bath in the Ganga (The sacred river), perform japa (recalling God through religious practice), meditate and used to arrange the materials of puja for Sri Ramakrishna. After that she cooked for Sri Ramakrishna, his mother and other devotees who came to take blessings.
In June 1885, Sri Ramakrishna was suffering from cancer in throat. Sarada Devi sacrificed to serve him at any personal discomfort. He passed on mahasamadhi on 6th August 1886 and over the three decades, she made pilgrimages to Buddha Gaya, Puri, Madurai, Madras, Rameswaram and Bangalore. She was well recognized as "Sri Ma"- the Holy Mother. Many monks used to come to her to take advice and blessings. Even Swami Vivekananda also came to her to take blessing and permission before to attain the World Parliament of Religion in America in 1893.
Sarada Devi fell ill in December,1919 and it continued until 21st July,1920 and at the age of 67 she passed into mahasamadhi.
Sister Nivedita, the disciple of Swami Vivekananda, considered that she was Sri Ramakrishna's last word as to the ideal of Indian womanhood.
The last word of the holy Mother was what Sri Ramakrishna was, that she was.
After birth she was given name- Thakurmani but she was popularly called as Saradamani. Ramachandra had seven children and Saradamani was the eldest. At her childhood, when all children played the usual games, she used to make the images of Goddess Kali, Lakshmi and offered bilva leaves and flowers to them.
Sri Ramakrishna married her when she was the age of 6, in 1859. After marriage, Sarada Devi stayed at her home and Sri Ramakrishna stayed at Dakshineswar to strive the austere endeavor. Sarada Devi met him at Dakshineswar when she was at the age of 14 and returned home after seven months staying there. During this period, Sri Ramakrishna taught her regarding household duties and spiritual matters. After seven months, she returned back at home taking bliss in mind and became more quiet and always absorbed in spiritual practice. At the age of 19, listening the gossiping of the villagers regarding the madness of Sri Ramakrishna, she decided to visit Dakshineswar and wished to provide service to Sri Ramakrishna if required. She accompanied with her father reached in Calcutta.
On the way of journey, she fell ill with fever and her father Ramachandra found a shelter and stayed that night there. At night Sarada Devi became senseless as the fever raged and in that state she saw a dream that a little girl was nursing her, giving her identity as sister of Sarada Devi and also told that she came from Dakshineswar. In the next morning, she was cured from fever and set their journey towards Dakshineswar and reached there that night.
Seeing her illness, Ramakrishna set about nursing her and she had been cured within four days. Seeing the intensity of service and care with love, Sarada Devi realized that Sri Ramakrishna was not really mad. She discarded the gossip of the villagers. Sri Ramakrishna then taught her about domestic duties and guided the spiritual practices related to music, service, meditation etc.
One day, the Guru Ramakrishna asked her an unexpected question if she had come to drag him to the worldly level. Sarada Devi denied that but considered that she came to help him to his chosen path. One day, when Sri Ramakrishna was taking rest and Sarada Devi was massaging his legs, Sarada Devi put a question to know about the concept of Sri Ramakrishna regarding her. In reply Sri Ramakrishna told that she was a form of blissful mother. He considered her as same mother who resided in the temple (Kali).
These words reflected his high regards of her as divine mother. On 5th June, 1872; he arranged all materials of puja for personal worship of Kali in his room and called Sarada Devi there. He started puja and after chanting few mantras, he requested Sarada Devi to sit on the pedestal to worship her and invoked Kali into Sarada Devi. He also done Shodashi Puja chanting mantras and offering six ritual activities. It led her senseless and he himself attained the Samadhi. After coming back to reality, Sri Ramakrishna prostrated to her as the Shakti of Shiva and Narayana. (To the Hindus-Shiva and Narayana are the God). After coming back to consciousness, Sarada Devi offered obeisance to Sri Ramakrishna.
Sri Ramakrishna taught her the mantras which can help her to render him awake from the tomb of thoughts by chanting mantras to his years. She used to maintain a regular life style. She would awaken at 3 am, bath in the Ganga (The sacred river), perform japa (recalling God through religious practice), meditate and used to arrange the materials of puja for Sri Ramakrishna. After that she cooked for Sri Ramakrishna, his mother and other devotees who came to take blessings.
In June 1885, Sri Ramakrishna was suffering from cancer in throat. Sarada Devi sacrificed to serve him at any personal discomfort. He passed on mahasamadhi on 6th August 1886 and over the three decades, she made pilgrimages to Buddha Gaya, Puri, Madurai, Madras, Rameswaram and Bangalore. She was well recognized as "Sri Ma"- the Holy Mother. Many monks used to come to her to take advice and blessings. Even Swami Vivekananda also came to her to take blessing and permission before to attain the World Parliament of Religion in America in 1893.
Spiritual Counselling:
Sarada Devi was
recognized as an integrated persona of mother, guru and deity to the devotees.
Her spiritual ministration was bloomed in her after the passing of the
Master-Sri Ramakrishna. She used to explain about Bhakti and Love and the
importance of japa, meditation and seva (Practical service). She told that the
realization of God would come only through love and devotion. She advised her
disciple that God is merciful. He takes over everybody’s sin without demur.
One day a boy was crying to get blessing by the Mother but he was turned away. Next day he usually came and sat outside the house being mood less. The mother called him and initiated with a mantra. She made an example by showing the weep of the boy that no one can weep such for God.
After the death of her Master, her main motto was to return back the monks who were begging alms hither and tither. Her motherly love said from her heart to get back them to the ashram. Her inner heart told that God’s heart was pained to see them wandering about.
One day a boy was crying to get blessing by the Mother but he was turned away. Next day he usually came and sat outside the house being mood less. The mother called him and initiated with a mantra. She made an example by showing the weep of the boy that no one can weep such for God.
After the death of her Master, her main motto was to return back the monks who were begging alms hither and tither. Her motherly love said from her heart to get back them to the ashram. Her inner heart told that God’s heart was pained to see them wandering about.
Seva or
the physical service was her main object. She considered that japa, spiritual
practices, meditation and sadhana are required but seva is a great virtue of a
sadhak (Monk).
Sarada Devi fell ill in December,1919 and it continued until 21st July,1920 and at the age of 67 she passed into mahasamadhi.
Sister Nivedita, the disciple of Swami Vivekananda, considered that she was Sri Ramakrishna's last word as to the ideal of Indian womanhood.
The last word of the holy Mother was what Sri Ramakrishna was, that she was.
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