Holy Mother Sri Sharada Devi
(1853-1920)

     When Holy Mother came to Dakshineswar at the age of sixteen, Sri Ramakrishna asked her whether she had come to pull him down to a worldly life. Without hesitation she said, "No, I am here to help you realize your Chosen Ideal." From then on, Holy Mother lived with Sri Ramakrishna as his spiritual companion, devoted wife, disciple, and always the nun. She was the embodiment of purity.

     Sri Sharadamani Devi, the divine consort of Sri Ramakrishna, is known to millions of devotees as The Holy Mother. Born of a poor but pious parents on December 22, 1853, in an obscure village called Jayarambati in district of Bankura in West Bengal, and bred in that simple country atmosphere, she was marries to Sri Ramakrishna at the early age of six. The Holy Mother had the chance of coming in close contact with Sri Ramakrishna only about 1867, long after her marriage.

     Sri Ramakrishna took under his tutelage and by degree lovingly imparted to her a thorough knowledge of human character and taught her how to live in complete resignation to God. He literally worshipped her as the Divine Mother and saying that she and Mother Kali in the temple were one and the same, awakened in her the sense of motherhood to all creatures. The account of simple, austere life, self-effacement and motherly love to one and all, is unique and surpasses all examples. Her life was one long stillness of prayer and singleness of devotion.

     Men and women who approached The Holy Mother to be relieved of the extreme tension in their afflicted souls, became recipients of her immortal blessings and sweet words of love and wisdom which stilled the throbbing pains of their hearts for ever.

     After the passing away of Sri Ramakrishna in 1886, it was the Holy Mother who took upon herself the responsibility looking after his spiritual children and gradually the Ramakrishna Order grew up around her. The Holy Mother entered into Mahasamadhi on July 20, 1920 at Calcutta.


MESSAGE

Practise meditation sincerely and you will understand His infinite grace. God wants sincerity, truthfulness and love. Outward verbal effusions do not touch Him.

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I am the mother of the wicked as I am the mother of the virtuous. Whenever you are in distress, just say yourself "I have a mother."

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Many are known to do great things under the stress of some strong emotion. But a man's true nature is known from the manner in which he does his insignificant daily task

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