Sri Anandamayi Ma

Pranams at the lotus feet of Sri Anandamayi Ma!

Paramahamsa Yogananda in his famous book ‘Autobiography of  Yogi’  describes his meeting with the Yogini Ma Anandamayi.  It was in the year 1959, after spending fifteen years in America working on self-realization program, Paramahamsa Yogananda returned to India for a visit to his preceptor Sri Yuktheshwar Maharaj.  During this visit, his niece Amiya Bose informed him about the great Yogini of India Smt. Nirmaladevi who was famously known as Sri Anandamayi Ma, who had achieved greatest heights in spirituality, her fame was spread across India and people flee from different cities to meet this great Yogini.  Sri Yogananda was made up his mind to visit this Yogini before leaving to America, he was read an article about her spiritual achievements published long ago, and it added his curiosity to meet her.  Amiya Bose said “ I have met her during her visit to a small village in Jamshedpur, one of the devotees requested Ma to visit his home, where his relative was seriously ill on his death bed, Ma visited this devotee’s home, she touched his forehead with her tiny limb, soon the patient recovered from the intense pain, gradually got out from the deadly illness.  

Once Ma was residing in the home of a devotee in Bhavanipur, Sri Yogananda and his companion from America Mr.Wright, went to meet her from his home in Kolkatta.  As they reached near the home in Bhavanipur, they saw a crowd of nearly a hundred people surrounded by Ma, she was elegantly standing in a vehicle that has an open roof and waving her hands at her devotees, she was preparing to leave the city.  Soon Paramahamsa and his friend got out of the vehicle and walked towards her, seeing them approaching, Ma Anandamayi got out of her car and gracefully walked towards Paramahamsa, and asked: “Pithaji,/she used to address all her male devotees in this way,  you have arrived at last.” She enthusiastically put her hands on his shoulder and rested her head on his shoulder like a child, Mr.Wright was surprised to see the welcome of this Yogini, he was known that it was Yogananda’s first meeting with Ma Anandamayi, they were talking like known for several years.  She was moved to a state of transcendental,  she always considered herself as the soul which is inseparable from the supreme soul, she never treated herself as an ordinary woman, she received Yogananda with great enthusiasm, she took him  in her hand to his vehicle and seated on the back seat, her eyes were half closed transfixed in the Bramham,  her devotees were exclaimed “ Hail to Mother  of  the Universe” .   

Later, Yoganandaji stated that he had seen many Yogis who had achieved the greatest status in spirituality, but he has never seen a Yogini who had a supreme state like Ma Anandamayi.   Her most beautiful face was soaked in extreme bliss, her long and curly black hairs were kept untied.  Her forehead was adorned in vermilion and sandal paste which was covered on the third eye, she has tiny limbs, small face and tiny feet, fragile limbs that were contradictory to her achievements in spirituality.   Anandamayi Ma was in a transcendental state, Yoganandji asked a few questions about Ma to her attendants, they said she had taken several trips throughout India, she has several thousand disciples all over India and from abroad too, she has brought many reforms for the welfare of the society and its people, though she was born in the Bhramin family, she was never differentiated people by their religion.  She was always taken care of by a group of attendants who attend her every simple need.   These attendants perform the duty of a Mother to her, she has never bothered about her health or meal, these attendants feed her on time so that her physical body remains fit and avoid deterioration.  She never bothered to have meals or comment about it, she consumes meals if anyone feeds her, she never knows the taste of meals, it was consumed for the sake of keeping her attendants cheerful.   She undertakes deep spiritual practices and remains in a transcendental state for several days, without a breath or a meal or blinking of eyes.  She has many disciples; Sri Bholanath is one of the disciples and her husband as well.    He has undertaken a vow of silence for several years now, he had long and thin stature, strong shoulders, thick beard, long hairs, and effulgent face.   He was standing among the disciples with folded hands and great devotion.   Yoganandaji said “ Ma, I am delaying your trip “ she got out of her trans and  said, “Pithaji, I am meeting you after several Yugas,  therefore please do not leave immediately, where are you staying in Kolkatta?” Yoganandji replied “ I am living in Kolkatta and sometimes in Ranchi. I will be returning to America soon.”  She was surprised to hear from Yoganandji, who said: “ Ma, people of America would be very happy to meet you, they highly honor you, will you join us to America”.  Ma said, “ If you wish, I would make it.” The female attendants were horrified at this thought, they expressed their helplessness without Ma in their vicinity, moreover, Ma cannot travel alone without her attendants, she will be accompanied by her attendants wherever she goes.  Yoganandji understood that his desire to take her to America will not work, therefore he left the plan. Yoganandji said “ Ma, kindly visit our Ashram in Ranchi with all your disciples.  You are a divine child; therefore you would love to be in the company of the children in our Ashram in Ranchi. ” she revealed her willingness to visit Ranchi anytime.  

As promised, the Ranchi school was beautifully decorated to welcome the great Yogini’s visit, children were extremely happy on this occasion.  Children in the Ashram impatiently waits for the festivities; during this period they need not study, hours and hours of music, and enjoy a sumptuous meal.  As soon as Ma entered the Ashram, children raised their voices “Hail to Mother, Hail to Ma Anandamayi” it continued for some time, she was welcomed with the divine music, percussions, sounds of Conch, flowers, etc..  She was blissfully moving in the school ground which has rich sunlight, she was taken to the main building of the Ashram, she has beautiful smile resembles child, she took a seat next to Yoganandji, she treats everyone comfortable, but she will be in her own world, always immersed in the bliss.  Yoganandji asked about her life, she said with a smile and humility “ Pithaji, knows everything about me, why should I repeat it,” she spread her hands and gestured it as nothing.  She continued “ I have never been aware of this body, I was ‘that’ before entering into this world, when I was a child  I was ‘that’, I was grown up to a young maiden I remained ‘that’, when I was taken birth in the family decided to conduct marriage to this body, I have remained ‘that’, Pithaji, I shall remain the same while I am before you.  I will remain the same whatever may come till the end of this birth.” After saying so, she has entered in a transcendental state.  She remained motionless like a statue, she has already traveled to her world of supreme bliss, and her black beautiful eyes remained lifeless.  This type of transcendental state is achievable only to the supreme Yogis when they separate their emotions from the physical body, at that moment the body resembles a lifeless idol.  Ma and Yoganandji continued to be in a trans-state for an hour, after that she returned to her normal state, Yoganandji requested “ Ma, kindly make a visit to the garden, my friend Mr.Wright will take some pictures of us.”  She sincerely followed Yoganandji, several pictures were taken.  It was the time of lunch Ma took a seat on her woolen blanket with her attendant, she was feeding her, she was swallowing like a child whatever placed on her mouth, it was obvious that she was not aware of the differences of vegetable or sweets.  In the evening she and her attendants prepared to leave the Ashram, she walked through the path of rose petals, moved elegantly waving her hands at the children.  The children were in supreme joy.   Ma has abandoned all those worldly affairs and surrendered completely to the supreme soul and attained union with the bliss.  Ordinary people like us forgets to show the gratitude to the creator and engross in the worldly matters, we remain unnoticed the greatness and mercy of Lord the moment we arrive on this Earth, many engage in various spiritual activities, not with  sincerity, merely to show off their capabilities, though it is not superior, at least it may take away a few minutes of  the concentration of the performer while engaging these type of activities.

Sri Anandamayi Ma -

Pranams at the lotus feet of Ma !

Ma took good care of Bholanathji who was seriously ill with smallpox, she relentlessly served her husband like a mother, he was shriveling with pain and distress, her magical touch relieved his pain, her selfless service to Bholanathji brought out immense satisfaction and relief in him.  Bholanathji shivered with severe chillness, Ma covered his fragile body with the saffron robe.  She remembered a conversation with her husband when Bholanathji was planning to take up Sanyasa, he admiringly spoke “I have considered you as my Mother, so when I take up Sanyasa, I want to get the first alms from you.” Ma compassionately asked him ‘Do you remember the Sankalpa Manthras of Sanyasa?’ he was already uttering the same; he pronounced the word ‘Ma’ like a child and attained Nirvana.  Ma fondly kept her palm on his ‘Bhramarandhri’ which is the passage of vital air, while attaining ‘Mahanirvana’.  Thus, Bholanathji attained the heavenly abode on 7^th May 1938, while the recital of sacred hymns and chants in the Kishanpur Ashram, Dehradun was in progress.   Ma’s response to the demise of Bholanathji was unique, devotees were guessed Ma would be inconsolable, on the contrary, there was no sign of grief or remorse on her face, she was serene as usual, and her response was “Do you cry over a person’s movement from one room to another in the same house? Death is inevitable in the ocean of worldly existence, in the globe of immortality there is no death or loss, therefore no one lost to me.”  Do we need any more explanations to realize the truth about divine personalities?  Bholanathji accomplished his major task of bringing the souls together contemplating upon absolute Bhramam which is the safest heaven from the miseries and sorrows of worldly existence.  In this endeavor Bholanathji was accompanied by a huge number of pious, ascetic, dedicated people in the spiritual practice and devotional services; he spread harmony, compassion, selflessness, and humanity.   It reminds me of the golden verses from Srimad Bhagavad Gita  ‘Yadha Yadha Hi Dharmasya Glanir Bhavathi Bharatha: | Abhyuththanamadharmasya Thadhathmanam Srujamyaham’.  The demise of Universal father/Lord Shiva/Bholanathji, divine personified on Earth created a large vacuum in the hearts of devotees.   This divine couple will be always around us in their subtle forms to protect and comfort us from all the afflictions, pains, sorrows, miseries, and grief of worldly existence.

Sri Anandamayi Ma –

Pranams at the lotus feet of Ma !

Bholanathji went on a pilgrimage to Gangotri and many neighboring places; he stayed in Uttarakashi, and underwent severe austerities for two years at the guidance of Ma.  She often makes a visit to Bholanathji,  Ma could realize the progress he was made in attaining a higher state of spirituality, ascetics of Uttarakashi adore Bholanathji, his two years of rigorous religious practice was accomplished with the establishment of Kali image at Uttarkashi in the presence of Ma and her followers.  While he was in Shanbhag garden, Bholanathji used to spend ten to twelve hours in the recitation of sacred names, Ma’s father who was a profound player of musical instrument was led the recital program.  It was in 1938, sacred city Haridhwar was preparing to host Kumbhamela, Ma and Bholanathji were resided in the bungalow of Dr.Pant.   In the early morning Bholanathji with a group of devotees would prepare for ‘Namasankeerthan’ they apply sandalwood paste on their forehead and adore garland around the neck, they conduct recital of holy names in the presence of Ma in the bungalow courtyard for some time, after that they proceed for ‘Nagarkeertan’ recitation of holy names of Lord in the streets, that would continue for three to four hours a day, even the passers-by would join the group in a bliss.  The famous Kumbhamela was held on 14^th April 1938,  Bholanathji was accompanied by disciples to Bhramakund, where Naga saints assembled were used to take holy bath,  suddenly these Naga saints were pulled towards Bholanathji like a magnet,  they affectionately gave bath to the supreme being they have witnessed through several years of practice of asceticism.  Ma returned to Dehradun after Kumbhamela, but Bholanathji continued to stay in the association of pious people for another ten days.  On April 24^th Bholanathji returned to Dehradun with a severe infection of smallpox, he was completely down with fever and stomach-ache.

Sri Anandamayi Ma –

Pranams at the lotus feet of Ma!

Ma was reverentially greeted as ‘Manush Kali’, she was divine personified on Earth to eradicate the sufferings and grief of the distressed, she urged the distraught people to contemplate upon the supreme being, who is supreme bliss resides as a soul in human beings,  one prominent astrologer exclaimed that he never had an opportunity to read a palm, like hers with the Chatu Sagari Yog, still he remembers an occasion of reading the palm of a Yogi who lived on the banks of Lake Manasarovar for more than 350 years, he has undergone strict Yogic practices for several years to attain that state, Ma does not require to undertake those extreme austerities, she herself embodied as ‘Bhramavidhya’.  Bholanathji was a great companion and a devoted disciple of Ma was deeply anxious when Ma undergoes transcendental state which is beyond description, sometimes she immerses in a state of bliss for hours and hours which made Bholanathji continue his devotional service to a greater the extent to bring her back to the state of normalcy, he was an exceptional soul with deep devotion and compassion to Ma, he continued his service as a disciple as well as the guardian of Ma till he breathed last.   Ma was a spiritual preceptor and a devoted wife to Bholanathji.  At the instructions of Ma, Bholanathji continued rigorous spiritual practices in Siddheshvari Kali temple as well as in Tharapeet, later the couple left Dhaka and settled in Dheradun which was the favorite place of Sadhana of Bholanathji.  The divine personified on Earth may refuse to be in the center of attraction for long; they often chose a place of solitude and continue with their spiritual practices, they need not attain anything material, they are beyond material existence, all they look for the elevation of soul from the worldly existence.  Ma and Bholanathji have renounced soul; hence they did not find any difference in leaving one place to another, they are void of worldly bondage, newly settled land of Dheradun was completely a strange place for them and the languages are unknown to them, but they continued their spiritual practices and intense meditation at ease.

Sri Anandamayi Ma –

Pranams at the lotus feet of Ma !

The third phase of the marriage of this divine couple was Bholanathji, the guardian of Ma was transformed into a disciple of Ma, and he was completely devoted to her, though it was a different kind of an idea for ordinary people to envisage that man of the family follows the orders of woman.  Bholanthji was a man beyond the ego or impurities of the mind.  He sincerely carried out each and every instruction and guidance of Ma, he devotedly followed her orders to achieve the heights of spirituality, and sometimes he laughed out the command of his dear Master with extreme affection that state of mind is impossible to achieve for an ordinary soul.  Bholanathji had achieved the highest of the status in spirituality, many times Ma had revealed the truth that he himself is Lord Shiva.  During this period of time, Bholanathji’s tenure of the job was got over, he was planning to conduct the search for another job, but Ma discouraged him and asked him to wait for another three days.  Within three days, a messenger from Nawab of Shabhagh Garden Estate of Dhaka city handed a letter of the job offer, soon after that the couple moved to Shabhagh garden, Bholanathji was taken in-charge of his duty.  While working in Shabhagh garden, Bholanathji was exceptionally skilled in striking balance between official and personal life, he assisted Ma in her various spiritual and devotional practices, though it was conducted as a private affair in the initial days, later it was caught the attention of numerous people from the various parts of Dhaka.  Bholanathji was all alone making arrangements for Ma’s devotional services, in that huge crowd of visitors appeared highly devoted father-daughter duo.  It was Gurupriyadidi who caught the special attention of the divine the couple, soon Gurupriyadhidi has become a constant companion and care-taker of Ma, leaving Bholanathji with considerable time in the practice of spirituality, he meticulously followed all the prescribed rites, Bhaiji assisted Bholanathji with all the arrangements for the devotional service of Ma.   For the first time, Bholanathji organized Mathri Puja on a large scale; later years it has become a golden opportunity for ordinary people like us to achieve the grace of Universal Mother.

Sri Anandamayi Ma –

Pranams at the lotus feet of Ma !

Immediately after marriage, Sri Ramanimohan Chakravarthi had to return to his workplace, leaving Ma in the custodian of his elder brother and his wife in Sripur, Dhaka.  Soon after Bholanathji lost his job, he did not want to become a burden to his   elder brother, so he continued in search of a suitable placement, it took him four years to find an appropriate one, he had to go through a various struggle during this period, it made him grow detached to the worldly matters, he was preparing himself to join the state of Bholahood/state of renunciation, he completely burned down his ego and fleeting material happiness to become a suitable companion of Ma.  Every incident in our life take place with the specific reason, we often fail to understand the object, we may lament over the situation or blame others for the failures or miss happenings, we often forget to understand the greatest cause behind every incident in our lives.  In the meantime, Ma was playing the role of an ideal housewife, without leaving her real form of bliss.   This divine couple had spent blissful thirty years of togetherness; it was completely different from an ordinary married couple.  The first phase of  their union begins when Ma got married at the age of 12 years and ten months, Bholanathji was highly pleased her watching growing, he was attracted to her virtues like simplicity, truthfulness, obedience, childlike innocence and hard working.  The second phase of their marriage, Bholanathji was amazed to watch her immersed in devotional services, constantly engaged in Kriyas and plunge into a transcendental state, which resulted in various changes in her physical appearance and a divine aura surrounded by her.  Bholanathji hold Ma with deep concern when she loses her consciousness, eventually, he got transformed by the divine touch of her, when others were wrongly predicted her state of health, Bholanathji was the one who was well aware of her state of consciousness refused to seek any medical help.

Sri Anandamayi Ma –

Pranams at the lotus feet of Ma!

Ma was married to Sri Ramanimohan Chakravarthy/Bholanathji who was indeed a personification of Emperor of Lord of Tripura, he had a well-built physique, long stature, wide and serene eyes, long matted hair locks, sacred thread across the chest.  Baba Bholanath was married to Ma in the year 1909, on the wedding day a large procession was held, the groom was made to sit on the elephant and the entire village participated in the divine wedding.  It reminds me of the celestial wedding of Lord Mahadeva with Goddess Parvathi, everyone assumed that the groom would appear in  grand silk attire, adorned in the magnificent crown and various precious ornaments all over the body, but it was sheer contrast to their expectation, Lord Mahadeva arrived on a celestial bull,  with reddish brown matted hair locks, shiny serpents adorned as ornaments all over the body,  and his limbs were smeared in sacred ashes, it was truly a bizarre  scene to watch the groom in such a condition.   Ma was just 13 years when she was married to Baba Bholanathji.  The function was held elaborately according to prescribed rites, during the Shubhadhrishti/exchange of auspicious glance between the couple, Ma looked at the sky as if receiving honor from the celestial beings.  Those days’ bride and groom exchange their glances for the first time on the auspicious hour of the wedding, unlike the custom of nowadays, it was believed that it would provide immense spiritual strength to the couple to face any adversities in their marital life, this would protect their married life with all the happiness, peace, prosperity, selflessness and unconditional love.  At the end of the marriage ceremony the priest told Bholanathji “Son, you will come to know what sort of unusual gem you are taking home.”

Sri Anandamayi Ma –

Pranams at the lotus feet of Ma !

Ma’s father Sri Bipin Bihari Bhattacharya was the only son of a widow.  He was a handsome, innocent, thin and tall Bhramin boy who found immense pleasure in Yogic practices and meditation, he was modest and an ardent devotee of Lord Hari, he had great knowledge in the usage of musical instruments.  He was also from the lineage of great preceptors, he was serene and had complete control over senses, at a young age he had achieved the state of serenity and bliss of a Sage.  During his childhood days, he often disappears from home leaving his mother behind, he conducts journey in search of spirituality and meditation, many times his neighbors went on the search for him and brought him back to his worried mother.  He repeated this chase for spirituality even after marriage to Mokshadhasundhari, disappearing from home often led to a lack of concern for the family and it also put the couple into extreme financial difficulties.  Therefore, Mokshadhasundhari had to spend her youthful days of marriage in absolute poverty, but she was kind, amiable, and forbearing, she has attained all those virtues of an ascetic from a young age, she took all the responsibilities of the family and worked hard without uttering a word of complaint.

Sri Anandamayi Ma –

Pranams at the lotus feet of Ma!

Mokshadhasundhari /Swami Mukthanandhagiri who was the biological mother of Ma, was born as an eighth girl child to a pious couple Sri. Ramakanthabhattacharya and Harasundharidevi, one of the well-respected family in the society, they celebrated year-round religious festivities with great attention and devotion, numerous guests attend their house was taken care with respect and kindness.  During Durga Puja celebrations many scholars, religious leaders, priests, and intellectuals pay a visit to their home to take part in the grand festival.  Their presiding deity was Lakshmi Narayana attracted a large number of devotees to their house.  The entire family members were well versed with the religious texts.  Mokshadhasundhari was a very pleasing child with good manners; she was kind, compassionate, caring and loving.  Her parents died in her early years of childhood, leaving this little girl under the loving protection of eldest daughter-in-law.  Mokshadhasundhari was married at the age of 12 years to Sri Bipinbhattacharya, she was unaffected by the poor financial conditions of the family, and she practiced to offer the last piece of a meal without consuming.  Mokshadhasundari gave birth to eight children, but none of them survived long, she remained untouched by the extreme grief with her firm spiritual strength, she took all the tragedies with calm mindedness, she was grown too compassionate and kind, all her inborn qualities were flowing out naturally, she did not work hard to bring out those qualities, she had immense faith in God, later none would have thought that Mokshadhasundhari will give birth to a divine personality.  In the year 1938, Mokshadhasundhari was initiated to asceticism by great sage Mahamandaleshvaraswami, after that, she traveled at length with Ma to various religious places accompanied by all the classes of people, her steadfastness and compassion assured that none would stay away from the grace of the Supreme Being.  She lived for 94 long years, extending great service to humanity; she attained the heavenly abode on 8th August 1970.

Sri Anandamayi Ma –

Pranams at the lotus feet of Ma!

Ma led her disciple to locate the Siddheshvari Kali Temple in Dhaka; she took them to the lost temple for several years in the middle of the wilderness, which was impossible to access. She had great healing powers; she wiped out the tears of suffering and illnesses.  In May 1928, she visited shrines of Deoghar in Bihar, she met illustrious saint Balanandha Bhramachari, who was deeply impressed by her spiritual conduct and called her ‘she is Divine Mother of Universe personified on Earth’.  Ma made it clear about the non-existent concept of ‘I’, all the creatures on Earth is trapped inside the body/vehicle for a destined period of time, for the attainment of wisdom, knowledge of self and God-realization.  Ma was not restricted by time, passion, or space, she moved at her own will in a transcendental state.  In August 1982 Srimad Shankaracharya of Sringeri Math paid a visit to  Ma in Kankhal, Uttarakhand, he insisted her to take care of  health, her reply was inexpressible ‘This body has no illnesses, other than the feeling  of the strong pull of Bramham.’  On the evening of  27^th August 1982 her soul attained unison with the Bramham, she attained Samadhi in Kishenpur, Dehradun Ashram.  Thus, Ma who captured the hearts of millions of millions of people in the world, with her graceful speeches, everlasting smile, enthusiasm, innocent child like acts, simplicity, kindness and selfless unconditional love, took final rest in the beautiful marble chamber which is always surrounded by the subtle form of divine personalities.  Ma lives in the hearts of her devotees, with her constant guidance and inspiring smile, tirelessly steering her devotees to continue the search for absolute Bhramam which is supreme bliss, to keep away from miseries and afflictions of worldly existence once for all.

Sri Anandamayi Ma –

Pranams at the lotus feet of Ma !

This divine couple enjoyed their celibacy in a state of supreme bliss.  Ma, who is a beautiful, young and vibrant girl with a soft and melodious voice, thin delicate physique, an ever-lasting smile on her face, captured the attention of all.  Her loud laughter has the resemblance to the surging waters of Ganga from the mountain peaks, it echoed in the hearts of her devotees.  She extended a magnificent light of optimism, kindness, forgiveness, tolerance, selflessness, unconditional love and compassion which drawn a multitude of people towards her.  Whenever the Supreme Being incarnates on Earth, they bring all their celestial assistants to take care of their needs, Supreme Being assumes the form of a human on Earth to accomplish their specific purpose.  The objectives are very clear, save the soul from the worldly bondage, miseries, and sorrows, and liberate them from the repeated births.    As part of the purification process, the divine personalities initiate us to spirituality; they prompt us to gain knowledge/Jnana yoga, knowledge of self and God- realization.    During the execution of tasks of divine personalities, they will definitely capture the attention of ordinary and fortunate souls with their godly deeds, though the Supreme Being makes all efforts to hide within them.  She is absolute Bhramam, does a supreme being requires a preceptor to initiate to the knowledge of Bramham?  She took self-initiation to spirituality, her devotion and spiritual practices took her into different heights, though she was not a Sanskrit scholar, mystic syllables flew out of her lips effortlessly, her delicate fingers drew mystic design of Yanthra, she was completely immersed in a state of ecstasy, and her life was completely dedicated to the spiritual practices.  She had started a spiritual journey with her beloved husband Bholanathji who became one of her disciples.  Her horoscope predictions proved it right, she was not meant to carry out the duty of a householder, she was meant to take the responsibilities of the entire house-holders bringing them in the path of righteousness.  She traveled extensively to be in the union with the Supreme Being, she attracted millions of hearts with her mesmerizing smile and simplicity.

Sri Anandamayi Ma -

‘Pranams at the lotus feet of Ma’

India has been the birth place of illustrious Rishis, Sages, Yogis, and Yoginis for several decades.   Krishna says “Yadha Yadha Hi Dharmasya Glanirbhavathi Bharatha | Abhyuththanam Adharmasya Thadhathmanam Srujamyaham ||”.  Whenever the righteousness gets tarnished in the hands of evil-doers, Supreme Being personifies on Earth to reinstate the righteousness.  Almighty never abandon His children; instead He makes sure that all the living beings on Earth has a fair share of means towards spiritual development.  Supreme Being has created the whole Universe and its creatures with his imagination; he ensures all the creatures are benefited with rich values to return to the abode of supreme consciousness with the powerful tool of spirituality.     Ma was born on April 30^th in the year 1896, in a pious Bengali Bhramin family, her Father Bipinbattacharya and Mother Mokshadhasundhari were a highly religious minded couple, and they were named their beautiful little girl ‘Nirmala’.  Unlike another girl child, Nirmala was exceptionally beautiful with a rich sense of spirituality.  Those days’ marriages of girl children were performed at a young age to make sure that the little bride is getting familiar with the custom, religious rites, and family traditions of the new family, it helped to create a strong bond between the child couple and their family, and in this way they have well protected the institution of Marriage.    Ma was married at the age of 13 to Sri Ramanimohana Chakravarthi/Bholanathji, on February 7^th in the year 1909.    Ma’s comments on her husband Sri Bholanathji/Sri Ramani was ‘ He is Bhola always’, she looked at her husband with a lot of admiration and affection,  yes  these divine couple resembled Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvathi.  Ma performed her duties and responsibilities of the wedded wife of Bholanathji, she relentlessly served her husband in the day time, she practiced spirituality in the night hours, and this couple had a divine relationship, they continued to be Akhandabhramacharin who sincerely follow celibacy in their whole life.

Sri Anandamayi Ma –

‘Pranipath at the lotus feet of  Ma’

“Her smile is infectious”

Vishuddhadi describes her childhood days spent in Kanyapeeth, Varanasi, where girls were brought up with discipline, simplicity, and practice of meditation.  She narrated an interesting incident that happened during Basanti Puja, it is a celebration of Goddess Durga in the spring season, it is celebrated with great pomp in Kolkata.  During this auspicious occasion of Basanthi Puja, Ma serve the meals to the girls in Kanyapeeth, I could envision Goddess Annapoornni in her,  who is the mother of living beings, serves meal to the entire Universe, Ma gracefully served the meal to all the girls who were made to sit in a particular order, Didi who used to feed Ma on regular basis would hold the bucket of the meal, Ma enchantingly move around the girls serving meals with the ladle, all those girls assembled  were sung in praise of her loudly ‘Jai Ma Jai Ma’ and consumed the offerings, suddenly Ma applied those offerings on her body and hurried through the steps of river Ganga, she was so young and vibrant, she flew through a large number of steps like a jet and leaped into the waters of Ganga.  Ma beautifully narrates human are born with a purpose; we are born to experience the unison with supreme consciousness, which is the permanent cure for miseries and sorrows of worldly existence, attending the requirements of soul and  physical body are important, unfortunately, we  are still attached to the needs of our physical body.

Sri Anandamayi  Ma –

Pranams at the lotus feet of Ma!

I never had an opportunity to hear about Ma until now; recently I happened to listen to the commentary about Ma in the book of ‘Life of a Yogi’, Yoganandji described her as a divine child, later my mind was chasing to know more about that divine child, though I have seen her photographs, I know nothing about her.  I kept searching on the internet to learn more about  blissful ‘Ma’, I read and read about her, her a child like gestures, delicate physique, ever-smiling face, mellifluous and the innocent voice was completely occupied in my mind, I have fallen in love with her the moment I saw her videos.  Her beautiful explanation about the search of supreme-consciousness, her constant connection with the Supreme Being made her loss of words, she was always surrounded by divine effulgence, her soft and shiny skin tone, beautiful line of teeth, eyes that are soaked in the supreme bliss, I have not seen her without a smile for a second in any of her videos, she was absolutely liberated soul, Ma reminds me Sri Rajarajeshvari who is the Empress of Tripura, in few of her videos I have noticed her classiness while sitting, her elegance forced me to think that she is none other than the creator of trinities,  Ma reminds of Radharani who is childlike yearn for the constant unison with Supreme Lord Krishna, I have understood from the interviews were given by her divine assistants, Didi who was feeding Ma on regular basis, Ma never felt the requirement of food, Ma never knew the taste of the meal, she was not aware of sweet, bitterness, sourness, etc.. and she was not at all  interested to feel the taste of it, she  was regularly fed by Didi to keep Ma healthy, it was entirely for keeping her physical body hail and healthy.  Ma’s divine assistant Vishuddhadhi speaks about her childish act on the night of Lunar eclipse, Ma was riding in a boat with her divine attendants, the moment of Lunar eclipse was  got  over, Ma leaped into the waters of Ganga.  It made me laugh out of extreme joy.  I have been true in expressing my feelings about Ma, I am not an experienced person to write about Ma, my whole life is not enough to understand the divinity of Ma, I was trying to put my feelings for Ma, forgive me for my mistakes.