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.