D K Pandita
dpandita2011@gmail.com
Mother Sri Sarada Devi – the spiritual consort of Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa – remains one of the most revered figures in modern Indian spiritual history. As we remember her on her birth anniversary on 11 December (as per Vikram Samvat; she was born on 22 December 1853), it is worthwhile to revisit her life, her message, and her enduring relevance to our society.
She is affectionately addressed as Holy Mother (Sri Sri Maa) by followers of the Ramakrishna Order. The Sri Sarada Math and the Ramakrishna Sarada Mission, with their headquarters at Dakshineswar, continue to work on the ideals she lived by – humility, purity, selfless service and universal acceptance.
Born in the quiet village of Jayrambati in present-day Bankura district of West Bengal, Sarada Devi grew up in a simple rural household. Though she did not receive formal education, she learned the deeper lessons of compassion, sacrifice and responsibility while helping her mother manage a large family. Even during the famine of 1864, she served tirelessly, feeding the hungry who came to their doorstep.
In 1859, she was married to Sri Ramakrishna, although she continued living with her parents until the age of 18. When she finally joined him at Dakshineswar, their relationship evolved into a spiritual partnership marked by purity and mutual respect. Ramakrishna imparted to her the principles of meditation, japa and spiritual discipline. Though she lived mostly in the background, her gentleness drew many women devotees who eventually became her lifelong companions.
At Dakshineswar, her daily routine began at 3 a.m. with ablutions in the Bhagirathi-Hooghly, followed by hours of meditation. Ramakrishna himself performed the ritual Shodashi Puja, worshipping Sarada Devi as the Divine Mother. Her life at the temple was one of complete selfless service – cooking, caring for the master, and tending to the growing number of devotees.
During the final illness of Sri Ramakrishna, she nursed him with unwavering devotion. After his passing in August 1886, she became the spiritual guide of the Ramakrishna Movement for more than three decades. To countless disciples she was not a distant teacher but a compassionate mother. She would often remind them:
“I have not passed away; I have only moved from one room to another.”
Swami Vivekananda and other monastic disciples held deep reverence for her. Vivekananda sought her blessings before leaving for the Parliament of Religions in Chicago, acknowledging her as the final authority in spiritual matters. Many devotees believed her presence brought peace, and some even had visions of her as a divine form.
In her final years, she divided her time between Jayrambati and Calcutta. Shortly before her passing in 1920, she gave her last message – a simple yet profound instruction that remains timeless:
“If you want peace of mind, do not find fault with others. Rather, see your own faults. Make the whole world your own. No one is a stranger, my child; the whole world is your own.”
She was cremated at Belur Math, at what is now called Holy Mother’s Ghat, opposite the spot where Sri Ramakrishna’s mortal remains were consigned to flames.
Mother Sarada Devi’s teachings urge us to look within, cultivate purity of mind, and extend unconditional love to all. In a time when society is often divided by identity and ideology, her message of seeing the world as one family is more relevant than ever. She taught that the mind shapes our reality – that by mastering our own thoughts and freeing ourselves from judgment, we contribute to a more compassionate and peaceful society.
As we commemorate her birth anniversary, may her life inspire us to rise above narrowness and embrace a spirit of harmony, humility and universal acceptance – the true path to deradicalizing and healing our society.
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