There was a small and beautiful village named JOYRAMBATI in the Bankura District of West Bengal, situated near the river bank of Amador. A pious and honest brahman, Sri Ramchandra Mukherjee lived with his religious and virtuous wife Shyamasundari Devi. The man was well known for his hospitality and courteousness.

One evening, in her paternal house in Sihor, (a small village near Joyrambati), Shyamasundari Devi was blessed with a divine vision. She saw a small girl wrapped up with a red saree, came down from the wood apple tree nearby and hugged her from back, uttering :

“Oh Mother, I have come to youOh Mother, I have come to you!” She was bedecked with golden ornaments. This divine vision made her fainted and later Shyamasundari had a feeling that the small girl entered in her womb.

It was the beginning of Winter. The remote villages of Bengal was busy in paddy fields.

1853, 22 December, Thursday, Krishna Saptami titihi. In the early morning the divine child took birth. The whole village came up to see the new born baby. She was just spreading bright light to the hut of Ramchandra Mukherjee. The Janampatri of the child was made at that time and according to that the small child was named as Khemankari, but later her mother

altered her name with SaradaSarada.

The paddies were kept in the store and with the new rice the Nabanna utsav (the festival of having sweet food etc.) was celebrated every where.

3 miles to the East of Joyrambati , there was a village called Kamarpukur, where the incarnation of Mahavishnu took birth on 18 February 1836, as Sri Ramakrishna, to the poor and pious brahman Khudiram Chatterjee and Chandramoni Devi. He had his nephew named Hriday, in the village Sihor. Every year a festival was celebrated in the Shantinath Shiva temple of that village, where Sri Ramakrishna used to be a part, as he was fond of village theatres (Jatra), recitation programme etc. Two and half year old Sarada was also present in that festival. A lady asked in playful mood to the child, “As you see so many men around, whom do you feel of marrying?’ Instantly Sarada raised her both hands and pointed to the young Ramakrishna who was sitting far away from them.

The women around, laughed a lot by the prompt reply of the child, but with the God’s wish after some year the marriage between this two took place! Is not this called Swayambara!

She was the first child of her parents. They were very poor, but mutual love in every member of the family made their life around very happy and peaceful. Ramchandra was working as a village priest and farming cotton for livelihood. The small child Sarada helped her parents by cutting cotton from trees, taking care of the younger brothers by bathing & feeding them in river Amodar, threshing of paddies in the field, cooking, filling drinking water in the pots etc. to mention a few!

She mentioned later, taking bath in Amodar (she consider it as river Ganga), was her favourite pass time, that last for ever with her.

People of the villages noted that the child, from her tender age, appeared to be expert in all sort of household works and worth mentioning, she was quite skillful in those works!

She was dynamic, energetic, enthusiastic and overall, KIND HEARTED, a heart that render flawless compassion for the whole mankind!!

She was simple, calm & quite, never had a quarrel with any of batch mates, rather she was called for mutual resolve of disputes among friends. Playing with clay models of Maa Kali & Laxmi was her favourite game. By offering flowers, leaves, tulsi she perform puja.Once during Jagaddhatri puja, the small girl was meditating near the idol. One Ram Hriday Ghoshal of Haldepukur, to his utmost surprise visualised, that the mother Jaddhatri and Sarada both are appearing same. He was scared and left the place quickly. The combination of such Godly and worldly behaviour in Sarada made herself mystic and pleasant.

In spite of poverty and stress of household works, Sarada was fond of studying in school like her bothers, though at that time studying for a girl child was not entertained in the society. However, She learned basic reading letters (barno parichay), numbers, calculation, solving puzzles etc. by her won efforts.

From Kolkata a message reached in Kamarpukur village that Sri Ramakrishna became mad for meditating day & night in spiritual practices. His mother became sad and decided to fix his marriage with an intension to make him normal and householder. She send people in search of a bride. Hearing this Ramakrishna himself smiled and uttered, ‘In the residence of Ramachandra Mukherjee of Joyrambati, the girls is held in reserve for me.’ in the moth of May 1859, at her age of five (Ramakrishna’s 24), she was married to the incarnation Bhagawan Sri Ramakrihna. A problem occurred during marriage.

Some ornaments were borrowed from the Laha’s family by Chandramoni Devi (Ramakrishna’s mother) which were returned at the late night of marriage. The next morning, while the ornaments were found missing, Small Sarada started crying. Mother-in-law Chandramoni consoled her by saying, ‘afterwards Gadai (Ramakrishna’s childhood name), will make such ornaments a lot for you!

As a village practice, while cutting grass from waist height-millpond, she experience a small girl of her age was helping her in the work. The Mother in her later age quoted, ‘In childhood I find a girl around me helping in my works but disappear as soon as someone turn up there.’

In Kamarpukur, while going for bath in a local pond, she found herself surrounded with eight girls (Asta-sakhi?), who were her companion in the whole venture.

During a famine in Joyrambati, Sarada’s father used to provide food to the starved from his own stock. Everyday in lots khichdi was made and served to the poor and starved. The served khicdi could not be consumed quickly by the poor as it was quite hot. Sarada used to fan it, so that it gets cool quickly. Her heart bleed for the poor, fallen and downtrodden.

Rumour spread in Joyrambati that Sri Ramakrishna in Dakhineshwar, Kolkata, had gone mad due to excessive penance and mediation. People in Joyrambati made ill comments about Sri Ramakrishna. Sarada felt down and frustrated, lost every interest in work and stopped visiting neighbours. Her aunt, named Bhanu pisi, who was having matured intellect, told her, ‘Your husband is none but the incarnation of Sri Krishna and Mahadeva, so don’t heed to the rumours’. She heard some villagers were about to visit Kolkata for Gangasnan(holy bath in Ganga), and decided to go along with them to see her husband.

March 1872, she set for Dakshineshwar for the first time. They need to walk 60 miles via Tarakehswar. Maa Sarada was not in a habit of walking so long and consequently fell sick. Father Ramachandra took shelter in a roadside hut for the night. That night Sarada saw a woman with dark complexion was sitting near and caressing her. With her soothing touch the fever disappeared. On asking her, she answered ‘I am your sister & have come from Dakshineshwar. Don’t worry, you will be alright and tomorrow see your husband, I have kept him there in prison, only for you.’ The next morning she felt better and resume journey. Partially they walked and lastly in boat they reached Kolkata at night 9 O’clock.

On seeing her, Sri Ramakrishna was immensely happy. He arranged for medicine, food and bed for her. The natural hospitality of the Great master had destroyed all doubts about the rumours in her. She was given a room in first floor of Nahabat. Soon Sarada found herself busy in all sort of household works and hardly see Ramakrishna for the whole day. Once Ramakrishna asked her, ‘Have you come to snatch me towards the worldly practices in Samsara?’ She replied promptly, ‘Never, I have come to help you in practicing spirituality & salvation. ’

Another day, Sarada, while massaging Ramakrishna’s feet, asked Him, ‘What do you feel about me?’ Thakur answered, ‘The mother Kali, who is residing in the temple, the mother who gave me birth and the MOTHER, now massaging my feet, all three are same. The different forms of the Supreme God!’

Sri Ramakrishna & Sri Maa were staying together for eight months in Dakshineshwar. The Mother was molded to complete purity and spirituality by Sri Ramakrishna by this time. So he decided to perform a unique worship of Maa Sarada as a Goddess. This incident was one of its kind in the history of mankind. 1872, 5 June, the day of Falaharini Kaali Puja. Sri Ramakrishna arranged for the puja at night by 9 O’clock at his own room. Then he offered flowers, a garland for japa (repetition of the divine name), tulsi leaves etc. and by uttering mantra for the Goddess of Shakti he initiated the ordinary village women into the Holy Mather. The mid-night passed by! This was called puja with sixteen articles (Sodosopachar). After one year of this incident, Maa Sarada went to Joyrambati via Kamarpukur.

Once SriMaa with some of her companion was set for Dakshineshwar to attend a ceremony. They need to cross the deadly TeloVelo field, which was notoriously known for the band of brigands. As Mother was not in a habit of walking long so her companion went far ahead of. Soon it was dark, she was all alone in that remote field. All of a sudden she saw a tall, well built and dark-physique man, fire like eye balls, having a long stick in hand appeared before her and in harsh voice asked, ‘Who are you?’ Mother, calmly replied, ‘O father your son-in-law stayed in Dakshineshwar, I was set out for, but my companion left me alone here. Will you show me the way, please?’ Her serene appearance, simple and pleasant behaviour made the mind of that robber soft and melted. He and his wife both took care of the mother for that night by providing her food and shelter in their hut and the next morning accompanied her up to Tarakeshwar, till she met her left companion.

Sri Maa Sarada was actively engaged in her household works. She was a early riser and generally gets up before 4 am. Before sun rise she used to take bath in Ganga and then sat for puja and meditation for one & half hour. Immediately after that she started cooking as Sri Ramakrishna used to have his launch by 11 am. Mother used to cook food for the visitors also till 1.30 pm. After that she used to go for food and rest. In the evening, she put on the light and earthen lamps near the God and mediate and chanted the name of the lord for long, followed by cooking for the night. Late at night when everybody in the temple took food she had her dinner. In spite of all discomfort and excessive pressure of work, she was happy and contented. She told later, ‘In the service of Thakur, hardly we notice which way the eventful days were passing away.’

The small room in Nahabat given to the Mother was called ‘Cage’ by Sri Ramakrishna. Hardly She came out from that room at day time in public. Mother says, ‘It happened that in two months I met her once as I was too busy in my room in daily works. Often I took his darshan through a hole in the bamboo wall of my room’. By standing hours together to see Sri Ramakrishna’s kirtan and songs with his disciples, Sri Maa caught gout & pain. At that time a good number of disciple used to visit Thakur and for the whole day discourses, songs, chanting of holy names were continued. Sri Maa observed everything and thought ‘if I may be a part of all those spiritual practices, how fortunate of me, it would have been!’. She was not at all unhappy with all these. A life of sacrifice and dedication made her said, ‘Those days near the Master was so blissful. So many disciples were coming to Him, Dakshineshwar was just like a festive ground in those days.’

The blissful days of Dakshineshwar soon come to an end as Sri Ramakrishna developed the deadly disease of throat cancer. In June 1885, he was brought to proper Calcutta for treatment by his disciples like Naren, Rakhal, MahendraNath etc. At first he was taken to Shyampukur house and then to Cossipore Garden house. Sri Maa Sarada also accompanied him. Here with the Master his disciples were also staying to attend him. On a fine day the Master called Mother and said, ‘How much more I shall do, you need to take the charge now! See the people around are suffering like insect, you have to see them!’ Innocently the mother replied, ‘Being a simple women what can I do?’ He smiled and said, ‘Whatever I did, you will do more than that!’ Uttering this Thakur indicated the discharging of responsibilities of Ramakrishna Mission to the Mother, which was yet to be formed.

Day after day, the Master’s health worsened, indicating the completion of his divine play. He told the Mother, ‘See I’m travelling to a distant place through water, NEVER FEAR, as Naren & others did for me, so they will do for you too. Take care of them.’ 15 August, 1886. Sri Ramakrishna left for heavenly abode, left behind the thought movement that will spread world wide for the welfare of mankind.

That very evening the Holy Mother with utmost grief, removing ornaments and the bungles, that Thakur gave her, as the hindu customs prescribe for a widow.

All of a sudden, The Great Master appeared and said, ‘Am I Dead? It is just like leaving a room for the other.’From that day onward Maa Sarada never opened the bungle and used to wear a saree with thin red border.

After the demise of Sri Ramakrishna Mother felt lonely and down. So her disciples decided to took her for pilgrimage. She travelled widely including Vrindavan, Varanasi, Ayodhya, Rameshwaram, Baidyanath Dham etc. At that time, She performed a yogic ritual called PanchaTapa, with extreme austerities. One has to sit for 12 hours a day, with fire around. The flame made her complexion so dark as if the skin got burnt. It continued for seven days. She performed it in the Garden House of Nilambar Babu near the Ganga. This plot later became Belur Math, the Head Quarter of Ramakrishna Math & Mission.

In March 1890, She went to BodhGaya and pleased to see the well-managed monasteries with strong infrastructure. This gave her the idea of having a permanent Ashrama for the Ramakrishna order as she saw the miserable condition of Thakur’s disciples who were not having permanent place to stay. She prayed, ‘My Lord , in your name those boys left home, you please arrange for their food & shelter’. With her prayers Sri Ramakrishna Sangha was established. Rightly She was named as ‘Sangha Janani’.

After the demise of the Master Swamiji wandered the country & sat for meditation in Kanyakumari. He saw the miserable condition of his countrymen. There he decided his life’s mission and thought of going to America to take part in Parliament of Religion. One night he saw Sri Ramakrishna was walking the sea and indicating him to go to America. He got the Master’s order. But still he doubted and wrote a letter to the Holy Mother in Kolkata. Mother was happy to have Swamiji’s letter and immediately replied by sending her consent and blessings for his noble venture. With Mother’s consent Swamiji was satisfied and finally decided that He should go.

At last, on 31 May 1893, Swami Vivekananda started his journey in a ship from Bombay.

In 1897 Swamiji returned from West & purchased a land in Belur near Ganga, for establishing a permanent temple for Sri Ramakrishna. He founded Ramakrishna Math & Mission in Belur & brought Sri Maa Sarada here. The land was registered with her name. Maa blessed him and stayed there. The holy ashes of Sri Ramakrishna was kept here permanently, and daily puja of the Master was started from then.

An Irish lady named Miss Margaret Noble was deeply impressed by the speech & thought of Swami Vivekananda & subsequently dedicated herself to the service of Bharat. In 1898 she came to India and for the first time, in Kolkata, established a school for the girls named Nibedita Balika Vidyalaya. She requeted MaaSarada for the inauguration of the School. Maa happily blessed her by inaugurating the school on 12 Nov, 1898. She performed the puja of Sri Ramakrishna and initiated the classes.In the history of Women’s education in India this event is an imperative milestone.

Mother’s love and compassion was for all irrespective of any cast, creed etc. Whosever came whenever to Her she was accepting them as they are Her own children. Near Joyrambati there was a muslim village. A mason named Amjad made the wall of Mother’s house. Maa Sarada served him food herself in the varanda of her own house. She even cleaned the place after Amjad finished his launch. One relative of the Holy Mother shouted at her saying, ‘Your Brahmanism is finished today!’ Maa Sarada smiled, ‘As Sarat (Swami Saradananda) is my child so this Amjad also!’

As the number of Mother’s disciples were increasing, they need to go to Joyrambati to see her. She was not having a house in Kolkata. A direct disciple of Sri Ramakrishna, Swami Saradananda, (a devotee of the Mother too), decided to build a house for her in Kolkata. He raised fund, purchased a land for the same and build a two storey house. Mother graced the house with her presence on 23 May 1909. She was very happy to have such a house and blessed Saradananda for his untiring effort. Bhagirathi river was very near to that house. Now devotees could visit the Mother frequently. Till today the ground floor of the house is used for UDBODHAN Office (A publication wings of RK Mission ), and the 1st floor is having the rooms for the Holy Mother.

Maa Sarada is the personification of Guru, Devi and Janani. If a person is pious and honest she never hesitated to initiate him to Mantra Diksha. Once She was in her way to Kolkata waiting for train in Bishnupur railway station. All of a sudden a coolie rushed to her, fell at her feet and cried, ‘O Mother, you are my Janaki Mata Sita. I was waiting for you a long. Where were you those days?’ Mother made him calm and said to take bath and bring a flower for her. He did as told. The holy Mother gave him Diksha in the station itself. That was her kindness for others. She told later, ‘I know by giving Diksha I have to take their sin, but what to do? Let those people be free from worldly miseries. If not me, who will see them?’

Many foreigners were Mother’s devotee though She could not speak their languages. She was the icon of universal tolerance and acceptance. Miss McLeod, Isabel, Margaret and many more western devotees of the Holy Mother were no different than Jogin Maa, Golap Maa and other Indian devotees for the Mother. Once Sister Nivedita wrote a letter to the Holy Mother, from Cambridge, England, ‘This morning I went to the Church. When all were thinking of Mother Merry, O Mother your thought came to my mind. Your most adorable face, that sight of love, your white saree, that simple bungle..everything I saw. Mother, my adorable Mother…’

13 Dec, 1919. Joyrambati. The Mother’s birthday was celebrated in a grand manner. That evening she developed high fever and local physicians could not find a way out. Swami Saradananda brought her to Kolkata and arranged for all types of treatment and medicines needed. But the work & mission of the Holy Mother had come to an end. She was ready to merged with Sri Ramakrishna. All attempt to make her well were failed and 21 July, 1920, Tuesday around night 1.30 am Maa Sarada left for heavenly abode. Her pious body was burnt in Belur Math.

The Last message…The Last message…Two days before the death of the Holy Mother, one of her devotee came to see her. People were not allowed to talk with her at that time. But Mother saw her standing in a corner, indicated to come near. On approaching her, She gave her last message, -“If you want peace of mind, stop fault finding of others, rather see your own faults. Learn to make the whole World your own. No one is a stranger. The World in your own.”

Script, Design, and digital layout by : Neeladeep Chakraborty , VKV Tinsukia

(Mail to: tinsukia@vkv.in) Courtesy : Swami Raghveshananda, RK Math, Chennai