Vivekananda Vedanta Society-Chicago

Sri Saradamani Devi, the divine consort of Sri Ramakrishna, is known to millions of devotees as The Holy Mother. Born of poor but pious Brahmin parents on December 22, 1853, in an obscure village named Jayrambati in West Bengal and bred in that simple country atmosphere, she was married to Sri Ramakrishna at the early age of six. Like many other incidents in the life of Sri Ramakrishna, his marriage too was remarkable.

The Holy Mother had the chance of coming in close contact with Sri Ramakrishna only about 1867, long after her marriage. Sri Ramakrishna did not neglect her but took her under his tutelage and by degrees 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 the Mother Kali in the temple were one and the same, awakened in her the sense of motherhood to all creatures.

The account of her 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. With her overflowing affection, the Holy Mother was an unfailing solace to all the troubled hearts that sought refuge at her feet for eternal peace and liberation from the worries and anxieties of worldly life.

Men and women who approached her in season and out of season 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.

Her life was an embodiment of the perfect ideals of Jnana, Bhakti and Karma, which are rarely to be met with in such a harmonious blending anywhere else in the world. In her life of artless simplicity, purity, piety and self-dedication, the modern world has discovered the perfect ideal of womanhood. She was unique in being the devoted wife, perfect Sannyasini, affectionate mother and ideal teacher in one.

She was indeed "Sri Ramakrishna's final word as to the ideal of Indian womanhood".

After the passing away of Sri Ramakrishna, it was the Holy Mother who took upon herself the responsibility of looking after his spiritual children and gradually the great Ramakrishna Order grew around her.
Swami Vivekananda refused to go to the Parliament of Religions until he had taken her blessing.

The Holy Mother passed away on July 20, 1920.


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Holy Mother Sri Sarada Devi Sri Saradamani Devi, the divine consort of Sri Ramakrishna, is known to millions of devotees as The Holy Mother. Born of poor but pious Brahmin parents on December 22, 1853, in an obscure village named Jayrambati in West Bengal and bred in that simple country atmosphere, she was married to Sri Ramakrishna at the early age of six. Like many other incidents in the life of Sri Ramakrishna, his marriage too was remarkable. The Holy Mother had the chance of coming in close contact with Sri Ramakrishna only about 1867, long after her marriage. Sri Ramakrishna did not neglect her but took her under his tutelage and by degrees 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 the Mother Kali in the temple were one and the same, awakened in her the sense of motherhood to all creatures. The account of her 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. With her overflowing affection, the Holy Mother was an unfailing solace to all the troubled hearts that sought refuge at her feet for eternal peace and liberation from the worries and anxieties of worldly life. Men and women who approached her in season and out of season 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. Her life was an embodiment of the perfect ideals of Jnana, Bhakti and Karma, which are rarely to be met with in such a harmonious blending anywhere else in the world. In her life of artless simplicity, purity, piety and self-dedication, the modern world has discovered the perfect ideal of womanhood. She was unique in being the devoted wife, perfect Sannyasini, affectionate mother and ideal teacher in one. She was indeed "Sri Ramakrishna's final word as to the ideal of Indian womanhood". After the passing away of Sri Ramakrishna, it was the Holy Mother who took upon herself the responsibility of looking after his spiritual children and gradually the great Ramakrishna Order grew around her. Swami Vivekananda refused to go to the Parliament of Religions until he had taken her blessing. The Holy Mother passed away on July 20, 1920.