Anandamayi Maa
Anandamayi Maa
Anandamayi Maa.
Sri Ma Anandamayi today is widely recognized as a personality of great spiritual eminence. She was born in 1896 and she took samadhi at the age of 86 ; these limitations, however, cannot said to have conditioned her utter freedom to be just herself under all circumstances. She was the embodiment of a joyous self-sufficiency, which enraptured the hearts of all who came near her.
Life History.
1897, Vidyakut: A Visitor
Worshipped by a divine luminous person while she was a baby of 10 months at her father Sri Bipinbehari Bhattacharya’s place at Vidyakut.
1898-1908: At Kirtan
At Sultanpur, her maternal uncle’s place, listening to devotional kirtan at the age of two, child Nirmala was overwhelmed with ecstasy in the lap of her mother Mokshada Sundari Devi
1899-1908: Childhood
Days of her childhood spent in Sultanpur and in Kheora with family friends and neighbours. Primary education at both places at the age of eight or nine.
February, Kheora: Marriage
Marriage with Sri Ramani Mohan Chakravorty of Vikrampur, Dhaka, at the age of twelve and ten months. Ramani Mohan was later known as “Bholanath”
After the demise of Sri Revati Mohan Chakravorty Ma came to live at Astagram where Bholanathji was posted. Seeing her smiling look and blissful mood Ma was given the name “Mother of Bliss” (Kushir Ma) by the wife of Jaysankar Sen. It was prophesied by the brother-in-law of Jaishanker Sen, Harkumar that in future the entire world would call you Mother. While engaged in domestic work Ma used to go into deep absorption. When Bholanathji was transferred to Bajitpur Ma remained at Vidyakut, the residence of her parents for about three years.
When being asked by the cousin brother. Who are you? The reply emerged from Ma – Purna Brahrma Narayan. Bholanathji received initiation from Ma.Bholanathji entered the service of the Nawab of Dhaka and arrived at Shahbagh along with Ma. Pran Gopal Mukhopadhyay and Jyotish Chandra Roy (Bhaiji) visited her for the first time.
Sadhana.
Her instructions are of a universal type meant for all men, yet their real import is not always comprehended by people like us. Still, when some of her words illumine the mind of a particular person, what he realizes by his own limited knowledge finds expression in his life according to his own capacity to move forward. It is not easy to imagine how infinitely various are the streams of water flowing from the Himalayas to plains of India through glaciers, cataracts, rivers, streamlets and springs, enriching and fertilising many sterile tracts. Although the Himalayas do not lose anything by sending out these perpetual streams, the welfare of the world is being secured by them. It is similar in the case of Mother and her devotees.
The central theme of all her words and expressions is this: Life and religion are one. All that you do to maintain your life, your everyday work and play, all your attempts to earn a living, should be done with sincerity, love and devotion, with a firm conviction that true living means virtually perfecting one’s spiritual existence in tune with the universe. To bring about this synthesis, religious culture should be made as natural and easy as taking our food and drink when we are hungry and thirsty.
The central theme of all her words and expressions is this: Life and religion are one
. All that you do to maintain your life, your everyday work and play, all your attempts to earn a living, should be done with sincerity, love and devotion, with a firm conviction that true living means virtually perfecting one’s spiritual existence in tune with the universe. To bring about this synthesis, religious culture should be made as natural and easy as taking our food and drink when we are hungry and thirsty.
Bhakti
To be in Love with the Mother is the most incredible time in my life. I wish for Ma to cloak you in Ma’s love all the days of your life. Dive into Ma’s black Ganga waters and feel the smooth cool silkiness of Ma’s shakti. Sit in the stillness of Ma’s silence and feel Ma’s presence in your 720 million nadis, coarsing through your being. Feel Ma’s breath upon your brow, as Ma bends to gently kiss you good night. I sleep in the arms of the Mother, I live only through Ma’s grace. I want only to sit at Ma’s lotus feet in the cremation grounds all the days of my life. Ma is my all , my everything. May you also be so blessed. Namaste Trishula.
I bow down to Thee, O Mother Divine, who dost guide all the phases of Yoga or Union with the Divine, who art ever the embodiment of Peace and Welfare of the world, every movement of whose lips sheds sweet nectar drops on human life, who art all purity and whose glances remove all fear and dread.”
Mother of Grace! May we ever keep ourselves open to Thee for the fulfillment of Thy Will in us and through us. May we learn and realize that in Thy Love lie hidden all the secrets of life; the answers to all riddles. May our love for Thee be unconditional, unreserved and entire so that we may make a complete offering to Thee of all that we consider belongs to us. Mother! Thy Grace flows in abundance perennially; make us worthy of it by teaching us to Love and aspire.
Let us all bow down to Mother in all humility with these words: “I bow down to the Supreme Shakti of the Eternal, that intensely divine force which holds together the universe in one body,
Sri Ma’s words about her own handwriting.
With reference to that Ma was saying, “You have been witnessing different styles of (my) handwriting, the reason for that is: once while seeing Kumudini, the aunt of this body, was writing I sat to write the same way- it seemed to me that the fonts got smaller like those of hers. Again when I wrote keeping in mind my father’s handwriting I noticed that the style of writing was becoming like that of father.
Again, perhaps without being aware of anybody when I used to write keeping in mind the printed alphabets, just to make the alphabets look similar I had been writing in a special way, each letter starting from a fixed point. Any deviation was not to my liking.
In my younger days while sitting alone (being indifferent about correct or incorrect) such a thing happened once or twice – have you understood the extent of my proficiency in reading and writing!” Saying this she was laughing as if at herself.”
4 Ashadh, 1337 [Bengali calendar]
O Supreme Purush who art established in this world in the form of husband, wife, mother, children and in all other forms. I see that every thing is enveloped in Maya [ delusion] and attachment.The is no cause for despondency. Remain steadfast on the path with a pristine heart, unmoveable faith and a desperate thirst.You shall assuredly discover your own self.
~Nirmala Sundari Devi~
. I would think that sitting all throughout day and night I should sing the name (of God) accompanied by everyone. If anyone was reluctant to come, touching their hands and feet I would tell them, you would not be able to enjoy such great bliss which is there in the name ,through luxuries (of life) and spending hundreds of rupees. But I could not express it
O Father, the Absolute (Parampita), you are moving about as the restless universe, as couples, as parents, as offspring, and as all diverse forms. But you appear to be covered under the veil of ignorance (maya) and attachment (moha). No matter there is still enough scope to come out of the veil. Pick up single-pointedness in your attitude, firmness in your confidence and deep sincerity for your quest, and take up your journey.
You are sure to reach your goal – your own true self.
~Nirmala Sundari Devi~
Source: SriAnandamayiMa
