Preface
Shree Shree Ma Anandamayee was the Divine Being with the full cosmic power of the universe and even beyond that.
Padma Bibhushan and Mahamahopadhyay Sri Gopinath Kaviraj, an eminent scholar and a realized ‘sadhaka’ expressed about Ma in his writing - “It is almost impossible to make an attempt to know the real identity of Ma. Who is Ma? What is Her real identity? It is not possible to assess or understand such difficult subjects for a child having a limited knowledge. When the child was not born, Ma was there. When the child will not be any more, even then Ma will remain. Ma is ‘Shuddha Sanatani’ (The pure eternal). Being the internal power as the life of all creatures and the deities - who can understand Her? It is not possible to lower Ma’s stature by calling Her an ordinary human being and height of Her spiritual state does not become manifest by praying to Her as an Avtar’ (an incarnation of God) or ‘Nitya Siddha’ (Self Realized all the time). High praise or bad criticism was all the same for Her. It will not be possible to understand Her identity, remaining separate from Ma.”
Mahamandaleshwar of Bholagiri Ashram, Devanaridaji Maharaj has written in his article on Ma “None who was acquainted with Ma since Her childhood, ever found her performing any hard ‘sadhana’, although, we saw Ma at the top of spiritual world since her teen years. That is why, She was an amazing exception in the divine kingdom. She was fully realized fight from Her birth and therefore, Ma’s whole life passed in a wonder which was beyond our perception.”
From the worldly point of view, although She had almost no education, her talks on the highest philosophical percepts and spiritual realizations surprised many highly learned persons, saints, and devotees, whoever came in contact with Her. Ma never used to deliver discourses. However, She used to guide the devotees as per their own ‘Samskar’ (Impressions of previous births) and according to their needs. She did not create a separate ‘Sampradaya’ (sect) and She herself did not initiate anyone except for a very rare cases. That is why, devotees from all sects came to Her without any hesitation. Devotees from different religions - Hindu, Muslim, Christian, Jain, Buddhist, Sikh, and Parsi etc. came to Ma for Her spiritual guidance and to receive Her grace. Ma in her kindness, always cleared their doubts or questions and resolved the difficulties in a way suitable to their own spiritual paths.
Many books have been written in volumes on Ma and her sayings. However, it was. felt necessary to prepare a brief life-’ sketch of Ma in single volume for those persons who do not know Ma and want to know something about Her and her teachings. An attempt was made earlier to write a short biography of Ma, which was included in the souvenir published on the occasion of the installation of Ma’s vigraha (statue) at Uttarkashi Ashram in April 2009, in presence of the Honourable Governor of Uttarakhand, Sri B.L.Joshi, many Mahatmas, and the devotees. That biography was written in Hindi language and Bachchuda, the eldest son of Mamaji (Ma’s brother), corrected the Hindi language in its manuscript. The biography was widely appreciated .
Sri T.N.Chaturvedi, the former Governor of Karnataka and former Vice President of Shree Shree Anandamayee Sangha, thp then General Secretary of the Sangha and many others advised to publish a brochure on Ma’s Biography as given in that souvenir. The present English version is based on that Hindi biography and has been written in simplest possible language. A few important additions have also been incorporated in this presentation.
We acknowledge with thanks to Smt. Pushpa Khanna and Sri P. P. Madhava, Air Vice Marshal (Retd.) for their valuable help in correcting the manuscript. Both of them are mostly residing in Kankhal Ashram. Sri Madhava himself is the auther of a book on Ma in English language. A list of few important English books written on Ma has been annexed with this book.
Contents
1.
Chapter-I
i
Shree Shree Ma Anandamayee
1
ii
Parents of Shree Shree Ma
iii
Ma’s appearance in this world and her infancy
3
iv
Ma’s brothers and sisters
7
v
Grihastha Lila (play of household activities) of
13
Ma
vi
Ma in Ashtagram village
15
2.
Chapter-II
I
Ma at Bajitpur
17
Deeksha- Lila of Ma
18
Sadhana Lila of Ma (play of Sadhana)
19
Ma at Shahbagh and display of ‘Mahabhava’
22
Revival of the ancient holy seat at Siddheshwari
27
Establishment of Ramna Ashram in Dhaka
30
3.
Chapter- III
Ma’s journey all over India
34
Ma at Calcutta (Kolkata)
37
Ma at Vindhyachal
41
Ma at Tarapeeth
44
Ma’s visit to Southern India
46
Ma at Jagannathpuri
51
Chapter - IV
Ma’s arrival at Uttarakhand
53
Pilgrimage to Kailash
58
Demise of Bhaiji and coming up of ashrams at Almora
60
Demise of Ma’s Father and Baba Bholanath soon after
63
Ma arrived Haridwar and Didima opted Sannyas
65
Chapter- V
The great philosopher. Gopionath Kaviraj meets
69
Shree Shree Ma
Mahatmas (Saints) came in contact with Ma
73
Arrival of few great leaders of the nation
82
Attraction of Foreign Devotees towards Ma
89
All religions have the same destination .
93
Chapter - VI
Establishment of Ma’s ashram at Varanasi
97
Ma Anandamayee Kanyapeeth at Varanasi
100
Ma Anandamayee Vidyapeeth for boys.
102
The Savitri Mahayajna in Varanasi Ashram
104
Formation of Shree Shree Anandamayee Sangha
106
in 1950
Ma’s Diamond Jubilee Janmotsav at Varanasi
109
7.
Chapter - VII
Ma’s arrival at Vrindavan
113
Coming up of Bhimpura Ashram in Gujrat
118
Ma in Simla and. coming up of the Delhi
121
Ashram
Arrival of Ma at Ranchi
124
Ma at Rajgir
125
Ma at Naimisharanya
127
vii
Giriji’s Mahasamadhi and establishment of
132
Kankhal Ashram
viii
Atirudra Mahayajna in Kankhal Ashram in
136
1981
ix
Ma at Agartala
143
x
Other ashrams of Ma Anandamayee
144
8.
Chapter - VIll
Guru deeksha system after mahaprayan of
148
Giriji.
Advice to sadhakas seeking spiritual progress
152
Importance of satvik food in sadhana
153
Strict observance of ‘Shastriya’ rules in puja
155
Samyam Saptaha Mahavrata
159
9
Chapter - IX
Shree Shree Ma in the ‘Kumbha-Mela’ (fair)
164
Ma’s contact with the ‘subtle’ disembodied
167
beings
ill
Ma’s Lila towards the ‘Avyakta’ (Un-manifest State)
170
The summing up (Upasamhar)
174
10
Appendix
The ashram’ s evening kirtana
177
Glossary of words
178
Few important English books written on Ma
182
Tel. Numbers of Ma’s Ashrams (Statewise)
183
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