If Sri Ramakrishna was a leaping flame of spiritual realization, Holy Mother was a steady glowing fire of God-consciousness. To the Master, Sri Ramakrishna, she was the goddess of wisdom in human form. To her disciples she was the Divine Mother herself. To her devotees she was a more real mother than their own earthly mother. To the seekers of truth she was the final word, and to sinners she was the last refuge.
Swami Adiswarananda, in his Introduction to the book – SRI SARADA DEVI, THE HOLY MOTHER Her Teachings and Conversations
– Translated by Swami Nikhilananda
Today is the janma tithi of the Holy Mother. On this happy occasion my heartfelt greetings to every one! When I was in India, it was always a special largesse for me to listen to the long-standing devotees who would lovingly explain how they were latched onto the ‘spiritual spell’ of Holy Mother, due to whom their lives got eventually transformed. And South Africa devotees too do not lag behind. Many here, have such wonderful episodes, listening to them is indeed a ‘sadhana’ for me.
One SA devotee, recalling her divine dream says that it makes her hair stand on ends and somewhat emotional …. emotional in the sense that, she longs within – would she ever see Mother face to face any time? I reproduce some excerpts from what she wrote to me:
“In my dream … I was cleaning the altar, and as I was about to clean the Holy Mother’s picture, when lo! and behold! Mother started talking to me! She told me that her head and neck was paining. I asked Mother, if I could perhaps massage Her head and back. When I went close to Mother almost touching Her………… I felt that Her hair was dripping with water.
Mother’s face was real and I was so close to Her… Her face was so motherly, so ordinary and so full of love…yet I saw an indescribable radiance. I could see clearly her long black, slightly wavy hair, I was well pleased! I could clearly mark her forehead, it had a red dot and red sindoor on the middle parting of Her hair. I stared in bewilderment! After a long while, I could see myself telling Mother that … Her hair needs to be dried, (In my dream I am looking for a blow drier). I then saw that I needed to straighten Mother’s back because she was leaning in an awkward way. I gazed at Mother wondering if this is really true!
When I woke up, I was not my normal self, I had mixed emotions…. Is Mother in real pain? Is this some type of message for me? What was that She desired to indicate to me? But I knew IT WAS A DIVINE DREAM. I intuitively decided to go to the ashram immediately to check the picture of Mother. To my great amazement, I saw Mother’s picture leaning way back in such an uncomfortable way. I straightened the picture-frame, and placed it in the proper position. I cherish this dream because not only Mother utilised me as an instrument in Her work but also chose to convey me Her inconvenience.”
Here are some digital delights contributed by Dr S Adhinarayanan from New Delhi, India, who is now at Copenhagen for the Global Summit on Climate Change. Despite his busy schedule, he found time to prepare the below given portraits (I envy! How much his mind would have been involved in the rupa-dhyaana – meditation on form – of Holy Mother!) while readying his presentation – An Approach paper on “Microbial Solutions for a sustainable Global Environment”. We wish him a very successful session!
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Vedanta in Practice 
Aum namo narayanaya
Dear Maharaj
I pray Mother’s blessings on all on this auspicious day. When I was at Belur Math recently I enquired about why Holy Mother’s Temple is the only one facing the Ganga. The answer was that she is looking after her childern in Kolkata.
I think we can all take comfort in this fact we always have a Mother.
Love always
Yogan Naidoo
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||Sri Ramakrishna sharanam||
Dear Yogan
Welcome back! Your stay in Belur Math must have been very rewarding spiritually.
Yes, Yogan, the answer seems to be apt. I remember what Swami Nikhilanandaji wrote about Holy Mother:
“Holy Mother was an unusual awakener of souls. With her disciples she served as teacher, dissolving their doubts, as mother, who through love and compassion won their hearts, and as the Divinity, who assured them of liberation. Herself nearly illiterate, through simple words she taught them the most profound truths. Her affectionate maternal love tamed their rebellious spirits; but her great power lay in her solicitude for all. Often she said, “I am the Mother, who will look after them if not I ?” She encouraged them when they were depressed because of slow spiritual progress, and she took upon herself their sins and iniquities, suffering on that account.”
May Mother be with you!
Swami Vimokshananda
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Revered Swami Vimokshanandaji Maharaj
Pranam
Delightful to see and read this blog.
And these digital meditations of Dr Adhinarayanan!
Mother seems to appear in many many forms…as Gaargi-Vaachaknavi Samaa, as Lalita, as Uma, and as the Antaryamini.
Amazing to read of the blessed devotee’s dream, I am more envious of them as I am currently feeling spiritually dry.
Revered Maharaj, I hope you will continue to share many more such divine experiences, it is truly pertinent to the well-being of all.
Please accept my pranam at your feet,
Skendha
New Delhi, India
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||Sri Ramakrishna sharanam||
Dear Skendha
Many devotees during conversations/counseling sessions do reveal their experiences but all those cannot be brought out in public. We. as monks, have a special responsibility to keep the confidentiality. Yet if any particular devotee agrees for my telling outside as an example for my Talks, then only I come up with such incidents. I shall place some of them in this blog in coming times suitably.
One thing about these ‘experiences’ is that though they are indeed very encouraging, yet they are not all in all in spiritual life. Just because one does not have such dreams or any supernatural event, one should not jump to the conclusion that one’s spiritual life is all dry! Never feel so! From our side, we have to surrender to Mother and call Her with all our heart and soul. Thats enough. She knows how best to carry us further!
Did not Swamiji say : Without Shakti (Power) there is no regeneration for the world. …….Mother has been born to revive that wonderful Shakti in India; and making her the nucleus, once more will Gargis and Maitreyis be born into the world.
May Mother help in your onward journey!
Swami Vimokshananda
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Revered Maharaj
Pranam
I apologise if my wish to hear more of spiritual experiences seemed as though I sought to infringe on the privacy of either the devotees or the monks.
Please excuse me.
Thank you for your kind words.
Sincere Pranam
Skendha Singh
New Delhi, India
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||Sri Ramakrishna sharanam||
Dear Skendha
Oh, No! Don’t apologize! It was just a mere explanation of my inability to fulfill your sincere wishes, even though I would have personally liked many such incidents fit to report as very inspiring for others.
I did not misunderstand at all.
With loving best wishes
Swami Vimokshananda
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Om Namo Narayanaya
Revered Maharaj,
The divine pictures above of our dearest Ma are absolutely amazing. Holy Mother is so special and the meaning of Her love is really felt by every single one of her children.
When I recited Mother’s Suprabhatam yesterday morning, I was so touched by the meaning. I cannot express the joy and emotion felt during this reading as well as when one just looks at the Mother’s picture for comfort and solace.
As the stotram (Prakritim) on Mother states: Mother, you are really wonderful!
Holy Mother is our Eternal Mother. Yesterday, we read a few sayings from the Holy Mother’s book on Japa and meditation. One can go on reading these pertinent sayings once you just begin – such is the magnetism! Holy Mother – our Saviour indeed and our loving Mother after all.
Thank you for digital delights Swamiji Maharaj. You have further offered us e-mail prasadam
My prostrations at your lotus feet
Anusha
Durban, SA
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||Sri Ramakrishna sharanam||
Dear Anusha
Yes, kudos to Dr S Adhinarayanan who could give us such wonderful images! He has brought happiness to hundreds of our readers.
Sri Sarada Devi Suprabhatam, among other hyms, is recited everyday in our shrine in the early morning after the mangala-arati. The very first stanza says that ‘Lokasya shoka samanaaya kritaavataare, Sri Saaradestu shubhade tava suprabhaatam’ O! Sri Sarada! One who has incarnated to remove the sufferings of the people, to You, the bestower of all good, our ‘Good Morning!’
Prakritim paramaam is my favourite hym on Mother. One can download the rendition of this hym from our Pune branch website in mp3 format.
Yes, please do share this ePrasadam with others too!
Swami Vimokshananda
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Respected Swamijee
Please accept humble pranam at thy feet!
It was indeed delightful to read this divine post on Holy Mother.
The “life-giving” digital pictures on Holy Mother are “breathtaking”.
Revered Swamijee’s regular posting makes us more determined and disciplined to search for the “Divinity within Us”.
We clearly see the central message in all Revered Swamijee’s positngs: “TO MANIFEST THE DIVINTY WITHIN”.
Thank you Swamijee for keeping us “On Track” and for the continuous flow of spiritual thoughts!
With respectful pranam
Avithaa
Pietermaritzburg, SA
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||Sri Ramakrishna sharanam||
Dear Avithaa
Thanks for your loving comment and the pun! Yes, “life-giving” can be “breath-taking”!
I am happy that you do derive positive benefits from my posts. Its all surely Mother’s grace!
May She who is residing within you, guide you ever towards enlightenment!
Swami Vimokshananda
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Om namo narayanaya maharaj
It is amazing to read of the devotee’s dream of Mother. We forget with mahamaya that mother is so close and within our reach………very much alive in Her murthis and pictures and in our own hearts. It is surely encouraging to be reminded of Mother Sarada’s presence.
May our divine mother bless us all.
With warm greetings,
Niriksha
Durban, SA
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||Sri Ramakrishna sharanam||
Dear Niriksha
Yes, Mother used to say that Chhaayaa and kaayaa are the same, signifying the photo and the person are the same. There are ritualistic processes that can invoke the presence of the Power in photos and images. But again, a simple, all absorbing faith with loving devotion can also bring forth the same.
With loving best wishes
Swami Vimokshananda
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Adarneeya Maharajji,
Saadar Pranaam
Reading your BLOG is always an experience of utmost inspiration and moment of bliss!
Maharajji, I have always felt that NEW AVTAARS ( new versions ) of GOD LIVED WITH THEM and THEY LIVED WITH GOD are the need of hour. Meaning a book on Second and Third Generation of Monastic Disciples of Holy Trio (I have been trying to find out a biography of Swami Gnaneshwaranandaji Mj.) and also some HOUSEHOLDER DEVOTEES like Shri Tantiaji….
I will request you to bless us all with these kind of books!
My humble pranaam,
Bharat Churiwala
Mumbai, India
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||Sri Ramakrishna sharanam||
Dear Bharat
I do appreciate your wonderful idea. But be patient in actualising your dream project. There are many writers among the monks and householder devotees who can professionally compile, edit and present in a decent manner for the reading public. Your encouragement for bringing out such a book will catch fire one day and by His Grace, some one will complete the job.
With loving best wishes
Swami Vimokshananda
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Om Namo Narayanaya
Revered Maharaj,
Thank you for such inspiring and motivating postings of Holy Mother. These messages continue to give us hope in such challenging lifestyles and circumstances.
Respectful Pranam
Sugen
PMBurg, SA
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||Sri Ramakrishna sharanam||
Dear Sugen
I agree with you. Its true that such incidents always inspire and motivate us. And the best part of them is that they are just ‘happened’ in our time and most of the persons are just moving amongst us! What a wonderful feeling to think about them whom we ordinarily consider as mere mortals! We do not even want to acknowledge their spiritual eminence just because they are none but one – in flesh and blood – among the many!
With loving best wishes
Swami Vimokshananda
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Respected Maharajji,
I have no words to express the beauty of the portraits and the dream that the devotee had regarding Mother. Holy Mother’s ambrosia of divine love flows perennially quenching the thirst of the devotees and showering solace on our parched minds. She stands as a lamp amidst darkness, as the never extinguishing flame of hope and always as a dear Mother answering our every call.
May her divine guidance help us to remain anchored to the path of spiritualism all through our lives. May the light of her divine love illumine every heart.
Jai Maa Sarada!
Lisa Sen
Kolkata, India
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||Sri Ramakrishna sharanam||
Dear Lisa
My agreement with what you have said is in toto. Well said!
Swami Abhedanandaji says in his famous hymn ‘prakritim paramaam’ that ambrosia is released from her lotus feet, which when sipped by the bee which is our minds, we get rid of the world-disease. Only one condition he places on us. And that is ‘leave the habit of sitting on the flowers of worldly pleasures’.
May Mother protect you!
Swami Vimokshananda
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Om
Revered Swamiji
As the saying goes a picture is worth a thousand words these are indeed Mother’s way of conveying the message of her presence to all her children. We thank you for sharing these with us and keeping in touch with the devotees.
May Mother Bless and keep Her Children safe always!
Jai Sri Maa,
Anoop
Newcastle, SA
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||Sri Ramakrishna sharanam||
Dear Anoop
Thanks Anoop for your visit and kind comment!
Mother’s message is conveyed through several means which are chosen by her according to the the spiritual evolution of the aspirant. Dreams are of course one valid method. I remember how our Master conveyed his discomfort to one of our Ashram attendees in South Africa during late Shivapadanandaji’s time and how it was sorted out is of course a separate topic for my future postings!
May we become fit to receive his intimations!
Swami Vimokshananda
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Really Digital Delights!
Thank you so much for these heavenly pictures!
We celebrated Maa‘s Thithi in Pune Math with great fervor and love and the one thing that really helps me going in life is to keep saying “aamar maa acche!” (I have a Mother!…she is there with me!) and each time I say that, it makes so peaceful, so happy, so stress free!
Jai Maa!
Gayatri
Pune, India
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||Sri Ramakrishna sharanam||
Dear Gayatri
Welcome to this blog and also thanks for your nice comment!
Yes, the very feeling that ‘Mother is with me!’ has such potential strength that removes all weariness.
Did She not say : My son, if a thorn pricks your foot, it hurts me like a spear entering my heart.
Never fear, and whenever you are in distress just say to yourself, “I have a mother”
Even though we have innumerable defects, She takes us onto Her lap and wipes clean – we wonder why She does!
Her compassion just flows without any rhyme or reason! How well Swami Abhedanandaji places this in his hymn ‘prakritim paramaam’!
I had been to Pune Math before the Temple came up and thereafter there was no chance to visit that wonderful temple. But I always loved to see them in photos.
May Maa protect you!
Swami Vimokshananda
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Revered Swamiji
I always visit your blog, your posting is always delightful.
Your blog is like a fountain in this desert of World Wide Web as “God is always present where His devotees chant His glory”. May Mother always be present within us and bless us!
With pure love for all.
jai maa
jai thakur
Ashutosh
Rayagada, Orissa, India
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