Sri Ramakrishna Ashrma.Yadavagiri,Mysore

"You have not yet understood the wonderful significance of Mother's life -- none of you. But gradually you will know. Without Shakti(Power) there is no regeneration for the world. Mother was born to revive that wonderful Shakti in India: and making her the nucleus, once more will Gargis and Maitreyis be born into the world. I shall demonstrate the worship of the living Durga, and then shall my name be true. Brother, I tell you, I am a fanatic in this matter. Of Ramakrishna Paramahamsa, you may assert that he is a man, or whatever you like; but fie on him, who is not devoted to the Mother. To me Mother's grace is a blessing."

-Swami Vivekananda

Sri Sarada Devi, the immaculate wife of Sri Ramakrishna and helpmate in his mission, is adored as Holy Mother by many devotees around the globe. Since her passing away in 1920, she has continued to grow in the horizon of man's consciousness as a unique mother-teacher of the world, whose life and teachings have the power-potency to soothe, awaken and uphold anyone in the world, anywhere.

One fact has been quietly exploding in this distracted world of ours: and that is the creative power of Holy Mother's stupendous simple life of absolute holiness and absolute love. Nobody noticed when her power crossed the national frontiers of India and made the whole world virtually her own parlour. The secret of this power she gave away one day in a few spontaneous words. And this was practically her last message to humanity from her deathbed. She said among other things to a sorrowing devotee who was painfully conscious that the Mother would not live long: "Learn to make the whole world your own. Nobody is a stranger here, my dear. Everybody is your own" What a tremendous thing to say from one's soulful experience! These are not merely words of piety but heart-acts of realization. She literally lived in her 'own' - made world. This world has yet to work out the implication of this complete emancipation of highest philosophy and religion in the rhythm of the casual and the tenor of the commonplace.

Holy Mother knew everyone as her very own - not from a polished courtesy standpoint but because it was the fact of existence, and so in many lands people adore her above all as their very own mother. It is not a generalized, collective relationship with an impersonal personal growth. Nobody can think of the Holy Mother without getting spiritually awakened. And when so many have been meditating on her in so may countries what doubt can be there about a spiritual ministration going on in the world in the manner of dews' work in the souls of flower-buds?

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 that 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.Holy Mother was conscious of her divine nature, but she rarely expressed this awareness. For many years Sri Ramakrishna practised great austerities and formally renounced the world, but Holy Mother lived as a simple householder, surrounded by quarrelsome and greedy relatives. As a teacher she taught that the realization of God alone is real, and everything else, impermanent. The human body so treasured by most people, survives cremations as only three pounds of ashes. Holy Mother, humility itself -- claimed that she was in no way different from other devotees of the Master. Her disciples felt awed and uplifted when she blessed them by touching their head with the same hand, which had touched the feet of God. No one went away from her with a downcast heart not even robber and prostitutes.

What is the source of the mesmerism of this name and personality? Even a slight acquaintance with her life will make us realize that this mesmerism does not proceed from any aspects of her personality, which the modern world recognizes, as significant in women. To all outward appearances the Holy Mother was just ordinary, or even less than ordinary. Rustic in simplicity, almost unlettered, and shy and modest, she was far removed from the educated, self-conscious, active type of modern women. And yet her life finds powerful responsive echoes from the hearts of all men and women, rustic and modern alike. It is evident that she has captured in her life and being the fundamental value which lies at the back of the womanliness of woman and which transcends all distinctions based on mere sex and the attractions thereof. This fact alone explains her universal appeal, representing, as she does, not a mere national or racial type, but the fulfillment of woman as woman, the realization in flesh and blood of the Eternal Feminine.