Holy Mother, Sri Sarada Devi: Ideal Karma Yogini

By Usha & Umesh Gulati

The life and works of Sri Sarada Devi, the Incarnation of this age, clearly demonstrate that the Primordial Energy, the Universal Mother, manifests Itself as much in the activities of householders - through their relationships with their spouse, their children, parents, friends, relatives, employees, bosses, and, not least, through their interaction with nature - as it does in the meditation of a monk or a nun.

The Holy Mother, Sri Sarada Devi, never considered any job so trivial that it could be sloppily done. Nor did she make any distinction between a heroic activity and an ordinary task. For it is the Primordial Energy alone that works through both: only in ignorance and out of egotism do we think that we are the doers. What is more important: the difference lies not so much in the narure of work itself, as in the attitude with which a work is performed. Through her own example, the Mother taught humanity the secret of work and how to be an ideal karma yogi or yogini.

Swami Vivekananda has said that complete self-abnegation is the essence of Karma Yoga, and selflessness, detachment or renunciation, and self-abnegation are one and the same thing. One who works without any motive or desire is free. Like Buddha, the Holy Mother never cared to know or discuss various theories of God or the soul. All she cared was that her devotees practiced renunciation, and she served them without expecting anything in rerum. Swamiji called Buddha an ideal karma-yogi. We can say the same for the Holy Mother-an ideal karma yogini!

An ideal karma yogi or yogini must remain "inactive" in the midst of incessant activity. While remaining busy throughout the day in the service of her devotees, she
remains absorbed in constant prayer, japa and meditation.

So, for the fullness of her heart, the Holy Mother felt that it was the Divine Mother who was the real doer. She never laid claim to anything; even for her attribute of deep self-abnegation, she gave credit to Sri Ramakrishna's grace. The Holy Mother has shown to humanity that one doesn't have to be rich to practice or perform acts of karma yoga. On the contrary, we common people, too, can achieve the ideal of karma yoga through our day-to-day household work, cooking, cleaning, taking care of children, our spouses and other relatives, shopping, dealing with servants, colleagues and bosses and even with non-humans.

Gauri Ma

By Sarabindu Kar

Among the great personalities who have ap¬peared till now to enrich mankind and to inspire women to the ideal life, Gauri Mata occupies a place of special distinction.

Considering her devotion, faith and dedicated life, it can be said that a unique character like Gauri Mata would bring glory to any country and be marked for immortality in its history. From the events of her life, it seems as if a supremely divine power worked through her. Even from her childhood days she showed a marked non-attachment to the pleasures of the world and in later life, she never showed any sign of attachment to anything, even to the organization she founded. All her efforts were ultimately directed to preaching devotion, knowledge and selfless service.

At a tender age, rather miraculously, she received initiation from Sri Ramakrishna. She rejected marriage against the severe opposition of an orthodox and pros¬perous Indian family to which she belonged.

She took to a wandering life, sometimes disguised as a male, and visited many places of pilgrimage. On one occasion, she spent a long time at a high altitude of the Himalayas practicing austerities.

At last, she came back to her Master's feet at Dakshineswar. Sri Ramakrishna easily visualized her spiritual wealth and thought she was the right instrument he was looking for. Hence, Gauri Mata was charged by her venerable Guru to serve the down-trodden womenfolk in a spirit of worshipping the living images of the feminine form of the supreme deity. Sri Ramakrishna also assured her that his divine favor be¬hind her would not cease. The outcome was Saradeshwari Ashram.

Gauri Mata established the guiding principles for this ashram. For the inmates of the ashram she ef¬
fected a synthesis of the ideals of traditionallndian life together with a system of education suited to modern times. She wanted to form two kinds of women, one set of which who would ultimately renounce temporal life and accept asceticism, and the other set of women who would not only be good housewives but also good mothers, bringing up a new generation, strong physically, intellectually and spiritually.

But, whatever she did, she followed the spirit of honoring her guru's directive. So when she was in utter distress, she was never a victim of frustration but bore it boldly and silently. On the other hand, when anybody wanted to give any credit to her, she rejected that outright. Her life was an ideal illustration of self¬less action.

About fifty years ago, her mission fulfilled, the divine lady passed away. An elegant tomb was built by her beloved spiritual daughter, Durga Ma, beside her Guru's (Sri Ramakrishna's) tomb. But her soul is not
just resting in peace. It is ever ready for enlightening the
persons who seek her guidance. .