Anandamayee The Universal Mother DEDICATION At the Lotus Feet of Ma Anandamayee Shree Shree Anandamayee Sangha is extremely thankful to Shri Omkarnath Goenka whose port has made possible to get this publication - out on the occasion of Shree Shree Ma Anandamayee Centenary Celebrations (1995-96) Anandamayee The Universal Mother (A Divine Presence on the Earth, 1896 -1982) © Shree Shree Anandamayee Sangha, India First Edition, May 1995 Author: Dr. Buddhadev Bhattacharya (Original Text in Bengali) Translated by: Shri Asim Chatterjee Artist: (illustrations) Sri Ratan Acharya Front Cover designer: Sri C. R. Pakrashi Published by: Swami Swarupananda General Secretary Shree Shree Anandamayee Sangha Kankhal, Hardwar U.P. India Printed by: SANJIB ROY, Managing Director Lalchand Roy & Co. (P) Ltd. 7 & 7/1, Grant Lane, Calcutta-700012. Acknowledgements Some years back, an ardent devotee of Ma, Sri Onkarnath Goenka, an Industrialist, presented me a beautiful profusely illustrated book —Rabindranath Tagore’s ‘Gitanjali’. The paintings were done by a reputed Indonesian Artist. A spark ignited in my mind, the wish to put together a similar work on the life of our Holy Mother. I expressed my feelings to Goenkaji. He readily agreed and offered all help. In the meantime a famous artist, Mrinal Das was entrusted with the work of painting the murals on Mother‘s life, to be put up on the inside walls of the Anand Jyoti Peetham in Kankhal. He could have been the right artist for this work. But unfortunately, he was no more when this collection was planned. Late Das’s able assistant Sri Ratan Acharya, who was also associated with the former job was contacted. It was decided that the entire life of the Mother will be covered by about fifty five paintings. Dr. Buddhadev Bhattacharya, a noted writer and a disciple of Ma was chosen to write a complete biography of the Mother. He did an admirable job, the manuscripts being written in Bengali. Dr. Bhattacharya, had to take a lot of pains in collecting the innumerable data of each day in the life of the Mother spanning eighty six years. This tremendous labour of both mind and body has culminated into the status of Puja. Every word is ‘Anjali’. Let Mothers blessings enrich his realisation more and more. Shri Aditya Sen, Journalist, did the first editing of the Bengali manuscripts. He did a good job. Sri Amal Kumar Roy, a noted disciple of Sri Sitaramdas Onkarnath and Srimat Narendra Nath Brahmachary and an ardent devotee of Ma did the final editing. He critically went through the manuscripts and made certain valuable additions. For the excellent work, he did so painstakingly he deserves our heartfelt thanks. I pray for the Mother’s constant blessings on him. Sri Asim Chatterjee, a veteran journalist, undertook the onerous task of translating the Bengali text into English. He completed this difficult task creditably in short time. We are thankful to him. May Ma’s blessings be showered on him. Shri Swapan Mullick another veteran journalist critically went through the English proofs and did an excellent job meticulously. He also deserves our heartfelt thanks. - Sri Anil Guha deserves thanks for his selfless devotion and untiring efforts. Besides his tremendous responsibility for the birth centenary celebrations of the Mother and day-to-day administrative function of Delhi Ashram, being the Secretary, he has overburdened himself for publishing this book in time. I pray for the Mothers constant blessings on him. Sri Ratan Acharya has indeed done a marvellous job in expressing the various memorable moments and events in Ma’s life through his fine paintings numbering 60. I feel happy to see that the spark I had some years back, has become a reality through his beautiful paintings. The total exercise Sri Acharya had to undergo in so short a time is simply incredible and can be termed as ‘sacrifice’ in the real sense of the term. This has elevated him to the status of a Yogi, which I personally witness. This is possibly the best reward he got. I’ll fail in my duty if I don’t mention the name of his wife Smt. Rekha Acharya, and Smt. Chhaya Das (Late Mrinal Das’s sister-in-law)—both artists without whose unstinted cooperation, he could not have completed his mission. I acknowledge with thanks the services they have rendered. Let the Mothers blessings be showered on them. The transparency of all the paintings was done by Sri Sarad Kr. Mirani in a very short time and with proficiency. I acknowledge his service with thanks with prayer to the Mother for her blessings on him. The paintings were preserved with care in the house of Sri Sailen Ghosh, an ardent devotee and disciple of the Mother. Meetings, discussions etc. were all held in his house. Smt. Ranu Ghosh, the disciple of the Mother, extended all co- operation so much so that the house has developed the flavour of Mandir. Let Mother’s blessings constantly shower on the couple. I acknowledge with thanks the contributions made by Prof. N. K. Panigrahi, D.Litt., P. R. S. Smt. Sushmita Roy and Sri Lokenath Chakrabarti in various ways in the production of this book. Let Shree Ma’s blessings be const showered on them. The book has been printed in the Press - Lalchand Roy & Company Private Limited, Calcutta. Sri Sanjib Kumar Roy, Managing Director of the Company took a personal interest in printing and doing the job in time. His executives and other staff extended all co-operation for timely publication of the book. I acknowledge their services with thanks. They have done an excellent job. I am grateful to Shri B. K. Shah, President and Shri Govind Narainji, Vice-President of the Sangha for giving me all the necessary encouragement and guidance from time to time in the preparation and production of this magnificent publication on Shree Ma. May Ma’s blessings be always with them. I am equally grateful to Maharaja Manabendra Shah, Vice-President of the Sangha and Chairman of the Centenary Celebrations Committee and to Dr. D.Mukhopadhyay and Shri S.K. Dutta (Patun) for helping me in various ways to bring out this publication on the occasion of the Centenary Celebrations of Shree Ma’s Maha-Abirbhav. Ma’s blessings be showered on them. Our heartfelt gratitude to Dr. Shankar Dayal Sharma, President of India for favoring us with the Foreword. It has indeed enhanced the value of this publication. Ma’s Blessings be always with him. Lastly, I should fail in my duty if I do not mention that it is the inspiration and encouragement of Shri O. N. Goenka and his family — all blessed by Ma — that has made it possible to publish this profusely illustrated book on Ma in such a short time for release at the inaugural function of Shree Shree Ma’s Maha-Abirbhav Centenary celebrations. Swami Swarupananda PRESIDENT REPUBLIC OF INDIA FOREWORD I am very glad to learn that a pictorial biography of Shree Shree Ma Anandamayee is being brought out on the occasion of her Centenary Celebrations. Ma Anandamayee was a truly remarkable phenomenon of our times who preached the message of compassion, truth and love. This biography chronicles Shree Ma’s journey through our world, beginning with her early years, the first manifestations of her divine being, her acceptance as the Universal Mother and culminating in her spiritual goals and the message. It brings’ out Shree Ma’s ceaseless quest for the welfare of fellow beings, which was in evidence during her extensive travels through the country. The biography also gives the reader a sense of her saintly personality, which evoked such admiration and esteem. Ma Anandamayee was noted for her commitment to universal religion and the common tenets of all faiths. She believed that different religions were but diverse paths leading to the ultimate goal. An incident is related in the biography of how she reached the Mazar of a Faqir at Shahbag and spontaneously offered Namaz, even though she had never received any teaching of Islam. Shree Ma did not establish a religious philosophy of her own but instead encouraged belief in all the religious disciplines. By doing so, she contributed immensely to the enrichment of our composite culture. Ignorance was, to Shree Ma, the greatest obstacle to the progress of mankind. She said “Illusion created by ignorance invites undue agony by not allowing to seek the truth. Such is the way of the world.” She, therefore, endeavoured to spread the light and trod the path of self-knowledge, seeking to make ours a society based on moral and ethical values. This biography seeks to reflect Shree Ma’s spirituality through words and pictures. It is a very commendable endeavour and I am personally pleased that it is being published on this auspicious occasion. It will help the reader receive and understand the divine message of Shree Ma and appreciate the great soul about whom it was said: “She is not a seeker of truth — she is naturally endowed with it, complete in herself. Such souls come to earth to serve specific purposes and on the completion of which, leave the world.” (SHANKER DAYAL SHARMA) New Delhi,April 21, 1995. PREFACE A baby was born to Mokshdasundari in 1896. She passed her childhood and youth, grew into ripe old age and she left this world in 1982. The 86 years that elapsed between her coming and going have been recorded with immense labour almost everyday of it. The reader will come across brief journeys from one place to another like innumerable small waves. This is not poetry or literature; yet reading these pages, the heart of the reader is tossed by every wave as it were, as if contemplating this long persistent spectacle without his being aware of it, is tossed away from multiplicity towards the One in deep meditation.