Sri Sarada Devi And Her Divine Play

This is the authoritative source biography of Ramakrishna (1836-1886) based on interviews with those who knew him. It is also an interpreted description of the entire range of Ramakrishna?s spiritual disciplines and experiences, explained as much as possible in terms of reason and common empirical experience, with reference to Hindu scriptures and spiritual traditions, western philosophy, Hindu psychology, and Western religious tradition. The setting is Northeast India from 1775 to 1836. Topics include: Avatar; evolution of concept and purpose of: Bhavas (spiritual moods): Bhavamukha (mental state dwelling between the Absolute and the Relative): Brahmo Samaj: Cosmic Mind: Creation and Evolution; Brahman as efficient cause: God; various concepts and spiritual attitudes towards: Guru: India; its spiritual and religious beliefs compared to other countries: Kali Temple at Dakshineswar: Nondual Reality (Advaita): Ramakrishna?s life; worship of Divine Mother; realization of God in Hindu and non-Hindu religions; marriage; disciples: Samadhi: Tantra and Vaishnava Sects; history and methods of worship: Vedanta; main schools and basis in mystic experience: Vivekananda (Narendranath Datta): Yoga.

The first American edition of the conversations and teachings of the Holy Mother as recorded by her disciples, both lay and monastic, this fascinating collection brings to life the Holy Mother's teachings on human affliction, self-control, and peace in ways both personal and profound.

Authored by Swami Gambhirananda, who was a scholar-monk of great eminence and the eleventh president of the Ramakrishna Order, this book is one of the authentic biographies on Holy Mother Sri Sarada Devi. The book presents many interesting facts and incidents of her life gleaned from various authentic sources, both oral and written. Presented in a clear and vivid style, the main narrative is profusely interspersed with conversations of the Holy Mother. The book contains a chronology of the Holy Mother’s life and a genealogy of her family in the appendices. The book is a must-read for all devotees and admirers of the Ramakrishna movement to acquaint themselves with the extraordinary life of the Holy Mother.

The story of Holy Mother’s life, a commentary on her mission, and a summary of her teachings, all in one small book that can fit in a pocket.

Swami Ishanananda had the blessed privilege of serving Holy Mother Sri Sarada Devi since his boyhood. He was initiated by Mother at a very young age and later received brahmacharya diksha from her. He served Mother from 1909 until the end of her divine play in 1920. The present book published by Advaita Ashrama, a publication house of Ramakrishna Math, Belur Math, is a translation of the Bengali original, Matrisannidhye. in which he describes many events from this period (1909 - 1920) of Mother’s life in vivid detail.

It was in 1918 that Swami Apurvananda, the author of this title, first came to Belur Math. Shortly thereafter, he received initiation from Holy Mother Sri Sarada Devi. As a member of Ramakrishna Order, he came in contact with many direct disciples of Sri Ramakrishna and other participants in Sri Ramakrishna’s divine play. He also saw many of Sri Ramakrishna’s householder devotees in different places and under different circumstances. Through his reminiscences of these spiritual luminaries and through stories of Belur Math during his time, the author provides the readers insightful glimpses into the lives of those who belonged to a divine realm. Published by Advaita Ashrama, a publication house of Ramakrishna Math, Belur Math, this title is a translation of the Bengali title ‘Devloke’ published by Ramakrishna Mission Institute of Culture, Golpark, Kolkata.

Here are some glimpses of the unique life of Sri Sarada Devi, the divine consort of Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa, combining both her human and divine roles. The life of Sri Sarada Devi, known to devotees also as the Holy Mother of Sri Sri Ma, had been a mixture of the mundane and the profoundly spiritual. She effortlessly moved from the grossly external to the supremely internal levels of existence all through her life. She faced tremendous hardships with a serenity that is almost impossible to encounter elsewhere. Each incident of her life serves as a core for contemplating on the highest truths embedded in our ancient scriptures and paradoxically in our own ordinary lives. The volume brings out all these facets of her experience from a special perspective.