LEGACY

MY STORY

Anandamayi Ma Indian Saint
CHRONICLE AND LEGACY

Anandamayi Ma, affectionately known as the "Mother Filled with Bliss," is a revered Indian saint and spiritual luminary celebrated for her divine presence and ecstatic spiritual states. Below are key aspects of her life and enduring legacy:

✩ Original Name: Nirmala Sundari

✩ Date and Place of Birth: Born on April 30, 1896, in Kheora, a small village now in present-day Bangladesh.

✩ Parents: Her father, Bipinbihari Bhattacharya, was a devout Vaishnavite devoted to Vishnu, while her mother, Mokshada Sundari Devi, was also deeply spiritual.

✩ Spiritual Disposition: From childhood, Nirmala exhibited remarkable spiritual qualities, often entering spontaneous states of meditation.

✩ Marriage: At barely 13 years old, she married Ramani Mohan Chakrabarti from a nearby village. Despite her marriage, she remained unattached to worldly matters, focusing on spiritual contemplation.

✩ Self-Initiated Transformation: In her twenties, she underwent a profound spiritual awakening that was entirely self-initiated. Without guidance from a traditional guru, her spiritual practices and realizations manifested spontaneously, highlighting the uniqueness of her journey.

✩ Life of Renunciation: Although married, Anandamayi Ma lived a life of celibacy. Her husband regarded her with deep reverence, seeing her as a divine figure.

✩ Title of Anandamayi Ma: Her followers began calling her Anandamayi Ma, which translates to "Mother Who is Joy Permeated," reflecting her radiant bliss and spiritual energy.

✩ Self-Realized Guru: Without having a formal guru, she often stated that she was "born in a state of spiritual realization." Her teachings and elevated states of consciousness were self-realized and not imparted by any external teacher.

✩ Universal Reach: Anandamayi Ma's teachings crossed religious and cultural boundaries. Although she was born into Hinduism, her message was universal, attracting seekers from various faiths who sought her wisdom.

✩ Advaita Vedanta Principles: She emphasized the fundamental unity of all existence and the illusion of separation from the divine, aligning with the core concepts of non-dualism in Advaita Vedanta. Her teachings focused on love, compassion, and complete surrender to the divine.

✩ Bhava Samadhi States: Anandamayi Ma frequently entered deep meditative states known as samadhi, where she appeared to be in a transcendent trance or in unity with the cosmos. She exhibited different spiritual moods, orbhavas, such as those of a mother, child, or friend.

✩ Perceived Miracles: Many believed that Anandamayi Ma performed miracles, including healing the sick and possessing knowledge beyond normal human perception. Her presence was often described as otherworldly or transcendent.

✩ Physical Anomalies: During her spiritual ecstasies, her body would sometimes exhibit unusual behaviors—she might stop breathing or become unresponsive to physical stimuli—highlighting her deep immersion in spiritual states.

✩ Founding of Ashrams: Throughout her life, numerous ashrams were established in her name, serving as spiritual centers for her followers. Significant ashrams include those in Varanasi, Haridwar, and Dehradun.

✩ Expanding Followership: Anandamayi Ma attracted a vast number of devotees worldwide, among them notable spiritual leaders like Paramahansa Yogananda, who mentioned her in his book Autobiography of a Yogi. Her followers spanned all sectors of society, from politicians and intellectuals to everyday people.

✩ Extensive Travels: Contrary to many saints who remained in one place, she traveled extensively across India. She visited numerous pilgrimage sites and offered guidance to devotees in various cities, towns, and villages.

✩ Societal Impact: Despite her ethereal demeanor, Anandamayi Ma encouraged individuals to carry out their worldly responsibilities with devotion and sincerity. She actively promoted harmony among different religions and communities.

✩ Philosophical Teachings: She advocated for a simple, unattached lifestyle, free from materialistic desires. Her teachings emphasized that the divine resides within every person and that recognizing this truth is essential for spiritual advancement.

✩ Writings and Discourses: Although she did not author extensive writings herself, her dialogues with devotees and disciples were recorded and later compiled into several books. These teachings have been translated into English and numerous other languages, making them accessible to a global audience.

✩ Influence on Other Spiritual Leaders: Anandamayi Ma significantly impacted many contemporary saints and spiritual movements. Esteemed figures like Swami Sivananda and Paramahansa Yogananda spoke highly of her, and Sri Aurobindo regarded her as a spiritual prodigy.

✩ Mahasamadhi: Anandamayi Ma entered Mahasamadhi—a conscious departure from the physical body on August 27, 1982, in Dehradun, India. Her memorial shrine, located in Kankhal near Haridwar, has become a revered pilgrimage site.

✩The real thing is love—Divine love. If you possess that, you have everything.

✩There is nothing to do but to see and realize."

Anandamayi Ma continues to be a cherished figure in India's spiritual heritage, remembered for her profound wisdom, boundless compassion, and embodiment of divine love.

Early Life and Family Background

Notable Quotes

Recognition and Teachings

Establishment of Ashrams and Growing Influence

Passing and Memorial

Legacy and Influence

Spiritual Mission and Teachings

Miraculous Life and Extraordinary Events

Marriage and Spiritual Awakening

MY STORY

Originally from New Zealand, I am a dedicated disciple of Paramahansa Yogananda and have lived in 10 countries over the past 36 years, with the last 26 years in a Buddhist country. My spiritual journey has been deeply intertwined with personal struggles, including decades of battling depression and anxiety fueled by excessive worry. Much of this life feels like a karmic reckoning, my own misgivings and a rebalancing of the atrocities inflicted by deluded minds during World War II.

A profound turning point came a decade ago as a novice attempting meditation, suddenly, through my third eye, I experienced an overwhelming wave of divine, unconditional love. This love emanated from Anandamayi Ma, a much revered Indian saint in our teachings. It was not something I could have conjured on my own—at that time, my daily vibration barely mustered the strength to breathe. Every cell of my being was embraced in this love, shattering all notions of unworthiness and revealing a truth so simple yet profound: love is the only reality. Everything else—fear, worry, ignorance, and societal delusion—is all but layers of Maya.

In that sacred moment, tears flowed as I realized I was loved wholly and unconditionally, without judgment. Standing exposed before a Highly Enlightened Being, feeling completely accepted is both humbling and transformative—a journey that encapsulates life’s complexity and simplicity.

"If you only knew how much God loved you, you would die for joy."

I was also blessed to feel unconditional love for Ma in return! For ten days following this encounter, I lived within a bubble of love, my being transformed. Physically, my third eye bore a new permanent indentation where a tilak, symbolizing focus and spiritual awakening, might be placed. My concentration improved, granting me exactly what I needed at the time.

You might think such an experience would change my life for the better—and it did, but not in the way one might expect. My external world seemed to collapse as circumstances shifted dramatically. It felt as though everything was being stripped away. Yet, through this dark night of the soul, I held onto the grace of Anandamayi Ma and Paramahansa Yogananda, who became my polestars. They guided me through the despair, even when I faltered.

Today, my focus remains on maintaining my meditation practice, leading with kindness with others, taking responsibility for my circumstances, and surrendering everything to the Masters, as best I can. I strive to live in the present moment, understanding that while this human journey often feels solitary, we are never truly alone.

The Gurus have given me so much, my next step is to dedicate myself to the service of others.

“Our journey is not to create the Light, but to remove the layers of darkness that obscure it.”

With gratitude and humility, Paul.

Irrespective of which religious path one embraces, the aim of religion must be to pierce through the veil of delusion to discover the underlying Oneness, and ultimately to merge with the One. This is the foremost, nay, the only duty of man.

Anandamayi Ma

PHOTOS

PHOTOS
Anandamayi Ma Indian Saint

Anandamayi Ma with Paramahansa Yogananda Indian Saint

Anandamayi Ma husband Ramani Mohan Chakrabarti 1909–1938

1000 photos of Anandamaya Ma - click

MUSIC

MUSIC
Anandamayi Ma Indian Saint

Anandamayi Ma Singing in 1958

Anandamayi Ma- Moksha Mantra

Mantra ~ Anandamayi Ma

Shankaracharya of Dwarka Ma Anandamayi

Jaya

Jai Hridaya Vasini ~ Anandamayi

Haribol Anandamayi Ma Singing

Give Me Ma

Reveal Thyself

Aananda Kirtan ~ Dedicated to Sri Sri Anandamyee

Anandamayi Ma-By Your Grace

Jai RAM Sri RAM Kirtan

Winds of Heaven

Will That Day Come to Me, Ma

Snatam Kaur ~Servant of Peace

Ramarama

Mahebhag

Krishna Das ~ Anandamayi Ma

Mere Gurudev ~ Anandamayi Ma

Guru Ganesh Singh ~ Anandamayi Ma

Mere Gurudev

The Glory Of The Spirit

Brenda McMorrow ~ Om Anandamayi

Divine Devotion of Pushpadi

Jap Man Sat Nam

Masatyam

Anandamayi Ma singing

Dear Mother Come to Me

VDO