Shri Ma Anandamayi was born on 30th April 1896 in a small village of east Bengal called Kheora. Amazingly she was aware of her birth. Afterwards she amazed people by recalling by name those who were present at her birth, and events that followed in her very early years. Ma in later years always stressed that she has always been ‘the same’. “As I was at birth, so am I now”. She was born with Transcendental consciousness a single and unique characteristic of ‘divine descent’. The Italian devotee Miriam tells of her : ‘Mother is not a human being like all others. She a is Divine light clad in human form”.
Similar was the experience of our beloved Baba Shri Swami Kedarnathji. He writes about his first darshan of Sri Sri Ma : “In May 1976 I had my first darshan of Sri Anandamayi Ma in Kankhal (Haridwar). In my very first darshan of Her, she graciously revealed her divine status and identity. The very moment I saw Her I could not control my emotions and burst into tears. A very strong and deep feeling told me that I was seeing a living God – A God of Love, a God of Truth and a God of compassion. All thoughts of the mind ceased to exist. The only thought that overpowered my whole being was that she was nothing but GOD ALONE and that she had come on earth to save and guide humanity; to release the souls who find themselves in the clutches of samsara (worldly existence)”.
“Before this event, I had not read any book about Her, nor had heard anything about her greatness. It so happened that I was in search after truth, and in this search I had found her. Finding her, my mind became still. This was the end of my seeking a God imbued with fullness and majesty. I had found him not ‘in’ Ma, but ‘as’ Ma.”
Once Ma Herself revealed her identity in these words: “Well, I am what you consider me to be, not more, not less.” Dr. Alexander Lipski rightly observes: “It will depend upon our state of consciousness to what extent we shall be able to fathom the phenomenon called Anandamayi Ma.”
In the year 1932 Ma left Bengal and ceaselessly wandered throughout India never remaining in one place for long, frequently only for a few days. She would always say of those that came of Her, “No one is new to me. All are always familiar.” And “Whether you know it or not, I am your nearest and dearest – your very own self.”
About Her teaching – Ma spoke of no “new way or message, her whole emphasis was always on the observation of the time-honored path of Tradition. She stressed belief in the scriptures and the traditional practice of religion. Ma-s presence gave new meaning to the Ancient and eternal customs and brought a renewal of their original spirit.
"This Body tells of one sovereign remedy for all ills:God. Trust in Him, depend on Him, accept what ever happens as His dispensation, regard what you do as His service, Keep Satsangs, think of God with every breath, live in His presence. Leave all Your burdens on His hands and He sees to everything, there will be no problems."
Swami Kedarnathji is the direct disciple of Sri Sri Ma. He had been fortunate to live in Her proximity for six years from the year 1976 to 1982 of these years he tells – “I had been, as if, not on earth but in the heaven moving with the Divine.”
As an offering of gratitude towards Shri Shri Ma Baba has written many books on Ma introducing Her life, philosophy and teachings. He has also established three ashrams, The first in Indore, second in Omkareshwar and the last in Sonkhara (a village in Guna District, M.P.) In these ashrams seekers of Truth can come and stay to attain the Supreme – the God, the Absolute.
