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It is believed that behind the progress of a man, there is the helping hand
of one woman. This saying is quite correct in the case of Saint Ramakrishna
of India. Holy Mother Sharadamani was his wife.
She lived throughout her life as his spiritual counterpart and an active
supporter of missionary activities. Honouring the responsibilities of her
household, she had been a partner to her husband in his monastic way of
life.
Here is her pencil portrait done by a Bengali artist Saptarshi Ghosh. the artist has marvellously drawn two major factors of her personality: divinity
and simplicity.
Pencil Portrait of Holy Mother Sharadamani Devi
Early Life
The daughter of farmer parents, she was born in 1853. As it was a tradition
in India, her betrothal was arranged with Ramakrishna at the age of five
only, who was of the age of 23 years at that time.
Her parents were poor and pious. They believed that the daughter born to
them was the incarnation of some divine being. Sharadamani Devi had given ample
evidence of her being so divine. She had started doing meditation when other
girls of her age would be playing with other children.
Worshipping Kali
Kali is regarded as the greatest divine force in Hindu scriptures.
Worshipping Goddess Kali had been routine of Sharadamani from an early age.
Ramakrishna was a priest at the temple of Goddess
Kali in Calcutta. He had vowed to practice austerity for his whole
life.
But Sharadamani Devi was pleased to have a divine person like him as a
husband.
Divine and Marriage
The couple lived their entire life without entering into any corporeal act.
They believed in the austerity of life and they lived the same. According to
their disciples, the couple wanted to show the example of a married life that
was lived without body pleasure.
Passing time, Ramakrishna had become a saintly figure. He had a
large group of followers. But he always said that Sharadamani Devi was his
first disciple. At later age when Ramakrishna suffered from throat cancer,
Sharadamani Devi became his devoted nurse and tried her best to reduce his
pain.
The Missionary Work
Ramakrishna passed away in the year 1886. Holy Mother carried on the
missionary work started by him. She led and encouraged the group of disciples
for the next thirty years. Among other followers of her husband, Swami
Vivekananda was a favourite disciple.
The divine lady worshipped as Holy Mother died on the twentieth of July
1920. The followers of Ramakrishna do make up a very large group in the present
time. They do worship Goddess Kali and engage themselves in social work like
imparting education in remote areas and helping poor people.
They all respect Ramakrishna as a saint and Sharadamani Devi as Holy
Mother.
