Shri Ma by Ashutosh Mitra [Hardcover]

"The life of Sri Sarada Devi, the spiritual consort of Sri Ramakrishna, appears to be very simple at first glance. Her close connection with worldly and mundane matters was evident, yet in the depths of her quiet life, she firmly established herself in the realm of spiritual truth. However, this profound truth was rarely visible to the outside world. While she engaged passionately in daily activities, there was no attachment or bondage in her actions. She was an ideal embodiment of human life.

Her life can be interpreted in many ways and forms, but her maternal nature stands as the most significant aspect of her eternal presence. She herself used to say, ‘Father, you know, Thakur had a motherly attitude towards everyone in the world. He left me to continue spreading this motherly attitude.’ Drawn by this endless maternal shelter, people quickly started calling her 'Mother' or 'Sri Ma.'

To eliminate any doubts or uncertainties about her eternal and all-encompassing motherly essence, Sri Ma herself asserted, ‘I am a real mother—not a guru’s wife, not a foster mother, not a symbolic mother, but a true mother.’ In the book ‘Sri Ma,’ Ashutosh Mitra depicted Sarada Devi’s maternal aspect through various expressions, narratives, and dialogues.

Ashutosh Mitra, the younger brother of Swami Trigunatitananda—one of Sri Ramakrishna's close disciples and renunciates and the founding editor of the Udbodhan magazine—had the rare fortune of coming into the divine association of Sri Ma at the age of just eighteen. For the next thirteen years, he was not only her servant but also deeply intertwined with her daily spiritual practices. Sri Ma fondly called him ‘My Kartik.’

Not just Sri Ma, but Ashutosh also had the opportunity to associate with Swami Vivekananda and other renunciate disciples of Sri Ramakrishna. Influenced by his elder brother and others, Ashutosh eventually embraced monastic life. However, for serious reasons, he severed ties with the Ramakrishna Order during Sri Ma’s lifetime.

Despite this upheaval, the divine fragrance and boundless blessings of Sri Ma’s life remained with Ashutosh Mitra throughout his life, and the bond between the mother and child remained unbroken. His experiences of serving and witnessing Sri Ma intimately over thirteen years gave rise to a deep urge to share these experiences, which culminated in his book ‘Sri Ma.’ In this highly personal and detailed narration, he painted vivid memories of Sri Ma.

The book is not a biography but a life narrative of Sri Ma. As a firsthand account, Ashutosh’s captivating work once earned special admiration from devotees and followers. Over time, however, the book became rare.

Today, interest in the life and teachings of Sri Sarada Devi has reached new heights, and there is a growing global fascination with her life and words. Ordinary people believe that her unparalleled life can guide them every step of the way. With this belief in mind, Ashutosh Mitra’s book ‘Sri Ma’ has been republished."