Sri Saradadevi
Sri Saradadevi known as the Holi Mother was born on 22 December 1853 in a poor Brahmin family in Jayrambati, a village adjoining Kamarpukur in West Bengal. She was devoted to God in her childhood days itself. At the age of six, she was married to Sri Ramakrishna according to the custom prevalent in India in those days. However, after the event, she continued to live with her parents, while Sri Ramakrishna lived a God-intoxicated life at Dakshineshwar.
At the age of eighteen she walked all the way to Dakshineshwar to meet her husband. They led absolutely pure lives, and Sarada Devi served Sri Ramakrishna as his devoted wife and disciple. Sri Ramakrishna looked upon Sarada Devi as a special manifestation of Divine Mother of the universe
At her native village and also in Calcutta nearly every day brought some group of devout pilgrims to pay her homage. It mattered not whence they came. Geographical boundaries, cast or creed did not exist for her. The same tender welcome awaited all who sought her whether from East or West. All alike were her children. Hers was an all-embracing mother heart, which wrapped itself in love about every child born of women, and her family was the human race…
Those who had the rare blessing of living with the Holy Mother learned that religion was sweet, natural joyous thing, that purity and holiness were tangible realities, that the odour of sanctity was literally a sweet perfume overlaying and destroying foulness of material selfishness. Compassion, devotion, God-union were her very nature, one scarcely knew that she possessed them. It was through the soothing benediction a word or touch that one sensed their presence.
Such lives are like lake or river. The sun may draw up its waters, but they fill again to refresh the earth. So these saintly ones in body may be lifted from our sight. But their holy influence falls back upon us to revive our fainting hearts and give us new spiritual life, new strength of purpose.
"She is Sharada, Saraswati : she has come to impart knowledge. She has decended by covering up beauty this time…. She is full of the rarest wisdom, is she of the common run? She is my Shakti.
Sri Ramakrishna.
Because Shakti is held in dishonour, Mother has been born to revive that wonderful Shakti in India; and making her the nucleus, once more will Gargies and Maitreyis be born into the world.