Sri Ma Anandamayi

Sri Ma Anandamayi was a poor village girl who, while she lived, became one of India's most eminent saints and luminaries. She was born in Kheora, in what is now Bangladesh, on April 30, 1896 into a poor but pious brahmin household. Her given name was Nirmala Sundari Devi which means 'Immaculate Beauty'.

Anandamayi was one of those rare individuals who was endowed with spiritual powers from the time she could remember. At a tender age, she could enter a state of inner bliss almost at will.

Anandamayi attracted followers from all walks of life. Her reach extended beyond the confines of cultures, traditions and even the borders of her own country. Among her devotees were peasants and scholars, the poor and the powerful and among them there were Christians and Muslims and anyone and everyone else who had the good fortune of crossing her path.

When Mahatma Gandhi heard about Anandamayi, he sent his right-hand man to see to her. As it turned out, he eventually became one of her most dedicated devotees.

Anandamayi was a pilgrim constantly on the go anointing all those who came to see her with a peace and love that seemed to be ever-flowing from her presence. Wherever she went crowds gathered and waited for hours just to get a glimpse of her. She was always in demand.

For those who were well-versed in spiritual matters, she was an anomaly and an enigma. They could not understand how a uneducated woman who never had a guru and never lived in seclusion, could speak the language of scholars, teach the tenants of the faith and assume yogic postures as if they were her own. However, in time they learnt to accept her as one of their own.

When I first learnt about Anandamayi, she was one those individuals who was almost to good to be true ... It was difficult to believe that some one like her had ever existed ... But as I dug into her past and learnt more about her ... I began to realize that she was someone special.

From what I was able to gather ... Anandamayi seemed to belong to no one and everyone all at the same time. She was no one's guru .. was not into organizations .. or things like schedules. Things would just happen around her. For instance .. she would arrive at a certain destination .. throngs would show up to greet her .. and the next thing you know ... chaos would breakout .. and from that chaos order would come .. eventually.

Sri Anandamayi died in Kankhal India on August 27 1982, and attained Maha Samadhi. August 29th.