Gauri Ma

Gauri Ma (1857-March 1, 1938), born Mridani, was a prominent Indian disciple of Ramakrishna, companion of Sarada Devi and founder of Kolkata's Saradeswari Ashram.

Early life
Gauri Ma was born in Sibpur, Howrah, India. She possessed a strong tendency toward Hindu spirituality. By her thirteenth year, Gauri Ma had developed a distaste for marriage, telling her mother, “I shall marry only that bridegroom who is immortal,” meaning she wished to marry Krishna and no other.

Gauri Ma received from a nun, a stone image of Vishnu. She was instructed by the nun, “This image of God is my all in all and is very living. He fell in love with you, so I hand him over to you. My child, worship him. It will do good to you.” Gauri Ma accepted the gift and took the image of Vishnu as her husband. For the rest of her life she carried the stone image with her and served him.

In 1875 Gauri Ma left with relatives and neighbors to go on pilgrimage to Gangasagar. On the third day of her stay, she disappeared into a crowd of pilgrims, eventually disguising herself as a nun to evade recognition. She began traveling by train and by foot to holy sites and monasteries throughout India. Gauri Ma practiced severe austerities such as fasting, observing silence, meditate and the studying of Hindu scriptures.

Ramakrishna and Sarada Devi
Gauri Ma lived as a companion to Sarada Devi whenever Sarada Devi was at Dakshineswar. Gauri Ma often cooked for Ramakrishna, and sang to him. Ramakrishna had a very high opinion of her, declaring, “Gauri is a perfect soul – a gopi of Vrindaban.”

Ramakrishna encouraged Gauri Ma to settle down from her life of pilgrimage and devote herself to begin working on behalf of women in India. The women of India’s plight was great, and Ramakrishna wished her to work for their better education and development, both intellectual and spiritual. Gauri Ma protested, that she had neither the proper training nor education for such a feat. Ramakrishna replied, “Knead the clay. I am pouring the water.”

Swami Vivekananda echoed Ramakrishna’s praise for Gauri Ma stating, “Where is Gauri Ma? We want a thousand such mothers with that noble stirring spirit.” Gauri Ma was gently reminded by Sarada Devi, “The Master (Ramakrishna) said that your life was meant for serving women – the living goddess.”

Saradeswari Ashram
In 1895, the Saradeswari Ashram was started by Gauri Ma. Residence, board and instruction were free to unmarried, married and widowed women. Village girls also came in the afternoon. After returning from his first visit to America, Swami Vivekanada visited the ashram and told Gauri Ma, “I have talked to the western people about you, and shall take you there and show them the type of women India produces.”

In 1911, the Ashram moved to Calcutta. Sarada Devi often visited the ashram, serving as an inspiration to those who dwelled within. For thirteen years, the ashram served in rented houses, moving four times to accommodate its growing population. After raising funds, in 1924 a three-story permanent ashram was constructed in its present location.

Educational Ideas
Education, to Gauri Ma, was a national duty. She taught that if the training of women is neglected, the whole nation suffers. The mother’s intelligence, love and insight build up the child. The Saradeswari Ashram, therefore, pursued programs of education that strived for the regeneration of womankind.

Gauri Ma carefully selected teachers at the ashram who lived ideal lives of plain and pure living, of high thinking, and who dedicated themselves to the cause of women. The Saradeswari Ashram had four plans: 1. Spread education among women according to the ideas of Hinduism and society; 2. Organization of women workers for the purpose; 3. Giving shelter to girls and widows in indigent circumstances but belonging to respectable families; 4. Helping women in their endeavor to live decent and virtuous lives.