Sri Sarada Devi, familiar as Holy Mother, was born on 22 December
1853. Her childhood name was Saradamani Mukhopadhyaya. She born in a
poor Brahmin family in Jayrambati, a village adjoining Kamarpukur in
West Bengal. Her father, Ramachandra Mukhopadhyay, was a pious and
kind-hearted person, and her mother, Shyama Sundari Devi, was a loving
and hard-working woman.When she was about five or six years old, 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 at Dakshineshwar. Her marriage to Sri Ramakrishna was indeed a divinely ordained dispensation as she was 'marked' for the great Master. However, her spirituality flourished into full bloom after coming to Sri Ramakrishna at Dakshineswar. Sarada went to meet Ramakrishna at Dakshineswar in 1872 when she was eighteen, after hearing these rumors about his mental health.
Ramkrishna was a priest in Dakshineshwar Temple. He was a great devotee of God but very unorthodox about worshiping. He did not like to offer in traditional way rather he worshiped God in his own style. Frequently he goes to Samadhi stage ('deep spiritual meditation'). That's why he earned rebukes of some people in one way and regards of people in other way. When Sarada Devi reached Dakshineshwar Temple, Ramkrisnha received her cordially and allowed her to stay with him. A little tiny room were allocated in the nahabat (music tower) for her.
She stayed at Dakshineswar until 1885, except for short periods when she visited Jayrambati. Her life at Dakshineshwar was very simple. She used to wake up at 4.00 am in the morning. She performed Japa (chanting the name of God) at first then she used to leave the room when it is dawn. Most of the time she spent in cooking for Mastar and for the devotees. Ramkrishna taught her how to lead a spiritual life besides doing every day's task. They led a pure life.
Sri Ramakrishna looked upon Sarada Devi as a special manifestation of Divine Mother of the universe. In 1872, on the night of the Phala-harini-Kali-puja, he ritualistically worshipped Sarada Devi as the Divine Mother, thereby awakening universal Motherhood latent in her. When disciples began to gather around Sri Ramakrishna, Sarada Devi learned to look upon them as her own children. The room in which she stayed at Dakshineshwar was too small to live in and had hardly any amenities; and on many days she did not get the opportunity of meeting Sri Ramakrishna. But she bore all difficulties silently and lived in contentment and peace, serving the increasing number of devotees who came to see Sri Ramakrishna.
Sri Ramakrishna died in 1986. After that, she decided to visit holy places. She started her pilgrimage. She was not alone, some women accompanied her. She returned to Kamarpukur after ending her journey. Later she came back Calcutta(Kolkata) as the disciples of Ramkrishna urged her to stay here as they needed her care and attention. There many people came to visit her house and she started to make disciple. Many western followers like Sister Nivedita and Sister Devamata formed close relationship with her.
As she was growing old, her health was deteriorating. In 20th July of 1920, at midnight, she left this world. Sarada Devi received the highest reverence from the Ramakrishna Order and its devotees. Ramakrishna had bade her continue his mission after his death and wanted his disciples not to make any distinction between himself and her. According to her devotees and traditional biographers, the hospitality of Sarada Devi was unique and was characterized by motherly care and solicitude. That's why she was hailed as Divine Mother. She is mother of all. Her words and advices have deep influence till now.
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