ANANDAMAYI MA
Anandamayi Ma (1896-1982) was a Hindu spiritual teacher and guru from Bengal. She was considered a saint by many and hailed as one of the prominent mystics of the 20th century.
"Anandamayi" means "bliss-permeated mother," a name given her by her disciples in the 1920s to describe what they saw as her constant state of divine bliss. During her life, she attracted thousands of followers who saw her not only as a teacher and guru but as a manifestation of God, a devi. Precognition, healing and other miracles were attributed to her by her devotees.
The central theme of her teaching, in endless variation, was that "the supreme calling of every human being is to aspire to self-realization. All other obligations are secondary. Also, only actions that kindle Man's divine nature are worthy to be called actions." However she did not ask everyone to become a renunciate. "Everyone is right from his or her own standpoint," she said.
She taught how to live a God-centered life in the world and provided the living inspiration to enable thousands to aspire to this most noble ideal.
In addition, she advocated spiritual equality for women. For example, the sacred thread ritual had been performed by men only for centuries, but she opened it up to women. Her style of teaching included songs, jokes, and instructions on everyday life, but then also long discourses, meditation, and reading of scriptures.
"Anandamayi" means "bliss-permeated mother," a name given her by her disciples in the 1920s to describe what they saw as her constant state of divine bliss. During her life, she attracted thousands of followers who saw her not only as a teacher and guru but as a manifestation of God, a devi. Precognition, healing and other miracles were attributed to her by her devotees.
The central theme of her teaching, in endless variation, was that "the supreme calling of every human being is to aspire to self-realization. All other obligations are secondary. Also, only actions that kindle Man's divine nature are worthy to be called actions." However she did not ask everyone to become a renunciate. "Everyone is right from his or her own standpoint," she said.
She taught how to live a God-centered life in the world and provided the living inspiration to enable thousands to aspire to this most noble ideal.
In addition, she advocated spiritual equality for women. For example, the sacred thread ritual had been performed by men only for centuries, but she opened it up to women. Her style of teaching included songs, jokes, and instructions on everyday life, but then also long discourses, meditation, and reading of scriptures.
posted by Donald L. Simons at
10:07 AM
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