Sri Sarada Devi, affectionately known as Holy Mother, was a spiritual leader and the wife of Sri Ramakrishna, one of the most highly revered saints in India. She is revered as a symbol of universal motherhood, whose wisdom and spiritual grandeur remained hidden beneath her natural veil of modesty. Holy Mother was not only devoted wife to Sri Ramakrishna but also his spiritual companion and object of worship.

According to the custom then prevalent in India, she was married to him while still a child. At the age of 18, she left her parental home to join her husband, who lived some sixty miles away, near Kolkata. Sri Ramakrishna had dedicated his life to the spiritual search and lived as a monk, yet he received Sarada very kindly, feeling that Divine Providence had brought her. After nursing her to recovery from an illness contracted on the journey, Sri Ramakrishna one day asked her why she had come to join him. She replied that she had come only to help him in his chosen way, which meant the way of complete renunciation of all earthly ties for the sake of God-realization. Thus, instead of seeking conjugal fulfillment, she became his first disciple.

Sri Sarada Devi was a spiritual giant in her own right and yet, in her simple and unassuming way, she served Ramakrishna and his disciples for many years. After Ramakrishna’s passing away, she carried on his religious ministry, serving as guide and inspiration of the new spiritual movement. She was a powerful spiritual leader, who set a unique example of an ideal disciple, nun, wife, teacher, and mother to her countless spiritual children. Those who associated with her were overwhelmed by her unconditional love and selfless service. She accepted all, regardless of nationality, religious affiliation, or social position.