~~OM~~

One couple told Shree Maa that even though they loved each other very dearly, they sometimes had arguments and fights. Shree Maa looked at the husband and said, “You are so simple. Why do you let duality enter and cause trouble? Don’t give room for duality. Always think, “I belong to God, God belongs to me.” When any other thought comes, remember this.”

~~OM~~

(a) Baro Maa, we heard that Shree Maa never cried much as a baby. How did you manage to take care of Her? You were so young then – did you have other people to help you? How was Shree Maa as a little infant?

I did everything from time to time according to a schedule. I knew when to rub her with oil, when to give her bath, when to feed her, when to change her. It was easy to do it all by myself because she was so silent.

(b) Can you tell us the story of Shree Maa’s birth and tell us about your Gurudev? What advice did He give you? What sadhana did you do?

My Gurudeva’s name was Bhuvananda Saraswati. My husband and I were walking up towards the Kamakhya Temple. He called to us to come into his ashram. I was pregnant at the time. He said that our child would be very special and would be a spiritual light in this world. My husband asked him how he knew. He replied, “Look at the light that is coming from your wife. This indicates the birth of a great spiritual being.”

He initiated me in the mantra Drim. It is the bija mantra for Patience. He also taught me the hamsah mantra. I used to sit on a little bench in the kitchen and make japa. Sometimes I would rise up off the bench, and find myself lying on the floor unconscious. I used to picture the energy flowing from the muladhara to the sahasrhara, and concentrate on my third eye. The energy became so intense that my third eye began to bulge. People would ask me what was wrong because I had a little ball bulging from my third eye.

(c) How was Shree Maa different from your other children?

When I was pregnant with her I radiated light. It was not so with the other children. They were more normal. They cried and were very active. Shree Maa sat in any place I put her. Everyone would be attracted to Shree Maa. No matter where I took her, people would come around to see her.

What foods did Shree Maa like?

Shree Maa grew up eating dalh, rice and vegetables.

What were Her favorite activities?

She loved to do puja. It was her favorite game. That is about all she would do, either preparing or performing some kind of worship.

(d) We have heard a little about Didima (Grandmother) from Shree Maa. Can you tell us more about her? What kind of a mother was she to you?

Didi Maa was a very strong lady. She had a strict discipline. She kept accounts to the penny, made sure the children studied, made sure the kitchen was always clean and the house was always organized.

Can you tell us more about your family – your brothers and your home in Digboi. We want to know more about the place where Shree Maa spent Her childhood.

The house had 8 rooms and two kitchens. One was for vegetarian food and the other for non-vegetarian. I would help cook in both kitchens.

(e) Maa told us that you always took Her to visit sadhus and saints. Can you tell us more about who these sadhus were?

Narayan Swami often came to visit us. And we often went to see Trailinga Sadhu. He was from South India and he worshipped the 18 armed Durga.

Where were they – how did you take Maa there?

Trailinga Sadhu lived close enough to walk to his ashram. I would take Shree Maa with me even at night we went to see him after all my house work was complete. One night he said it is getting late. You should not be walking home alone with your young daughter. You better leave now. I went outside with Shree Maa and started to walk home, and I noticed that he had sent two guardians to accompany us to make sure we did not have any problems. When we got home I saw the guardians vanish. We were always protected.

My brothers always got mad at me. Why are you taking the little one to visit sadhus? She will become afflicted. Later they blamed me because she did want to study: You see, this is the result of your visiting sadhus all those years and now she isn’t paying attention to her studies!

(f) Baro Maa, we heard you were a very gifted singer. Can you tell us how you learnt music?

I learned music only from hearing. I had no formal training. I never had a teacher. But I was a good singer, and Shree Maa was even better. She would sing along with me, and that was the only training she ever had. One time our family had a victrola record player, and we had some of the big records playing Rabindra Sangeet. She used to listen to those records a lot, and she would sing along with them.

Can you tell us about how you taught Shree Maa music? We heard a little about Maa winning music contests – can you share more about it with us?

In this way she entered in to the competition and won.

(g) Baro Maa, was Shree Maa always in meditation and doing puja even as a little child? Did She ever play with other children of Her age? Did you see Her playing?

She was always playing puja. She had her family, cousins and friends: Paltu, Taku, Seema, Kali, Khukhu. They all joined in puja. I never saw them playing other kids games.

(h) Baro Maa, we are so grateful to you for coming to America and sharing your love and wisdom. Do you have any advice for us, on how to make our life pure and come close to God?

Everyone of us has our own karma. But even still we must want to meditate and make japa of the divine names. Saying the names alone is not enough. We also want to live a spiritual life. Fill your lives with joy and love, and divinity will always surround you.

~~OM~~

It is so touching and beautiful to see how so many people we met in India, while travelling, walking down the road, in shops, in temples, spontaneously recognize Shree Maa as “Maa” – their own Mother and the Mother of All.

Our plane had just touched down at the Delhi airport. There was a strike of all airport workers and everything was in a stand still. A young girl appeared in airport uniform and said, “Come Maa, there is a strike today. I will take you to immigration.” She took Maa’s hands and guided Her through all confusing pathways of the airport, past a lot of construction and queues of waiting passengers. At one place there was a long staircase and escalator. She said, “Maa, let me take You in the lift. It will be easier.” So we all trooped inside the little elevator in a hidden corner. The young lady took Shree Maa straight to the immigration past the serpentine queues and in a matter of minutes we were outside! As quickly as she had appeared, our little angel disappeared!

Mother was getting articles for the temple and gifts at a handicrafts market. There was a stall with Kashmiri shawls and handicrafts. As devotees were bargaining to get the right price, the young Kashmiri merchant said, “I don’t want to haggle about the price. I only want Her blessing.” He looked at Maa with veneration. He took out his card and said, “Please Maa, come to Kashmir. This is my card. We have a house boat. You can stay there — free. Please come.” Maa smiled so graciously at him and said “Achcha beta.” (ok, son). It was such a sweet and delightful exchange – She is our Mother and the Mother of all!

We were leaving India and going through our last security check. In India, they have a separate security check for ladies done by lady police officers. A young girl in kakhi police uniform stood with a wand in her hand. She smiled sweetly and asked Maa, “Are you Bengali, Maa? I felt you are Bengali when I saw you from afar.” Maa said, “Yes. What is your name?” She answered, “Maa, my name is Sumi. Sumi John.” She did the security check with such love and put her hands over Maa’s shoulders and said, “Maa, please travel well and safely.” Maa blessed our police officer with a divine smile. It is hard to say which is more beautiful – Mother’s love for all or each heart’s love for our true Mother.

~~OM~~

Bara Maa was a child bride, so she was still a little girl when Shree Maa was born. As she was a young mother, when the others of the family went outside, they most often left her at home. She often complained to Grandmother that they never took her any place. When Shree Maa was a little girl, she heard that complaint and she said, “Don’t worry, Mom. When I grow up I will take you to many places, even outside of India.”

Bara Maa told that story while sitting in Shree Maa’s living room in Napa.