Yogin Ma
Encyclopedia
Yogindra Mohini Biswas or Yogin Ma ( Bengali: যোগীন মা)as she was popularly called, was a foremost woman disciple of Sri Sarada Devi, holy mother of the Ramakrishna order and the spiritual consort of Sri Ramakrishna.
She, together with Golap Ma, was a constant companion of Sri Sarada Devi and a major witness and an active contributor to the early formation of the monastic order of Sri Ramakrishna. She stayed with the holy mother in the Udbodhan House in Calcutta, which was built by Swami Saradananda for the use of Sri Sarada Devi.
, who was a great devotee. After a few meetings in Dakshineswar, Sri Ramakrishna initiated her and became her Guru and mentor. Yogin Ma first met Sarada Devi
in Dakshineswar
, in the building of Nahabat, where the holy mother stayed. By staing as a close companion of the holy mother Yogin Ma had recorded and shared some of her day to day experiences which serves as an important testimony to the early life and the spiritual practices of Sri Sarada Devi during her stay in Dakshineswar
. She recounted many incidents of her life during this period - her travels to Vrindavan after Sri Ramakrishna's demise, her travels to Puri and stay in Calcutta in several of her devotees' house, including that of Balaram Bose
.
Life lived by Sri Ramakrishna and the holy mother inspired Yogin Ma to practise spiritual disciplines, and lead a holy and pure life like a nun. She also studied the scriptures, esp. the Ramayana
and Mahabharata
and the Puranas
. Thus later in her life she was able to help Sister Nivedita
in writing one of her famous books, "The Cradle Tales of Hinduism" . Sri Ramakrishna had acknowledged her spiritual prowess by predicting that, "She is not an ordinary flower that will blossom quickly, she is a thousand-petalled lotus that will open slowly."
When Sri Ramakrishna passed away on 16 August 1886, Yogin Ma was in Vrindaban. There she was joined by Sri Sarada Devi of whom she later became a lifelong companion. The mother used to called her "Meye Yogen" or "lady Yogen", for distinguishing her from Swami Yogananda, who was also known as "Yogen".
Her daughter Ganu died and she was left with three grandsons who were brought up under the tutelage of Swami Saradananda, and at least one of them later joined the order and was initiated by Sri Sarada Devi.
Yogin-ma looked on the monastic disciples as her own children and they, including Swami Vivekananda
in turn were very free with her. She was an expert cook and Swami Vivekananda
often requested her to prepare a meal for him.
The American disciple of Swami Paramananda, sister Devmata recollects about her, "Yogin-ma always seemed to me one of the noblest of Sri Ramakrishna's disciples… She did not abandon her householder life, but no nun in a cloister was more rigid in her spiritual observance than she… No service was ever omitted, no care neglected."
Her life was very austere and she accompanied the holy mother in performing the 'Austerity of the Five Fires', considered as a very sacred and dangerous ritual.
She, together with Golap Ma, was a constant companion of Sri Sarada Devi and a major witness and an active contributor to the early formation of the monastic order of Sri Ramakrishna. She stayed with the holy mother in the Udbodhan House in Calcutta, which was built by Swami Saradananda for the use of Sri Sarada Devi.
Early life
Yogin Ma was born in Calcutta on January 16, 1851 to Prasanna Kumar Mitra, a successful physician. She was given in marriage to Ambika Charan Biswas at the age of six or seven, as it was the prevailing custom in Bengal to marry off girls at a tender age. Her husband squandered all his wealth and despite her best attempts of rehabilitating and reforming him, became a habitual drunkard. Yogin Ma finally left her husband's place with her only daughter and took shelter with her widowed mother in her father's house in Bagbazar area of Calcutta.Spiritual Awakening
Adversity propelled her to develop intense yearning for God Realization and a chance encounter with Sri Ramakrishna, the 19th century mystic saint of Bengal, changed her life. In 1883, Yogin Ma first met Sri Ramakrishna in the house of Balaram BoseBalaram Bose
Balaram Bose was one of the prominent householder disciples of Ramakrishna Paramahamsa. He was the son of Radhamohan Bose. He is often referred in The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna. Ramakrishna often visited his house and participated in Kirtana and other devotional functions...
, who was a great devotee. After a few meetings in Dakshineswar, Sri Ramakrishna initiated her and became her Guru and mentor. Yogin Ma first met Sarada Devi
Sarada Devi
Sarada Devi , born Saradamani Mukhopadhyaya , was the wife and spiritual counterpart of Ramakrishna Paramahamsa, a nineteenth century mystic of Bengal. Sarada Devi is also reverentially addressed as the Holy Mother by the followers of the Ramakrishna monastic order...
in Dakshineswar
Dakshineswar
Dakshineswar is a town in Barrackpore subdivision of North 24 Parganas district in West Bengal.-History:In 1847, Rani Rashmoni of Bengal began the construction of the famous Dakshineswar Kali Temple. Rani, who was a rich and pious widow of colonial Bengal had a divine revelation ordering her to...
, in the building of Nahabat, where the holy mother stayed. By staing as a close companion of the holy mother Yogin Ma had recorded and shared some of her day to day experiences which serves as an important testimony to the early life and the spiritual practices of Sri Sarada Devi during her stay in Dakshineswar
Dakshineswar
Dakshineswar is a town in Barrackpore subdivision of North 24 Parganas district in West Bengal.-History:In 1847, Rani Rashmoni of Bengal began the construction of the famous Dakshineswar Kali Temple. Rani, who was a rich and pious widow of colonial Bengal had a divine revelation ordering her to...
. She recounted many incidents of her life during this period - her travels to Vrindavan after Sri Ramakrishna's demise, her travels to Puri and stay in Calcutta in several of her devotees' house, including that of Balaram Bose
Balaram Bose
Balaram Bose was one of the prominent householder disciples of Ramakrishna Paramahamsa. He was the son of Radhamohan Bose. He is often referred in The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna. Ramakrishna often visited his house and participated in Kirtana and other devotional functions...
.
Life lived by Sri Ramakrishna and the holy mother inspired Yogin Ma to practise spiritual disciplines, and lead a holy and pure life like a nun. She also studied the scriptures, esp. the Ramayana
Ramayana
The Ramayana is an ancient Sanskrit epic. It is ascribed to the Hindu sage Valmiki and forms an important part of the Hindu canon , considered to be itihāsa. The Ramayana is one of the two great epics of India and Nepal, the other being the Mahabharata...
and Mahabharata
Mahabharata
The Mahabharata is one of the two major Sanskrit epics of ancient India and Nepal, the other being the Ramayana. The epic is part of itihasa....
and the Puranas
Puranas
The Puranas are a genre of important Hindu, Jain and Buddhist religious texts, notably consisting of narratives of the history of the universe from creation to destruction, genealogies of kings, heroes, sages, and demigods, and descriptions of Hindu cosmology, philosophy, and geography.Puranas...
. Thus later in her life she was able to help Sister Nivedita
Sister Nivedita
- A benediction to Sister Nivedita by Swami Vivekananda Sister Nivedita ; ; , born as Margaret Elizabeth Noble, was a Scots-Irish social worker, author, teacher and disciple of Swami Vivekananda. She met Vivekananda in 1895 in London and travelled to Calcutta, India in 1898...
in writing one of her famous books, "The Cradle Tales of Hinduism" . Sri Ramakrishna had acknowledged her spiritual prowess by predicting that, "She is not an ordinary flower that will blossom quickly, she is a thousand-petalled lotus that will open slowly."
When Sri Ramakrishna passed away on 16 August 1886, Yogin Ma was in Vrindaban. There she was joined by Sri Sarada Devi of whom she later became a lifelong companion. The mother used to called her "Meye Yogen" or "lady Yogen", for distinguishing her from Swami Yogananda, who was also known as "Yogen".
Her daughter Ganu died and she was left with three grandsons who were brought up under the tutelage of Swami Saradananda, and at least one of them later joined the order and was initiated by Sri Sarada Devi.
Character
Yogin-ma was a woman of strong determination. Whatever she undertook she carried through to perfection.Yogin-ma looked on the monastic disciples as her own children and they, including Swami Vivekananda
Swami Vivekananda
Swami Vivekananda , born Narendranath Dutta , was the chief disciple of the 19th century mystic Ramakrishna Paramahansa and the founder of the Ramakrishna Math and the Ramakrishna Mission...
in turn were very free with her. She was an expert cook and Swami Vivekananda
Swami Vivekananda
Swami Vivekananda , born Narendranath Dutta , was the chief disciple of the 19th century mystic Ramakrishna Paramahansa and the founder of the Ramakrishna Math and the Ramakrishna Mission...
often requested her to prepare a meal for him.
The American disciple of Swami Paramananda, sister Devmata recollects about her, "Yogin-ma always seemed to me one of the noblest of Sri Ramakrishna's disciples… She did not abandon her householder life, but no nun in a cloister was more rigid in her spiritual observance than she… No service was ever omitted, no care neglected."
Her life was very austere and she accompanied the holy mother in performing the 'Austerity of the Five Fires', considered as a very sacred and dangerous ritual.