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श्री शारदा देवी
1853–1920 CE · Jayrambati (Bengal)
Tradition: Ramakrishna lineage
Universal motherhood of God; quiet devotion; service to all without distinction.
Married to Ramakrishna at 5; he venerated her as Divine Mother (formal Shodashi puja); after his passing she continued to guide his disciples; lived simply at Jayrambati and Belur Math.
Co-founder (with Ramakrishna) of the Ramakrishna spiritual lineage; Holy Mother to all monks and devotees; her gentle teachings on practical bhakti are foundational.
Sri Sarada Devi (Holy Mother) stands within the lineage of Ramakrishna lineage. Understanding a saint requires understanding the school of thought, the lineage of teachers, and the historical context that shaped them. The Ramakrishna lineage tradition has shaped Hindu spiritual life through its philosophical foundations, its liturgy, its scriptures, and the institutions its founding ācāryas built and sustained across generations.
Saints in this tradition are not abstract figures from history — they are the living chain through which the tradition transmits itself. To read Sri Sarada Devi (Holy Mother) correctly is to read both the writings (where they survive) and the institutions they founded, the disciples they taught, and the practices they reinterpreted. Where written works are listed above, they remain the primary source for studying their thought; for the practical transmission, one studies under a teacher of the same lineage.
The dates and biographical details preserved in tradition often differ from those accepted by modern academic historians. Where the difference matters for interpretation, both views are noted; otherwise the traditional account is given with sources cited.
Awaiting scholar verification. If you spot a factual error in dates, lineage, or teaching, please write to us.