Abu Road ( Rajasthan ): Brahma Kumars and Kumaris gathered together in Diamond Hall, Shantivan, paying heartfelt tribute on the 56th Rememberance Day of Mateshwari Jagadamba Saraswati (World Mother Lovingly called Mama), the First Administrative Head of the Brahma Kumaris.
Dadi Ratan Mohini, Chief of Brahma Kumaris; BK Nirwair, Secretary General of Brahma Kumaris; BK Brijmohan, Additional Secretary General of Brahma Kumaris; BK Munni, Joint Chief of Brahma Kumaris; and BK Karuna, Multimedia Chief of Brahma Kumaris, shared their personal experiences with Mama.
Dadi Ratan Mohini, Chief of Brahma Kumaris, who was with Mama since the beginning of Brahma Kumaris, said that Mama personified every word of the Supreme Soul. The power of her purity radiated from her face. She was very loving and ever-equanimous. Her three main qualities were Divinity, Soul consciousness and Complete surrender to the Supreme Soul, God.
BK Nirwair, Secretary General of Brahma Kumaris, recounted his six years of close personal association with Jagadamba Saraswati. She taught him how to give a speech publicly on World Peace. According to him, her greatest contribution to the Organization is the accurate picture of Lakshmi Narayan, that she had made with great insight and effort, for posterity. She endeared herself to one and all by her all-encompassing love. She exemplified surrender to the Divine Will. None interpreted the Divine Message (Godly knowledge) as deeply as Mama.
BK Brij Mohan, Additional Secretary General of Brahma Kumaris, said that Mama personified Soul Conscious state. Her life was a glimpse of the Divine in human form. She spoke very lovingly, powerfully and accurately. Her eyes had the power of Divinity in them.
BK Karuna, Multi Media Head of Brahma Kumaris, who had the good fortune of receiving personal care from Mama, shared his experiences. Mama was the embodiment of every word she spoke. Although she met countless people, she remained untouched with anything and treated everyone equally. She was very introverted and spoke sparingly only when required. She was forever lost in Divine Communion within and cheerful outside. While she gave love to all, she was attached to none.
BK Munni, Joint Chief Administrator of Brahma Kumaris, said that she has learnt a lot about how to progress in Divine life from her. Fruits, especially grapes are distributed specially on Mumma’s Day, to revive the memory when she lovingly distributed grapes to all shortly before leaving her mortal coil.
BK Rukmini, Senior RajaYogini was seated on the dais and offered bhog (food offering) to the departed soul of Mama who is now playing an incognito role in the transformation of this old world to the new world (Satyug).
History of MAMA:
A divine messenger of love and peace who descended upon the holy land of India in 1919. A jewel of a girl, Radhe, who was born to mother Rocha and father Pokhar Das at Amritsar. Right from childhood, Radhe had a razor-sharp intelligence and personality of multifaceted splendor. Radhe studied in Kundan Mall Model School at Hyderabad (Sindh) up to Matriculation. She always topped in every class and was equally adept in singing and dancing.
Radhe’s mother and her aunt lost their husbands and were grieving at home when they started attending Geeta Satsang, where Dada Lekhraj used to elaborate the essence in the verses of Geeta. On seeing a miracle of transformation in the life of her mother and mausi (mother’s sister), Radhe began to accompany them to Geeta Satsang. Her mind danced with joy when she first heard the divine knowledge. Her interest turned from being a doll of fashion to becoming an angel of love and peace as she started to chant “Om” and everyone started to call her “Om Radhe.” Om Radhe realized the Divine presence in Prajapita Brahma (Dada Lekhraj). She would be intoxicated when Brahma Baba would render the “Murli” (Divine Versions).
She had a magnetic aura in her personality. Her flashing eyes exuded virtue and power. She commanded the love and respect of all with her powerful personality and merciful heart. She could dive deep into the essence of each point of knowledge and come out with the subtle implication of that. She was gifted with exemplary intellectual powers and a sweet voice which resonated with a special kind of divinity.
Om Radhe — through her dedication, sacrifice and tireless service — came to be regarded as “Mateshwari” or the mother. She was lovingly called “Mama” by all. She gave sustenance to the spiritual children with her powerful words and actions. Her words carried the conviction of truth and her actions the strength of divinity. Even more beautiful than her words was her “silence.” Her angelic presence would transfix the whole assembly and her loveful and divine gaze would transform the hearts of the onlookers.
Throughout her life, she made many, many hearts dance with joy through her sweet and divine songs and discourses. She discerned the futility of sensual life when compared with the permanent bliss offered by spiritual life. She sang with all her heart and moved the listeners to heights of bliss.
Mateshwari was the epitome of service. She was given the responsibility of managing the “Yagya” (the Institution). She would look after every need of the spiritual children and was at their service until her last breath.
(Experiences with Mateshwari Jagadamba)
THE IMAGE OF SERENITY AND STABILITY – Dadi Nirmal Shanta
Mama was very mature and silent. Mama would speak the Murli as well as look after the yagya’s (organization’s) responsibilities. While performing all her duties, she always remained cheerful, peaceful, sweet and focused. When the yagya faced financial hardships, there were times when there was absolutely nothing for anyone to eat and this made a few faces fall sullen. But Mama’s unshakeable and unbreakable faith in Baba would keep her constantly smiling and free from worry. Even when Mama’s mother left her mortal coil, she maintained her mental stability and inner calmness. I never saw Mama reprimand anyone for making a mistake or get angry even to the slightest degree; I never saw her upset or angry.
Sister Santri used to stay with Baba (to take care of his needs) and I with Mama, and therefore I have watched Mama very closely.
PURITY AND ROYALTY PERSONIFIED
Mama was a perfect blend of simplicity and royalty. She never laughed loudly but merely smiled. She would say, “Lust, anger, ego, etc., are the doorways to hell and so you children should not become angry. Anger is said to be a ghost. When I get angry, a ghost enters me. So children, never become a ghost yourself; never become furious. No matter what happens, never get angry.”
If someone spoke too loudly, Mama would explain to him or her lovingly – “You live in an ashram. It is not good for you to speak in a loud tone. You should speak softly and peacefully”. Even if someone had committed a big blunder, she would tell him or her, “Is this really true? Please pay attention in future. Don’t let this mistake be repeated.” Mama never asked the soul why the mistake occurred but she would lovingly give a method and the strength to bring about change. In this way, she would transform them with love and gentle caution.
Whenever I looked at Mama, I felt she was definitely going to become Shri Lakshmi, Empress of the Golden Age. Mama would inspire me to serve: “Go, daughter. Explain the knowledge to people. If you do seva (service), you will receive meva (reward).” Mama taught me how to serve and give knowledge to others.
Mama was an intense yogi. She appeared to be ordinary but was in fact a mine of virtues. She had a unique way of sustaining others.
I called her “Ma” (Mother) or “Mama” and addressed my lokik mother as “Jashoda Maiyya” (Mother Jashoda). I had been brought up with much affection like a princess; we had servants who attended to every task at home. But Mama taught me to do everything, be it driving a vehicle, sharing knowledge, cleaning utensils, etc., and it was her power of love and patience that made this possible. It was these elevated sanskãrs, sweet nature and divine virtues that made Mama, Mother of the Yagya.
Mama always spoke about how we can claim the inheritance of Baba’s throne: Firstly, we should not make any mistakes. There should not be a trace of lust, anger or body-consciousness. Constantly remain in the bodiless stage, remember Baba sincerely and then do service.
COMPASSIONATE AND KNOWLEDGEABLE – Dadi Hriday Mohini
Sweet Mama, whom we used to call Mateshwari, was the goddess of our hearts. Her expert organizational skills in creating the new world were unique and incomparable. Mama sustained so many young girls like a mother and was adept at bringing about transformation in their lifestyle. Whenever Mama heard something wrong had occurred and the person involved was hesitating to come before Mama out of shame, her parental affection would emerge. She would gather all the children of the yagya together and make them aware of the incident, so that they would see it as an insignificant incident. The person would then own up to his or her mistake and reform themselves forever. The mirror of their heart would become clean.
When Mama analyzed the knowledge, it seemed as if goddess Saraswati was speaking. Once in Secunderabad, some citizens were opposing the BKs. When Brahma Baba asked Mama to visit the place, Mama accepted the shrimat (Godly directions) whole-heartedly and set on her way; I accompanied Mama to Secunderabad. Mama met with the opposition party. Hearing her sweet and meaningful words, they literally melted. It was their experience that Mother Saraswati herself was speaking to them. Witnessing this form of Mama they said, “Mother, forgive us. We did not know who you are. Knowledge heard through your lotus-mouth is unique and worth contemplating on. Whether or not we follow the gyan (knowledge), your presence has opened our inner eye.”
She left her mortal coil on June 24, 1965, now celebrated as Mama’s sweet Remembrance Day.
Sayings of Mama:
. Committing a mistake is wrong. But after committing a mistake if we don’t accept it, it is a sin.
. Those who complain about others must look within their own selves and change themselves.
. It is not worthwhile to repent for our past actions, instead we should perform elevated actions in the present to make our future better.
. Every moment is our final moment.
. God’s directions are making us move along.
