Anandamayi Ma was a revered Hindu saint and mystic who lived in India from 1896 to 1982. She was known as the Blissful Mother, or the Mother of Joy, because of her radiant smile and blissful state of consciousness. She attracted thousands of followers from all walks of life, who sought her blessings, guidance, and healing. She was also regarded as an incarnation of the Divine Mother, or Shakti, by many Hindus.
But what was the cause of her death? How did she leave her mortal body? And what did she say about death and the afterlife? In this article, we will explore these questions and try to unravel the mystery of Anandamayi Ma’s cause of death.
Contents
Early Life and Spiritual Awakening
Anandamayi Ma was born as Nirmala Sundari on April 30, 1896, in a village called Kheora in present-day Bangladesh. Her parents were devout Vaishnavas, or followers of Lord Vishnu, and they named her Nirmala, meaning pure or immaculate. She was a beautiful and cheerful child, but also very sensitive and prone to mystical experiences. She would often see visions of gods and goddesses, hear celestial music, and feel ecstatic emotions. She would also perform spontaneous yogic postures and gestures, without any formal training or instruction.
She married Ramani Mohan Chakravarti, or Bholanath as he was called, at the age of 13, as per the custom of those times. However, their marriage was not consummated, as Anandamayi Ma’s body would become rigid or lifeless whenever her husband tried to touch her. She later explained that this was because she had no sense of being a separate individual, and that any physical contact would disturb her natural state of oneness with the Supreme Self.
She moved with her husband to various places in India, where he worked as a clerk or a manager. During this time, she underwent a series of spiritual transformations that culminated in her full awakening at the age of 26. She said that she felt a divine force moving her body and mind, and that she had no control over her actions. She would enter into deep states of meditation, chant mantras, sing devotional songs, dance ecstatically, and bless people with her touch. She also displayed various miraculous powers, such as healing the sick, reading people’s minds, materializing objects, and appearing in multiple places at once.
She soon attracted a large number of devotees, who recognized her as a living embodiment of the Divine. They started calling her Anandamayi Ma, meaning the Mother who is full of bliss. She accepted everyone as her child, regardless of their caste, creed, gender, or status. She also initiated many people into various spiritual paths, according to their temperament and inclination. She did not belong to any particular sect or tradition, but taught the universal principles of love, service, devotion, and self-realization.
Final Years and Death
Anandamayi Ma traveled extensively throughout India for most of her life, visiting holy places, meeting saints and sages, and giving darshan (blessed sight) to countless people. She also established several ashrams (spiritual centers) where her disciples could live and practice under her guidance. She was revered by many prominent figures in India, such as Mahatma Gandhi, Rabindranath Tagore, Jawaharlal Nehru, Indira Gandhi, Romain Rolland, Paramahansa Yogananda, and others.
In her later years, she suffered from various ailments such as asthma, arthritis, diabetes
and intestinal parasites. However, she never complained or sought medical treatment for herself. She said that she accepted whatever came to her as the will of God. She also said that she had no fear of death or attachment to her body. She often remarked that she was not the body but the eternal spirit.
She left her mortal body on August 27th 1982 at Kishenpur Ashram in Dehradun at the age of 86. Her death was peaceful and serene. She had given instructions to her devotees on how to prepare her body for cremation. She had also told them not to mourn for her but to celebrate her departure as a festival. She said that she would always be with them in spirit and that they should remember her by chanting her name.
According to Wikipedia, “Her funeral rites were performed at Haridwar on 29 August 1982 before a huge crowd that included several eminent personalities from different fields.” Her ashes were immersed in the Ganges river at Haridwar and also distributed among various ashrams across India. A samadhi (memorial shrine) was built for her at Kankhal Ashram in Haridwar, where her devotees can pay their respects and homage.
Anandamayi Ma’s Teachings on Death and the Afterlife
Anandamayi Ma did not give any definitive or dogmatic answers to the questions of death and the afterlife. She said that these matters were beyond the scope of the human mind and that different people had different views and experiences according to their level of consciousness. She also said that death was not the end of existence but a transition to another state or dimension. She said that the soul was immortal and that it would continue its journey of evolution until it realized its true nature as one with the Supreme Self.
She advised her devotees to cultivate detachment from the body and the world, and to focus on the inner reality of the Self. She said that by doing so, they would overcome the fear of death and attain peace and bliss. She also said that by remembering God’s name and surrendering to His will, they would be guided and protected by His grace. She said that God was the only reality and that everything else was an illusion.
She also gave some hints and clues about what happens after death, based on her own visions and experiences. She said that after leaving the body, the soul would go through various stages of purification and refinement, depending on its karma (actions) and samskara (impressions). She said that some souls would go to higher realms of light and joy, where they would enjoy the company of divine beings and learn from them. She said that some souls would go to lower realms of darkness and suffering, where they would face the consequences of their negative deeds and thoughts. She said that some souls would be reborn in different forms and worlds, according to their desires and attachments.
She also said that there were some rare souls who had transcended the cycle of birth and death, and had attained liberation or moksha. She said that these souls had realized their identity with the Supreme Self, and had merged with it in a state of absolute bliss. She said that these souls were free from all bondage and limitation, and had become one with everything. She said that these souls were also compassionate and benevolent, and could help other souls in their spiritual quest.
She herself was considered to be one of such liberated souls by many of her followers. They believed that she was not bound by any law or condition, but acted spontaneously according to her own will. They also believed that she could manifest herself in any form or place, even after leaving her physical body. They claimed to have seen her or felt her presence in various ways, such as dreams, visions, signs, miracles, etc.
She herself did not claim any special status or authority for herself. She said that she was a simple child of God, who loved Him with all her heart. She said that she was nothing but a mirror reflecting His glory. She said that she was not different from anyone else, but only a little more aware of her true nature. She said that everyone had the same potential and possibility to realize their divinity. She said that she was always ready to help anyone who sincerely sought her guidance.
She summed up her teachings in a simple phrase: “Love God with all your heart.” She said that this was the essence of all religions and scriptures, and the ultimate goal of all life. She said that by loving God, one would love oneself and others as well. She said that by loving God, one would be happy and peaceful in any situation. She said that by loving God, one would attain Him.
She also gave another simple phrase: “Be happy.” She said that this was her message to everyone. She said that happiness was not dependent on external circumstances or objects, but on one’s own state of mind. She said that happiness was a choice and a habit, not a result or a reward. She said that happiness was a natural expression of one’s true nature, which is blissful.
She also gave another simple phrase: “I am with you.” She said that this was her assurance to everyone. She said that she was always with them in spirit, even if they could not see her physically. She said that she was always aware of their thoughts and feelings, even if they could not communicate with her verbally. She said that she was always ready to respond to their prayers and requests, even if they could not hear her voice.
She also gave another simple phrase: “Jai Ma.” This means “Victory to Mother” or “Hail Mother” in Hindi. This was her greeting and farewell to everyone. This was also her mantra or sacred word for meditation. This was also her blessing and invocation for everyone.
She said that by saying “Jai Ma”, one would express one’s love and devotion for the Divine Mother, who is the source of all creation. She said that by saying “Jai Ma”, one would invoke Her grace and power for
