Sri Sri Sarada Mayer Bari — Attraction in Kolkata

Holy Mother Sri Sri Sarada Devi stayed here whenever see came stayed in Kolkata built by monastic disciple of Sri Ramakrishna Dev Swami Saradananda. Ramakrishna Math, Baghbazar……….. Holy Mother’s House, Ramakrishna Math, 1 Udbodhan Lane, Baghbazar, Kolkata, is a branch of Ramakrishna Math and Ramakrishna Mission, Belur Math, (Worldwide headquarter of all RKM centres and sub-centres.) The centre is well known as The Mother’s House and also Udbodhan. Udbodhan Office is the premier publishing house of Bengali books of Ramakrishna Math & Ramakrishna Mission and has immensely contributed to the spread of Ramakrishna-Vivekananda and Vedanta ideology through its publications.

Apart from the daily worship, publication work and the magazine, Sri Ramakrishna Math, Baghbazar is active in its task of spreading the ideal as preached by Sri Ramakrishna.

On every Sunday, Thursday and Friday, regular classes (Monthly Spiritual Discourse) on scriptures and other books of Sri Ramakrishna-Vivekananda literature are conducted for the devotees after the evening arati. Special worship is conducted on the birth days of Swami Saradananda and the Holy Mother, and also on the Maha Ashtami day of Durga Puja. Night-long worship is conducted on Phalaharini Kali Puja, Kali Puja and Shiva Ratri days.

Special Puja is offered on the birthdays of the disciples of Sri Ramakrishna, as also on Christmas-Eve, Rama Navami, Shankar Panchami, Buddha Purnima, Janmashtami and Sarasawti Puja days. Religious classes are conducted after the evening arati on their lives and teachings. Swami Vivekananda had drawn attention to the need of publication of literature for the dissemination of the message of Sri Ramakrishna. He added, ‘I want to leave behind some books which would act as foundation to my work even after I am gone.’

Swami Vivekananda returned to Calcutta from the West in February 1897. That very year, on May 1, he established the Ramakrishna Mission.

Towards the end of 1898, Udbodhan Office was started with the setting up of a printing press in Girindra Lal Basak’s house which was at 14, Ramchandra Maitra Lane, Kambuliatola, north Calcutta. The press was named ‘Udbodhan Press’. On January 14, 1899 (BS 1305, 1 Magh) the fortnightly journal ‘Udbodhan’ was brought out for the first time from here under the editorship of Swami Trigunatitananda, one of the direct disciples of Sri Ramakrishna. Swami Trigunatitananda was the editor of the journal as well as the manager of the Udbodhan Press and the office. His assistant. Swami Shuddhananda’s kept on translating in Bengali and publishing in Udbodhan the lectures and writings of Swami Vivekananda. Later these were brought out in book form by the Udbodhan Office. Subsequently innumerable works on Sri Ramakrishna and other religious topics by Swami Brahmananda, Swami Saradananda and other monks as well as lay disciples and devotees of Sri Ramakrishna and other litterateurs were brought out. Thus through the pens of great ones Udbodhan became one of the most important centres for the spread of the message of Sri Ramakrishna – Vivekananda.

Swami Trigunatitananda was the first editor of the journal, as well as the manager and publisher of the Udbodhan Office. His departure for America in 1903 created sort of a crisis for the journal and the fear of closing down the magazine became imminent. The crisis could be averted only with Swami Brahmananda’s strong wish and Swami Saradananda’s effort. They put the responsibility of editing and publishing the journal on the shoulders of Swami Shuddhananda. The publication of Udbodhan could continue without a hitch only because of Swami Shuddhananda’s own sacrifice, sincerity, dexterity and constant effort. Since this period, Swami Saradananda got involved with the magazine deeply.

From the first number of the first year to the eighteenth number of the fourth year, the magazine was printed at its own press, after which the press had to be sold off for various reasons. Since then the magazine has been printed at...

House of the Holy Mother Sarada Devi, is called as 'Mayer Bari', I.e., 'House of the Mother' is a shrine to the disciples of Ramakrishna Math & Mission, and to the all people in general across religions, casts, creeds, ages and nationalities. This is an abode of peace. After Sri Ramakrishna passed away on 1886, Holy Mother spent years in poverty, starvation and sorrow. Though she went for pilgrimage after the Thakur, Sri Ramakrishna passed away, she temporarily lived in Kamarpukur at the ancestral house of Thakur and in Joyrambati, her birthplace. Swami Vivekananda dreamt of arrangement of permanent house for the Mother, but he passed away before realising it. Mr. Kedarnath Das, a disciple of Sri Ramakrishna gifted a land on 1905 to Ramakrishna Order at Baghbazar area in Kolkata. Swami Saradananda, direct disciple of Sri Ramakrishna alias Sarat Maharaj and a monk, and the first General Secretary of Ramakrishna Order, initiated building Mother's own home on that place during November, 1907. Construction was completed after one year. The Holy Mother entered at her own house on 23rd May, 1909. Since then, this house is named as 'Mayer Bari'. She passed away in this house on 20th July, 1920. Thousands of disciples visit this house every year. However, this house is a small one and congested. Mother's room is situated at the first floor where the Holy Mother is worshipped everyday. Everyone can get the 'prasad' or meal at noon here. To have 'prasad', coupon should be collected from the monk at the office at ground floor within 10:00 AM. Initially the ground floor of the building was used as 'Office of Udbodhan', the publication wing of the Ramakrishna Order. Later this office and press have been shifted to nearby 'Udbodhan Bhawan'. Reach at the house by lunch from Howrah Station to Baghbazar Ghat and then walk for three minutes or get Bus no. 242 from Esplanade or get down at Shyambazar Metro Station, exit through get no. 3 and walk for five minutes. Pronams to the Holy Trio: Thakur, Maa...

I would like to share my review slightly different way. I don't have courage to say praising, devine, serene, pious words about Holy Mother and her work, etc. Rather I would like to highlight few important things (what is very much missing from other reviews since I personally have felt and faced!) to help fellow and future pilgrims.

Location : Very interior. Even Google Map will locate correctly, the cab drivers face difficulties to reach to the place. So be cautious!

Parking : In front of Mother House, very small parking is there. Less chance to get that, but if you are able to reach before 10 am, there maybe chances. Otherwise, if you get space you can park at the road where Udbodhon house is situated. But that is also not that much adequate!

Puja: Holy Mother's puja happens maybe before 10 am, as after reaching at 10 am I heard it happened at morning. I didn't ask about exact timing, but when most common people goes, they won't be able to see puja. But yes you can do prayer in front of glass door of Mother's room.

Timing of Mother's room door closure : 11 am

Bhog prasad: You shouldn't forget to collect coupon from Head Swamiji (whose office is seen just opposite to main entrance) and that has to be collected by 10.30 am. It doesn't mean, you won't get prasad. But coupon holders will get priority first. Then if Swamiji allows (means if sufficient Prasad is there) without coupon holders will get permission. However, I believe, no one will return without getting Mother's prasad. So, pls have faith and devotion.

Rest other things are exactly same what my fellow reviewers already posted their valuable reviews.

Joy Ma, may your blessings...