Sri Sri Matri Mandir, Joyrambati — Attraction in West Bengal

Sri Matri Mandir, located in Joyrambati, West Bengal, is a prominent temple dedicated to Holy Mother Sarada Devi, the spiritual consort of Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa. Here are the critical details about this revered temple:

Sri Sri Matri Mandir, Joyrambati

Location: Situated in Joyrambati, a village in the Bankura district of West Bengal, India. Joyrambati is the birthplace of Holy Mother Sarada Devi.

Deity: The primary deity of the temple is Holy Mother Sarada Devi. The temple honours her as a divine mother and spiritual guide.

Historical Significance: Joyrambati is the birthplace of Sarada Devi, born on December 22, 1853. The temple is built on the site of her ancestral home, making it a place of great historical and spiritual significance for devotees.

Architecture: The temple structure is simple yet elegant, reflecting the serene and humble nature of Holy Mother Sarada Devi. The architecture incorporates traditional Bengali styles, with a spacious courtyard and a sanctum where the main deity resides.

Establishment: The temple was established to commemorate the life and teachings of Holy Mother Sarada Devi. It is a pilgrimage site for devotees seeking blessings and inspiration from her life.

Cultural and Spiritual Importance: The temple is a centre for spiritual activities and discourses based on the teachings of Sarada Devi, Sri Ramakrishna, and Swami Vivekananda. Regular worship, meditation sessions, and spiritual retreats are conducted here.

Festivals and Celebrations: The temple witnesses grand celebrations during the birthdays of Sarada Devi, Sri Ramakrishna, and Swami Vivekananda. Special pujas, bhajans (devotional songs), and discourses are held during these occasions, attracting devotees from all over India.

Educational and Philanthropic Activities: The temple complex also includes schools, hospitals, and charitable institutions the Ramakrishna Mission runs. These institutions work towards uplifting the local community, providing education and healthcare services.

Visitor Experience: Visitors to Sri Sri Matri Mandir can experience a tranquil and spiritually enriching environment. The temple’s serene atmosphere is ideal for meditation and reflection on the teachings of Sarada Devi and Sri Ramakrishna.

Conclusion

Sri Sri Matri Mandir in Joyrambati is not just a temple but a spiritual haven that preserves the legacy of Holy Mother Sarada Devi. It is a beacon of her teachings, emphasising love, compassion, and selfless service. The temple continues to inspire countless devotees and visitors, offering them a place to connect with their spiritual roots and draw inspiration from the life of...

The main temple of this village belongs to Ramakrishna Math and Mission, Belur Math, and named as "SRI SRI MATRI MANDIR" dedicated to Holy Mother Sri Sarada Devi, the spiritual consort of Sri Ramakrishna. The temple was constructed on the birthplace of Ma Sarada Devi.

The deity in the Sri Sri Matri Mandir is positioned exactly on the spot where Holy Mother Sri Sarada Devi was born on 22 December 1853.

The Holy Mother's Temple is consecrated on 19 April 1923 by Saradananda Swami on Akshay Tritiya day, and he placed Holy Mother's oil paintings in the temple which was replaced by a white marble statue of Holy Mother in April 1954.

The village hosts another temple of Vivekananda monks and the orphanage school for boys that the monks operate. The school hosts around 250 boys, providing them with an education through junior high. There is a temple called "Naranarayan Temple" where a child of below 5 years of age is worshipped as "God Narayan" at 10:00 A.M daily. This is a unique experiment started by Swami Nityanandaji Maharaj of Vivekananda Math to manifest the saying of "Shiva in Jiva". The offerings in this puja are unusual which suits the need of a child like, a pair of shirt and trouser, toys, books, pen and pencil, etc.

In nearby Shihar village there is an old temple dedicated to Shantinath Shiva. Both Sri Ramakrishna and the Holy Mother Sri Sarada Devi visited this temple. A grand fair is organized on the last of day of Chaitra (Bengali calendar) on the occasion of Gajan.

This beautiful temple has been built exactly on the spot where the Holy Mother was born and it was here that her father Ramchandra Mukhopadhyay had his original dwelling-house. The Holy Mother's marriage also took place in this very house and her parents lived there till she reached the ninth year of her age.

This temple was dedicated to the Holy Mother by Swami Saradananda on thursday, the 19th April 1923 (i.e. on third day of the lunar half of the month of Vaisakh called Akshaya-Tritiya). The white marble statue of the Holy Mother was installed in the temple on 8th April 1954, and a spacious Prayer Hall was also added as an annex to this temple. The sacred relics of the Holy Mother have been preserved in the Sanctum (Garbha-mandira) and the Holy Mother is daily worshipped with appropriate rites and offerings. The small-sized Shiva-Linga (the stone emblem of God Shiva) which was found at the time of digging the earth for the construction of this temple is also...

We reached at Jairambati at just 11.30 hrs. and rushed to Matri Mandir at once. The visiting time in the morning is upto 11- 30 AM. We entered into the prayer hall. But the door of the Mandir was closed. We were a bit disappointed for not getting the scope of praying before the white marble idol of Sri Sri Ma Sarada. But our good luck worked. An announcement was made after a short while that the door would be opened for five minutes to enable the devotees waited in the hall to show their respects to Ma. We were overwhelmed. We prayed to Ma for her blessings. Matri Mandir temple constructed on the site where Sarada Devi  was born. She lived here with her parents till she was 19 years old. The temple was construed by Swami Saradananda on the 19th April 1923 and the idol of Sarada Devi was enshrined on 8th April 1954. Later, a spacious prayer hall and a kitchen were also added to the shrine. Here bhog is offered free. One may donate if he/she wishes. Coupons should be collected in the early morning. Dining hall opened at about 11.30 AM after the closure of Matri Mandir. Previously we had to sit on the floor to have the bhog. But now chairs and tables had been installed for all. The devotees can book guest house to reside there for 2/3 days online. In front of Mandir there is a large pond named Punya Pukur, the Holy tank. On the left side of the main entrance Puratan Bari, popularly known as the Old House of Sarada Devi is situated. It is the ancestral home of Sarada Devi. It is believed that she lived in this home for about 52 years, from 1863 to 1915. This place has four rooms made of mud walls and straw roofs. One of the rooms was used by Sarada Devi as her bedroom and other, as her worshipping chamber. The room adjoining the preaching hall was used as a kitchen. It is believed that Sarada Devi started preaching Brahmacharya and Sanyasa in this old house. She worshipped Goddess Jagaddhatri at this site. We visited the Nutan Bari, also referred to as the New Home of Sarada Devwas constructed during 1915 and 1916. The site is located on the western side of the Punya Pukur, a holy tank. This site is dedicated to Goddess Jagadhatri, a form of Goddess Durga. It is heard that in the ancient times, this place was used for providing accommodation to the pilgrims visiting Jairambati. The area is very neat and clean surrounded by lush green trees. It appears that peace always...