Why a 19th-century Indian woman is worshipped as the divine Holy Mother

Ideas & Philosophy · Published 3 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Sarada Devi was the wife of the mystic Ramakrishna, yet their marriage remained unconsummated as they pursued a life of celibacy. Beyond her role as a spouse, she became a foundational figure in modern Hinduism, revered by followers as the Holy Mother and an incarnation of the divine feminine.

Born in 1853 in the village of Joyrambati, Sarada Devi entered a marriage at age five to Ramakrishna, who was then 23. This age gap was characteristic of rural Bengal in the 19th century. She remained with her family until she was 18, eventually joining her husband at the Dakshineswar Kali Temple near Kolkata in 1872. Their union was defined by a commitment to spiritual ideals rather than domestic life; Ramakrishna, a priest and mystic, advocated for celibacy, and the couple lived in a state of unbroken continence.

The partnership was deeply spiritual. Ramakrishna performed the Shodashi Puja, a ritual where he worshipped Sarada Devi as the goddess Kali, or the divine mother Tripurasundari. He taught her meditation and mantras, eventually instructing her on how to guide others in spiritual life. To his disciples, she became a source of advice and encouragement, affectionately known as Sri Sri Maa, or Holy Mother. Her unassuming nature and warm personality drew many devotees, and she is widely regarded as Ramakrishna’s first disciple.

Following Ramakrishna’s death in 1886, Sarada Devi played a vital role in the growth of the movement that bore his name. While she often remained in the background, her influence was institutionalized through the founding of the Sri Sarada Math in 1954, a monastic organization for women established in her honor. Today, she is worshipped by a vast number of devotees across the world as an incarnation of the Divine Mother, representing a bridge between the traditional householder life and the monastic path.

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