SARADAMANIS HOLY MOTHERHOOD - A REAPPRAISAL

Saradamani's reputation as the Holy Mother of the Ramakrishna Order is derived from two predominant factors. First, her devotees and discipl es loved her as their own mother and worshipped her as a goddess. This status was acquired by her as she was the widow of the late Ramakrish na Paramahamsa, who had himself been considered a god. Second, and mor e important, Sarada's conduct and moral character endeared her to ever yone who came in contact with her. As she treated all of tier associat es as her own children, Saradamani not only compensated her deprivatio n of biological motherhood but through her appropriation of the values of the Calcutta middle class, she discovered sources of empowerment i n a pre-eminently male monastic order within a patriarchal society. Th us, while the success of Sarada's holy motherhood may be owed largely to her personal qualities, its historical significance must be compreh ended in the context of the evolving concept of Hindu (especially Beng ali) motherhood of her time.