Dedicated to Sri Sarada Devi

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"Holy Mother" painted by Swami Tadatmananda

Used courtesy of the Vedanta Society of Southern California

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Dedicated to Sri Sarada Devi
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Holy Mother By Swami Nikhilananda: 114 11-05-2016 - Rejoinder on Maa's Ornaments

While we have come across our Maa wearing the pieces of Jewellery, by sheer coincidence, I chanced upon this well-researched article by Rev. Swami Prabhanandaji in December 2003 issue of Vedanta Kesari: Glimpses of Pages from an Account-Book (pp. 474 – 485). The article refers to two account books that Sw. Prabhabanda got from Sri M’s grandson and as per the article, these account-books were most probably maintained and written by Hriday for the earnings and expenses for Thakur and Maa. Giving below the relevant portion pertaining to Maa’s jewellery as appearing and interpreted by Sw. P.

Holy Mother’s Jewellery:

Readers acquainted with the lives of Sri Ramakrishna and Sri Sarada Devi may remember that their marriage took place in the later part of Vaishakh in 1266 BS (May 1859). To keep up appearances and satisfy the bridal party, Sri Ramakrishna's family borrowed some pieces of gold jewellery from the Lahas of Kamarpukur, a wealthy landlord family, and the child bride was adorned with them. But when the marriage celebrations were over, Sri Ramakrishna himself took the jewellery off Sarada Devi while she was sleeping and handed the ornaments over to his mother to return to the Lahas. When the little girl woke up she immediately asked about the missing jewellery, and Sri Ramakrishna's mother, Chandra Devi, took her on her lap and, with tears in her eyes, consoled her saying, ‘My child, Gadadhar will give you afterwards many ornaments better than those.’

We feel that somehow Mathurmohan, the main supplier of the Master's needs, came to know of this. Mathurmohan died on 16 July 1871, and Holy Mother came to Dakshineswar for the first time in March 1872. On the back of one of the pages of the account-book a note that includes a list of jewellery has been given that appears to have been copied by Hriday from another list. From what is said there it seems that before Holy Mother’s arrival, Mathurmohan had a set of gold jewellery made for her. In the account-book it is written: ‘Bengali year 1271 Sriyukta Kartababu Mahashay [i.e., Mathurmohan] asked Sriyukta Bhattacharya Mahashay [Sri Ramakrishna] to make gold jewellery - a list of the pieces is included - copy recorded here.’ Thereafter the particulars of the jewellery are given: 1 chain necklace (weighing 3 bharis, 4 annas, and 2 pai); a throat amulet (1 pair) and a necklace weighing 3 bharis and 14 annas lotus earrings (two, weighing 1 bhari and 7 1/2 annas). Then a second instalment of jewellery was also recorded, including earrings that looked like hanging flowers (1 bhari and 7 1/2 annas) and other jewellery weighing 2 bharis and 6 1/2 annas (costing Rs. 22). The total weight of the jewellery came to 12 1/2 bharis of gold, and the cost was 171 rupees, 8 annas, and 1 paisa. (1 bhari = 180 grains; 15.43 grains = 1 gram)

The Master once said: 'She is Sarada. She loves to adorn herself.' We can safely say that after her arrival at Dakshineswar she started wearing this jewellery, and that Sri Ramakrishna was relieved that he was able to fulfil his mother's promise to the little girl. At that time Chandra Devi was living at Dakshineswar and she also must have been happy.
Again as a separate note in the account-book it is mentioned that on 22 Ashvin 2182 B.S. (7 October 1875) 'a baju [an armlet for the upper arm] for Srimati Chotamami [the revered youngest aunt] was bought.’ But it makes us sad to remember that Holy Mother could not wear all this jewellery for long. Once Golap Ma, who was rather outspoken, said to her: ‘Mother, Manomohan’s mother was complaining: "He [the Master] is a great ascetic, and yet the Mother wears these earrings and other ornaments. Does that look nice?’” That very day Holy Mother took off all her ornaments except for a pair of bangles. The next day Yogin Ma, after much persuasion, made her wear a couple of other pieces, but Holy Mother never again wore her entire set.

In this regard another entry in the account-book deserves attention. On 5 Chaitra 1287 B.S. (17 March 1881) it was recorded: ‘Cost of repairing the nose-ring of Srimati Chotamami’s maidservant Rs. 1.’ And again: ‘Silver jewellery for Chotamami’s maidservant Rs. 2.’ So Holy Mother not only wore jewellery herself but also arranged for her maidservant to wear it. Another entry was recorded on 30 Agrahayan 1287 B.S. (14 December 1880): ‘Rs. 3 paid to goldsmith of Alambazar for jewellery.’ Then another curious fact has been revealed. On 22 Ashvin 1283 B.S. (7 October 1876) Hridayram bought a necklace from Holy Mother's set of jewellery and deposited Rs. 14 in the account. We can easily guess that he bought it for his second wife.

Location: Bangalore