Evolution of love

That Compassionate Touch

Among a lithe living Godmen of India or for that matter even Godwomen, Ma Anandamayee "is the most shining diamond in the luminous crown of contemporary Indian spiritual life." Initially known as a strange village girl in what was then East Bengal (now Bangladesh), She grew up to be known as the miraculously compassionate Mata Anandamayee -Mother of Joy. Her acts of love and compassion to those around as well as away from Her have become almost a legend, serving as a perennial source of faith in Her.
Those who have already come in contact with Sri Anandamayee Ma seem never to tire of reading or knowing more and more about Her. This desire is more persistent among those who have merely heard about Her but have not yet had the opportunity of having Her darshan. The number of Mother's devotees is vast and ever-growing, and they come from all walks of life and from almost all over the world. Their eagerness to know more about Mother's personality, Her compassion and teachings is growing day by day. It is for the benefit of these devotees that has prompted the author to bring out this volume. It is partly a compilation of miraculous incidents depicting Mother's infinite compassion for Her children and partly a narration of miracle-laden incidents witnessed by the author. It also contains strange little happenings signifying Her divine glories. Besides being the only one of its kind amongst other books published so far about Mother Anandamayee, this book is written by one who has known Her for over three decades and who was the Managing Editor of the prestigious journal Ananda Varta which is published from Mata Anandamayee Ashram, Varanasi.
Each incident of this volume unmistakably shows that Mother lives solely for Her fellow-beings and for helping and guiding them to become ''pilgrims on the Supreme Path - the Path that leads to Self-Realisation, to supreme ultimate God Itself." Indeed, She is looked upon as an incarnation of unbounded divine compassion.
Like the spiritual magnates in history, e.g. Lord Buddha, Jagadguru Sri Sankaracarya, Lord Gouranga and others, Ma Anandamayee travels the length and breadth of India spreading the message of love and showing the Path to infinite peace and happiness. To quote Mother's words, "Indeed everything that this body says or does - its actions, movements, its going hither and thither - is done for your sakes. Whatever is done for you by this body at any time, it is you who cause it to happen."
It is no doubt an immensely pleasing sight today that from all parts of the globe, men and women, young or old, are gathering near Her to seek solace and peace. Under the magic touch of Mother's unbounded affection and compassion for Her children, a hankering is growing even amongst the agnostics to be "travellers in the Path of Immortality."
Mahamahopadhyaya Pandit Gopinatha Kaviraja has said: "We know very well that in every stage of Her life, Mother played Her part admirably well consistently with the laws of propriety befitting Her role, and yet behind all these appearances She retains the self-same and eternally self-revealed consciousness. It is, therefore, a very difficult task to try to describe Mother Anandamayee as She really is. She has appeared differently to different persons and even if these differences are contradictory, we can quietly accept them knowing fully well that in a higher synthesis even contradictories may meet together. These differences need not be obliterated in the interest of a particular viewpoint. Naturally we do not, and cannot, know all the phases of Mother's life; and that the little we know of a particular phase, we know imperfectly. She is too near us to be seen in Her proper perspective and as for ourselves, we too shall have to rise up to the height and attain to broad outlook in which an attempt may be made to study Her properly. What is really needed is to feel that She is Mother and we are Her children and that as mere children, we cannot be expected to know Her as She is but only as She shows Herself to us in response to our cravings. It really becomes us to behave as infants crying out in the night and invoking Mother with an inarticulate language for Her actual descent and benediction."
It is hoped that besides being popular with those who have already come in contact with Ma Anandamayee, this book will in general be sought by all those who need an introduction to Her teachings and an inspiration to know more about Her.