Mother Teresa

Born as 'Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu', this compassionate girl grew up to devote her entire life to the cause of mankind. Brought up as a Roman catholic by her mother, Agnes developed a religious bent of mind early on in her life and it drew her to charitable activities. When only 18 years old, she left home forever to join the 'Sisters of Loreto' as a missionary. She received her spiritual training in Ireland and Darjeeling, India. It was in 1931, that the Mother took the name of Teresa from the French nun Thérèse Martin, who was canonized in 1927 with the title St. Thérèse of Lisieux. In 1937, Mother Teresa took her vows. She taught for 20 years in Saint Mary's High School in Calcutta, India. It is during this time that she witnessed the poverty, suffering and misery of millions in India. Moved by the pitiable sights that she encountered everyday, Teresa decided to dedicate her whole life for the welfare of the poor and acquired Indian citizenship in 1948. With the permission of Pope Pious XII, Teresa became an independent nun in the same year and began to live with the destitutes of Calcutta. She started to impart education to street children and established a congregation called the Missionaries of Charity - a charitable organization which was to be the centre of all her activities with its branches spread in many parts of the country. In 1950, she set up a care centre for the patients of leprosy. Agnes' efforts received a great impetus in 1965 when Pope Paul VI put the Missionaries of Charity under his protection and gave Mother the permission to expand her Order to other countries. Within a few years, branches of the Missionaries of Charity opened almost everywhere around the world to care for the poor, lepers, the elderly, the blind and people affected with sexual diseases like AIDS. Schools and homes were also set up for the poor and abandoned children. Agnes' loving touch began to be felt throughout the world and she came to be known as "Mother Teresa". Inspite of her reservations, the Nobel Peace Prize was conferred on her in 1979, which she accepted on behalf of the "poorest of the poor". She continued her noble deeds till death snatched her away from us in August, 1997. The people of Calcutta bid their mother a teary farewell and the world watched the live telecast of the solemn funeral march dedicated to her. Despite not being a mother in the biological sense, she was the "mother of all" - indeed a special mother. Her divinity was honored on October 19, 2003 when she was beatified by Pope John Paul II.

Sri Sarada Devi

On 22nd December 1853, a saintly soul was born in a poor Brahmin family in Jayrambati, a village adjoining Kamarpukur in West Bengal. Little did the world know that this little baby girl would one day become Sri Sarada Devi, the wife and spiritual consort of Sri Ramakrishna, one of the greatest spiritual souls the world has ever beheld. When only about six years old, she was married off (as was the custom prevalent in India in those days) to Sri Ramakrishna. However, she continued to live with her parents after marriage, while Sri Ramakrishna lived a God-intoxicated life at Dakshineshwar. When she turned 18, Sarada went to her husband who received her with great affection, and allowed her to stay with him. But they lived pure lives and Sri Ramkrishna is believed to have obtained her wife's permission in following his spiritual path and staying away from a sensual domestic life. Sri Sarada Devi smilingly encouraged her husband and remained a virgin nun. Sri Ramakrishna accepted her as his devoted wife and disciple and taught her how to lead a spiritual life while discharging her household duties. He aroused the universal Motherhood latent in her and taught her to look upon his disciples as her own children. When Sri Ramakrishna passed away in 1886, Sarada Devi went to Kamarpukur to live in seclusion. But the disciples of Sri Ramakrishna brought her to Kolkata and many spiritual seekers became her disciple. Sarada Devi made no distinction between them and accepted all as her children irrespective of caste, religion or race. Even those who had led sinful lives were not turned away. She demonstrated her progressive outlook in a conservative society when she accepted the Western women disciples of Swami Vivekananda, one of her husband's greatest disciples. All through her life, this divine lady lived like a simple village mother, washing clothes, sweeping the floor, bringing water from the pond, dressing vegetables, cooking and serving food. In her own words, she lived to "manifest that Divine Motherhood in the world" that Sri Ramakrishna had, the "maternal attitude (matri-bhava)" that he possessed. For thousands of people including Swami Vivekananda, she was the ideal woman and the "Holy Mother".

On 21 July 1920, the Holy mother left her mortal coils to be in unison with the great divinity. But even about 100 years later, she remains ever so bright in our hearts and her peaceful image continues to be venerated in many Indian homes.