Swami
Vivekananda had blessed Sister Nivedita with sanyas before she came to India.
He wanted to set up a Math for women with Sri Sarada Devi as the nucleus.
Unfortunately, at that time, Indian women lived very subservient and
constricted lives. Very few were educated. Added to that was the ban on mixing
with ‘mlechas’ or foreigners. People were afraid of ‘losing caste’ if they
socialized with foreigners. Swamiji brought Sister Nivedita and other women
disciples to India to help in setting up schools etc for women and starting
institutions that would grow into monasteries for women. He could not
accomplish his dream without Sri Ma’s support. Such was the orthodoxy of the
time that unless she gave her approval and accepted the Swami’s western
disciples they would be virtual outcasts in Hindu society. But his fears were
unfounded. Sri Ma opened her arms and took them all in a great mother embrace. To
quote Sr. Nivedita: “All the spiritual verities which India has dreamt of and
realized for thousands of years in a piecemeal way, have been fulfilled in the
one life of the Holy Mother…With Sri Ramakrishna, a power has arisen which
will, like a tidal bore, carry the whole of humanity towards the door of
liberation and the name of that power is Ramakrishna-Sarada. (Pp.202-203,
Ref: Sri Sarada Devi: The
Great Wonder, by Apostles, Monks, Savants, Scholars, Devotees
Pic: www.en.wikipedia.com
Heading: Sr. Nivedita, letter to Sri Ma, p. 484)
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