Anandamayi Ma

Anandamayi Ma, whose name means "bliss-permeated mother," was one of the most renowned saints of twentieth-century India. From early childhood, she displayed unusual spiritual qualities, and by her early twenties, she had passed through various stages of spiritual realization without formal instruction, becoming established in a state of continuous divine consciousness.

Though she never formally taught or initiated disciples in the traditional sense, her presence attracted seekers from across India and eventually the world. She established ashrams throughout India where devotees could gather, but she spent most of her life traveling, never settling in one place for long.

Her teaching was primarily through her being rather than words. Those who encountered her often reported experiencing profound peace, love, or spiritual awakening simply by being in her presence. She frequently referred to herself in the third person and spoke of all beings as manifestations of the one divine reality.

Anandamayi Ma taught through presence and example rather than formal instruction. When she did offer guidance, she emphasized complete surrender to the divine, the repetition of God's name (japa), and the remembrance that all experiences, pleasant or unpleasant, come from the same source. She encouraged seekers to find a path that suited their nature while maintaining unwavering dedication to the goal of God-realization.