Jayrambati - Birthplace of Sri Sarada Devi
Jayrambati, a small village in the district of Bankura, was the birthplace of Sri Sarada Devi, the Holy Mother. She was born on Thursday, the 22nd December, 1853 to Ramachandra Mukhopadhyaya and Shyamasundari Devi. Her parents were known in the village to be a simple, pious and devoted couple. Even with their meagre means, Ramachandra was known for his charity towards the poor and the hungry.
Being born as the eldest daughter, Sarada, as she was called, easily engaged herself in all the domestic duties to mitigate the troubles and difficulties of her beloved parents. When she was only 5 years old, she was married to Sri Ramakrishna, from the neighbouring village of Kamarpukur. But being a child-bride, she spent most of her time in the serene settings of Jayrambati.
When she was entering her 18th year, she joined the Master at Dakshineshwar and stayed in the Nahabat, the music tower, away from the attention of the many devotees of the Master. She tended to the Master's delicate food habits and served the many people who gathered around him to listen to his wonderful dialogues about God-realization. After the Master's passing away, Mother used to visit Jayrambati at least once in a year.Here, far away from the crowds of Kolkata, she used to lead a simple life-style. Devotees who could barely see the Mother in her residence at Udbodhan, would often visit Jayrambati. They would be showered by Her motherly care and love. Many people were instructed into spiritual life by the Holy Mother in Jayrambati. She also blessed a few to lead lives as Brahmacharins and Sannyasis.
The celebration of the Jagaddhatri Puja during the life-time of the Mother was an occasion when the whole village rallied around the household and participated in the same whole-heartedly. It is celebrated even today with the same spirit. Here, in this village, countless devotees and guests continue to feel the motherly presence of Sri Sarada Devi, the Holy Mother, especially in the places associated with the Mother's life.
Places of interest within and around Jayrambati:
- Matrimandir - The beautiful temple dedicated to the Holy Mother, whose marble image is daily worshipped. The sacred relics of the Holy Mother are enshrined in the Sanctum of this temple.
- The Old House (Puratan-Bari) - This is the place where Mother stayed for most of her childhood.
- The New House (Nutan Bari) - When the Mother's devotees grew in number, Swami Saradananda built this house to accomodate the increasing number. Here Mother used to initiate her devotees.
- Bathing Ghat on the river Amodar.
- Temple of the Goddess Simhavahini, specially sanctified by Mother's vision of the Goddess.
- Fields of Telo-Bhelo, where mother won over a dacoit couple by her utter innocence and love.
- Koalpara - a small village, not far from Jayrambati is very closely associated with the Mother's life. The photographs in the Koalpara Ashrama's shrine were worshipped by the Mother herself.
- Shihar - Readers of the life of Sri Ramakrishna will be familiar with Hriday Ram Mukhopadhyaya, the Master's nephew from the village of Shihar. It was also in Shihar that the small girl, Sarada pointed out to the young Ramakrishna, when playfully asked by her relatives about her choice for a husband. The temple of Shantinath (Shiva) was worshipped by the Master and Holy Mother many times.
- Vishnupur - Mother used to refer to this as a hidden Vrindaban.
Contact Information :
Matri Mandir & Ramakrishna Mission Sarada Sevashrama,
P.O. Jayrambati, Dt. Bankura 722161,
Phones: 03211-44222 & 0324444-214
E-mail: ssmmandir@vsnl.net
About the Matri Mandir and Mission at Jayrambati:
The Matri Mandir (Math centre) was established in 1920 at Holy Mother Sri Sarada Devi's birthplace. Activities of the Math centre :- Daily worship, Ramnam Sankirtan, religious classes, birth anniversaries of spiritual luminaries, and some festivals like Jagaddhatri Puja.
- Integrated rural development project, which was started in 1980 under the guidance of the Headquarters.
- A small library with 2650 books.
- Welfare work by way of distributing milk, clothing, textbooks, and so on to the poor and needy.
- A junior high school for boys and girls.
- Two junior basic schools.
- A library.
- A charitable homoeopathic dispensary with a branch at Koalpara.
- Pallimangal project, under which 12 free coaching centres are functioning. Textbooks, school uniforms, scholarships, etc, are distributed to the needy with the help of the Headquarters.
- The centre distributes books amongst students.