Mataji is the mother of the ashram at Calcutta, who always prefers to remain behind the curtain singing praises to God. Her pure, melodious voice is an indescribably sweet expression of absolute devotion and joy in the love of God. She is the silent influence behind Swami Shuddhananda’s worldwide Mission of service to humanity.

Born on August 21, 1958 to a Brahmin family in Calcutta, she was a girl with a difference. Her father Sri Basanta Kumar Chakraborty lead a life of simplicity, humility and honesty. Her mother, Shantima, lead the life of a sannyasin within the family, devoting most of her time to contemplation and worship of her chosen deity. KrishnapriyaMa would accompany her mother to all the temples and pilgrimages and perform the rituals of worship along with her mother. If she ever heard of any great saint, she would accompany her mother to have his/her darshan and be blessed. She always gave lots of rice and other food to the beggars who would come to her home for alms.

While in school, she met Satguru Sri Sri Bhajan Brahmachari (Swamiji’s Gurudev). She often visited his ashram, worshiping his feet with the flowers she bought with the pocket money given to her by her parents. With single-pointed devotion to the Guru who had not initiated her yet, she continued her silent sadhana, following the Guru’s instructions.

After finishing school, she joined the University. She would often leave the college to go to the famous Kalighat Temple in Calcutta. That became her practice, going to Kalighat to sit in a corner inside the temple, amid thousands of devotees, offering prayers. She would shed tears of devotion and love for the Divine Mother. She had many visions and dreams of great Sages and Saints and celestial beings who always blessed her and ignited dispassion for the worldly life of the senses. This only intensified her deepest urge to realize God. From childhood, she developed some mystic powers to predict things about the future which often came true.

In 1980, she was formally initiated by Gurudev and became the Guru-sister to Swamiji. At this time she was given the privilege by Gurudev to serve him by cooking food for him when he fell ill. Her sadhana went on without anybody ever noticing it.

In 1982, she and her mother Shantima joined the ashram and retreat center established by Swamiji at Bageshwar (hyperlink) in the Himalayas. It was the most difficult penance of their lives. From a life of comfort and security, she made the decision to renounce everything to be at the retreat center, which at that time had hardly any facilities, not even water and toilet. Early in the morning, she would go with Swamiji to the distant valley where there was a natural water fountain, have her bath, and then carry water for the rest of the day. Her days in the Himalayas were the most blissful experience of her life, though the most physically arduous.

She has accompanied Swamiji on all of his global tours to share the experience of his work serving the underprivileged. She always invokes the presence of the Divine by singing melodious chants before Swamiji shares the wisdom of his soul. To the devotees, whose numbers have increased the world over as the countries visited increased year after year, she fills the place of the mother, while Swamiji plays the father's role. They both became a source of true inspiration and joy in the path of the spirit.

Devotees call her Ma (mother). A few call her as Didiji (revered elder sister). She is the silent presence guiding those who seek her assistance and who are directed by Swamiji. Adverse to any kind of show, glamorous publicity or anything to do with a crowd, she feels that there is no place for hypocrisy with God. She never hesitates to tell the truth however unpleasant, to the person whom she needs to correct. Her judgment is a touchstone for Swamiji in all aspects of his work.

She tells every one, “ Don't play a dual role, and never lie for anything. Be truthful, bold, and give love without a condition. If I have ever done anything, I always tried to find happiness in giving whatever I have within me. The more I give, the happier I feel. I would say the same to you. Find happiness in your life through giving. If you don't learn the art of giving, you have not learned the art of living!

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