`Learn to make the whole world your own. No one is a stranger . . . the whole world is your own`
- Sarada Devi

Sarada Devi, the consort of Ramakrishna Paramhansa, was a pious lady who was born in 1853 in a poor Brahmin family. Her mother worshipped goddess Jagaddhatri, a Hindu deity, who represent the Hindu goddess Simhavahini and incorporate features of Durga and Saraswati. Sarada Devi too spent her time worshipping the goddess according to custom. At the age of five Sarada Devi was married to Gadadhar Chattopadhyaya who later became famous as Ramakrishna Paramhansa. After her marriage Sarada Devi learnt to read. Though born and brought up in a rural environment, yet Sarada Devi was well acquainted with the Hindu myths and religious concepts. In her later life she played a prominent role in the origin and development of the Ramakrishna Mission.

Sarada Devi lived a secluded life at Dakshineswar and used to serve Ramakrishna and his devotees. She was the first disciple of Ramakrishna as he trained her according to his philosophy. After Ramakrishna`s death Sarada Devi lived in Kamarpukur, his native village, or in Jayrambati, her own native village. She even spent her time in Calcutta, in close contact with Ramakrishna`s disciples. Nevertheless, after Ramakrishna left for his heavenly abode she had to suffer from extreme poverty. Sarada Devi regained her economic position when the swamis and devotees took care of her. Eventually she even had her own devotees.

Sarada Devi was engaged in giving darsan and initiation and possibly also sannyasa mantras. On the other hand she had to tackle responsibility towards her relatives. In her later life, Sarada Devi encouraged members of the Ramakrishna Mission to get engaged in social service. According to Sarada Devi, there is no greater Dharma than the service of the needy. Thus, Sarada Devi, further interpreted Ramakrishna`s teachings.

Furthermore, she never differentiated among various caste and creed. Since the Divine is immanent in everybody differences of caste or creed were not important to her. Her affectionate nature and her compassion led the people to prefer her and consider her as their haven. Moreover, by her practical understanding of the Advaitic point of view she was able to lay stress on the unity of the world. Sarada Devi even participated with Sister Nivedita`s educational activities being close the Nivedita Girls School. She stressed the necessity of education for girls, for self-development and to be able to help others.

Although a great personality Sarada Devi was not recognized as a spiritual leader by the world. She gave initiation to her own set of disciples and her followers did not want to bring her in front of the society as they apprehended that people would not understand her. The members of the Ramakrishna movement have, however, always stressed her importance for the movement. She continued to encourage the Ramakrishna Math and brought Ramakrishna`s disciples together to stay at one place. With her motherly attitude she connected Ramakrishna`s disciples together into a permanent organization.

Sarada Devi`s role as a spiritual guide began increasingly to be recognized after 1890 by the disciples. Though not a member herself, she supported the members and they always came to her for her guidance. Furthermore, the importance of Sarada Devi gained greater weight after her birth centenary celebration in 1953.

In contemporary India Sarada Devi is revered as one of the spiritual leaders who continued to devote her life for Ramakrishna and his disciples. She is paid greater importance in many of the scholarly analyses of the Ramakrishna Mission. Books were published between 1948 and 1954 and even series of editorials were published in Vedant- Kesari and after 1953 some books on her were published in Bengali and English.