Anandamayi Ma: Life and Teachings of the Bengali Saint

Anandamayi Ma (1896–1982) was a Hindu saint from Bengal whose name means "the Mother permeated with bliss". Born Nirmala Sundari in Kheora, in present-day Bangladesh, she drew devotees from across India and abroad for more than half a century, travelled constantly between her ashrams, and is buried in a samadhi shrine at Kankhal, Haridwar.

Early life

Nirmala Sundari was born in a devout family in the village of Kheora in eastern Bengal. She had little schooling. She was married as a girl to Ramani Mohan Chakravarti, whom her devotees later called Bholanath, and lived with him in several towns of Bengal.

Years of sadhana

In her twenties she went through a long period of spiritual practice, with long silences and deep states of absorption, which she later described as a play (lila) rather than a search. People who met her in Dhaka, where her husband worked in the 1920s, began to call her Anandamayi, and the first ashram for her was built at Ramna in Dhaka.

Her life of travel and teaching

From the 1930s she lived mostly on the move, staying at ashrams in Varanasi, Vrindavan, Haridwar, Dehradun and many other places. Her devotees ranged from villagers to public figures such as Kamala Nehru. She spoke in Bengali and Hindi, simply and often with humour, and her talks were recorded by her followers. She encouraged regular remembrance of God, satsang and service, and supported the study of the scriptures and the keeping of traditional rites at her ashrams.

Death and legacy

She died at Kishanpur, near Dehradun, on 27 August 1982, and her body was placed in a samadhi at the Kankhal ashram in Haridwar, which is a place of pilgrimage. The Shree Shree Anandamayee Sangha continues her work, including schools, hospitals and the observance of her birth anniversary each year.

Frequently asked questions

What does the name Anandamayi Ma mean?

"The Mother permeated with bliss". It was the name her devotees gave her; she was born Nirmala Sundari.

Where was Anandamayi Ma born?

At Kheora, in present-day Bangladesh, on 30 April 1896.

Where is Anandamayi Ma's samadhi?

At her ashram in Kankhal, Haridwar, Uttarakhand.

Sources

• Shree Shree Anandamayee Sangha, "Sri Ma Anandamayi" (anandamayi.org).
• Lisa Lassell Hallstrom, Mother of Bliss: Anandamayi Ma (Oxford University Press, 1999).
• Alexander Lipski, Life and Teaching of Sri Anandamayi Ma (Motilal Banarsidass, 1977).

Last reviewed: 12 November 2026.

Related: Paramahansa Yogananda · Sri Sarada Devi