Sri Siddhi Ma

My humble pranaams to my beautiful OS.me family.

A few days back, as I entered one of my favourite book stores, my eyes chanced to rest upon a book titled “Sri Siddhi Ma” – The story of Neem Karoli Baba’s Spiritual Legacy, by Jaya Prasada. Biographies of saints have always occupied the top spot in my list of favorite books. Reading scriptures has always been difficult for me, but when I read the life stories of these enlightened beings, it’s like the scriptures are brought to life. They are the living example of how one should live one’s life. 

I read each chapter slowly, trying to savour each word of this lovely book dripping with love and devotion. I would read just a chapter or two a day, as reading so much would suffice to fill my heart with joy, and I wanted this joy to last for as long as possible.

This beautiful book has been authored by Dr Jaya Prasada, who lived for thirty- seven years in close proximity to the divine mother Sri Siddhi Ma, who inherited the legacy of Neem Karoli Baba. Ma took maha samadhi in December 2017. In her words 

“The concept of tyaag or renunciation is considered synonymous with sacrifices and hardships. But for me, from the moment I saw Ma for the first time in July 1980, at the ashram in Kainchi, it was instant liberation – joyous liberation – from the mores and conventions of the world.”

In the first chapter, she describes an anecdote, when Neem Karoli Baba came to their ancestral home when she was seven years old, even though they were not his devotees then. A long time later, when Jaya asked Sri Siddhi Ma for an explanation, she gave this beautiful and simple answer, ‘Tere liye aye.’

The book is full of stories about how Ma fills the life of those around her with love and grace, with Neem Karoli Baba continuing to make his presence strongly felt.

Neem Karoli Baba proclaims Sri Siddhi Ma to be Divine Mother Herself when he performs worship to her at the Vindhyavaasini temple and says “Meri Vindhyavaasini toh Mai hai.” Later on, Jaya narrates how she wondered if she could also have a darshan of deities like Goddess Kali or Sri Rama, and she asks Ma if she will ever get a darshan. Ma replies, “Tujhko ho rahein hain darshan.” Jaya asks, “Ma, kiske darshan?” Ma taps her chest with a single finger. Stunned, Jaya asks, “Ma, aap kaun hai?” Looking directly into Jaya’s eyes, she replies, “Main Jagat Janani.” Jagat Janani is not somewhere far away but she is living and breathing among us through these enlightened saints who fill our lives with grace.

Thank you for reading this post. May Divine Mother shower her blessings on you. ☺️🙏