• Who was Brahmajna Ma

Brahmajna Ma was a 'self-realized' person,  in a long line of Indian saints who, through intense striving and  Gyan Yoga, achieved Oneness with Brahma the Ultimate Reality.  She was formally given this name by her devotees who witnessed her self realization  moment.  Her uniqueness is that she achieved enlightenment without the help of any books or Gurus. Her uniqueness is captured succinctly in the back cover of the autobiographical book by Shri Shankar Sen. 

 

The following is Brahmajna Ma's own description of herself:

 
"She was naturally given to discrimination and was engaged in the search for Spiritual Truth. From her childhood, she used to think - (i) where does a human being go and in what state does he remain after death, and whence does he come? (ii) In nothing can peace be found in this world; what, then, is real peace? In such thoughts she would then become immersed. And lastly, such thoughts as (iii) who am I, what is this body, mind or Atma - used to engage her. These are the three stages of Her Sadhana. Without the help of books or Gurus, by dint of pure discrimination and search for Truth, she tore asunder the meshes of Maya, overcame all doubts and attained Self-realisation." 

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• Where was she born and when did she die

Brahmajna Ma was born in 1880 in Bitara, Bangladesh and finally left her body in 1934 in Deoghar, Jharkhand, India.

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• What was her real name

At birth she was named Kadamvini Devi by her father Abhaya Charan Chakravarti

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• What is ‘self realization’

Self-realization is the process of breaking the bonds of 'illusion' and discovering the eternal transcendence of one's true Self (or Soul).  The Vedas claim that the individual Self is the manifestation of the eternal all-pervading Self, the Brahma, separated only by the veil of 'illusions'.  Once the individual Self gets re-merged with the eternal Self, then one achieves 'moksha' or liberation from the cycle of birth and death.

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• When did Brahmajna Ma get self realization

Brahmajna Ma achieved self-realization in 1912.  She spontaneously uttered  the following words/song immediately upon achieving realization:

Today I am filled with joy, today my happiness is unbounded.  

I have no hunger, no thirst. I am devoid of birth,

I am without any fear of death.

I am supremely radiant and everlasting - an embodiment of goodness and a personification of the supreme being.  

I have learnt who I am, oh dear, I have learnt who I am and that is why I am so very happy today. 

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• What were her main revelations or teachings

Brahmajna Ma's main teaching can be summarized by the following statement:

Brahma Satya, Jagat Mittha

(translated as ' Brahma is Truth, World is False')

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​A more complete collection of her Teachings can be found here but below are a few gems of eternal wisdom passed down by Her:

"Everything can be achieved through sincere prayer"

 

"The more one gives, the more one gets.  When all is given up,  All is achieved" 

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"There may be many ways to go up the summit of a hill......but if one goes by any path to the top, he can discern all other paths from above"

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• Who were her original disciples

Some of Brahmajna Ma's original disciples were the following Swamis and devotees who have mostly passed on:

1. Swami Prabudhananda

2. Swami Omananda

3. Swami Paramananda

4. Swami Swaswatananda

5. Swami Obogyananda

6. Brahmachari Atul Chandra 

7. Shri Dhirendra Nath Sen

8. Shri Debi Prasad Mahato

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It is known that Swami Omananda also achieved self enlightenment and was one of the key persons responsible for setting up ashrams in Purulia in the name of Mother. Swami Prabudhananda and Swami Paramananda were also known to have been Her personal caretakers during the later phases of Her life.

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• What is Nirban Math

After Brahmajna Ma's passing,  a Math was set up in Deoghar as  a permanent abode for her disciples and devotees.  The descendants of Shri Dhirendranth Sen, was one of original devotees of Brahmajna Ma, are now running the affairs of Nirban Math.  

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• What is her connection to the family of D. N. Sen

Shri Dhirendranth Sen, whose descendants are now running the affairs of Nirban Math, was one of original devotees of Brahmagna Ma.  He would take care of all her travel arrangements and was the main chronicler of her Teachings.

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• Were there any blessings Brahmajna Ma gave to the Sen family?

Brahmajna Ma  apparently said that She “would look after Dhiren’s polapan (descendants)”

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• How can we still avail ourselves of Her blessings?

It is said that ​one can avail oneself of Her blessings by daily or frequent singing of Her favorite songs.

Wearing of a 'Madhuli' (amulet or Talisman) is also a practice that was initiated by Shri Dhirendranath Sen for his family and descendants.  (view past advertisement for the amulet==>)

 

Of course one can start their own search for 'Truth', guided initially by Thakuma's Teachings and Revelations.

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• Why do some call her Thakuma (or Thakurma)

Her original devotees would call her as Ma or Mother; thus the children of Shri Dhirendranath Sen, one of the original devotees, started to call her Thakur Ma or Grand Mother by association.  The succeeding generations have also been introduced to Her by this appellation.

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• Were there other similary self realized saints during Mother's time?

Among the many self-realized saints in India, the ones most commonly talked about in the same breath with Brahmajna Ma are Ramana Maharishi (30 December 1879 – 14 April 1950) and AnandamayiMa (30 April 1896 – 27 August 1982), who were roughly contemporaries.  In fact after Mother's passing, one of Mother's closest devotees, Swami Prabudhananda, became a follwer of Ramana Maharishi while Swami Paramananda went on to become AnandamayiMa's disciple.