Sree Sree Gouri Devi

In the year 1309 (according to the Bengali calendar) in a village named Rampur, located south of Indrabil Station within the Purulia district, previously part of the Manbhum district, a divine union unfolded within a devout Vaishnavite family. It marked the auspicious birth of our revered deity, Mata Thakurani Sri Sri Gauri Devi. Her father, the devout Sri Sri Biharidas, and mother, the pious Sri Sri Chandrabali Devi, nurtured her upbringing in the village where activities such as crafting clay deities and regular deity worship marked the beginning of Gauri Devi's life.

Devotion to God and service to sadhus and Vaishnavites were prominent aspects of her character. She often proclaimed, "Humanity is divine; Radha-Krishna resides within humans." In 1322, the venerable Sree Sree Thakur (Sree Sree 108 Swami Birajananda Bharati) was united in holy matrimony with Gauri Devi. She devoted her life solely to His service, expressing that the husband is the supreme deity, and there's nothing greater than the husband. "The husband is the ultimate Guru, the husband is everything to a woman."

Gauri Devi began her household life by assisting Sri Sri Thakur in various small-scale businesses in Purulia. She maintained an impartial view towards everyone in the community amidst life's struggles. Subsequently, both Gauri Devi and Sri Sri Thakur received initiation from Sree Sree Jadabananda Swami (Baul), a realized soul (siddhapurush), in the nearby village of Bhatin.

While meticulously managing domestic affairs, she regularly worshipped at home and visited the temple of Sri Sri Siddheshwar Jiu in the nearby Krosjuri to offer Puja.

Her eldest son, Prahlad Das Thakur, departed untimely, leaving a shadow of grief among their relatives. However, Gauri Devi expressed no external signs of mourning, firmly believing in the divine plan. She would say, "If He who created destroys, then who can protect? It's all the play of the Divine Mother."

In the meantime, following Sree Sree Thakur's (Gauri Devi’s husband) initiation into sannyasa by Sree Sree Sadananda Dasi (Sree Sree Budhababa), His internal transformation commenced. Eventually, He became detached from worldly affairs, wandering to various pilgrimage sites. While singlehandedly managing the entire household, Gauri Devi dutifully observed religious practices at home and continued service at the temple of Sree Sree Siddheswarjiu.

Later, when Sree Sree Thakur returned to Sonathali, he was in a state of ecstasy. He would mix all the items which were in the shop (rice, lentils, oil, salt, etc.) together. Even if given offerings, he would throw them away without consuming them. Despite extreme hardships, Sree Sree Gauri Devi served Sree Sree Thakur with unwavering devotion. Her boundless patience became legendary.

When a new Vishnu temple was established in the village, Sree Sree Gauri Devi, following Sree Sree Budhababa's (Her Guru) orders, established the seat of meditation and worship there. She used to serve the saints, Guru, and Vaishnavites with devotion.

Despite being the mother of three daughters - Raju, Bhakti, and Karuna - Gauri Devi prayed to Sree Sree Budhababa and the eternal sadhana-siddha, Sree Sree Nandagopal Jiu, for an heir to carry on the lineage. With their blessings, a son was born, to Sree Sree 108 Swami Birajananda Bharati and Sree Sree Gauri Devi named Shri Radhanath Das Thakur.

One day, Sree Sree Gauri Devi expressed her desire to Sree Sree Thakur to arrange a grand celebration at Sonathali and serve the saints and Vaishnavas. Sree Sree Thakur promptly made all the arrangements accordingly. In the meanwhile, Sree Sree Budhababa hinted to Sree Sree Thakur that very soon there would be a divine manifestation of Sree Sree Gauri Devi. Sree Sree Gauri Devi herself understood this as well. She secretly informed Sri Ratikanta Modak, a resident of Sonathali, about it. She even mentioned to Ratikanta about the intention of taking samadhi (burial) under the Nishindagacha tree. News of the grand celebration was sent to relatives and loved ones.

Suddenly, Sree Sree Gauri Devi felt unwell. She informed Sree Sree Thakur that the root of the ear and the vein of the neck were hurting, and she could feel high body temperature. News was sent to Rishi Kabiraj of Vrindabanpur. While in that condition, Sree Sree Gouridevi asked for the prasadam of Sree Sree Siddeshwar Jiu from Sree Sree Thakur. She asked for the blessing of Sree Sree Thakur (charanamrita). Expressing gratitude to everyone, sitting on Sree Sree Thakur’s lap, she became senseless and went into eternal sleep. On the auspicious day of the 26th Falgun of the year 1338, this great soul departed for her desired divine abode.