Panchatapa Ceremony 1990
Swami Bhashyananda's Birthday - April 18th. WE REMEMBER!
We remember our Guru and the mission he instilled at Mothers Trust... On right, Mataji Gauribrata and Swami Bhashyananda, at the beginning of the Panchatapa ceremony, January, 1990 .
The ceremony was performed by Mataji for clarity and vision in the mission that was coming. PANCH in Sanskrit means "5" and TAPA means "Fire". So, 4 fires were arranged and lit in the cardinal directions - with the SUN overhead. 5 fires. Mataji sat surrounded by them for 5 days, from sunrise to sunset.
It was on the second day that she heard the voice of Sri Sri Ma (Sarada Devi, Holy Twin to Sri Ramakrishna):
"On This Spot, Build Me a Temple With The Alter In The Orchard".
At the same time she saw a geometrical shape like a Jewish star. Later, Swami Bhashyananda heard her description and said she saw the Sri Yantra, a sacred shape and symbol of the Divine Mother.
So it seemed a Temple to Sri Sri Ma was to be built. However, "the orchard" area was not a part of the land that would soon become Mothers Trust. Inquiries were made and the five acres of orchard trees were available. They were duly purchased and within a few months, the construction was begun...
A Temple to Sri Sri Ma, Gauri Ma taking another birth in the West (see below) and a continuing mission to serve Women and Children AND especially Girls - is the sacred legacy and mission of Mothers Trust Mothers Place.
Click here for the story of how Gauri Ma came to the West, to America, after 100 years)...
There is a direct lineage, as it were, from mother to daughter, that brings to us the sacred mission we see at Mothers Trust. From the Holy Twins, Sri Sri Ma Sarada Devi and Sri Ramakrishna to Gauri Ma - the first transmission in the sacred lineage. From Gauri Ma to Durga Ma and from Durga Ma to Subrata Ma . It was Subrata Ma who welcomed Mataji Gauribrata to Saradeshwari Ashram in 1986. The next in the lineage was Vandana Ma. It was she who welcomed Gauribrata at the door of Saradeshwari Ashram with the words, "You must know who you are". Vandana Ma went on to guide and participate in the growing mission developing in Ganges. She and other sannyasinis came to the USA and Ganges, Mi in 1998. This visit was for two purposes, to dedicate the new Temple to Sri Sri Ma at Mothers Trust and to make Mothers Trust an official branch of Saradeshwari Ashram. That was the plan, but it didn't turn out exactly as expected.
The temple was duly dedicated, special worships performed over several days. Ashes and Relics of Sri Sri Ma, brought from India by Vandana Ma, were worshipped and installed. They were placed side by side with Ashes and Relics of Sri Ramakrishna - burried into the foundation of Sri Ma's Temple years before, at the direction of Swami Sarvagatananda and Swami Bhashyananda. Then it came time for Mataji Gauribrata to sign over Mothers Trust to Saradeswari Ashram. A ceremony was arranged in the old Shrine building for this event. All were gathered around the alter where so many holy people had prayed for an auspicious beginning to the Holy Twin mission at Mothers Trust. Mataji Gauribrata lifted the pen to sign - and she heard the voice of Sri Sri Ma once again - "If you sign this document, you will be the first one asked to leave". Needless to say, Gauribrata didn't sign, much to the surprise of all those who had gathered ...
Gauribratas Spirit
Mothers Trust Hotline For Women & Girls in Need is active. Call Rev. Eva Schroeder, Mataji Gauribrata @ 616-566-4318 or Rev. Glenn Davenport , Swami Atmalokananda @ 616-293-6884.
Pictured on right, Mataji Gauribrata, Rev. Eva Schroeder arrives at Saradeshwari Ashram in 1986 - the fulfillment of a prophecy made by Gauri Ma in 1938: "I will be born again in a white body. You will know it is I for I will know where the sacred objects are kept in the ashram."
(Read More, How Gauri Ma Came to the West...)
Vandana Mas Spirit
http://saradeswariashram.org/mothertrust.html
" The said monastery at the Ganges, Michigan, U.S.A come to usher under the leadership of Sri Gauribrata Puri and her associates stretched out over few acres of land not for off from the river Michigan. The convent was officially inaugurated by Revered Bandana Puri Devi, the Secretary of Shri Shri Saradeswari Ashram & Free Hindu Girls’ School in July 1998. Though formal affiliation to this convent has not been given but a congenial relation with the mother Ashram at Kolkata, India has been maintained all through its inception. Sri Gauribrata Puri is the ascetic disciple of Sri Sri Subrata Puri Devi, the third chief of the Ashram in succession. Keeping harmony with the maxim of the Ashram, the guiding principle of this convent also are “Sarba Dharama Samanaya” preached by Lord Ramakrishna and Universal Mother Sri Sri Saradamoni Devi. Her ascetic guru, Sri Sri Subrata Puri Devi commended her “Carry Gaurima to your land” and Sri Gauribrata Puri ardently follows that mission in touch with the mother Ashram with modification need in the pattern of the western countries keeping the basic unchanged. The system adopted by this nunnery that the ascetic mendicancy to be taken from the centre at Kolkata, India. Through the Mothers’ Place/Mother Trust many counties of USA aware about the Ashram and visit the Ashram often. "
Atmalokanandas Spirit
Gender Equality Always...
Swami Atmalokananda first came to Swami Bhashyananda in June, 1973. Mataji Gauribrata first came a few weeks ealier. The mission of Mothers Trust, Gender Equality in the lineage of The Holy Twins, began at this time.
On right, Bhashyananda and Atmalokananda on the future site of Sri Sri Ma's Temple at Mothers Trust, circa 1990.
Mothers Trust has a Mataji and a Swami in charge - Gender Eqality, at the Behest of the Holy Twins. These positions are for life care.
Current News & Events at Mothers Trust
A Home, A School, A Future for Women & Girls...
To move more firmly in the direction of the future at Mothers Trust, (service to those in need, especially Women & Girls), we are working with India and devotees of Gauri Ma there to reconnect and perhaps restart travel back and forth between Saradeshwari Ashram and Mothers Trust. It is possible that girls from India, wanting to persue studies in the West, could stay at or nearby our ashram. We have several neighbors here, some who bought their land from Mothers Trust - who are interested in going Foster care in the future. Foster care and perhaps boarding girls from India...
HOW WE SERVE
MOTHERS TRUST HOTLINE FOR WOMEN & GIRLS IN NEED, 616-566-4318. REV. EVA SCHROEDER, MATAJI GAURIBRATA or REV. GLENN DAVENPORT, SWAMI ATMALOKANANDA @ 616-293-6884..
FOR GENERAL MOTHERS TRUST INFORMATION, CALL REV. GLENN DAVENPORT, SWAMI ATMALOKANANDA, 616-293-6884.
FOR ALL VICTIMS OF VIOLENCE & ABUSE, CONTACT RESILIENCE.MI.ORG (800)-848-5991 - ALSO FOR MEN & BOYS.
Our Missions in Service
HOW WE SERVE AS MODERN MYSTICS WITH MISSION HEARTS
Our Misson is To Honor & serve Humanity,
Especially regarding the welfare of Women & Girls.
NAMASTE FROM MOTHERS TRUST MISSION ASHRAM, RAMAKRISHNA SARADA UNIVERSAL TEMPLE, FOR DARSHAN OF THE SACRED ASHES OF SRI RAMAKRISHNA AND SACRED RELICS 0F HOLY MOTHER SARADA DEVI, ALSO KNOWN AS SRI SRI MA.
Mothers Trust Mothers Place is a Religious Order. We maintain the Mothers Trust location, with its land, buildings and Temple as a Sacred Space for all time, with the Holy Relics that are interred here. Headquarters in India wants Mothers Trust to work exclusively with Women & Girls and we are no longer hosting retreats or public programs. Contact Swami Varadananda at Vivekananda Monastery, 708-301-9062, for retreats. For information about Mothers Trust, contact: revglennclergy@motherstrust.org, 616-293-6884.
We are looking for people like you to speak up and stand out. When you make a commitment to become an advocate for Women & Girls, you are joining a community of people who recognize the power in coming together for justice. When we come together as a collective unit, we refuse to be unseen and unheard. We refuse to let victims and survivors stand alone.
We Honor & Explore the meaning of the "Motherhood of God" & its implications for renewed understanding. We use universality & exploration of sacred wisdom, as found in the world's faith traditions, to inform contemporary issues. We advocate compassion to meet global issues & human needs. Gender Equality & Respect for women & men alike is our underlying method. Mothers Trust recognizes the sacred in all & maintains sacred space for exploring the Wonders of the Spirit.
We are dedicated to interfaith study and dialogue as a way of promoting understanding, compassionate forgiveness, respect and peaceful relationships among people of differing beliefs. For the sustainability of the earth and the healing of all living beings, Interfaith honors differences and the common ground of human dignity and Spirit.
We advocate and serve Women & Children and especially Girls in today's modern world. All to often, from a long global past of patriarchal practices and methods, our Women and Girls can face discrimination and abuse. We support organizations that work directly with Women and Girls to reduce global inequalities.
We develop our compassionate health-caring capacity by serving in healthcare as Interfaith Ministers in local hospitals. We respect the individual's dignity, religion, culture, family and home. We are equally committed to help other caregivers - whether clergy, physicians, nurses or lay persons, so they are both clinically competent and spiritually informed of the needs of each individual in their care.
Support Women & Girls in Need...
Your support helps Women & Girls in Need & maintains our Sacred Space - where relics of Sri Sarada Devi & Sri Ramakrishna are enshrined for all time. A Tirtha in West Michigan where "1000s will come."
