GAURI MA
Gauri Ma’s was a striking personality. She was what the Upanishads ask one to be - strong, courageous, and full of determination. She passed through very hard experiences of life, but it is doubtful whether she wavered or faltered for a moment at any time. She did not know what it was to fear. Her very presence radiated strength and would infuse courage and hope into drooping spirits. She was all positive, there was nothing negative in her. She had a dynamism rare even among strong men. The early name of Gauri Ma was Mridani. The date of her birth is not definitely known. It was about 1857. Her father, Parvati Charan Chattopadhyay, was an orthodox brahmin belonging to sibpore near Howrah. Her Mother, Giribala Devi, was an erudite and accomplished lady. She composed Bengali songs and wrote Sanskrit hymns which were published as a book. She also had some knowledge of Persian and English. Giribala Devi had a very religious bent of mind and was a person of high spiritual attainments. Bhowanipore, a suburb of Calcutta, was where she usually lived, managing the property of her mother, as the latter had no son. Mridani also lived with her mother.
