People that Swami Vivekananda knew
Bhubaneswari Devi
1841 - 1911
(The mother of Narendranath Datta)
Swami Vivekananda said, "He who cannot literally worship his mother can never become great."
"I am indebted to my mother for the efflorescence of my knowledge."
Vivekananda
Swami Saradananda wrote of Bhubaneswari and the period of time following her husband’s untimely death in February 1884:
Fallen on bad days after her husband's death, she was put on her mettle and showed wonderful patience, calmness, frugality and adaptability to sudden change of circumstances. She who was used to spending a thousand rupees monthly to manage the household had now only thirty rupees to maintain her sons, daughters, and herself. But never for a day was she seen dejected. She managed all her family's affairs with that meagre income in such a way that those who saw how things went on took her monthly expenditure to be much higher. One shudders indeed to think of the miserable condition into which Bhuvaneshwari fell at the sudden death of her husband. There was no certain income with which to meet the needs of her family; yet she had to maintain her old mother her sons and daughters brought up in opulence, and meet the expenses of their education. Her relatives, who had lived well by her husband's generosity and influence, now found an opportunity to their liking and, far from helping her, were even determined to deprive her of her just possessions. Her eldest son, Narendranath, possessed of many good qualities, failed to find a job in spite of his best efforts in various ways; and losing all attraction for the world, he was getting ready to renounce it for ever. One naturally feels respect and reverence for Bhuvaneshwari Devi when one thinks of the manner in which she performed her duties even in these straitened circumstances.
Narendranath proudly said to an audience, 'I am indebted to my mother for whatever knowledge I have acquired.'
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- www.vivekananda.net edited by Frank Parlato Jr.
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