Serving Saints and Devotees

Serving Saints and Devotees: A Living Example from the Bagalamukhi Matri Mission

— Written by the Members of the Matri Mission

“All living beings are the true objects of worship. The Divine dwells within—what is the point of searching outside?”
These words are often repeated by the head of our Matri Mission. Our Gurudev himself has said, “The guiding deity of my life—my supreme Gurudev, the Nāth yogi and sādhaka Śrīmat Vāsudev Paramahaṁsa—placed service to living beings above all else. To serve those in distress, he even traveled abroad, collecting support from various organizations to help people in our country as much as possible. In Siliguri, North Bengal, he established free medical services. For many years, he brought leading doctors to villages to provide treatment at no cost. I have chosen to walk the very same path.”
We, the members of the Bagalāmukhī Mātrī Mission, continuously strive to serve ordinary people to the best of our abilities.

From the very beginning of the Mission, our Gurudev has reminded us that our lives must be dedicated to jiva-seva—service to living beings. We are to keep only what we truly need and share the rest with devotees. We must continue serving people sincerely and take responsibility for helping them when they fall into hardship, especially when they are afflicted by unseen or spiritual distress. Following the guidance of the Mission’s head, we remain committed to this path of service. Time and again, the Mātrī Mission travels to remote villages to stand beside people in need.

When our Gurudev visits the Sati Pīṭha region of Bardhaman with devotees for worship, there lives a young boy whom Gurudev loves as his own son. When they first met, the boy asked Gurudev for some financial help. From that day onward, Gurudev has ensured that the child receives new clothes for worship and whatever support we can offer. Whenever Gurudev meets him, he embraces the boy with the affection of a father—and the boy, in turn, loves him deeply. Today, people from that area tell us, “The boy never used to study before. Since being with you, he now studies, takes care of himself, and has changed completely.”
This is the true victory of the Bagalāmukhī Mātrī Mission—this is the victory of Mahamaya Bagalamukhi.

This service to life takes many forms—sometimes on the sacred appearance day of our Gurudev, sometimes at places adjoining holy pīṭhas. For many long years, the head of our Mission has been performing sacred fire rituals (homa) for the welfare of common devotees. Recently, on the eighth lunar day of the dark fortnight of Agrahayan—also the appearance day of Sri Sri Mahakal Bhairav—our Śrīnāth expressed his wish to serve the “living Śivas” of the sacred place by offering them warm clothing for winter. Immediately, following Gurudev’s instruction, we prepared everything. Together with devotees and disciples, we organized this service near the Sati Piṭha of Kankalitala

Śrīnāth himself personally handed out these simple winter offerings to ascetics, devotees, and ordinary people. In addition, our revered sādhaka Vāsudev had often written in his letters of his desire to help children with disabilities. Keeping his ideals close to our hearts, we too tried to serve a few helpless individuals in whatever small way we could. We believe that through these acts, Mahākāl has been pleased, and we pray that His blessings flow to all devotees of our Mātrī Mission.

We invite you too to engage in jiva-seva—serve others and remain well yourself. By the Mother’s grace, may the welfare of all be ensured.