26 Dec Mahamaya Bagalamukhi Dwells Within
At the home of Sri Sri Mahamaya Bagalamukhi—the Bagalamukhi Matri Mission—countless devotees arrive from far and wide in search of spiritual peace and solutions to their worldly troubles. And the Great Mother, in Her boundless compassion, blesses Her devotees. Today, I wish to share one such moment of grace with everyone.
Devotees, according to their means, bring offerings for the Mother. When these offerings are made with true devotion, Rājarājeśvarī Herself accepts them, often revealing Her presence in subtle ways. It is often seen that a divine radiance or unusual brilliance appears in the deity’s form during sincere worship and service. One glance at the Mother’s image is enough to sense that She is ever-awake—and at times, She makes Her presence unmistakably known.
In Bengal, such awakened sacred spaces are countless. Alongside the Shakti Piths, there are Shiva piṭhs, Vaiṣṇava shrines, and many other divine abodes where the deities remain vividly present. This land is a confluence of Shakta, Shaiva, and Vaishnava traditions. Yet a true seeker ultimately perceives all deities within their chosen deity and dedicates themselves to the realization of Brahman.
A few days ago, two of my disciples visited from South Kolkata. They have long been devoted to the Mother’s abode. Knowing that the Mother is Pitapuspapriya—fond of yellow offerings—they brought yellow sweets and garlands as Her offering.
That same day, at the Dhakuria Bagalamukhi Matri Mission, a special puja and homa were being performed to alleviate a devotee’s Kalasarpa dosa. After the ritual, the devotees requested, “Gurudev, please offer the garland and sweets to the Mother.” I agreed, placed the garland on Her, and thought I would offer the sweets during the next morning’s daily worship.
After the ritual, I left the box of sweets near the Mother’s altar, intending to offer it the following morning. The devotees departed with prasad, and as evening fell, we prepared for the evening arati. After the ārati, my wife suddenly asked, “Did you leave the Mother’s prasad upstairs?” Surprised, I replied, “It isn’t prasad yet—I planned to offer it tomorrow.”
She then showed me the box. The sealed packet had been cut open so neatly that it looked as though someone had already offered the sweets to the Mother.
At that moment, my mind was filled with wonder. How was this possible? No one had gone near the altar, and no insect could have opened the packet so precisely. Then my wife said, “There are seven kamala bhog sweets here. Ask them how many they brought.”
Without delay, I called my disciple. He replied, “Gurudev, I brought a packet of eight kamala bhog sweets last night.” Hearing this, my heart knew—the Mother had accepted one Herself.
To this day, the members of the Mother’s household cannot understand who received that one sweet, or how it happened so silently and mysteriously. My disciple was overjoyed that his offering had been accepted, and I too felt deep happiness—because when the Mother resides within the devotee’s heart and is pleased there, the Universal Mother is truly pleased.
Such experiences are not new at the Bagalāmukhi Matri Mission. Many times before, devotees and disciples have received extraordinary divine indications, and this incident was no exception. I neither have the ability nor the audacity to interpret what exact message the Mother intended to convey. I am but a humble servant, wishing only to live at Her feet. Nor can I offer a scientific or philosophical explanation—I have not reached such heights. Yet devotees themselves often say that She pervades every corner of this sacred space.
Let me add one thing clearly: do not misunderstand such events as proof that the deity is “alive only here.” The Divine is alive everywhere, present in all forms and all places. In some places He appears as Krishna, in others as Kali, Durga, or Shiva. Yes, like many other sacred abodes, this place too is awakened—but divine messages can unfold in many ways, even in your own lives. What is needed is the right path, unwavering sincerity, and service offered with one’s entire being.
May you all walk this path, remembering your own Gurus and moving forward with devotion. My heartfelt blessings to you all.