Shri Siddhi Maa

राधे तू बड़ी भगिनी
कौन तपस्या कीन
तीन लोक तरन तरन
सो तेरे अधीन
राधे तू कितनी धन्य है
तूने कौन सी तपस्या की
जिस से तीनो लोगों का उद्धाकर
तेरे वश में हो गया

An oft repeated couplet by Neeb Karori Baba Ji to Siddhi Maa.
Siddhi Maa’s devotion to Baba Neeb Karori Maharaj Ji has no parallels except to that of Hanuman ji’s devotion for Sri Ram. Till date many still do not know about her because she had deliberately chosen to stay away from limelight putting her Guru on pedestal. But devotees close to her knew that in essence and spirit she was no different than Baba Neeb Karori Maharaj Ji.

The beacon of light taking forward Maharaj ji's spiritual legacy was his chosen disciple Sri Siddhi Ma, the silent saint of Kainchi. Living by the highest precepts of renunciation and devotion to the guru, Ma remained the eternal disciple to the eternal guru, Maharaj ji.

Siddhi Maa’s Childhood

Born in the year 1928, in Almora, she was named Haripriya, though her doting father called her Siddhi. According to Hindu mythology, Siddhi is the name of Ganesh ji’s consort. Interestingly, as a little girl she would sneak into a Ganesh temple in the neighborhood and sit on the lap of the idol. From her early childhood, she was into the habit of writing ‘Ram Ram’ on a slate, recite Hanuman chalisa, have a sip of Gangajal before having her breakfast and heading to school.

Such was her spiritual aura that Anandmayee Maa (a revered Indian saint) picked up a five-year-old Siddhi dancing to the tune of a Meera bai bhajan, held her up for everyone to see and proclaimed that, "Ye to Jagat ki Ma hai!" (She is the mother of the Universe!)

Many years later, when Siddhi Maa had gone to visit but couldn’t meet Anandmayee Maa, she herself walked to Siddhi Maa’s residence and asked for a gift. Siddhi maa quickly picked up a toy monkey from a nearby shop and gave it to her. Anandamayee maa instantaneously expressed, “Arrey, this is your deity Hanuman ji!” and kept the toy forever with her.

Her Life after Marriage

She was married off at the age of sixteen to Sri Tularam Sah, a well-known advocate from Nainital. As the youngest in a large joint family, she had a long day of household duties. Late in the night when the entire house had fallen silent, she would sit down for sadhana, and the world would lose meaning for her. One fine day, she along with other family members went to visit Baba Neeb Karori Maharaj Ji who was in Nainital at that time. Being a young bride, she sat at the back of the hall maintaining restraint in her demeanor. But Baba Neeb Karori Maharaj Ji gestured her to come forward from amongst the entire crowd and gave a vivid account of Maa’s silent sadhana and how she lived in the world like a lotus flower in mud, yet untouched by it.

Her home Gita Bhavan had turned into a spiritual haven for devotees and pilgrims alike.

Her Life as an Ascetic

A year after the demise of her husband, she left her family to permanently stay in Kainchi ashram along with Jivanti Maa (another pious soul). Staying in the inner quarters of the ashram she devoted her life wholeheartedly in Baba Neeb Karori Maharaj Ji’s service. On 9th September, 1973, Baba Neeb Karori Maharaj Ji filled in two pages of ‘Ram Ram‘ in his notebook, dated them 9th and 10th September and then slid it towards Siddhi Maa directing her to write in it from then on. It was a symbolical gesture of handing over the sacred baton to Maa.

Following this, Maharaj Ji left his mortal body on 11th September, 1973 in Vrindavan. After Maharaj Ji’s Maha samadhi, Maa gave solace to all the souls who were disheartened and lost. Her magnetic pull of divine love brought everyone back to Maharaj Ji. If Maharaj Ji was like the wind, then Maa was like sail that had caught the wind to steer the boat.

She completed and consecrated many of Maharaj Ji’s temples. Maa would meet all the devotees, giving them affectionate guidance and if anyone sought her blessings, she would ask them to pray Maharaj Ji and not her. It was clear to everyone that for Maa, Maharaj Ji was foremost.

Often delaying her meals and caring little for her own comfort, she would continue to meet all the visitors. Everyone began to see Maharaj Ji through her. One glimpse or one word from her would send forth a wave of devotional fervor amongst the devotees. She considered the ashrams as the body of Guru Maharaj Ji and ensured squeaky cleanliness.

After Jivanti Maa’s demise in the year 2005, Maa became more of a recluse and reduced her travel. On the morning of 28th December 2017, Maa took Maha Samadhi leaving behind a legacy of devotion and service.

In Baba’s words, she was Devi Katyayani (a form of Goddess Durga) for whom Hanuman (referring himself) had to come.