Narvada Puri Mataji
Mother, Guru and Co-Founder
of Santosh Puri Ashram
As a 24 years old young woman from Germany, in 1969 Mataji arrived on the island where Baba Santosh Puri was doing his tapasya (austerities) and literary stayed forever.
Although he tried very hard, he could not make her abandon him or his teachings.
Mataji was then recognized by Babaji as a form of the Ganga Mata, as well as she recognized him as someone she had known from former lives, for whom she had been searching. To meet him (in this life) once again was as if a miracle had happened.
Her Guru, Santosh Puri gave her the name “Narvada”, two saffron colored pieces of clothe to cover the body and the holy name of Lord Shiva as a mantra to repeat and to meditate upon for the rest of her life.
For Narvada Puri it was the beginning of a very challenging journey of purification.
Śri Santosh Puri Maharaj
unknown - 1978
Lived on an Island under a tree in Har ki Pauri, the main bathing ghat in Haridwar.
For nearly ten years she stayed in tapasya with Babaji on the Island.
Their “home” was only a dhuni (sacred fire place) under a tree. They ate meals of whatever happened to come by the divine will, once a day or not. Despite her own inner struggles for faith and devotion, struggles with nature’s storms, rains, cold and heat, as well as annoyances by Indian and foreign bureaucrats, divine grace provided the means to overcome it all and nothing could ever separate them.
Santosh Puri was a Guru from the times of older traditions, giving hard lessons from inside, pulling out by the roots the main obstacles of the spiritual path: laziness of the body, pride, egoism, selfishness or vanity.
After eight years Narvarda Puri Mataji married Baba Santosh Puri. Not for enjoyment, but they married out of the unshakable confidence into the divine will, the will of the holy Ganga Maata. Even before the birth of the first son, the Santosh Puri Ashram was founded, where spiritual and charitable service life continued. There they had also 2 daughters.
It had been the ideal of Guruji Santosh Puri and life partner – disciple Narmada – to take Samadhi together and remain in the union of the atma = paramatma = Brahman. But the divine will wanted it differently. The physical form of Babaji separated, but the more important spiritual relation continued by a constant consciousness of the presence of the departed soul in each and everything in the Ashram life.
Narvada Puri Mataji then had to take the role of guru.
Although she mainly did that by her living example, she also began teaching formal classes: yoga asana, meditation and philosophy.
Mataji left her body on Basant Panchmi (fifth day after the new moon, also marking the start of Spring season). If anybody would like to feel her presence, they can visit her samadhi at the Santosh Puri Ashram.
Tears of Bliss … A Guru Disciple Mystery
Mataji’s long-awaited, deeply moving book of her years with Babaji is now available for order internationally. Many of you have read an early draft of the first section of the book which tells of Mataji’s arrival in India 40 years ago, her search, finding her Guru (Babaji), and her life those first 10 years: the austerities, her courage and determination, and of course it is also Babaji’s story. The second part goes on with the founding of Santosh Puri Ashram, the birth of the three children, and their family life amidst ashram life – truly a spiritual family more than householders. Part three begins with Babaji’s Mahasamadhi and continues with the inevitable transformation of the family and ashram after His passing.
It is a remarkable story – unique in both its content and its poetic style. The reader is sitting at Mataji’s feet, listening to the stories as they arise. Teachings and inspiration for our own spiritual journey occur on every page … and over time as you read the book again and again.
You also may purchase the book in person if you pass through Santosh Puri Ashram. Proceeds (beyond printing costs) will contribute to Santosh Puri Ashram’s spiritual programs.
Please contact us if you would like to distribute the book at your center, or to translate it into your language.
A special thanks to all who contributed time, energy, funds for manifesting this book: Xavier Froment, Peter Marchand, Marcy & Rolf (Narayan Puri), Tim Williams, Richie Joshua Windus, Dharmi Cunningham.
Every year on Magh Purnima, in honor of Santosh Puri Babaji and Narvada Puri Mataji, our devotees come together to help us host a Varshik Bhandara.
According to the Hindu lunar calendar, on the full moon in the month of Magh, we host this Annual Community Feast to commemorate the maha samadhi of both Santosh Puri and Naravada Puri. On this day we serve hundreds of sanyasis, Indian householders and foreign guests a delicious lunch.