Mother of Bliss: Anandamayi Ma
by Lisa Lassell Hallstrom
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Book Summary Information
Author: Lisa Lassell HallstromEdition: Paperback
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 2008-02-15
ISBN: 0195116488
Number of pages: 324
Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA
Book Reviews of Mother of Bliss: Anandamayi Ma
Book Review: A Comprehensive, Scholarly Account of "Ma's" Life
Summary: 4 Stars
I've read several books on this remarkable woman's life (1896-1982) and this is one of the most detailed and thoroughly referenced.
The book is based on scores of personal interviews. The author is uniquely qualified for this type of in-depth account.
The book first traces Anandamai Ma's life, and then in a sense doubles back and looks at many events from the viewpoint of people who knew her, while putting these events into the context of the culture.
From my perspective the fact that Hallstrom brings in her extensive academic understanding of Anandamai Ma's culture is both a plus and a bit of a minus. In the latter case I felt that the work leaned a bit toward a doctoral dissertation (which it apparently was) at the expense of a moving and approachable account of Anandamai Ma's life.
It didn't help that the type used for the book was rather small and that Eastern religious terms were constantly used that are unfamiliar to most Westerners. Even though they may have been initially defined, as the reading progressed I found it almost impossible to remember what these unfamiliar terms meant. (There is a Glossary for many of these terms, but it's a pain to keep looking up key terms.)
This being said, the book does what no others do: it puts Anandamai Ma's life into the perspective of her culture, a culture that from a Westerner's point of view was rather restrictive -- especially for a woman.
The fact that Hallstrom wasn't a disciple of Ma, plus the scholarly and objective approach she takes, gives the book credibility.
Unlike the stories of most saints, this information is based almost entirely on first-hand accounts. The book also includes seven photos of Anandamai Ma.
Hallstrom's book is definitely recommended for anyone interested in a woman who many feel was far beyond "just" being a saint.
Summary of Mother of Bliss: Anandamayi Ma
This book examines the life of =Anandamay=i M=a, one of the most renowned Hindu holy women of modern times. Lisa Hallstrom paints a vivid portrait of this extraordinary woman, her ideas, and her continuing influence. In the process, the author sheds new light on important themes of Hindu religious life, including the centrality of the guru, the influence of living saints, and the apparent paradox of the worship of the divine feminine and the status of Hindu women.Religious Books
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