This life-story has been excerpted from the book 'They Lived With God' by Swami Chetanananda, published by the Vedanta Society of St. Lois. To read the entire studied life, and lives of 27 other intimate disciples, please read this book. (Swami Chetananda has also published a book on all 16 the Monastic Disciples of Sri Ramakrishna 'God Lived With Them')

More details of her life story

'Austerity is the source if strength and also the means to liberation', says a Hindu scripture. The gods attain godhood by practicing austerity; the sages achieve perfection through austerity; human beings overcome obstacles and attain success in life by the power of austerity. Spiritual life and the practice of austerity always go together. It would be hard to believe that a person has realized God without having practiced austerities and spiritual disciplines. Yogin-ma's life is a glowing example of the ancient Indian ideal of womanhood and austerity. She combined in her personality great poise and sweetness with a spirit of service and rare spiritual wisdom. She was one of Sri Ramakrishna's prominent women disciples. Once the Master said about her, 'She is a gopi, perfected by God's grace'.

Yogindra Mohini Mittra, or Yogin-ma for short, was born on January 16, 1851, at Baghbazar, in North Calcutta.

When Yogin-ma was seven she was married to Ambika Charan Biswas, who was an adopted son of a rich and prominent family of Khardah, a village twelve miles north of Calcutta. The Biswas family was noted for its piety and philanthropy, and some of its members were well versed in Tantric rites.

She very soon discovered that this rich young man (Ambika Charan Biswas) was a drunkard and libertine. Although Ambika Charan had inherited much property and wealth from his father, he squandered it in a very short time.

Disgusted with her husband's immoral life, she at last severed her relationship with him and returned to her parental home, bringing with her their daughter (Ganu). By then Yogin-ma's father had died, but her mother welcomed them warmly. When Ganu grew up Yogin-ma arranged her marriage.

The romantic picture of a peaceful, happy married life had been shattered, and Yogin-ma felt a great void in her mind. Tormented by anxiety and restlessness, she agonized over how she would spend the rest of her life. Just when she was passing through this mental storm, divine grace opened up a new life for her.

In 1882 Yogin-ma met Sri Ramakrishna for the first time at Balaram Basu's house. As she said in her memoirs: 'Balaram Babu was related to me, being my husband's maternal uncle. One day Sri Ramakrishna came to his house and we went to see him. It was the first time I saw him. The Master was standing at one side of the hall in deep samadhi. He had no outer consciousness. Since no one dared touch him, people bowed down to him from a distance. We also did the same. At that time I had no idea what samadhi was. I at first though that he was a drunken devotee of Kali. I could not understand the Master at my first meeting. Moreover, it immediately came to my mind that my married life had been ruined by a drunken husband, and again should I undo my spiritual life through the influence of this seemingly drunken person? But gradually I became acquainted with the Master'.

After some time Yogin-ma also met Holy Mother, and the two were immediately drawn to one another. They were about the same age. Holy Mother once said, 'Yogin is my Jaya [an attendant of the goddess Durga] - my friend, companion, and attendant'.

During the last two years of Yogin-ma's life she suffered from diabetes. Although her austere body became weak and fragile, her mind was always alert, and she never forgot her blessed association with Sri Ramakrishna, Holy Mother, and the other direct disciples of the Master. For two or three days before she passed away she lay speechless and refused to take even a little liquid. Swami Saradananda asked the doctor who was attending on her to examine her to see if she was in a coma, as is common when there is diabetes. The doctor checked carefully but could not find any symptoms of coma. The swami was then assured that the Master's words had come true - that Yogin-ma would give up her body in a state of jnana, that is, she would merge into Brahman.

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