Wife of the sage Aurobindo Ghosh, introduced to Holy Mother by Sudhira Devi (1908) and called “Bouma” (daughter-in-law) by her. Sudhira Devi having suggested initiation, Holy Mother had stated she did not need formal initiation (Udbodhan, 79.12). To comfort Mrinalini anguished by separation from her husband, charged with sedition, Mother had said, “Don’t be agitated … your husband is a man fully protected by God, his innocence proven by the grace of the Master, he will soon return discharged” (Shatarupe Sarada, p. 456). Her words came true literally. Regarding Mrinalini’s initiation Girijashankar Rai Chowdhury, in his article “Sri Aurobinder Upar Sri Ramakrishna O Swami Vivekanander Prabhab” (Udbodhan, 46.6, pp. 241-50) quoting Swami Sundarananda, editor of the Udbodhan, wrote, “Aurobindo had his wife Mrinalini Ghosh initiated by Sri Sri Sarada Devi, consort of Paramahamsadev, before his departure for Chundernagore. Since then Aurobindo’s wife had been Sarada Devi’s disciple until her death” and “upon her death Bhupal Basu, father-in-law of Sri Aurobindo, had held a bhandara at the Math.” Mrinalini Devi died on 17.12.1918.
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