Mata Karma

Mata Karma was an ardent devotee of Lord Krishna whose life is a symbol of devotion, courage, and social service. Her life inspires us to fight against various social evils like untouchability and conservatism while promoting unity and harmony in society.

Mata Karma was born on April 12, 1016, in Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh to Ramshah and Leelavati who were deeply religious and philanthropic. They had unwavering faith in Lord Krishna and spent their days immersed in devotion and service. Since childhood, Karma was drawn towards devotion to Lord Krishna and offered her prayers with immense reverence.

Mata Karma was married to Chaturbhuj Shah. After his death, she resolved to look after her son. After some time, she arranged the marriage of her elder son and, entrusting her family and business responsibilities to him, embarked on a journey to seek the blessings of Lord Krishna.

During her journey, Mata Karma visited Nagari and Sihava in Chhattisgarh, where she took blessings of saints and proceeded on her journey to Jagannath Puri, passing through Rajim.

In Rajim, she met a member of the Sarathi community. The people of this community held her in great reverence and invited her to their home. Mata Karma sat on a platform in their village and preached the message of devotion. Afterward, she took a boat to travel towards Puri.

It is said that upon reaching Puri, the temple servants asked her to cook khichdi (a traditional dish), and Lord Krishna accepted the khichdi. This event established the tradition of offering khichdi to Lord Krishna.

Mata Karma spent four years of her life in devotion to lord Jagannath. Eventually on March 27, 1064 (Vikram Samvat 1121), Mata Karma had a vision of Lord Krishna and left her mortal body, merging into the heart of God.

Mata Karma’s life is an exceptional example of devotion, courage, and social service. She devoted herself entirely to Lord Krishna while also striving to bring about social reforms. Mata Karma was a remarkable example of feminine power, demonstrating through her life that women can guide society in the right direction.

Through her efforts to fight against social evils, Mata Karma promoted unity, kindness, and compassion. She showed that by embracing the divine with an open heart, one can not only transform their own life but can also influence society positively. Her legacy as a saintly figure, a social reformer, and a devoted follower of Lord Krishna remains strong and revered even today