“Holy Mother”

.
From what I have understood, if there are some basic practices in Hinduism which are rooted to the most fundamental elements of our belief and psychology, then “Mother Worship” or “Feminine Worship” is one of these. Recently I saw something which made me think in the direction leading through this text:
.
As we know, Mumbai has a huge population of Christian religious converts (along with neo-Buddhist converts too). I believe it is because in a loose-n-large city like Mumbai there are less social stigmas attached against conversion. With presence of highly active dalit christian organizations as well as huge network of missionaries and NGOs, the city is a good missionary fodder ground. While traveling by a local bus, I came across one joint where a small temple was erected by the side of the road. At first glance, the temple seemed to me like one of goddess Durga or Parvati. But when I looked cautiously I was shocked to see that it was an idol of mother Mary (virgin mother of Jesus of Nazareth). The idol itself and the colorful decorations were exactly as they happened in a Hindu temple! (May be they had purchased an idol of goddess Durga and installed it in the name of Mary)
.
It wasn’t difficult to guess the intent behind such a gimmick by the Christian missionaries. They wanted to “exploit” the deep Hindu system of feminine reverence and worship, and wanted the newly converts to “feel at home”. (Otherwise, as Dan Brown and other researchers have exposed, Christianity has done huge historical injustice against women and the feminine.) In a way, they borrowing from us and hence changing for the better are alright; but their evil intent of religious conversions disrupts them from being called noble.
.
Who is our “Holy Mother”? I may sound like “competing” and “reacting”, but competition and reaction are not things that are 'absolutely wrong'!! So I asked myself, “Who is our “Holy Mother”?
.
Each of the Hindu gods is considered incomplete without their female counterparts. Sita with Ram, Radha with Krishna, Shakti with Shiva: we have plenty of goddesses to put our faith in. But I thought some living and more recent one whose life can be seen as pure as purity, as pious as piousness and as Hindu as our dharma: a life with whom Hindus could connect with and keep their faith intact would also be great. What came to my mind is: Sharada Devi. Holy Mother Sharda Devi.
.
Her introduction can be put as follows:
.
Sharada Devi, (1853'"1920) was the wife and spiritual counterpart of Ramakrishna Paramahamsa. Sarada Devi is also reverentially addressed as the Holy Mother. Sarada Devi played an important role in the growth of the Ramakrishna Movement.
.
Date of birth: December 22, 1853 (1853-12-22)
Birth: Saradamani Mukhopadhyaya
Date of passing: 20 July 1920 (aged 66)
.
Although Sarada Devi led the life of a simple rustic woman, she is accorded worship'"and was, even during her lifetime'"considered an incarnation of the Divine Mother.
.
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sarada_Devi)
.
Some Quotes:
.
“I am the mother of the righteous, I am the mother of the wicked as well. Never fear. Whenever you are in distress, just say to yourself ‘I have a mother.”
.
“God is one’s very own. The more intensely a person practices spiritual disciplines, the more quickly he attains to God.”
.
I am sure there would be more mothers like her who are called “Holy Mother” by the Hindu devotees.
.
Now there are two questions in my mind: (1) Will promoting the concept of “Holy Mother” help in reducing the menace of conversions? (2) Who are the other great women whom you revere as Holy Mother?