Atmananda was born on June 7th, 1904 in Vienna, the capital of the Austrian Empire, which at the time included Hungary, Czechoslovakia, Yugoslavia and Poland.

Her mother's family came from Czechoslovakia, her father's from Poland. Atmananda's mother died when Atmananda's sister was born. Atmananda then was two years old. The mother must have been a beautiful woman; a large picture of her hung in the bedroom.

The two children were cared for by their maternal grandmother; their father had asked her to move into their flat when his wife bad died. In this wonderful lady's life there had been many tragedies; she had lost her husband and her seven children.

Her inherent love and kindness were now poured into the two beautiful little grandchildren. She kept house for them and their father. Graciousness radiated from her. She always wore black dresses, a sign of mourning in Europe. Atmananda said that she often found her crying. This made Atmananda very sad.

Atmananda's father gave whatever money could buy to the two girls: Beautiful clothes and many books. Besides going to school tutors came into the house to teach them. They had music lessons at a young age and were taken to concerts and operas by a maternal uncle, a highly educated man.

When Atmananda was about eight years old she showed outstanding musical talent. The best available grand piano was bought for her and she took practicing very seriously. At an early age she also got very interested in literature and read widely. Her life was influenced by Russian writers, such as Tolstoy. She endeavored to live by his ideals.

Though Atmananda was very serious, she enjoyed being with friends, with whom she went for walks and spent lovely holidays in the mountains.

But ill fate pursued the little family.

Atmananda's sister worked with devotion and energy for deprived young children. When she was seventeen years old, she caught diphtheria and died. Atmananda believed that since her sister had sacrificed herself for the good of others, her mission in life had been fulfilled.

Blanca (Atmananda is the name given to her much later by Mataji) was deeply involved with Theosophy. She studied philosophic books and mixed with people who she thought were spiritually advanced. Searching for inner peace, she went to India for a short time to attend a Theosophical convention.

Her piano playing had developed and was most beautiful and inspiring. But her art apparently did not give fulfillment for herself. She spent a few years in Holland as organist in a church connected with the Theosophical Society and then returned to Vienna. These were the years of depression and her formerly wealthy father was now quite poor.

It was an unhappy time for Blanca.

One day a message came from Varanasi inviting her to teach at Rajghat School. Blanca felt compelled to go to India.

Her grandmother was left alone. Blanca's father rarely then stayed at home. It was very sad for the grandmother and for Blanca.

Atmananda did wonderful teaching at Rajghat School. Deep friendships were formed, but all these were only stepping stones in Atmananda's life.

Atmananda has written about the turn in her life. At last she had found what she had been searching for. She met Anandamayee - she felt she was saved.

Now Atmananda has passed away, having had the same illness which her young sister had-the one who Blanca thought had sacrificed herself with doing good things.

Atmananda's friends lost much-but should we mourn?

Atmananda wrote in a letter "don't ever worry about me, whether I live or die."

Fulfillment and peace be with her.

On the 24th of Sept.1985 at about 9-15 hrs, in the morning, Swami Atmananda has left her body.

The day before, one of the Ashram Brahmacharis brought her in the early afternoon by Taxi from Kalyanvan to her room in the nearby Dharamshala where she used to stay during the last few years, whenever she came to Kankhal Ashram.

For only just one week Atmananda had suffered from a bad attack of bronchitis and as she did not want to eat, had become so weak that she had to be carried up to the first floor.

I went to see her with Swami Vijayananda and Dr. Srivastava and she reluctantly conceded to our proposal to take her to Varanasi where she would be under the loving care of our Ashramites, besides medical treatment in Ma's Hospital.

I at once tried to get reservation of a First class - 4 berth compartment, as I wanted to send three Doctors, among them Dr. Srivastava, to escort her to Varanasi. It was Ma's grace that we could not get a reservation for the same night, as Atmananda would not have probably reached Varanasi alive.

In the evening the girls and some of the male Ashramites went to see her and at 11-30 P.M. Dr. Srivastava gave her an injection to support the heart and blood pressure. During the night which was a restless one, but without any special disturbance, her friend Melita stayed with her. In the morning Atmananda looked even paler and weaker than the previous day. A lady doctor from Bombay, who was then with us, was asked to see her but there seemed to be nothing specially worrying.

It was difficult to communicate verbally with Atmananda, because her throat was highly inflamed and this hardly allowed her to speak. But she had no special pain and, obviously never complained. Later in the morning her breathing became somewhat difficult. Melita made her sit up and supported her back. At 9-15 hrs. all of a sudden the noisy breathing stopped and the heart gave up functioning.

Atmananda was rather sure that she would have to leave soon.

Atmananda seemed to be fully conscious till the last few minutes before her end.

Her body was brought to Ma's Samadhi and prepared there for the immersion. It was decorated with rose garlands and arati was performed, before it was escorted by many Ashramites to the NIL DHARA. Since several years it was Atmananda's strong desire for her body to be immersed in the Mother Ganga, according to the Sannyas rules.

16 days later, on the 9th October puja at Ma's Samadhi, a small sadhu bhojan, a Daridra Narain feeding and Kumari puja were performed in her honour.

Ma allowed her to adopt the garb of a Sanyasini in 1962. About five years back Ma had sent her to Gaya for offering her pinda. When she came back, Ma made a special Kriya for Atmananda which authorised her to be given Jal-Samadhi after her death.

The role, which Atmananda had played for 32 years in our Ashram Community, can never be filled again by anyone else.

Single handed she edited the English Version of 'Anand Varta' since 1954, and besides has edited a good number of English books on Ma.

Even in the worst weather she never missed going daily to the Kishenpur Ashram for kirtan. To all foreigners, coming to Ma, she was a teacher till they understood all the do's and dont's of our Ashram life. Her most remarkable quality was her loving and absolute surrender to Ma's wishes.

We shall miss her, mainly as an inspiring example of untiring Seva to Ma.

Dr. G. N. Roy (Misra).