Anandamayi Maa [1896 - 1981] was a holy woman from Bengal without formal religious training or initiation whose status was based entirely on her ecstatic states. She did not have an outer guru, though she did hear voices that told her what religious and meditative practices to perform. She emphasized the importance of detachment from the world and religious devotion. She influenced the spirituality of thousands of people who came to see her throughout her long life.- Category ID : 459749