This book examines the life of anandamayi Ma, one of the most renowned holy woman of modern time. Lisa Hallstrom paints a vivid portrait of this extraordinary woman, her ideas, & her continuing influence. In the process, the author sheds new light on important themes of Hindu religious life, including the centrality of the guru, the influence of living saints, & the apparent paradox of the worship of the divine feminine & the status of Hindu woman. “This will be not only the book on Anandamayi Ma, but also be among the handful of most important book on Hindu religious figures to appear this century”. __Kathleen Erndl, Religion Florida State University