madness of the soul

huge crowds, big grounds, evening programmes. That's about where the similarity stops between indore's programme last year, and this year's kozhikode programmes. On one hand, there was the external madness of devotion of the devotees in indore expressed in their rush to the stage by the 10s of thousands to receive darshan at the same time. On the other hand, there was the internal madness of devotion in kozhikode. the patience, the reverence, the respect. They say that Kozhikode is Amma's Vrindavan. But couldn't that also be said of the devotees of Indore? The gopis of Vrindavan experienced both types of madness. Whenever they would hear Krishna's flute, they would drop everything and run madlike, following the sound until they reached his feet. Yet they also experienced patience waiting for Krishna to return from Madhura - like the devotees of Kozhikode waiting in line for darshan for hours. Whether it be Indore or Kozhikode, I dont know which one is better. Amma brings about a madness of the soul that only the experience of her darshan can relieve.
10 January 2007
Sri Pati - US