With Amma, Mata Amritanandamayi Devi

With Amma moved into blogs.amritapuri.org

2007-08-29T00:24:00.000+05:30

Om Namah Sivaya,

This Blog has now been moved permanently from here. All of Amma blogs are now integrated into this one single site — ‘http://blogs.amritapuri.org.’ From now onwards, new postings will appear here.

In Blogs.amritapuri.org, the main page shows the 10 latest blog postings. You can also view latest posts in each category (With Amma, Ashram Diary, Amrita News, Amrita Darshan).

We welcome your ongoing contributions, comments and support.

Thank you!

See you there...

Namah Sivayah

Before the flower shower

2007-08-03T18:37:00.000+05:30

Rio Devi Bhava

11 p.m. There are 11 weddings scheduled. “it’s overwhelming” is what some people in the bookstore had said yesterday, and I might suggest that 11 weddings is in the same category. The lines of people at the bookstore tables are several people deep

12:15 The photographer was just talking to me about some native medicine men that came and presented some herbs for Amma in darshan this afternoon. She tasted one that is good for women’s pain, abdominal pain in the vital body and energetic body. Another is used to purify the aura. These herbs grow only their locality. They came back this evening for mantras. Some are bare chested, they all have painted faces and colorful feather decorations - headdress and/or arm bands and/or long earrings down to the abdomen. I just checked the mantra line, and counted well over 100 people waiting for mantra. One mantra instruction group is seated in front of me, there is a line into another room full of mantra instruction groups. The huge mantra lines in Chile may be surpassed. Mother is giving out mantras at a good pace, but I am guessing it will be an hour or so at the end of darshan to give mantras to all of those that will be in line if the backlog maintains.

1:30 a.m. the mantra line – it has grown, considerably. The bookstore crowds are starting to thin out – no longer several deep. There are a few people sacked out on the floor.

4:00 a.m. Some local groups have been playing – very nice, getting the audience into the songs, clapping and swaying. A mixture of guitar, harmonium, latino percussion things, with excellent singers. I recognize the simple Gopi Gopala and Jai Ambe bhajans that we sing, plus there are a lot in local language that use Amma’s name.

The bookstore is still going strong. The items that caught my eye in the snack area were a fresh cut up fruit salad; a plate with humous, salad, bread and cheese; the large egg-shaped roll baked with cheese inside; individual pizzas; yoghurt. (They were out of the little quiches) A huge improvement in quality and availability (it is after 4 a.m., and getting fresh fruit and salad is a boon)

5:45 Big Swami is starting the Names.

6;15 the shoppers at the bookstore have finally slowed down to a trickle. The energy in the hall has maintained a high intensity the whole night. Mother has not seemed to rush the darshans. The wedding couples are now in their pretty outfits, starting to assemble by the side of the stage, perhaps a little prematurely. One couple has a fresh cashew fruit and nut in the bowl of fruit offering, along with mango, banana, apples and grapes. Another includes pineapple.

6:45 the Names end, Mahishasura Mardini starts. It seemed that the energy level picked up even further during the last 50 or so Names.

7:00 Mahishasura ends, darshan looks like it is about to end, but still over 200 in the mantra line plus probably call the staff for darshan, plus the 11 weddings.

The mantra giving is a double line, as She gives one on one side, the next in the other line is positioned, etc. Knowledgeable people (Shantamitra and Ramakrishna Swami), with the slips of paper with the mantras, are on both sides of Her, listening, and handing the slip. The person is then escorted for explanation.

The staff intermingled with the end of the darshan line – those staff members not going back to their homes in India. The India residents say that they don’t get darshan in India because they get it on tour, and on tour they don’t get it because they get it in India. The separation anxiety/angst/sadness runs high among those going back to California. I am just an idiot with a grin going up for darshan, enjoying the moment. The moment of the quiet miracle of Her darshan.

Just before 8: The wedding participants (flock, or is it bevy, or whatever they are called) brighten up this corner of the room with their glowing faces and colorful silk saris and punjabis. Some were dancing to one of the lively bhajans. One beautiful blue-green clad couple nuzzles.

The mantra-ized people are flowing into the area just created for them near our table, borrowing pens and scraps of paper

The weddings start a little after 8:30, to very happy bhajans in the background, a joyful atmosphere.

You all, my dear brothers and sisters, have been here with me during this glorious tour and its finale in Rio. I hope that you have gained from this small effort to bring you some of the impressions and energy of the tour. I write this paragraph as Big Swami sings ‘Mata Rani’, the top of the hit parade this summer. Everybody (except me at the moment) is clapping, between 50 and 100 people are dancing/bouncing in a group, cheering as the last verse progresses. Feel the happy energy as you read this, and the joy that Mother wants for all of us.

I will sign off now, before the flower shower.

Shambugh
2 Aug 2007, Rio, Brazil

Sweetness in Toronto

2007-08-03T16:43:00.000+05:30

I got in line for darshan near the end of the first night of Amma's programs in Toronto. As I was coming off the chairs, a devotee came up to Amma with a pan of something covered in foil. Since she was one of the last people to get darshan that night, people were clustered around Amma's chair and on the stage behind Her by that point - and I'm pretty sure more people hurried over when the following took place.

The pan was unwrapped and discovered to contain a lovely batch of blueberry crumble. Amma took a tiny piece, smaller than a pea, and Geetha went to take the pan away.
Whereupon Amma reached in and scooped out a rather larger amount with two fingers and popped it in Her mouth. The crowd exclaimed its delight.
Again, Geetha went to take the pan away.
But no. Gleefully, Amma stuck Her whole hand into the pan and grabbed a great big handful, like a little kid, and crammed most of it into Her mouth. Everyone was laughing and going "aaaah!!" in delight. After that, the remaining blueberry crumble, all over Her hand, was distributed bit by bit as prasad, and then Geetha took a cloth to wipe Her hand clean.

Rajeswari continues the story:

i was fortunate enough to be on the sidelines during pranada's darshan. after she had moved out of the crush of people around Amma, Amma continued to speak on the topic with Geetha translating into english. the exchange between them was so moving and sweet. to watch them felt like drinking milk and honey that had been poured over thousands of diamonds.

Amma said that She has no particular likes and dislikes. when a devotee brings Her something to eat, She eats it to make the devotees happy. sometimes the children have seen Amma cooking a particular dish in a video. they think that Amma likes this food and then they learn how to make it and bring it for Amma to eat. many devotees will bring Amma the same thing. but Amma laughed. She said She neither likes nor dislikes the items.

Amma said that in the old days, She used to cook for the children. now Amma is very busy and She doesn't get the time, but She decided to make something for the children.

as Geetha translated these words, her face shone with such grace. especially, "Amma decided to make something for the children." it was the words "the children" that were imbued with particular sweetness. there was divine love emanating from Amma in these words and pure adoration and devotion glowing from Geetha as she translated for the crowd but looked at Amma.

meanwhile, bits of the blueberry crumble were passed from hand to hand for all to share.

Pranada adds: On a semi-related note, Amma's sari for Devi Bhava in Toronto, three nights later, was a dazzling mixture of red and green and gold.

Jai Ma!

Pranada and Rajeswari, Toronto

Behind the Scenes

2007-08-03T16:27:00.000+05:30

Behind the Scenes – Kitchen Volunteers of Amma's 2007 North American Tour

We come from all over the globe: US, Canada, Germany, Spain, Austria, Italy, Switzerland, Australia, Finland, Japan, Brazil, Vietnam and elsewhere. We travelled by bus, car, van, camper, plane, or train. We chopped vegetables, cooked the meals, baked cakes and cookies, made chai, and washed dishes. There were more than 100 of us. We were joined by hundreds of others from the local cities, some who were just meeting Amma for the first time, others who have known Her for years. Everyone helped – whether it was few moments, or a few hours, or the entire program. We were, and are, brought together by Amma's boundless love and message of selfless service. And we have a great time!

Here are some photos of a few of the volunteers who work behind the scenes to help prepare the delicious meals and snacks served during Amma's programs.

Adam (from US) unloads one of the trucks that contains the kitchen supplies

There are over 30 pallets which have to be unloaded and unwrapped. At the end of each program, we have to box everything up again, re-stack the pallets, and load up the trucks.

Benjamin (left - Germany), and Jay Ram (right - Spain) set up one of the various tables throughout the hall. This one will be the snack shop which sells freshly baked goods, chai, and other snacks.

Triptta (from US), who has been running the kitchen for about 10 years, ponders the next meal.

Triptta (US) and Akshay (Germany) check out the menu.

Sumati (US), one of our fearless veggie prep supervisors, carrying a load of freshly washed carrots.

The other Veggie Prep leaders (Tom - US, and Prana - Austria). They make sure everything is chopped just right for the cooks.

Jagadish from Canada spinning the lettuce.

The veggie choppers......

More Choppers.....

Anand (Spain) and Niramayan (Brazil)....

Sulma and Deva Priya (both from US) plan the next meal.

Krishna (Germany) and Niramayan (Brazil) cooking dinner.

Mixing the salad.

The bakers (Sri Pati - US, Karnaki - US, and Apoorva - Canada)
with chocolate frosting on their noses.

Oh no! We're short about 20 lbs of potatoes! Triptta and Amartya (US) in the kitchen.

The serving supervisors (Malathy, Apurva, Ahalya - all from US) take a well deserved break...

Having fun with the oranges.
(who hasn't done this with their orange rinds?)

Jitendra (Germany) slices the carrots.

Divya (US) studying the recipe for one of the salad dressings.

Avinash (Vietnam) washing dishes.

Taking a nap between programs in San Ramon.
Jonathan (Canada - left), Vivek (Japan - middle), and Jayendra (Germany - right).

Shankar, one of the dishwashers (US) has a quick snooze behind the hall after the NY program.
(He always sleeps like that.)

Amba (US) - Kitchen Seva Coordinator - loading luggage on top of one of the vans that carried some of the volunteers between cities.

Getting ready for the drive to Toronto.

In New Mexico, a reporter wrote a wonderful story about the volunteers in the Kitchen. Click here to read the article...

Sri Pati
June - July 2007, US Tour

Devi Bhava in Rio

2007-08-03T12:48:00.000+05:30

Mother is giving Devibhava darshan at this moment when I write this. It is 11 PM and the hall is full. People have been very devoted today.
They applauded a lot for the video about Amma's charity which they saw before Amma came.

Mother has orange colored sari with golden broidery.
She looks very beautiful in it, so beautiful! That is all I can say at this moment.

At Amma's Feet

Ahalya,
Rio, Brazil, 2 August 2007.

Forward on the path

2007-08-03T12:46:00.000+05:30

3:00 p.m. Darshan ended. I have never seen such a crowd lining her path from the hall, through the lobby, to the elevators. The looks on the faces of the people after Amma went by were priceless. At the same time, in the hall, there was and still is a crowd around the bookstore tables. One of the items not brought was bhajan books, which I found out the first night when I was asked where they could get a copy after they saw my bhajan books. Last night they projected the words to ‘Where Can I Go’ in Portugese on the big screens (to applause)

One other difference Santiago and Rio is the food. I ate more wheat in Santiago than in the rest of the tour put together – it was really the only choice outside of the hotel breakfast since there was only a snack shop set up in Santiago. Here I could get wonderful soup and salad reminiscent of the ashram . There a few people from the kitchen staff here, using a small portion of an enormous kitchen here in the hotel, preparing food.

7:00 p.m. A local photographer just told me that somehow they managed to get the whole crowd into the hall for the atma puja – when I came in there was s a good sized group outside. I am in a corner of the hall near the back of the stage, with a view of not much besides all the volunteers (I counted about 75, I assume they are all going to help) who will be helping with the atma puja water. I can feel the expectant tension in the air.

Now, silence throughout the hall, as the puja is performed and Amma blesses the water.

Distribution of the water – the background music has started up, and the normal hubbub has returned (I think that is the first time I have ever written that word !). A Brazilian man just came up to me, saying he recognized me as my neighbor in the flats in Amritapuri last December when I was sick with fever and cellulitis, and asked how I was doing. Sweet.

Quiet again as Amma starts her talk. About half way through the talk, the puja water is fully distributed, and the crowd of volunteers is either seated or gone, and I can see Amma again. It is striking me – For over two months my life has been the tour, and after tonight I will move forward on the paths She has set in front of me. I thought I was sensing the crowd’s excitement, perhaps it is mine. I had hoped to get direction, but She has given me that and much more.

I am speechless.
Shambugh
3 Aug 2007, Rio, Brazil

3rd morning Rio

2007-08-03T02:05:00.000+05:30

Yesterday was a little overwhelming here.

The first night darshan ended at 5:30 a.m .The second morning program was again packed, and She did not finish giving darshan until 6:15 p.m., a near record for world tours .

The bookstore sales are doing very well.
One of the odd-job sevas that I picked up was labeling CDs as they are duplicated. We made nearly 200 copies of CDs yesterday . They are selling fine with just hand lettered labels. That seva was very interesting and gave me more insight into Amma’s workings, and how She is forcing ever more progress - better attention to detail, better focus on a task, more mindfulness – (I tried to use the word sraddha but cannot seem to spell it right so I tried to say what I mean), on Her devotees (myself included – there are many lessons in the seemingly mindless task of writing a label on a CD).

Anyway, I was talking with the man who was making a new CD, Amma sings in Portugese. He was explaining the difficulties in making these CDs –to get songs in the local language as soon as possible, so each day he will re-make the CD, adding the songs She sings each night. He has had to do the same thing in 9 languages for some of the songs.

I have seen the photographer do the same sort of thing, spending hours editing a video of a pada puja to give a little extra for the customer. The effort to do this repetitively is not minor.

Amma issued directions that no one was to leave the hotel grounds after 3 p.m., apparently in response to two incidents of violence in the area of the hotel. Only a road separates the hotel grounds from the beach. It is really a pretty scene, I guess I will go beach walking after Devi bhava.

The Brazilians here in the hall seem noisier, more talkative and a little more pushy than the Chileans. Perhaps living under the oppressive government for so long had an effect on the people, or perhaps we are reaching a more affluent segment of the population here. The Chileans applauded the bhajans more, although after ‘Mata Rani’ last night the crowd cheered and applauded. I heard that when the Brazilians became aware that having small children could get them into special needs early darshan, some people called and had children brought – one child was used by more than one person. I have seen a lot of people using cell phones, and do not recall seeing that at all in Santiago.

Back to the bookstore. Remember I described some of the airport leelas – it was even worse than I described. Some of the devotees did not arrive until 1:30 in the afternoon. In the U.S. you can ship two personal bags, but in South America it is only one.

It is nearing 1 p.m., and there is still a good sized crowd.

Now that I have figured out how to use the Internet in the hall, I expect to give you a Devi bhava update.

Shambugh
2 Aug 2007, Rio

So beautiful Rio

2007-08-02T20:57:00.000+05:30

So beautifull the program in Rio.
The best I have been to.
Beetween a wonderfull beach and gorgeous mountains.
Mild Temperature 20 degrees Celsius.
Birds singing on the trees. Sky blue without a cloud.
The hotel packed with people that stayed for hours patiently on line to get a token.
Fervorous singing.
Mother stayed for darshan till past 6 AM, we went to get some sleep, had a wonderfull breakfast by the swiming pool and there was Mother giving darshan again.
Smiling, happy.
It seems that wherever there is Mother´s children longing for Her
she will always be there for us.
People don´t stop to arrive.
Everybody working hard cause lots of people
Want to buy and bring something from Mother with them.
The food was fresh and delicious.
Lots of brasilians volunteers were helping.
Rio is the city where most of brasilian actors live and they are coming to meet Mother and also is the press.

Punyavati
2 Aug 2007, Rio

2nd day bhajans in Rio

2007-08-02T14:52:00.000+05:30

Today the morning darshan lasted till 6:15 pm. Last night also, it seemed that many did not wait till end, yet, Mother finished darshan around 5:30 am or maybe it was near 6:00, did not look the exact time.

In tonight's bhajans Mother sang:

He gananayaka siddivinayaka

Sri Krishna saranam

If this is not the place (in Portuguese)

Mata rani

Om namah shivaya

Awaken Children (in English)

Jai Jai janani jai ho teri

At the beginning the people did not applaud after bhajans, but then they did it after If this is not the place and also Mata rani huge applauds, and again at the end after the last bhajan. Generally tonight there was more fervor during bhajans as last night. People really like them. One could see their yearning in the expression of their faces.Such beautiful expressions!

Yesterday night when Swamiji wanted to chant Om three times, expecting people to repeat it after him, the public started chanting and leading the Om chanting by their own. Tonight knowing this Swamiji chanted it with them together.

Ahalya

1 August 2007, Rio

Amma is big in Rio

2007-08-02T14:50:00.000+05:30

At meditation, the seats in the hall were pretty much filled. But there was still a long line outside the hotel. Some of the tour staff people didn’t arrive until 9:45 this morning (the airport leelas), the Amma flight people did not get to the hotel until about 10 p.m. So, during the first hour, bookstall bags were being unpacked, more tables were being set up, and more people were flowing in. Now, 11:15, the hotel lobby areas are crammed, the hall has little standing room left, and there is still a line that goes outside the hotel.
Shambugh
July 31, 2007, Rio

First day in Rio

2007-08-01T15:54:00.000+05:30

Now we are in Rio, Brazil. First it seemed as if there would not be a big crowd. But as the darshan started more people started coming. Till now all tokens for morning darshan were given out, many are waiting to get token for the evening darshan. We are in Intercontinental hotel which provides a big hall, but only a small part of that from Santiago.

One nice incident was there in the afternoon when a group of youth started playing for Amma. There were 9 young man with drums and other people with other rhythm instruments and one small guitar. As soon as they started playing, Mother turned her head back towards them with a beautiful expression on her face. She kept doing so several times. When I got closer to observe the situation I realized why it was so. The group played as the Indian devotees do in the temple festivals, also during Mother's tours in India, etc. when they play drums very loudly. The beat and sound was like in India. After hearing it, I understood why Mother looked behind with such a smiling face. She most probably was thinking of India, as we also who came to listen to it. Brazilian music has its root in Africa, and the rhythm is very important for them.

-----
Mother's first program today, the first of the three day programs in Rio, Brazil. The morning darshan ended only 6 pm and near the 8 pm Mother came back for the evening program. Now the evening program is going on.

In her first bhajans in Brazil Mother sang the following bhajans:

Kripa ho teri
Shyama sundara
Everyone in the world (in Portuguese)
Amma amma taye
Shyama Shyama kukadi me
Om Namah Shivaya
Jinki karuna he

In difference to Chile the Brazilians did not applaud after bhajans, except after the one in Portuguese. They sat quiet waiting for the next bhajan like the devotees do in India.

It seemed that in the public there were many devotees of Amma, who is better known here than in Chile, since Swami Ramakrishnananda has been coming here since years and there is also a temple dedicated to Amma here in Brazil.

Ahalya, Rio, 31 July, 2007

from Rio

2007-07-31T16:44:00.000+05:30

Santiago to Rio, written night of 30^th July

We had hoped that there might have been a formal Guru Purnima ceremony in Santiago, with pada puja. Instead, Big Swami gave a short talk which was very nice. Many of us felt so full from the darshan and the response to Amma by the Chileans, I don’t think the ceremony was missed.

The huge crowd steadily thinned out through the night and morning. I suspect that all of those first-timers did not know what they would be missing, and many of them probably went home before receiving darshan, and many of the others who did get darshan may not have known about the flower shower. We had the huge line of people waiting for mantra to deal with. She gave mantras at a dizzying pace for about an hour. Then there was only one special event, a wedding – no baby feedings or first writings.

By 10:30 Amma left. After She got in Her car, the crowd of Chileans left in the hall were cheering, singing, dancing, hoisting the organizers on their shoulders, celebrating a huge success. The Chileans seemed so open and responsive to Amma. It was wonderful to see.

That day, since Amma was leaving, Nature was sad – it stayed cold and foggy all Sunday and Monday, our travel day. When we finally got into Rio, it had been cold and rainy for a week, but the full moon was clearly visible and it is forecast to be in the 70’s and sunny tomorrow as Nature welcomes Amma again.

There was more airport leela. The Amma group was spread across five flights, from 5:30 a.m. through early afternoon. I was on the only direct flight (five hours), and we were delayed nearly three hours. Then we waited at the airport with the greeters, waiting for one of our other flights. Eventually we gave up, since it was rescheduled for even later. Then the bus ride (the Brazilian organizers did have transport for us) took a little over an hour to reach the hotel. One of our flights had been rescheduled from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. departure. With its connection through Sao Paulo, who knows when they will get in.

The Amma flight was scheduled through Sao Paulo. Some of us walked over to the Amma flight and hung around, hoping for a sight. This cheered us up, the concentration and hope that we might catch a glimpse of Her. However, they finally called our flight for boarding before we could see Her.

After darshan on Sunday, everyone was very tired, but many people did not seem to be in any hurry to get a nap – just sitting around basking in the glow of a wonderful program. It was the first day of rest in the two months of the tour, a much needed rest by the tour staff. I think that most everybody slept in the afternoon, hung around for a little while in the evening, then back to bed without going into town or doing any sightseeing. The major hotel for the event in Santiago was a five minute walk from the giant hall, which was great, but they rarely had hot water. We were given a 50% reduction in our bill for that inconvenience!

Shambugh

30 july 2007

taste of Chile

2007-07-31T16:32:00.000+05:30

We got our power back on (lots of people and wheelchairs were on the cables) with in an hour. The people are being very orderly and patient, it was only the initial overwhelming rush of people that the handlers were not ready for that created a mess. Amma is moving very quickly. It is amazing to watch Her in high gear, unlike the leisurely pace in the States. I still sense a heightened energy and a sense of peace at the same time.

They are just starting dancing and singing in native costumes, very joyful sounds, colorful costumes (flat-topped black hats, wool ponchos, boots and spurs with bangles for the men, white dresses with colorful sashes and trim and petticoats for the women, color coordinated to the ponchos. The instruments are guitars and accordions with percussion things (I cannot remember their names) The dancing is cross between square dancing, Greek dancing with the handkerchief, and Mexican). The music feels right for the time and place.

The line for food finally shrank down to a handful of people, down from what looked like well over 100, going well into the outdoors. I bought a vegetable empanada and some pumpkin soup.

The feeding frenzy at the shops has slowed down to browsing and casual shoppers – I bought my second copy of the ‘Mata Rani’ DVD. We played it in the Atlanta airport and on the plane, so that we had Amma with us even if we were bumped off of Her flight.

It is nearing 5 a.m., and we have been hearing local groups for several hours, all different and all good. The current one has people dancing – maybe it s just getting to be that hour, maybe the group has a really strong rhythm that is easy to dance to.

I have been trying to bring you a taste of Santiago.

Shambugh
29 July 2007 , Chile

Mass of human Heat

2007-07-31T16:20:00.000+05:30

Saturday July 28 7:30 pm

What a glorious afternoon in Santiago. Warm, it feels like high 70’s, slightest of breeze, a perfect day to hang out with a few thousand of your friends. I took a lunch break about 1:30, and there were already several hundred in line outdoors for evening darshan.

When I left the hall at 4:30, the outdoor line was several thousand. By the start of atma puja, there was a line of cars trying to get into the parking lot, a line of people outside, and the hall filled, and people being seated in the nearly 100 foot deep area behind/alongside the stage. It felt like a lot of power being radiated as She went through the puja blessing the water. I am writing this during the Spanish translation of Her talk

The other thing that struck me as I came into the hall was heat – I had to remove a couple of layers (I’ve been wearing several undershirts, a sweater, and a sweatshirt at night in the hall. The table I sit at to help out is against a huge metal door, like a garage door, that has been letting in an arctic-feeling breeze). The people seem very sweet in general, and not aggressive about lines, etc. There have been a couple of computer thefts, but these are small dark spots amongst a beautiful experience. They have just opened one of the garage-type doors in the far rear of the hall, letting in cool air. It reminds me of the San Ramon ashram hall with its open upper windows to let out the mass of human heat. Unlike San Ramon, the people here all have winter coats etc.

9:00 Chaos. Loads of people milling around, asking for tokens, others saying they are sick and where can they get in line. The passageway in front of our table is full of people

Amma looks gorgeous in a deep blue with purple tinge sari.

Shambugh , from Chile

She Knows?

2007-07-31T16:03:00.000+05:30

An update on Santiago. The weather prior to yesterday was setting 30 year records for cold – in the 20’s. Amma comes and the days are very nice (still quite cold at night). The bhajans last night seemed especially powerful. After each bhajan, the crowd applauded. I sat next to a local first timer who was moved to tears by some bhajans.

I have heard Swami say Amma knows everything, and we intellectually know that it is true, however it is nice to get some confirmation to really understand this.

I will tell you of two recent experiences that illustrate this. Because I have been following the whole tour, it was ‘suggested’ that I only take darshan once per city. I had my Toronto darshan the last night of the retreat, so on Devi Bhava night I was sitting on the edge of the stage when She called me over and said to do Prasad seva monitor. Earlier, I had had some negative thoughts about not getting darshan and not getting to do Prasad or other seva tasks close to Her – except in DC. I had thought that at least the tour staff get to be on the stage close to Her. So She showed me Her concern for all Her children, and that She knows all our inner thoughts.

10 of us had been bumped off our Amma flight to Santiago and had to spend an extra day traveling. Our connecting flight got delayed by two hours, so we rushed right to the hall from the airport, arriving at 10:30 a.m. As the evening darshan was winding down, I had found a fairly close spot to sit, about five people away from Her. Amma looked my way, gave a smile, and said something. The translation was this: “I was thinking of you, then when I turned my head I saw you’. And I had thought that maybe I would not stay through to the end of darshan, being cold, tired, hungry, and dirty (not been to the hotel yet, and not had a nap between programs) ! I had always thought that darshan meant seeing a holy person, so I had more than darshan that night., and again reminded that She knows us better than we know ourselves, and cares about all of us.

The following is from my notes on one of Swamini’s talks:

On the India tour this spring She was talking, and then mentioned this Western boy saying that he should be on the trip, he was such a hard worker. After hearing his name Swamini arranged to have the boy phoned. He said that at that time he had been feeling strongly that Amma never even knew that he was in the ashram. In truth we cannot even imagine the depth of Her love for all who come to Her.

Shambaugh

26 July 07 Chile

Mother in Chile

2007-07-31T15:55:00.000+05:30

Mother's first South American tour started in Santiago, Chile. No one could expect what would come. When Mother arrived the sun was shining, the sky was blue, clear air, but it was freezing cold. It is winter time in the Southern Hemisphere of the Earth. Los Andes, the South American mountains pass by Santiago and its white snow peaks added to coldness.

Mother's program was patronized by the Ministry of Culture and Arts of Chilean government. The place was huge, inside and outside. Despite of the cold the people started lining up for tokens two hours before the program, and the queues before and between the programs only grew every day from 8000 in the first morning darshan to over 20.000 in the Devi Bhava darshan. Not even a single person asked for a priority token, many waited for the full day, without any complaints. Despite of the huge crowds and about one thousand who received a mantra from Amma, everything went well. There is no Amma satsang group in Chile. Only a hand full people had met Amma before. To the good functioning added also the fact that 60 Spanish devotees came from Spain exclusively to help in the darshans doing line control, instructed in mantras, etc. Many Chilean people told to them that for a couple of hundreds of years ago the Spaniards came with swords to kill and steal their treasures. Now they came with Amma's love and compassion. We can imagine what a treasure they will get back now after Mother's blessings!

The program in Chile was a phenomenon itself and there will be an article in Matruvani with more details.

Mother's all first bhajans in this continent were:

Kripa ho teri
Sri Krishna saranam
Iswari jagad ishwari (in Spanish)
Amma Amma Taye
Mano buddhya
Om Namah Shivaya
Jinki karuna he

In the second bhajans Mother sung several new bhajans including Mata rani. The people applauded to all bhajans, but I listened carefully and felt that Sri Krishna saranam and mata rani got the most applauds.

The funny thing during the darshan was that as soon as the first sounds of tabla sounded in the air many people started dancing. It was like turning a dancing button on. Wherever they were on the stage doing seva, lining up for darshan or just watching, they started dancing. It looked really innocent and natural. They all danced in the same way which gave to it harmony. There was no pretension nor it was wild. Dancing and music are an inseparable part of the Latin American culture. During the devi bhava night they played salsa'' the typical dancing music in Latin America and danced in front of Amma. It was a kind of spiritualized 'salsa'.

During the Devi Bhava's Devi Puja there were so many people that 500 of them had to go to a separate hall getting instructions through Internet connection. This also shows the eagerness the Chilean people had to get all the benefit of Amma's presence. Usually the Latin American people are loud, noisy, if something goes wrong. But during the programs they sat quiet even though the screen went black many times. During the meditation also thousands of people closed their eyes and looked as if they had meditated for years, but most of them had never meditated before.

Ahalya, Rio, Brazil, 31 July 2007

the lost day

2007-07-31T15:15:00.000+05:30

I am writing this from the program in Santiago while the talks are going on. While my Spanish is a lot better than my Malayam, I cannot follow the talks. There was a huge turnout this morning, especially considering that Thursday morning was a work day. I left the morning program at 5:00 p.m. in order to get something to eat, Morning program darshan was still going on, and there was already a long line for the evening program. Going from summer to winter is odd, it got dark at 6:00, everyone at the program was wearing shoes and coats. Even though Amma was working Her weather magic, and it was a pleasant sunny day, having been very cold and rainy, I felt marginally dressed and just put on another layer.

Santiago was striking – a flat plain with rich soil ringed by snowy mountains, and palm trees planted along the airport. We went by vineyards and groves of nut trees on the way to the program, and the haze turned out to be pollution. Santiago ranks right behind Mexico City and Buenos Aires for pollution. We were told that all the highways were built in the past 10 years, now 6 million people and 2 million cars.

In spite of a very long line to pay for the snacks (the only food available at the program), everyone was very calm and patient. The hall appears to me to be as large as any in the States, and it is standing room only.

I had a ticket on the non-stop flight from Toronto to Santiago, but they way oversold the flight, and 10 of us in the Amma group were bumped off the flight. In the airport, Amma was especially sweet and concerned for us, clearly showing Her concern for the children that were being left behind by her expressions and actions. She then gave a wonderful kiss/darshan to us as she went to board her flight. We were eventually given tickets for a flight (not non-stop) the next day, as well as vouchers for a room and meals. I thought that the airport darshan and seeing Her express such concern for us easily made up for the lost day
Shambugh
26 July 2007 , Chille

East Coast Ashram

2007-07-31T14:16:00.000+05:30

The last day of the retreat in Toronto I was called up to join Ken and Dayamitra swami who were talking with Amma about the land in Purcellville that was offered . She asked about water, soil quality, septic, and zoning. I answered each question briefly (no problems with any of those). Then She apparently gave approval to use the land saying to start with a house on it first. That night in darshan, after giving me a hug that left me somewhat dopey, She said something. Dayamitra translated:’ She says you can build an ashram’ . Still dopey I mumbled something. She said in English: ‘Is it OK?’. I mumbled something else like thank you as she pulled me in for a kiss. This will mean a lot of planning and work by all, but it looks like we will have an East Coast ashram in Washington.

In addition to those acts of grace, she has also given me personal grace in other areas. To say that the tour has been wonderful is an understatement.

Shambugh

Day of no Time

2007-07-29T00:02:00.000+05:30

We have been having lots of people at every program, The people are sweet, polite, and gentle folks. Tonight will be the Devi Bhava program and so it will more than likely be huge.

Here is an interesting anecdote I learned from a local person:
The day Amma arrived in Chile was considered the "day with no Time" in the Mayan calendar. Although the Mayans were more prevalent in Central America and Mexico they had an influence here in Chile and so people are aware of the unique feature of the Mayan Calendar which has a day without a number between the end of last year and the beginning of the new year.

The"day of no time" is considered to be a day of prayer, introspection and celebration.

So consequently since Mother arrived on" the Day of no time", the actually 1st satsang began on day one of the Mayan new year.

David
28 July 2007, Chile

clapping for Amma

2007-07-28T15:18:00.000+05:30

Crowds are so big here in Chile that morning darshan finished at 6:15pm. And already there were 5,000+ people lined up for evening darshan with hundreds more streaming in after that. Amazing for a primarily Catholic country.

Amma is amazingly focused on Her duty! The people are innocent and joyful in their adoration of Her.
They don't clap for the Swami's bhajans, but they clap wildly after each of Amma's bhajans, when She enters the hall, and after She leaves. It's adorable.

Sneha
Chile, 27 July 2007

favourate blog

2007-07-25T14:53:00.001+05:30

Grand Finale

2007-07-23T16:41:00.000+05:30

Mata Rani Grand Finale - (finally!)
Toronto

Tonight was the second night of the Toronto Retreat – the last stop on the North American Tour. It would be the last chance for us to hear Amma sing Mata Rani – if the Divine Mother’s Grace and Will wished it.

And so as the darshan line was ending, around 2:30am, it was on everyone’s mind: “Would Amma sing Mata Rani? Would the East Coast get a chance to sing in bliss with our Beloved Amma as She did in Seattle and San Ramon?”

Our hopes rose up, and so did our internal radars. We were looking for clues. As the darshan line got shorter and shorter, people started to move in closer in anticipation. A few of us saw Swarna go over to the sound system to talk with Santosh. Something was up. Hmmmmm…. Is it happening? Then we saw a harmonium being moved into place on the stage. There was no doubt now!

After the last person came for darshan, Amma began…. “Mata Rani ne kripa basayi, mere har gar puri hundi ayi’. Amma rocked back and forth – Her arms raised high, index fingers pointed upwards, beaming at Her children gathered closely around Her. “Meri Ambe Ni…” The crowd shouted responded with a resounding ‘Whoooooo’ at the top of their lungs. Back and forth, verse after verse, in ecstatic call and response. Everyone was in bliss – beaming at Amma, shouting, screaming out the words, bouncing in their place to the rhythm. With Amma’s Grace, everyone in was sitting except for those on the sidelines - so there was a clear view all around – both for Amma, and for everyone else.

The music got louder and louder. A few times, Amma shouted out ‘Brrrrrrrrrrrrr’ with indescribable joy and almost lost Herself in bliss. And then it ended. Amma rose out of Her seat and headed out of the hall up to Her room. It was wonderful. Everyone was so happy. A beautiful grand finale for the North America Tour.

Sri Pati

23 July 2007, Toronto

Blissful Seat

2007-07-17T23:22:00.000+05:30

Om Namah Shivaaya,

This was the day of Devi Bhava in NewYork. The puja just got over and Amma started giving darshan, wearing a beautiful red saree. I went for dinner and came back in the hall. My mind wanted me to sit in the hall and listen to the bhajans, the other thought was telling me to walk 10 mins to the dishwashing room to do seva. I opted for the bhajans, realizing that it was 11:00PM at night and I just had this delicious dinner. Amma obviously had different plans for me.

I started looking for a space to sit in the middle of this big crowd. Suddenly I spotted a space and rushed towards it, but as I was about to take it, somebody else grabbed it. I still didn't want to give up and started looking on the other side of the hall. To my mind's pleasure, I found a space, but again somebody else took it. Then I realized Amma's plans for me and surrendered. That night, while working in the dishwashing area, I was in a great bliss.

Thank you Amma!

Thanks,
"Divine Love & Light"
Narinder Anand

Grace & Love from DC & NY

2007-07-17T23:11:00.000+05:30

When Amma arrived in Washington DC on sunday July 8th it was standing room only. Some might attribute this to it being a weekend day but this devotee attributes it to Amma's Wonder and Grace calling out with Her Supreme Divine Love catching hold of us one at a time to let us all know what Real life is and helping us come to this state ofLove. When this devotee thinks trully of Amma's grace and feels the wonder of Her in his heart he only knows that Amma's grace is so far beyond words that one can only feel it and know it in their heart and know that it is the greatest thing in all the three worlds and beyond.

It was very crowded on Sunday morning but Amma handled everything in Her always graceful way and even sat all the way until 5:00 PM that evening. By Her Grace I was able to sit right near her after having darshan and even have my 2 year old son fall asleep right in my lap at just that time so I could have the chance to just sit right near Her without having to chase him around or have him not wanting to cooperate at the chance to sit right near Amma as it is not always as important to Him as it is to me.

That evening was the talk and a wonderful set of Bhajans, I think every single one except Om Namah Shivaya was from the new 2007 Bhajan Supplement and I must admit Mata Rani after only two times has gone into my soul and even my veins as I found repeating the first words of the song (the only words I knew ) over and over again because it was now playing inside me.
More Grace was found during bhajans as Keval, my son, was totally content to play with his toys and even had a few people right next to us who played with him and helped me keep him occupied and content for the whole time that Amma was singing.

Devi Bhava was wonderful as Amma came out in a forest Green sari, ( for all you at Amritapuri who were debating about the color) and well what to say, It was Devi Bhava. I had the honor of getting to sing a bhajan for Amma with the Washington DC satsang and sang "Ishwar Tumi" in English.."
Grace us with Your Compassion Lord,
I have no one but You My Lord."
The Truth of all truths.
Only She is always with us and always will be.

Now as far as New York, I didn't actually go to New York but this is actually my favorite part...I had just been reading Swamini Krishnamrita Prana's new book Torrential Love and about how Amma always knows and hears the pure desires of our hearts and many stories about Amma fulfilling pure desires of Her devotees hearts. Well I really wanted to at least feel Amma through the phone from New York to feel close to Her by knowing She was right on the other side of the phone. I called my friend I knew was there but he didn't answer and I was kind of discouraged but a little while later the phone rings and there he is and by Amma's Grace my desire and the prayer of my heart had been fulfilled. Just knowing Amma was right there through the phone I just felt so much joy and so happy and knew that Amma had heard the prayer of my heart. Even better the next morning when I woke up my first thought was "I'll bet Devi Bhava is still going, call him back" and my friend picked up and I got to be on the phone for the last hour of Devi Bhava all the way through Amma Amma Taye and the closing prayers. The best parts were when they played the Kerala boat song and I had it on speaker phone and danced around my house feeling in my heart felt like I was really right there in the hall with Amma and when during Amma Amma Taye my son and I went on our back patio and picked flowers and petaled them and I threw them all over us just like Amma showers them on everyone at the end of Devi Bhava. We had Amma's picture right there and I really felt in my heart like we were right there with Her. What other than Amma's Grace & Love can make it possible to feel that way when you are even in a different place on earth. It's just like Amma says, "Where there is love, there is no distance." Once again I say, Amma's Grace is so far beyond words that one can only feel it and know it in their heart and know that it is the greatest thing in all the three worlds and beyond.

Sanatan Lasher
17 July 07, USA

Bruised Finger

2007-07-11T16:41:00.000+05:30

Back in Chicago, on Thursday, while I was doing the 'lap position' (helping to guide people into Amma's arms, Amma was playfully scolding me. It is often the only time Tour Staff gets to see Amma -most of the time we're in the Kitchen or Bookstore doing seva. While it's wonderful to get so much close time with Amma, we have to stay focused on the people coming up the line - making sure they are sitting up on their knees, bending properly so as to not put weight on Amma's body, and watching their hands so that they do not grab Her tightly. It's tricky sometimes - Amma moves fast - and each person has to be in position as soon as the other is finished.

So this particular evening, there was one gentleman who couldn't quite understand what I was saying. I was telling him to please come up on his knees - guiding him gently with my hands into position. But he proceeded to get up on his feet. Then I gently said 'please come back
down', and so started to come back to his original seated position - and I had to again ask him to get back up on his knees. But he started to stand up again.... then back down. This happened two or three times, and Amma was having a bit of a laugh, and eventually, the man got darshan in a crouching position - neither standing up nor on his knees.

At one point, Amma took my glasses and playfully motioned that She was going to throw them across the hall. Whether it was for not being able to properly position the man, or simply just to play with me, I'm not
sure. She returned my glasses, and continued giving darshan.

Soon after, She gently took hold of my right hand and started to stare at my fingers. This seemed odd to me - it was unprompted and was unrelated to anything I was doing or had done. She was just looking at my fingers. She let go of my hand and returned to giving darshan.
Afterwards, while recollecting my interaction with Amma, I commented jokingly to a few friends that maybe something might happen to one of my fingers.....

Well after Chicago, I flew back to NYC early (missing DC) to help prepare for Amma's visit. I had to go to Staples to get some copies made and I borrowed a fellow devotee's car. I had open the back door
of the car to get something out. As I closed the door, my finger got caught, and the door slammed on it. So now I'm sporting a big bruise on my middle finger.

It hurt quite a bit (and still does), but I immediately made the connection and started to laugh at the uncanny way Amma shows us how omniscient She is...

This morning, when Amma comes to the hall in NY for the first morning program, I'm going to show Her....

Sri Pati
11 July 2007, Newyork

Welcoming Amma with Fireworks

2007-07-08T23:57:00.000+05:30

Welcoming Amma with Fireworks…

Wednesday was Independence Day and we had just arrived in Chicago after a four hour drive from Iowa. We were exhausted, but luckily, the short drive gave us ample time to unload the trucks, set up in the hall and kitchen, and have plenty of time to rest in the hotel before the next day’s program.

But it was the 4th of July, and as the sun set and the skies darkened, countless fireworks displays would erupt across the countryside. And they did!

Word had spread that a huge fireworks display would happen right near the hotel – those of us on the upper floors would have basically front row seats. With Amma’s Grace, our 8th floor room had a balcony that gave us a commanding view of the surrounding plains. In Illinois, the countryside is flat – and with the hotel located on a golf course, and being the tallest building for miles around, our view stretched as far as the eye could see.

So around 9pm, we gathered on the balcony and waited for the local show to begin. In the distance, we could see literally dozens of fireworks shows in other townships in the area, some small, some huge. Some lasting for what seemed like forever. And then it began. ‘Boom Boom Boom!’ bright greens, reds, purples, yellows, a full spectrum of bursts color – we were so close! The show went on for about 45 minutes. We all felt like little kids – ‘Ohhhhh, Ahhhhh’ turned jokingly into ‘Maaaaaaaa, Ommmmmmm’ as we cheered the beautiful display of colors.

It was if the entire countryside was celebrating not only the 4th of July, but Amma’s arrival in Chicago. Tomorrow morning, the true fireworks will begin……

Sri Pati
July 4th, 2007, Chicago, Illinois, USA

Listening to Amma on cellphone

2007-07-07T13:15:00.001+05:30

Om Namah Shivaya,

This time I could not go to Chicago. However my wife had the blessings to be there with Amma in Chicago.

I was very anxious to listen to Amma's bhajans and she blessed me with a very unique way. My wife called me on her cellphone when Amma started singing bhajans. I was on the call for about 2 hours, listening to Amma's bhajans, calling "Jai" when she said "Mata Rani Ki", and the meditiation thereafter. I was in such a bliss that it almost felt that I was in the hall listening to Amma.

Thank you My Beloved Amma!

Narinder Anand
Chicago 07/07/07

In the Joy of others

2007-07-07T01:25:00.000+05:30

Jai Amma !

Amma came into the hall in Dallas looking beautiful and radiant and full of Her Supreme Loving energy that is beyond all comprehension as always. The Pada Puja ceremony was performed and Amma made Her way up on to the stage.
Some local officials came up to greet Amma but this one missed all that because he was busy running after the Pada Puja water and Sandal Paste and Kum Kum that had just been offered to Amma. A satsang was given by Bramachari Shantamrita Chaitanya followed by Amma's Satsang. Then the Bhajans began. And guess what ? Mata Rani. Amma delighted everyone by singing the new bhajan that puts smiles on everyones faces and fills their hearts with joy. The best most joyous part was when Amma would call out, "Mata Rani Ki" and throw Her arms up in the air and Her children would respond by throwing their arms up in the air too and calling out "Jai !" Most of the bhajans, actually I think all except Amma Baramma and Om Namah Shivaya were all from the new 2007 Bhajan Supplement. I was sure to go to the Amma Shop after that and get myself a copy. I'm not sure of the name of the other Bhajan sung that night that had everyone very enhusiastic but I do know that it went Jai Ma Jai Ma Jai Ma !

The second night of the programs was Devi Bhava and Amma wore a beautiful purple sari and was full of smiles. As I sat on the stage and watched Her I had a most incredible experience which I pray will be what the future becomes full of. As Amma hugged all Her children who came up for darshan and smiled at them and played with them I experienced something totally different from what I had in the past. Instead of sitting there thinking Amma why won't you look at me, and look how lucky that person is getting that smile from Amma and all the other thoughts like those, I felt in my heart that I was all of them or vice versa and in this state felt so much joy when Amma gave someone a big smile and felt the joy of their heart. Or when Amma hugged someone for a long time I felt like it was me and felt the cooling and soothing tenderness that Amma was giving them. And in feeling it to be my own self who was going up to Amma over and over again and receiving Her love in all these different forms so to speak I felt more beauty and wonder than I have ever felt before. This was one of the most if not the most profound experience that I have ever received and thank Amma for letting me have the experience of feeling others joy in my heart, but it was just pure joy, it didn't belong to anyone, or you could say it was ours, not mine or theirs. I pray that I can do the other half of what Amma says we should do and feel their pain as our own as well. This experience has also given me a glimpse into how in selfishness and only being concerned for ourself we really are keeping ourself from the real joy. It's like we're eating some gross food as opposed to cucumber raita served right from Amma's hands. Can you believe it ? It's just like Amma's been telling us. I hope Amma's smiling at this grand realization and I that by Her grace I will remember this.

Jai Amma !

Also during Devi Bhava someone sang Kasturi Tilakam, a great bhajan about how the beauty of Lord Sri Krishna. As I sat their and looked at Amma in all Her splendour in Devi Bhava I came up with a new song

Amma puts the Kum Kum mark on Her forehead and wears the Gem of Love in Her Heart
From Amma's nostril shines a beautiful ring and in Her arms are Her children and malas around Her wrists

Love is emanating from Her whole body and there are Rudraksha beads and
beautiful flower garlands around Her neck

Victory to that Amma who is surrounded by Her children and is the delight of all their Hearts

Jai Amma!

I was also so happy to see a camera attached to the front post during Devi Bhava videoing Amma and was hoping that all Amma's children at Amritapuri were getting to watch Her. It makes me so happy to think of all of you at Amritapuri getting to see Amma even though She is here in America.

And as I have always wanted to say. Thankyou so much to Dhyanamrita and Vishwanath and Piyush and everyone else who has taken the time to post to this blog and the other blogs so that I as well as all of us can have the joy of reading about Amma and where She is and what is happening around Her and with Her. It is trully a great joy for me and I am sure many others who everyday sign on to the computer and go right to the Amma blogs to see if there are any new posts.

Sanatan lasher
Jai Amma !
6 July 2007 Dallas

incredible day

2007-06-19T01:11:00.000+05:30

Today, meeting and being embraced by Amma was one of the most beautiful experiences of my life and I will cherish it forever!

When I first arrived, I was overcome with so much emotion. Sitting in one room filled with so much love was so powerful. By the time I got up to see her, I was filled with so much happiness.

I plan on taking all that love and spreading it around to as many lives as I can touch. Amma is a beautiful example of how the world should be. Thank you for an incredible day!!

Dana Derrick, Los Angeles
18 June 2007

San Ramon Rani

2007-06-15T16:25:00.000+05:30

Mata Rani - San Ramon

Generally the second retreat night is filled with cultural performances by local devotees and volunteer staff members. Tonight there was a magician, a classical violinist, a young guitar player, and two classical Indian dancers. For the final ‘act’, spaces were cleared on both sides of the center darshan line. A group of local Indian devotees were going to put on a skit or some sort of dance. They had been practicing the last few days and were outside the hall dressed in costumes awaiting their entrance cue.

The music started. It was a recording of Mata Rani. Practically everyone had been hoping that Amma would sing it live at the end of darshan as she had done so on the second retreat night in Seattle. So when the recording started, it was sort of a precursor to what we were hoping for at the end. The dancers came bouncing into the hall, and began their performance. Amma continued to give darshan and watched and laughed as She recognized some of her women children dressed as men, and some of her male children dressed in women’s costumes.

The dance went on for about 10 minutes, each group of men and women going around in circles, clapping their hands, jumping up and down. Amma occasionally called out ‘Mata Rani Ki…. followed by a response of ‘Jai!!!!’ by the crowd. As the dance wound down, the crowd continued to shout ‘Mata Rani Ki Jai!!!’ and at that point, it simply had to happen….

Amma called for a microphone, musicians on stage began to play and Amma began to sing ‘Mata Rani’. Everyone jumped to their feet and moved in closer. As in Seattle and in India, the energy in the hall just exploded. The interaction between Amma and Her children during Mata Rani, is simply beyond words. Everyone’s face is beaming with joy. Somehow, with Amma’s Grace, for the second time in as many cities, I was assigned a seva next to Amma that happened to be at the same time She chose to sing Mata Rani. Only Amma could have orchestrated such divine luck. In between trying to steer people into Her lap when She would break from singing to give darshan, I kept looking into Her eyes. I just wanted to jump into their infinite depth and beauty. They were beaming at her children, and occasionally, I could catch them drifting off into indescribable bliss. Then Amma would roll her tongue and sound out a ‘drrrrrrrrrrrrr’ loudly and thrust Her hands up in the air. It was so spontaneous. Her whole being was literally exploding with joy in these moments. To me, it was even more intense than when Amma sings out ‘Ma Ma Ma Ma’ during bhajans. There is such rapture. More than once, I felt that Amma would burst out of her chair and shoot towards the ceiling like a rocket – the energy was so intense.

When the song was finally coming to an end, there were countless pleas for Amma to stand up and dance. For a moment, I thought that She actually would do so. Why not continue the bliss? I’m sure that Amma would have loved to dance and sing all night with us like she probably had done so back in the old days before there was an Ashram and there were only a few devotees around. But for reasons only known to Her, She declined tonight. There are still four more retreats left……

Sri Pati
San Ramon, 15 June 2007

Friday bhajan

2007-06-10T16:27:00.000+05:30

These songs Amma sang tonight.

Ganeshaya Namah Om
Hari Bol
Svarloka Vatsalya Dharayai
Sri Rama Jai Rama
Shankara Siva Shankara
Ammayalle Entammayalle (Telegu )
Cintanai Ceytituvay (Tamil)
Jai Jai Janani

Sri Pati
San Ramon, Friday 8 June 2007

Thursday's Bhajans

2007-06-09T15:21:00.000+05:30

Jai Ganesha Jai Ekadanta (2007 Supplement
Krishna Govinda Gopala
Ram Hari Nam Gavo (2007 Supplement)
Oru Nalum Piriyatta
BarammaMohalu Champpara Gauri Ramana (2007 Supplement)
Om Namah Sivayah
Ni Intri Verarumillai - Pavam (2007 Supplement)
Mere HridiyaO Mind Become Surrendered (2007 Supplement)
Ambe Jagadambe

Mohalu Champpara Gauri is about Siva and has an uplifting section that repeats at the end:

he chandrachuda he sulapani
he mallikarjjuna nive saranam

{O the One with the Moon, O the One with the trident

I seek refuge of Mallikarjuna (Siva) }

Sri Pati
San Ramon 7 June 2007

Bhajans

2007-06-09T15:13:00.000+05:30

Before Bhajans, instead of satsang, Amma held a question and answer session.

One person asked "What is Amma's core message for the young parents with children and for all the teachers I see gathered here?" Amma's response: "One word - Compassion".

Amma continued to sing many new bhajans from the 2007 supplement, but also included a few older ones.

He Gananayaka Sidivinayaka (2007 Supplement)
Sri Krishna Sharanam Mama
Prematapassu (Tapas of Love) (2007 Supplement)
Om Sakti Om Sakti (2007 Supplement)
Man Re
Om Namah Sivayah
Meri Vich Ram
Awaken Children (2007 Supplement)
Jai Ma Ambe

Sri Pati
San Ramon, 7 June 2007

Bhajana 2007 Supplement

2007-06-06T16:25:00.000+05:30

One of the hottest items being sold at the bookstore this year is the 2007 Bhajan Supplement. Practically every bhajan Amma has sung so far on the US Tour has been found in here. In fact, during the first night in San Ramon, every song (except for Om Namah Sivayah) came from the 2007 Supplement.

Almost twice as large at the 2006 supplement, it is filled with 53 bhajans, including Mata Rani and Awaken Children (written about on Amritapuri.org).

Tonight, Amma sang the following

Sankar Sut Ho Tum (Hindi)
Manas Chora Radha Krishna (Hindi)
Satyaslesam (Tamil)
Mata Rani (Punjabi)
Omkara Divya Porule (English)
Om Namah Sivayah
Ni Sannidhi Lone Sarvam Amma (Telegu)
Sarvavyapiye (Tamil)
Jai Jai Janani (Hindi)

Jai Jai Janani (and many of the others) was introduced during the North Indian Tour. Just before Amma left for the NI Tour, She had spent at least four straight nights practicing many of the new bhajans. Jai Jai Janani is a perfect concluding bhajan with an uplifting melody and an overlapping chorus with one group singing ‘Jai Jai Ma Jai Jai Ma Jai Jai Ma Jai Ma’ and another singing ‘Ma, Jai Jai Ma, Jai Jai Ma, Jai Jai Ma’

It is said that during the Kali Yuga, singing is one of the best ways to keep the mind focused and reach inner peace. We are truly blessed that Amma comes out virtually every night to lead us towards this goal.

Sri
San Ramon, 5 June 2007

Amma Amma!!!!

2007-06-05T14:37:00.000+05:30

At the end of Devi Bhava, after the curtains came to a close, and everyone sat in reverential silence, having chanted the closing prayers, we waited for Amma’s reappearance – our one last glimpse of Her before She would leave the hall for the next city.

But it wasn’t true silence. From within the Temple, we could hear chants of ‘Amma Amma Amma!’ sounding as if it was coming out of some small speaker. Many people were puzzled and wondered what was going on. It actually was Amma’s children in Amritapuri shouting back to Her over a web cam that has become practically a staple of most tours. It is a wonderful moment for our dear brothers and sisters in Amritapuri, who won’t be seeing Amma in the physical form for another two months. The ‘chit-chat’ went on for about 5-10 minutes as we all sat and waited for Amma to come out.

When the curtains finally opened, Amma re-appeared, Her white sari glowing, Her face radiating. Someone in the crowd shouted out ‘Amma’ imitating Her children in Amritapuri and everyone else in the crowd joined in. Amma burst out laughing. She realized we had heard what was going on! Amma lovingly pointed to the computer screen being held by a devotee standing behind her, and told us that it was Her children in Amritapuri. At that moment, it didn’t matter where we were – whether it was India, Seattle, or anywhere. We were all connected – all Her children – all at Her feet.

Sri Pati
Seattle, 4 June 2007

Morning Archana

2007-06-05T14:34:00.000+05:30

Morning Archana

This morning, during Devi Bhava, at around 5:30am as darshan neared the end, Amma suddenly asked all the Tour Staff to come to the hall and join in chanting the 1000 names of the Divine Mother. Swami Amritaswarupananda first started with Amma’s 108 names. As each name was called out, everyone responded with ‘Aum Amriteshwariyai Namah. Next came the 1000 names – everyone responding with ‘Aum Parashaktyai Namah’. Swami finished by singing Ayi Giri Nandini. It was the first time to everyone’s knowledge that a full archana had been done on tour in the US.

In Amritapuri, Archana is done each morning beginning at 4:50am. As with Mata Rani, we all hope that this will become a standard during the rest of the US Tour.

Sri Pati
Seattle, 4 July 2007

Mata Rani Ki Jai!

2007-06-05T14:30:00.000+05:30

Mata Rani Ki Jai!

One of the questions on many people’s mind during the Seattle programs was whether Amma would sing ‘Mata Rani’. Most everyone had heard about how Amma had been singing this new upbeat Punjabi song in India – especially during the end of the Brahmastanam Temple Festivals. Anticipation was high and palpable in the air. When would we hear this new bhajan?

Our first introduction to Mata Rani came during bhajans on the first night of the Retreat. It was the fourth bhajan in the set. During the bhajan, Amma would occasionally lift Her hands up in the air, fingers pointed upwards, and shout out ‘Mata Rani Ki…..’ and everyone would respond with a rousing ‘Jai!!!’. But it simply wasn’t the same as in India. In India, when Amma sang at the Brahmastanam Festivals, She was still giving darshan and would be surrounded by devotees standing close in. So seeing it with Amma, sitting virtually alone on stage, it was missing the intense intimacy and interaction of India.

Until….

At the end of the second night of darshan, around 1:45am, as the last people were lining up for darshan, Amma suddenly called for a harmonium. Within seconds, the musicians were on stage, a microphone was brought near Amma, and it began. It was beyond bliss. Amma kept singing and singing. Raising the intensity. Her arms occasionally raising in the air again, enticing everyone to shout out ‘Mata Rani Ki Jai!!!’

It went on for about 15 minutes. When Amma finally finished, She rose from Her chair, and walked out the hall. Calls of ‘Mata Rani Ki Jai!’ followed Her to Her car. As She drove away, blissed out devotees shared their excitement at finally hearing this new bhajan. It was a wonderful gift. We all hope that Amma will continue this on the rest of the tour stops.

There is something incredibly intimate when Amma sings Mata Rani. The way She interacts with Her children. For most other bhajans, we follow Amma as She either looses herself in internal bliss, or find ourselves uplifted by the rousing emotions. But with Mata Rani, Amma is pulling us along with immense love and joy, encouragingly, interactively, watching Her beam at us as we follow Her leads.

Sri Pati
Seattle, 3 June 2007

Sweet Memories

2007-05-27T22:09:00.000+05:30

Aum Amriteswaryai Namaha

Namah Shivaya All,
Its been a very long time since I posted on this site. Now Amma is in Japan and will be away from Amritapuri for 2 months and a week. Pretty long. But anyway nowadays we get to see Amma via the webcast, we get e-Darshan :) .

Coming back to the post, I had quite a bit to write about on my experiences on the tour and how Amma brought out situations to teach a few lessons.

On the south indian tour, I had to go to trichy programme earlier to help in organizing the program. I was looking into the venue and stage arrangements and was too busy through out.

Sometime around 2 am that night I went near Amma and darshan was going on as usual. There were a few devotees who were trying to take off their footwear and a little confusion was ensuing, Amma was quick to respond and She told the devotees that they can have their footwear on and She doesn't mind and that it was enough to have bhakti and respect internally.

This struck me quite a bit where people these days pay more attention to going about the rituals mechanically rather than being involved in them with their mind and body and trying to know the significance.

Then Amma saw me and called me near Her, then She asked if I had learnt how to organize things, I told that I went crazy doing it ( so many things all at the last time and I was running out of resources, time and ideas. Anyway all went well in the end but only later do we realize that its only Amma who takes care of all that but till then we think we are the ones carrying the whole responsibility).
In response to that statement of mine, Amma pointed to the crowd in front of Her and told that even if only one person among the whole crowd benefits, its worth organizing the programme. These words from Amma just struck me like a big Hammer on my head.

We do such small things and want the whole world to stand and appreciate us but look at Amma, She does everything for the world and what is it that She looks for, not for people to praise and worship Her, but just hoping atleast one among thousands to benefit and start doing good to the world.

Even now when I think and replay those scenes in my mind, I can't control my tears. Such selflessnes and humility cannot be taught by words and Amma just leads us all by Her actions. But I see that the level She sets is very high, hope I can atleast match it in my own small way. Lets hope that lots and lots more people benefit from Amma's presence and love.
I pray to Amma to be able to follow the way She is showing us all.

Aum Namah Shivaya
Sudharsan

Sweet Reminisces

2007-05-03T23:18:00.000+05:30

With searing average temperatures of 40 deg celcius, in the midst of a dry, rainless spell, Palakkad wasn't exactly the coolest place to be in this time of the year. The only reason, it happened to be THE place to be, or, if you would pardon the pun, the 'hottest' place to visit -
that our Mother, Amma was there in all Her splendour. After securing a much coveted darshan token, i made my way to Amma at about 10.45 pm, hoping as always for a 'special' darshan - a longer look, a 'made-just-for-me' smile, an infintely long hug (well, why not!).

After the initial sweet embrace, just as i was about to be yanked away by the all-too-ready hands of the darshan line monitors, Amma goes, "Ahh .. its you ..", and takes me back into Her arms. Amma goes on to narrate that on recent Her flight to Mauritius - a lady (stewardess or
pilot) had used the mantra "Om Amriteswaryai Namah" during an inflight announcement. I had been bestowed the honour of piloting Her flight from Singapore to Kochi last year after Her Singapore programme. Without realising it, i had started my inflight address to passengers with "Om Amriteswaryai Namah". Amma allowed me to savour that
memorable moment yet once again.

2 May 2007, Palakkad
Suresh, Singapore

when god is at your doorstep

2007-05-02T23:21:00.000+05:30

you worship her every day in the puja room as devi, as the divine mother. one day she may pass your house... how would you feel? how will you react? what will you do? could such a thing happen?
yes. it happened in kochi.
amma was going for a house call. i was in a car behind her. a devotee came to know that Amma was passing his house from the siren of the pilot car. i saw a big photo of amma on the portico. the family was waiting next to the road by the gate. the divine mother comes. she stops the car. gives darshan to them. they all jump in joy. watch amma drive away. they wipe their tears. i think that they are yet to realize what had really happened.
keep waiting for amma at your doorstep. one day she may come to you too.

30 april 2007, kochi, kerala.
dhyanamrita

Cool Rain

2007-04-30T04:32:00.000+05:30

i had so much to write...but nothing inspires me what to do?

it is so hot, and humid. unbelievably hot. you are sweating all the time. most of the time the dress is soaked in sweat. i could not think, there was no inspiration . brain is not working.. like when the laptop is hot it becomes soooo slow...
but it rained in the first night. wow what a relief it had... my thoughts started sprouting..

we are in ernaklam for the brahmasthanam festival. i stayed in amrita vidyalayam, on the same floor with amma. there is amrita univerisity campus, ashram, and a brahmasthanam in the same compound.

the part of tents made of cloths could not bear the weight of water and it started falling down. the main tent was metal roof though. there were some leakage on top where amma was sitting. so some one held an umbrella for mother. amma continued to give darshan unaffected by the 'paristhiti'

the second evening , sani puja night was so different. there were lightning before and shower after bhajan. it rained heavily. the whole atmosphere become like air-conditioned.

29 April 2007, Ernakulam Brahmasthanam
Dhyanamrita

shower of grace

2007-04-10T00:21:00.000+05:30

It was the first Devi Bhava of 2007. Amma’s visit coincided with a potentially dangerous eruption of Reunion’s active volcano. There were serious concerns about acid rain caused by the sulphur emitted from the volcano’s fiery core. And while it did rain, there was no acid rain during Amma’s visit. Thus it seemed to some of the devotees that the Goddess had come in person to shower her blessings in the shadow of Nature’s fury. Instead of acid rain, Reunion Island received a shower of grace.
Reunion 5 April 2007
vinay

A glorious chapter

2007-04-03T18:46:00.000+05:30

Amma was rocking the stage with her song ‘mata rani’ at the end of darshan in delhi. The complete hall was dancing as amma was singing this song. Padapuja was going on at the same time. The full hall was watching amma close-up clearly on the big screen. After the puja amma stood on her feet and danced. It bought cheers and whistles from the children. It has become a new beginning to end a programme.

The next day amma left for Reunion & Mauritus programmes. Devotes were lined up from amma’s room to the gate, then to the road. As amma moved slowly in her car, I wished “happy journey” to amma even though she is the one who makes others journey happy.

A small part of the group went with amma, some flew back to their country, a major portion back to the ashram, and a few to the branches.

2007 Bharata Yatra has ended.

Another glorious chapter is added to the life of Amma; a series of teachings has been added to the life of her children.

Dhyanamrita
1 April 2007

Can you hug me like She does?

2007-03-30T12:58:00.000+05:30

‘Amma wants to hear a story, a joke’ Mother said. I saw Her swiftly looking at me and I knew the time had come to tell the Her about the funny adventure that happened during my PR seva some years ago.

We were sitting under the trees, just outside Delhi. It takes only four hours to drive from Jaipur to the Delhi ashram, so no one had expected one more lunchstop with Amma on that short last leg of the North India tour. We had all rushed to sit at Her feet. As Amma started serving the plates that were handed to Her, She inquired how people were and looked lovingly from one to the other. Amma always asks for stories and jokes, She loves to see everybody laugh and be energised by the laughter for the rest of the journey.

I got the microphone. It had been the first time I had been asked to do the PR work around Amma’s visit to my country. Then the day before Amma’s program would start the Breakfastnews called. ‘Can you come and talk about Amma live tomorrow morning on the show?’ Of course I said yes rightaway but as I put down the phone I realised I was gonna be talking on live television for 7 minutes about Amma.... at 7.30 in the morning to an audience of 2 million viewers. Ouch .... this was scary. I prepared as well as I could and prayed in silence ‘Amma please don’t let me embarras you’

Next morning I was in the studio waiting for the presenter to come and walk up to me for the interview. ‘Amma help please!’ I prayed. I heard the music start that would introduce my turn. And there he was... I had seen his face hundreds of times on tv. ‘So you come from the Hugging Mother’ he said. ‘Yes’ I said, waiting for the chance to jump in and tell the lines I had carefully prepared.
‘Can you hug me like She does?’ he asked.
‘O... I could never do that’ I said.
‘O come on, hug me like She does’ he pressed on with a smile.

What to do... this was live television... I hesitated half a second and then I took Hollands most famous anchorman in my arms, told him he was my darling son and then I pretended to shower him with flowerpetals.

Amma was cracking up, laughing out loud in Her chair under the mangotree. Her laugh is so contagious. I continued my story: ‘And it will not be just you getting this loving embrace, but hundreds will get the same love and attention.’ I said. The rest of the interview went smooth and I could tell all I wanted to, about the projects, the schools, the pensions and the role of women in India. This funny start had thrown me off my feet and all my nerves were gone. Amma had helped me in Her own funny way. Next day the hall was packed and I heard many came because of the breakfastshow. Even a newspaper wrote something about two men hugging on television.... what a start for my pr seva!
Thank you Amma!

Devadath

Harvest your seva

2007-03-30T12:56:00.000+05:30

We left Ahmedabad at nine in the morning, just two hours after Amma finished darshan. When we were on the road for a few hours one of the seven Ashram busses broke down, so the whole karavan parked along the side of the new four laned highway that leads to Jaipur. The sun was at it’s highest and the heat in the bus was building up. I stepped outside and saw that many brahmacharinis had done the same. Just next to us there was a family harvesting wheat. All morning they had cut the grain by hand, and bundeled it up. And now, at the hottest moment of the day bundels of wheatgrass lay scattered over the field, just waiting to be picked up.

Then one of the brahmacharinis had a great idea: Let’s help the farmerfamily collect the bundels to the side of the field, so they only have to stack it up to the cart! The farmland was the size of a soccerfield, and there were hundreds of bundels. Rightaway the girls got in action. First picking one bundle and bringing it back, but soon they formed a line, passing this ‘bread-to-be’ to each other. It was hot but they were all smiling. As I joined I heard them sing ‘Om Namah Shivaya’, giving every bundle a prayer as they passed it on. The farmerfamily could hardly get over their surprise. Where did all these people in white come from? In half an hour the work was done, that would have taken the family at least a whole day.
Smiles were on all faces, of those who were helped and those who had been helping.
The busses horned, the problem with the engine had been fixed. Joyfully and fully energised we went back to the bus. As we drove off the family waved and laughed. Sometimes helping someone and doing seva is so easy, it’s just on the side of the road pass by.

Devadath

its time to wake up

2007-03-27T03:31:00.000+05:30

right from the stage of jaipur, amma left for delhi. after entering haryana state, we stopped in a company's compound for lunch. we had satsang and bhajan with amma. we reached delhi in the evening. amma stayed in the ashram building near the brahmasthanam temple. the ashram is small. it cannot accommodate all the members of the group. i stayed with my brothers in a farm house opposite to the ashram. most of them stayed in the amrita vidyalayam school - 5 km away.

the weather is cold at night. if you pour hot water on your head, by the time it reaches the foot, its cold. but day time is hot.

i had a good sleep. morning i woke up listening to chirping of the birds. i could not believe my ears. they were cuckoos. that there are cuckoos. it was time to wake up..
26 march 2007, new delhi
Dhyanamrita

In Rajasthan with Amma

2007-03-27T03:29:00.000+05:30

The night before we got to Jaipur we stopped at another place in Rajasthan called Rajsamand for the night. The place was an ashrama like place located on a beautiful hilltop with a view that was spectacular. From the rooftop of the building one could see the vast lake spread out below. Early in the morning Amma came out for a morning meditation in that very spot. One of those moments that stay with you for a long time.

The Jaipur program was quite interesting in a few ways. The people in northern India have a tendency to express their devotion through dancing and that is exactly what happened during Amma’s bhajans. It was beautiful to see the devotees around me get up and start moving very gracefully and in some cases fairly vigorously yet totally without self-consciousness. There was one lady that especially captivated my attention. She was obviously totally lost to the world as she was dancing to Amma’s Punjabi Bhajan Mata Rani Ne. This kind of dance that comes spontaneously and is rooted in ancient traditions of devotion is a very inspiring sight.

On the road from Jaipur to Delhi we had a lunch stop with Amma where She also sang the same Punjabi song, but this time She picked up a drum and kept the beat with it herself. She was so sweet as She played and sang at the same time. Amma seemed like She was in a very childlike mood during the whole stop.

Vishwanath
27 Mar 2007

beauty in the stones

2007-03-22T12:40:00.001+05:30

it was again 'mata rani' at the end of darshan in Amdavad. but this time it was a gujarati version instead of punjabi. amma was dancing and then began clapping her hands along with the devotees. one devotee, who came for darshan, began dancing beautifully in-font of amma bringing delight and joy to everyone. as she was playing with the devotees, the sun spread his rays from the eastern horizon to join with amma.

Amma left directly from the the stage of amdavad to jaipur.
it was about 7.30 a.m. we passed the sabarmati river. entered into the national highway NH8 again. the roads in gujarat are super. the road is so straight as if drawn with a scale. pink, yellow and white 'arali' flowers waved 'good-bye' to the passengers standing from the highway median.

after driving about 130 km we crossed the gujarat state border entering rajasthan. the landscape changed drastically. the green fields disappeared - now only barren hills and rocks, no greenery. only stones and rocks. trees are scattered here and there. but green leaves are missing. if it is there, its might be a thorny bush.

rajsthan is the land of rajputs - who are known for their valour, faith, and devotion to gurus. this is also the land of meera bhai, the great saint who sang and danced for her lord and merged with giridhara gopla.

amma is just few feet ahead of me in her camper. i am in the car behind. i see ladies carrying 2,3 pots on top on their head fetching water from some where. its very sunny and hot day. jaipur is still 380 km ahead from where we are now-- udaypur.

even though there are only stones everywhere, still there is a beauty in it. creation and creator are not two... right?

22 march 2007, en route amdavad to jaipur
dhyanamrita

Leave no one disappointed

2007-03-22T04:32:00.000+05:30

On the road from Mumbai to Ahmedabad, Amma served us all lunch as She sat under a tree in the shade. She cracked jokes, and looked back on the 3 days of darshan in Mumbai. She stretched Her arms out and gestured embracing one after the other, at high speed. ‘Amma goes as fast as She can’ She said. If She would not go at such a high speed hundreds of people would not get darshan. People who would have been waiting for hours, who had waited all year or maybe all their lives to get a glimps of Her. They would than leave disappointed and sad.

Hearing about Amma’s tireless effort always brings tears to my eyes. She is the symbol of hope, of selflessness. A beacon off love in the selfish world.

That evening, after 5 more hours on the dusty roads of Gujarat, we stopped again for chai and diner. Amma took a seat on a parking spot and the whole karavan sat around her. There was maybe 400 of us there. Amma started practising some bhajans in Gujarati. We laughed as She playfully joked with words that sounded funny to Her. In all She does Amma expresses great joy and pleasure, and with that She is like a magnet. After the bhajans Swamiji brought some chocolate bars for Amma to give as prasad. Amma took them out of the box and asked for a knife. She looked around at the crowd and started counting the bars of chocolate. Then She opened one and started cutting, counting the pieces. Amma, who had embraced maybe 50.000 people in the last few days was now cutting chocolate for 400 people.... No effort is ever too much it seems. Swamiji also started cutting but as soon as he finished She inspected it and started cutting the big pieces in to smaller chunks and counted them again. Plate after plate with chocolate chunks were passed around. ‘One each please!’ Amma said. As the last bar was passed around She looked up and asked who had not yet had any. Only five hands raised. Amma look satisfied. She still had a few pieces in Her hands and started cutting them up. How do you cut 25 bars of chocolate so that 400 can all have a piece? Amma knows...She had been counting prefectly, just like with the thousands that came in Mumbai, Amma would leave no one disappointed.

21 March 2007, Amdavad
Devadath, Holland

Smell of Motherland

2007-03-22T04:31:00.000+05:30

flew into Mumbai late at night, the heat and smell of the city brought back memories. This was India, the land of my Mother. All winter in Europe I had been longing to be with Her again, to take part in the North Indiatour. To follow Her footsteps and to be litterally on the path of the Mother again.

In the Nerul Ashram on the outskirts of Mumbai, Amma was giving darshan at breathtaking speed. Every few seconds She firmly took a lost soul in her arms, offering every breath and heartbeat to humanity. Seeing Her do this always brings tears to my eyes. The simple fact that She is here, and She is comforting and does what She is doing without compromise.
I watched Her for two hours, standing near the side of the stage. I did not dare go for Her darshan seeing how hard She had to work, I did not want to burden Her more. I decided to go sleep for a few hours and come back around three in the morning and watch the finish of the darshan and maybe be in Her arms once more.
I always think its a miracle that I know Amma in my life. But it is an even greater miracle that Amma knows me. That everytime She lets me know that She knows and loves me. And yet there are hundreds like me, maybe thousands. And Amma knows all and She shows it time and again: that She loves me and that She will be there. Even if I forget it again and again, like I do. Amma is always there. She knows and She shows it.

Late that night Amma was still embracing at the same high speed. Somehow I could not restrain and stepped in the queue near the stage. ‘Fast, fast’ I heard. It was the shortest darshan ever. Within seconds it was over. But as She held me in that brief moment She said ‘Mijn iieve zoon’ - my darling son in my own native dutch language. She grabbed a banana from behind and put it in my hands. As the crowd pushed me away from her She gave me the warmest smile, an explosion of love and enthousiasm came from Her eyes, as if She said ‘YES!!!’
I had longed for months, traveled 10.000 km and waited for hours, for the most amazing 1,5 seconds of my life.

18 March 2007, Mumbai
Devadath, Holland

The Road to Ahmedabad

2007-03-22T04:25:00.000+05:30

The ride from Mumbai to Ahmedabad was really long and gruelling, except for two factors. One being that the highway is one of the best in India, and the other one that we had two stops with Amma, one for lunch and one for chai. For lunch Amma chose an idyllic spot in a beautiful mango grove. I found myself a perfect natural sofa on the branch of one the mango trees. It even had a backrest. It was so nice to watch Amma enjoy herself with Her children in such an unhurried environment after the hectic Mumbai darshan. She looked so fresh and young in the pristine setting. She called us to tell some stories and jokes with a spiritual meaning attached and then distributed the lunch to everybody. Some jokes were there, how spiritual they were I don’t know. The next stop was a few our later at a gas station parking lot. Quite a contrast to the previous spot, but sometimes Amma chooses a seemingly inconvenient place just to highlight the importance of finding peace within in all circumstances. And who knows maybe Amma also perceives subtle things that are imperceptible to us in the place. Maybe the gas station is built over an ancient sacred sight or something, which in India is more probable than not. There was a meditation and after that Amma started practising new Gujarati bhajans. Really blissful, I felt so happy and at home once again travelling through India with Amma. At the end Amma took some Snickers bars that devotees had given and cut them into small pieces which She then distributed to everybody. Sweetness all ‘round.

Vishwanath
21 Mar 2007

spiritual part

2007-03-21T10:41:00.000+05:30

we stayed in amrita vidyalayam. amma on the 2nd floor. i was on the first.
the school is in the city itself. it's a beautiful school. we had good internet facility - 2mbps broad-band in the computer room.

today is a rest day. after nearly one months travel and programmes continuesly we need some rest. thanks, amma. i slept through the afternoon. most of the group members were sleeping. its is still hot outside.

after a trip on the indian tour, you willl be blessed to be able to sleep anywhere in the world, whatever be the situaliton. not just by sitting, even by standing you will be able to sleep. you become so adaptable to the situaation , adjustable to the circumstances...
that is the spiritual part of this bharat yarta -- interact with any one, eat any thing, do any thing... at any time.

amma also need some rest. but she won't .. there were guests - invited to have meeting with amma.
now its 2 am again.

21 march 2007, amdavad
Dhyanamrita

good bye Mumbai

2007-03-21T10:39:00.000+05:30

saying good bye to mumbai, we entered into 4 lane highway to amdavad. it's a 500 km drive. as we entered gujarat, the roads look like a royal pathway--staight, clean highway. there are lot of agriculture farms on either side of the road. gujarat is only state where there is a 3 phase power supply even in the villages... and there are no power cuts! the farmers suicide is almost nil here. economically and industrially gujaratis well ahead of other states of india.

we had a luch stop and tea stop on the way. during the luch stop we had satsang and jokes and in the tea stop amma was singing some new gujarati bhajans. the tea stop was infront of a dabha. with the buses around, the temporary electric lights, that area was converted into a bhajan hall. amma sat more than usual. when we reached amadavad it was 2.am. already.

20 March 2007, Amdavad
Dhyanamrita

Amma moon

2007-03-21T10:38:00.000+05:30

now it seems that it has become the tradition in brahmasthanam festivals, at the end amma sings and dances to the tune of 'mata rani' the hit bhajan of the year. amma did dance at the end. devotees were calling out... with joy. what a gift to the mumbaikars for the new year day. for the maharashtrians, today is new year - ugadi.

there was eclipse this morning. some believe it is not good omen to have eclipse on the new year. but you have to learn to accept this and pray for the grace. may be this is another occassion for you to do so. the moon like Amma's face is shining even on the day of eclipse. follow the Amma moon.

19 March 2007, Mumbai
Dhyanamrita

3 days in Nerul

2007-03-21T10:36:00.000+05:30

after the sivaji park public program we went to the ashram. ashram is on top of a hill in new bombay. you can see the city, nerul railway station, the sea... alll from the top of the ashram building. there are other two temples and a church on the same hill.

it was so dusty, hot, humid... people move like ants in their cars on the road. the leaves on the trees have become brown due to the dust in the atmosphere. the city life is some thing i dont like. but life is there. people have devotion.

nerul brahmasthanam has an ashram and a computer institute in the same complex. amrita vidyalayam is a kilometer away from the ashram.

i was happy that mumbai pgm was only 3 days.

17 March 2007, Mumbai
Dhyanamrita

200 crores

2007-03-21T10:34:00.000+05:30

we left pune as soon as the darshan was over. in fact amma walked to her camper right from the stage. i had to grab my camera bag and run through the crowds to the car to follow Amma. my shirt and dothi were full with butter and milk. some curd was still there on my beard - i saw it on the mirror of the car- which spilled when amma put in my mouth.

we entered into the express highway. in four places it passes through the tunnels - through the mountain. main one is more than one kilometer long!. they have halogen lights and turbo fans inside the tunnel to keep the tunnel lighty and airy.
the 100 km road is super. this has changed the life of pune and mumbai people. in one hour you can reach mumbai which used to take 4- 5 hrs earlier. if there is a traffic jam or an accident on the way, it used to take more time. there were hair pin roads and lots of ups and downs road. but now straight road. you need to pay 100rs for each vehicle.

Amma stayed in a devotees house first day of mumbai. next day she was invited to the Maharashtra chief ministers office. the CM wated to discuss with amma and find solutions to the farmers suicide in the state. Amma had an hour long discussion. after which amma announced 200 crore project to help he farmers and their families. amma made it clear that it wont be a financial distribution, but it will be a rehabilitation, education, counselling type of rehabilitation.

15 March 2007, Mumbai
Dhyanamrita

Mumbai Program

2007-03-18T23:13:00.000+05:30

I joined the tour in Mumbai. Amritapuri was blissfully quiet and it was almost tempting to stay in order to do some sadhana and study, but then again you can always do that, can’t you. The longing to see Amma got the better of me and I hopped on the train.

First there was the usual public program in Shivaji Park, which was massive in scale and intense in many ways. I have always liked Mumbai ever since I came to India in 1995 and it is good to see that, although the city has gone through quite a lot of change and a good dose of westernisation, it’s people still retain a good deal of spirituality. Or maybe that’s why, the overwhelmingly hectic and sometimes materialistic way of life in the financial hub of India needs to be balanced by strong counter-medicine that only someone as spiritually powerful and vibrant as Amma can provide. People may be disillusioned with small time pandits, fakirs and godmen, but Amma’s ocean of love holds such an attraction that people just cannot keep away.

During the program Amma’s scheme and monetary pledge for suicide prevention was announced. Information about it is available on our website, I need not repeat it here. Amma’s ways to uplift India and the world are simply endless.
Sivamani, the famous percussionist and right hand man of the composer A.R. Rahman was there to play for Amma and get a blessing from Her.

Yesterday the Brahmasthanam festival started here at the Nerul Ashram. The atmosphere during the festival is always charged with deep spiritual vibrations. Tonight was the Saturn Puja which is very powerful always. I remember when I first came to India I was slightly sceptical toward Pujas but decided to give it a chance. I decided to keep an open mind and made a resolve to do all the Archanas and Pujas during a Brahmasthanam festival (which lasted four of five days back then). The details I will not go into but I will say that I had such deep experiences that I changed my opinion of Pujas for ever. Their effect should never be underestimated. Tonight the energy was palpable again. Even though I don’t do the Pujas these days I love the atmosphere and vibrations that are generated during the Brahmasthanam Festivals.
Amma has a lot of new nice Hindi bhajans that she sings here. The bhajans tonight after the Shani Puja were simply ecstatic. Amma looked so intimate and sweet on the small stage. It reminded me of how the bhajans in Amritapuri used to be in the (old) main temple when you could sit in front Her sweet form just a meter or two away and stare into Her deep dark eyes and be lost to the world. Here I go again...

I will go and sit near Amma for some time. Tomorrow we will drive to Ahmedabad.

Vishwanath
18 Mar 2007

Krishna Leela of Pune

2007-03-18T00:23:00.000+05:30

One beautiful thing with Pune devotees is that they all clap and sing with Amma during bhajan. the bhajans in pune were sooo much energetic. pune has a rich culture and tradition.

during darshan time, a twins came to receive mantra from amma. they are in their 50s. both look alike.. bold heads, big bellies, their smile, appearance..
both got mantra from amma. then both were crying. both got the mantra deeksha also at the same time from amma. amma was smiling at them for a long time.

now it has become a tradition that at the end Kale Master comes with his family dressed as gopis with pots milk, buttermilk, curd and butter on their head. amma would break them. he dressed up amma as krishna, with peacock feather crown and gave a flute.
amma then broke the pot of millk, curd and curd. with a stick and drank the curd from it. milk and butter milk were all flowing down the girls who carried it. she distributed to the devotees around. then she threw all the sweets and fruits and nuts they brought to all standing around. it was as if we were in the Gokulam, during the time of krishna leela.
yes here krishna was playing another leela with the devotees of pune.

Pune 13 March 2007
Dhyanamrita

Smile Always?

2007-03-12T02:44:00.000+05:30

We see many people come to Amma, not knowing anything about Her, but when they meet Her you see the smile blossom on their face - and you know that a bond has been established. Many reporters from different newspapers came to interview Amma in Hyderabad.

One particular incident to share -- Amma had agreed to give an interview to a reporter from the leading local newspaper 'Eenadu'. We had our ashram people there to translate for him as he was more fluent in his mother tongue Telugu, but he had brought a recorder along with him all the same. He asked his questions and Amma was giving answers one by one, he was recording everything. I asked him why he was recording as he would not understand Malayalam anyway. He said, "I just want to record Her voice, to hear it again." Well, he was sitting there watching Amma and spontaneously he came up with another question, "How are you able to smile always?"

Amma's answer was succinct, "I do not depend on anything for my happiness."

Nijamrita
9 March 2007, Secunderabad.

Lunch and Tea

2007-03-11T11:09:00.000+05:30

We crossed Andhra Pradesh, then Karnataka and entered Maharashtra. Even though Karnataka is a big state, a small portion of Northern Karnataka intersects the national highway NH9. Amma stopped for lunch in a village in Maharashtra. The vehicle pulled over to a random spot. It was the second time Amma was stopping at the same spot. Can u believe it? Yes, it was the same house. The members of the house could of course remember Amma's previous visit. While Amma waited for the buses to come, she started reading a bunch of letters and responding to them. It was about 3:45 p.m. when the buses arrived. Amma served lunch to all. Someone handed a yellow fruit to Amma. She cut that small fruit into 400 small pieces and distributed them. We then had a small question-and-answer session with Amma. Meanwhile a member of the entourage started describing the beauty, explaining how each part of her beauty was unique.

By 4:30 p.m. we set off again. The weather was still hot. It was a long drive, By 8:00 p.m. we stopped for tea and dinner in front of a dhaba [roadside restaurant]. All the group members joined Amma. Soon the vicinity became a bhajan hall. Amma sang Marathi bhajans. The villagers and passers-by from trucks also joined in.

It was 3 a.m when we reached the Pune ashram. It houses an Amrita Vidyalayam and a Computer Institute. Most of those accompanying Amma are staying in the school. Amma is in staying in the ashram.

The official language of Maharashtra is Marathi. So Amma will be singing Marati bhajans more in Pune and Mumbai, the next two stops. Amma's satsang will first be translated into Hindi and once darshan starts, it will be translated into Marathi.

11 March 2007, Pune
Dhyanamrita

Showering Petals

2007-03-09T23:26:00.000+05:30

During Amma’s visit to Hyderabad in February 2006, I had the unique blessing of performing Arati to Amma along with other devotes. Generally Amma showers petals on all the devotees who perform Arati. I was the third person in the queue to perform Arati. By the time my turn came there were few petals already on Amma’s lap. The petals would have been fallen on Amma’s lap when she was showering them on other devotees during arati. A thought occurred in my mind. I wished that it would be so nice if Amma showers the petals on me from her lap instead of from the plate that is kept by the side. But Amma had already a bunch of flowers from the plate. To my surprise the very next moment Amma dropped them, collected all the petals from her lap smelled them, smiled at me and then showered only on me. I felt tremendous love and blessing of Amma being showered in the form of petals. I feel it’s the best thing ever happened to me till now.

Mano Harita, Hyderabad

I found my photo on Amritapuri.org!

From the hill top

2007-03-09T10:08:00.000+05:30

The Hyderabad Brahmasthanam is situated on top of a hill. It's a beautiful temple. From there you see the city of Secunderabad (Hyderabad and Secunderabad are twin cities). You can also see the runway of the Secunderabad airport. As you stand by the temple, many a times you will feel that you can talk to the passengers or wave your hands to them because the plane flies so low. Actually from the temple you can see the runway.

Amma's room is near the Brahmasthanam temple. There is an Amrita Vidyalayam and Computer Institute in the ashram complex.
The weather was hot, unlike Mysore and Bangalore.

After the programs, Amma left Hyderabad at 7 a.m. We passed buildings in the crowded city and entered villages, cutting through the fields of sugar cane, bagra, maize, white chena, peanuts, onions... it was nice. But strangely one side of the road was dry, kind of barren. In many places, only one side of the road was cultivated. The landscape on the other side was all rocks and red sand.

Tonight we will reach Pune.

9 March 2007, Secunderabad
Dhyanamrita

Japanese Views

2007-03-07T18:20:00.000+05:30

A group of Japanese students came to do service, to help the tsunami housing rehabilitation project in Nagapattinam. These University students on their way to Nagapattianm, stopped in Mysore, had Amma’s darshan and participated in the Holi celebration with her. Many were seeing Amma for the first time. Here are their comments…

At first, I thought Amma is like God. But now I feel like Amma is my mother, the mother of all. Her hug was so charming. It filled my heart with kindness and love.
I wish that her love would extend to all of India and the whole world.
Susumu Toriyabe

Amma is very amazing. She made everyone – Indian, European and Japanese – very happy. I have had a nice time. Thank you.
Yuko Sakuma

At the time when Amma hugged me I couldn’t understand why she did it. But the day after I think I understood.
Frankly speaking, I didn’t think she was beautiful but I thought people loved her sincerely.
Her hands were very kind and warm and made me relax. I think she is not God but human. On the other hand she attracts so many people. I respect her.
Koioh Sato

I met Amma for the first time and had my first darshan. It was very beautiful, because I felt like all the things I had experienced since I was born were accepted. There was something mysterious about it.
Izumi Watanabe

Thank you for holding us, Amma! I think you have a great spirit because you hug everybody. I hope that we will spend another nice day with each other. Thank you!
Kumiko Yamamoto

Amma is full of love. I felt Amma’s love for the people when I first saw her. And I believe that there is a very strong love between Amma and her devotees. I was very happy to have met her.
Emi Yoshimatsu

Today I met Amma. Even though it was midnight she didn’t look tired. She was kind to everyone. It surprised me that she wasn’t tense at all. I cannot forget such a wonderful experience.
Takahiko Fujihara

I think she is kind because she spends so much time for others.
Takeshi Nishigori

Because Amma is a very famous person I was a little nervous at first. But when she held me, I could relax. I was moved by her. What a wonderful person she is! I am very glad to have met her.
Yuka Yanai

I enjoyed Amma’s program. I was surprised how many people came to see her. I could feel her power and kindness. She is a great and very precious gift for all the people in the world.
Kaede Miyazaki

I am very happy that I could see Amma. I was very moved by the people who were crying. I think they felt the love and the heart of Amma.
Emura Yu

When I saw Amma for the first time I felt that she has the invisible power that can help people in the world, because thousands of people from many countries made long queues to receive her darshan. I, too, felt her wonderful power and her embrace made me feel very happy.
Ikuko Taketani

She looks like the sun, which is warm, big, kind and powerful. I relaxed in her presence. I felt very good. Thank you, Amma.
Ryoko Matsumoto

I was happy when I saw Amma. And I felt love. Thank you for holding us.
I had a very good time because everyone could sing Amma’s song.
Taniguchi Masami

Before I met Amma I thought she was a cool and quiet woman. But that's not true. Fact is that she is so warm and cute!! I am very very very glad that I have met her.
Erina Otsubo

I was surprised about Amma’s charisma. A friend of mine said that he is scared of such situations, but I think that is because of the difference of our religious background. We need to develop a different view.
Northito Honda

When I met Amma, my first impression was that she is not special. But that changed soon.. She is very mysterious and heartfull. She can give hope even to those who fall down.
Masaki Takahashi

I was surprised by Amma’s miracle power. I felt so happy when I was hugged by Amma. I think Amma is a very charismatic person.
Katsuki Ata

I was very moved by Amma’s hug and very happy because she radiated such a charism. I couldn’t understand what she said into my ear while she hugged me, but I felt like she was my mother. So I was very happy. When I have the next chance I would like to meet her again.
Hiroshi Kubo

4 March 2007, Mysore.

Making Tea

2007-03-07T17:19:00.000+05:30

After her programmes in Bangalore Amma visited the Amrita University Campus in Bangalore. In fact during darshan in the Brahmasthanam Festival, the students of this campus were insisting to Amma that she should come to the campus. When she arrived there, they welcomed Amma and shared their hearts with her. They told her that they were so happy to see Amma in their campus and wanted Amma to come every year. Amma left Bangalore city around 10:30 in the morning.

In the evening Amma stopped by the river Tungabadra. It is one of the main rivers of Andra Pradesh, but now it has dried up 90%, and Amma and the tour group sat together in the dried up riverbed under a high bridge. 30 odd meters above is the High way. Amma sat in the sand and prepared tea for every one. She asked a brahmachari to bring some firewood. While the water was coming to a boil Amma sang a few Telugu bhajans and Mata Rani.

Many people were watching us from the overpass - many trucks and buses were passing overhead, their passengers looking down at the 500 odd people sitting around Amma in the riverbed...all in white clothes and singing in Telugu. wee waved at them. They waved back. After finishing the tea preparation Amma and the tour group left.

Our car's oil tank was punctured. Amazingly, at 9:00 in the evening, in this remote area, we were able to find a gas welder to repair it. Waiting for the repair work to be completed I laid on the sandy river bed looking at the sky and counting the stars. Two stray dogs were hanging around eating the leftovers of the tour group. A nice breeze was blowing across so no mosquitoes were there.

It will take at least 3 hours to fix this problem, so we will not be able to catch up with Amma. We will meet her tomorrow at the Brahmasthanam.

Amma will be singing bhajans in Telugu. Her satsang will also be translated into the language of Andhra Pradesh.

Dhyanamrita
6 March 2007, en route Bangalore to Hyderabad

Call like her

2007-03-04T18:41:00.000+05:30

Amma celebrated Holi with the devotees of Mysore at the end of the final evening programme. Everyone danced and sang in ecstasy when Amma was dancing. In keeping with the tradition, Amma threw coloured powder on the devotees, smeared paints on the faces, squirted coloured water with water guns…. Oh! What a Holi it was! I’m sure it was something that Mysorians won’t forget for years.

Amma visited the hospital before leaving the city. When Amma reached Bangalore, there were hundreds of devotees waiting for Amma. As Amma stepped from her vehicle, everyone cried out, “Amma! Amma!” Many were in tears. So many cries; whose cry would Amma answer? Amma looked around casting her compassionate glance at all the devotees. Then from the midst, one little girl cried out, “Amrita AMMA!” “Entho?” (What?), Amma immediately responded and looked directly at the little girl. Everyone was happy.

Can we call as innocently as that child? Only then will Amma respond.

3 March 2007, Bangalore
Dhyanamrita

The Guru Will Come

2007-03-02T19:22:00.000+05:30

A man came to see Amma today and asked her for a mantra. Amma agreed to give it to him. He was meeting Amma for the first time; how lucky he is. After Amma gave him the mantra she held him close to her heart one more time.
There is an interesting story about this elderly farmer from a remote village of Karwar District in Northern Karnataka. This man had a dream a week ago in which he saw a woman in a white sari. At the time, he didn’t recognize her; he had never seen her before. He became so restless—he wanted to meet that lady. Then he happened to visit a clinic in Karwar. Lol! There she was. On the wall there was a photo of the same lady whom he saw in the dream. He asked the doctor “Who is this lady?”
The doctor explained about Amma. The farmer then asked “How can I see her?”. Amma was coming to Mysore in a week. The doctor, who is a devotee and organizer of Amritakutumbam (Amrita Families) in that area took him to Mysore to meet Amma and receive her darshan.

Before this, he didn’t know who Amma was. Now he says Amma is the shakti, she is Kali.

Earlier, he had desired to have mantra deeksha (initiation). A teacher offered it to him, but he declined—it didn’t feel right. Then he had the dream of Amma. Now he has the mantra.

If your call is sincere, the Guru will come. Its one of the fundamental truths of spiritual life.

1 March 2007, Mysore
Dhyanamrita

Reached Mysore

2007-02-28T19:41:00.000+05:30

Amma finished her programs in Mananthavadi, visited 3 houses before leaving for Mysore. Traveling through the forests crossing the borders of Kerala and Karnataka, we reached Mysore in the evening around 3.50. Summer has started here, the forest is dry. I could not see any wild animals on the way. Saw only a few monkeys. One was interesting -- a mother monkey holding her baby and a father(?) monkey is removing the lice from her body. Only that. That’s all I saw? Yes, because I took a nap. When I opened my eyes I was already in a city.

In the journey of our life, most of us are asleep most of the time. So we miss the beauty of life.

Amrita University has a campus here in Mysore.
All are staying in these School buildings. Amma is staying in a small house at the ashram.

The language spoken here is Kannada. Amma sings many songs in Kannada.

Dhyanamrita
28 Feb 2007, en route Mananthavadi to Mysore

Quadruplets

2007-02-27T17:35:00.000+05:30

It was baby-feeding time at the end of darshan in Mananthavadi. Early mornig 3.a.m. Today there were 20 babies for Annaprash. The last set of parents had 4 children to be fed by Amma belonging to the same parents. All delivered in one birth! The fifth one died immediately after the delivery. Oh my god.

When I told Amma their story She was looking around and warning all the brahamacharis and brahmacharinis… “Look if you had taken up the family life, you would have been like this. (Pointing at the father) See how much suffering he is going through.”

The moment they were brought to Amma they started crying, struggling to get out of Amma’s lap, not willing to take the food from Her. All the 4 were the same. Usually you give the first solid food after 4-6 months. These boys were 3 years old. Since Amma had not visited Mananthavadi for the last 3 years, this poor family was not able to keep up with the letter of the tradition. But they still followed up the spirit…though it was not their first food.

A blessing to the family, a lesson to the Brahmacharis.

Dhyanamrita
27 February 2007 Mananthavady

Intoxicating Laughter

2007-02-26T17:33:00.000+05:30

Mananthavadi is a beautiful place. The ashram is on top of a hill in the town. From the top you see a range of mountains around. We are staying in the Amrita Vidyalayam here. Amma is just two rooms down the veranda.

Today Amma sang kannunir kondu nin padam kazhukam. It was intoxicating. There was not a single line after which Amma did not laugh. I was always attracted to bhajans not because of the tunes or the lines, but because of Amma’s bhava and her laughter. The sounds of Amma’s laughter—soaked in divine bliss—is utterly intoxicating…it takes you beyond this world. Every bhajan Amma sang was good, but this one was excellent—you know what I mean, right?

…. Devi please don’t leave me… I will hold on to your feet washing them with my tears...

Another bhajan was a new Malayalam one. It describes the pain of separation of
Radha. Krishna left Vrindavan. Akrura has taken him to Madhura in a chariot. The wheel of the chariot has created another path for the river Yamuna in Radha’s heart. She is asking ‘Krishna, do you know the source of this flow?’
Then Radha consoles herself that she is not different from Krishna, like the music and lyrics of the bamboo. (The song was composed by Swami Turiyamritananda.)

Forget about the devotion… when can we have at least the bhava of Radha?

Dhyanamrita
26 February 2007 Mananthavady

Festival Block

2007-02-25T17:32:00.000+05:30

2nd leg of the Bharata Yatra started. We were passing through Trissur District on the way from Amritapuri to Mananthavadi. Now its the time of festivals in Kerala. Especially in Trissur, which is a land of temples, elephants and festivals. We saw a lot of temples and celebrations.

The area around the temples is divided into eight segments. From each segment people will come in a procession with elephants, drums, cultural art forms, folk arts, and girls with lamps and flowers. They all merge in the temple, where there will be fireworks, panchavadyam, panchari, pandi melams (different types of traditional percussive arts). The best performance section is awarded.

We waited on the road for about 30 minutes for clearance. There were five elephants with a procession blocking the whole road. After few minutes we got through, but came to another place where there were seven elephants with drums. We could not pass through or take a deviation, so we found ourselves stuck between 12 elephants on the road. After a set of performances was over they let us go.

Dhyanamrita
25 February 2007 Mananthavady

Natural Wakeup

2007-02-25T17:30:00.000+05:30

The trip from Ramanathapuram to Kanyakumari was interesting in the sense that you see the typical Indian villages and their life. You pass through the rice fields, sugarcane fields, bananas and coconuts then to barren lands. Then you come across small mountains. Then cultivation of fans. Yes big fans… Nagarkovil is the district in Tamil Nadu where the majority of electric production comes from wind. These fans are windmills. One of its three arms is more than 30 feet! In one rotation it produces one unit of current. The weather was terribly hot. We were tired when we reached Kanyakumari. We stayed in a complex of Vivekananda Kendra. In the morning someone was knocking at the door. I opened my eyes. It was an atta bird knocking on the window glass. The bird woke me up. I saw a lot of birds in the ground through the window. The whole Vivekananda complex is beautiful. Very well laid out trees and houses, lawns and halls. On one side is the sea where you can see the Vivekananda Memorial Rock.
A place where nature will wake you up!
Dhyanamrita
7 February 2007 enroute Ramnad to Kanya Kumari

Many faces of Amma

2007-02-22T03:20:00.000+05:30

It was in Kanyakumari, I was updating the web site, sitting in the left corner of the stage. Amma was giving darshan. I can see Amma, she occasionally turning around - and I look at Her. The prasad line is stretching all the way from Amma to where I am sitting, and beyond, then curls around. One lady who appeared to be in her 40s, came from the prasad line, saw me working at the computer. She asked if I was updating the web site. I replied 'Yes'. 'Why was the posting for Ramanathapuram late?' I was half surprised that someone out of the blue would just come up and inquire, and half happy that people are so eager and anxious to hear news about Amma. I responded that Ramanathapuram was just posted earlier that day, and Kanyakumari is just going up now. She nodded her head. She came back after giving prasad and said, 'You should not put crying photos of Amma on the Mother-page.'
Why? I asked
"I Don't want to see Amma crying"
"It's not your mother who is crying. It's theirs"
I was sure that she didn't get it quite what i was saying. it was obvious from the pale look on her face. so i explained.
" Amma is like a mirror - she reflects. When you are in pain, Amma cries with you. When you are smiling, She smiles with you. That's why you feel connected with Amma. If she is smiling with you, she's may be crying with someone else. Understand that your Mother is great. She has many faces."
She left the stage. I don't know whether she was able to understand what i was saying.

After the program, as we were leaving the venue, i saw her standing there in the line to say goodbye to amma. i smiled at her. She reflected it.

Dhyanamrita
8 Feb 2007, Kanya Kumari

Spotless beach

2007-02-15T00:00:00.001+05:30

During my walk through the crowd, the grounds of the yajna shala was covered with paper and plastic. This made me sad, but as the sun was rising, to my surprise, I heard that Amma had called all her devotees to help clean the trash. About 30 people rushed to help, and in about 15 minutes, the whole place was clean! No one could believe it.. Yes, Amma is the greatest sweeper! Amma's invitation to help in this service showed us how we can participate at each moment in caring for Mother Earth. Mother, we want to serve you in each instant.

Vani - France

11 Feb 2007, Tiruvanathapuram

Devotion in Calicut

2007-02-14T23:59:00.000+05:30

We arrived at Amma's school in Calicut at night and the next afternoon, the bus took us to the stadium for the programme. The fully filled stadium, the music, and the atmosphere around the stadium reminded us of the Amritavarsham in Cochin in 2003. We were crying with emotion and joyous to experience again so strong presence of Amma in the Calicut crowd of devotees.

After numerous speech by local authorities and a great satsang Amma had given to her children, Amma gave her darshan with such energy, such joy, great speed, and so gentle. The darshan was the image of the profound devotion of Calicut devotees. It was extraordinary. I still tremble remembering it. Amma has embraced the entire crowd in 17 hours with the same joyful energy.

What impressed me the most was the view of the crowd from a distance. It looked very dense and intense. I couldn't imagine that Amma could physically take all into her arms I one night. But when I walked among the people in the night, I came across a beautiful family. The people were simple, gentle, very happy to be in Amma's presence. I found the devotees very light, friendly, open. The weight of the big crowd disappeared totally from my heart. Amma's darshan was like a beautiful dance with her devotional devotees.

Amma showed me that we should only live in the moment. The huge crowd was an example of the spiritual progress Amma has developed in her devotees. The faith, the selflessness, the devotion are really palpable.

Vani - France

6 Jan 2007, Kozhikode

The birds of Kanyakumari?

2007-02-13T15:19:00.001+05:30

The Kanyakumari programme was held in a large field just north of the city. It was bounded on two sides by groves of trees. Sitting on stage, I heard what I thought were the calls of many different birds. The sounds were clear, distinct, varied, and came from both sides of the stage. It was so beautiful to hear this, and I was internally thrilled. Some were sounds that I had not heard before. Others were somewhat familiar – they sounded like birds from the US. The ornithologist ‘expert’ in me was delighted to make the scientific conclusion that because Kanyakumari is the southern-most point of the Indian subcontinent, it must be the destination of all kinds of exotic migrating birds. I proudly announced this to all within earshot –a few times at that, and everyone was happy to have such a knowledgeable person as a part of the touring group. I sat there on stage, feeling happy to have shared my insight. With each bird call, I felt more inner joy, and my ego grew, and grew.

But, something wasn’t quite right. Birds don’t call at all hours of the night. And the sounds were too close, too consistent, and too clear. Still, I continued to make my expert conclusions known. Then, after a few hours, I looked to the stage left, and saw the metal detectors. It seemed that the bird calls were strangely in synch as each person stepped through. There were no exotic birds to be heard. Just the cleverly designed metal detectors. Such is our minds. We mistake the rope for a snake…….

Sri Pati – US

Kanyakumari

Attracted to the Light

2007-02-13T15:17:00.000+05:30

In Madurai, the public programme was held just near the center of the city, on the grounds of a Medical Society. Thousands of people came from all around to receive Amma’s darshan, attracted to the light of her radiant smile, her warm embrace. Their egos burning in the flame of her infinite love. Amma’s light must have been exceedingly bright this evening, for not only did thousands of people come, but so did the bugs. Right at the start of Amma’s satsang. Tons and tons. By the millions. Small one-centimeter-long flying ants. Swarming all over. At first it started in the crowd – stage left. Looking out at the crowd, everyone to the left was swatting – papers, saris, dhotis. The right side seemed unaffected. Then they made their way to the stage. Crawling up people’s legs, in their hair, on the carpet, up their pants. I found myself nearly undressing – to the amusement of a few brahmacharis who were watching me as I struggled to free the critters from inside my shirt. They were also crawling up the banner backdrop of the stage – heading upwards in a race to nowhere. After about an hour or so, the invasion abated. But many remained – clustered around the lights on the stage, crawling on the carpet, struggling to take flight again. Perhaps they really did come for Amma’s darshan, a civilization of beings taking one last birth to exhaust their karma in the flame of Amma’s arms.

Sri Pati – US

Madurai Public Programme

On the Beach

2007-02-13T15:12:00.000+05:30

As the South Indian Tour progressed through Tamil Nadu towards KanyaKumari, finally ending up in Trivandrum, two questions many people on tour asked were 'Where are our accommodations?' and 'Where is the programme site?' For Brahmastanam Festivals, the programme would always be at the Ashram, and we would stay at Amma's school. For Public Programmes, the programme would be on a huge field, and we would stay at some wedding hall. So many of us were intrigued when we were told that the Trivandrum programme would be held 'Near the airport, next to the beach.' So I figured that there would be the usual big field, with the ocean a short walk away and an occasional roaring airplane taking off or landing next door.

Well, 'near the beach' actually meant 'ON the Beach'. The programme site was literally set up on the beach right next to the water. Sand was underfoot, and waves were breaking less than 50 feet from where Amma was giving darshan. The chairs sat on the sand - we had to bring all of them down from the roadside onto the sand since the trucks and buses couldn’t drive there.

There were many Indian tourists and local fisherman at the beach even during the programme. Some probably came for darshan - having been in the right place at the right time, so to say. Many people could be seen getting their feet wet in the ocean while waiting for their token number to come up. There were also tons of vendors all around. Ice cream vendors, coconut vendors, vegetable vendors, toys, trinkets. It was a huge festival on the beach.

The women were lucky - their side was along the beach. The women's darshan queue was footsteps from the breaking waves. If it weren't for the cloth barrier that was erected in the sand, the darshan line may have actually drifted into the ocean. During darshan, as the night progressed, many women took chairs and actually faced the sea - nodding off, or meditating to the crashing waves. You could also hear the waves while on stage between bhajans..

It was quite a beautiful scene. On stage was Amma, Herself the Ocean of Immortal Bliss, imparting Her infinite love to all who came for her warm embrace. Then, there was the Ocean, delighting all alike who came to dip their feet in its warm waters.

Sri Pati , USA
11 Feb 2007, Trivandrum

Blessed Catch

2007-02-13T15:04:00.001+05:30

As darshan extended to the morning hours, all along the beach, local fishermen were extending their nets into the ocean just next to the programme site. The net made a semi circle which went out about 1 km into the waters. There were two lines of men tugging on the net - pulling it back to shore - about 30 men in all. Old and young. I asked how long it would be before the catch would come in. They said it would be about an hour.

I headed back to the stage, and after about one hour, I eagerly went back. Like a little kid, I headed to the group which had now drifted northwards, behind the stage. I wanted to see the fish, I wanted to see the fruits of their labor. The net got closer to shore. Soon, it was maybe 50 feet out. Three men went into the waters, between the two ropes, to the central part of the net and started hooting and splashing - directing all the fish into the main net where they would be pulled ashore.

By now about 50 or so people had gathered. For me, it was so wonderful to watch. For how many centuries had this been happening? How many generations of families have been here?

The catch came in and all of us moved closer for a look. There were 2 ft long tuna, small mackerel, and a few other types of fish. Maybe about 300 or in total. It didn't seem like a lot for such hard work and for so many men. Perhaps the size of the entire catch would fill the trunk of a small car. The men began sorting the fish, putting them into small crates. Then an auction began right on the spot - bidding for the tuna, bidding for a full crate. One crate of the larger fish went for 1800 rs. A smaller batch for 1000 rs. In all, we estimated that the take would bring in perhaps 5000 rs. Among the 30 or so men that were there, this meant less than 150 rs each, if the share was equal. One man said that his daily meals depended on the catch.

I asked one English speaking Indian to ask the villagers whether this was a normal catch. One of them answered - totally unprompted - "It's a good catch - for the past two weeks, we've had very little success. We are successful today because Amma's blessings are there." I was humbled and astounded by his simple reference to Amma. I didn't expect such an answer even with Amma giving darshan just down shore.

Later, I told this to Dhyanamrita who passed the story on to Amma. He told me that Amma's response was that she had been thinking about the fishermen's catch earlier that night. Perhaps she had made a silent sankalpa. Perhaps Amma's mere thought was enough to 'stir the waters'. May all the future catches be blessed.
Sri pati , USA
11 Feb 2007, Trivandrum

Transforming Darshan

2007-02-13T14:32:00.000+05:30

At the Chennai Public Programmes, shortly after bhajans and meditation, I was working Security and Crowd Control - checking tokens near the corner of the stage on the men's side. The tokens were to be taken a little further up the line.

The crowd is mostly Indian, but there is an occasional Westerner. I was amazed at the sweetness and patience of the people in line. Once I learned to say 'Token" in Tamil, (which is simple 'Token" except with the appropriate accent!), pretty much everyone smiled, searched for the token, and showed it to me. It was as though they were already experiencing Amma's darshan.

A way back in the line, I noticed a rather large man. When the line was not moving much, he was getting anxious and animated. He was loudly talking and gesturing in a way that I interpreted to mean 'Get this line moving!" His size and gruffiness intimidated me. When he approached me, I hesitated, and then asked to see his token. He showed it to me, not so happily.

A few minutes later, there are about 8 elderly people who need to enter the darshan line from the sidelines. I watch as they were led up to the line, and placed directly in front of the impatient man. I smile inwardly.

Some time passed. I was still checking tokens when I suddenly thought of this man. I wondered how his darshan went. I looked around and saw him already down the exit ramp, walking away from Mother quite slowly. I tried to see his face. He briefly turned towards me and I saw a sweet, peaceful smile. Mother's Grace!

27 January - Chennai
Michael - USA

What Happened to the Bat?

2007-02-13T14:31:00.000+05:30

The other week, towards the end of the Trichy public programme, Amma showered her blessings on a very small being.

I had been sitting on stage, fighting (once more) against falling asleep after a long night, when suddenly a bunch of devotees rushed towards Amma. I normally don't feel like jumping in the crowd, but this time, I wanted to see why everyone had a sweet smile on their face, so I stepped forward.

I saw a tiny black baby bat lying in Amma's right plam. She caressed it most tenderly with one finger, looking at it with so much love and compassion. Its probably first darshan ended with a tender kiss from its Divine Mother, and then it was given back to the small boy who had brought it to her.

I went back to my place on stage, thinking that I would love to hold this sweet creature in my hands for a while as well. Only a few seconds later, the boy suddenly sat down beside me and without thinking, I stood up and took the baby bat, which had started to crawl up the boy's sleeve. I told him I would take care of it, which was ok with the boy.

I went downt the stairs, away from the crowd on stage and stood there alone in the field. The bat was now shivering, but soon calmed down in the small cave of my cupped hands. I thanked Amma from my heart, and thought that I would never understand how she over and over again fulfills the small (and big) wishes of her children sometimes so spontaneously.

Very peacefully, I started to walk around trying to find a safe place for 'my' baby, as there wee so many hungry-looking big birds around which might like it for breakfast. 'Do crows eat baby bats?' I asked myself.

I finally put it near a small hay pile - it hesitantly crawled inside as if it didn't want to say goodbye. I felt very sad having to leave it behind, knowing that it probably wouldn't survive in there- so small and fragile without its mother. But the suddenly the image of the tender darshan with Amma, its real mother, came into my mind again. I knew it was a very blessed small being, and even if it didn't survive, it would come back. Amma, our most beloved Mother takes care of all her children no matter how small they are.

Angela, Germany

Trichy

Return to Nagapattinam

2007-02-06T08:58:00.000+05:30

When the dates and cities were first announced for the South Indian Tour, I was silently thrilled. The tour included two cities I had hoped to visit - Rameshwaram and Kanyakumari. It also included Nagapattanam – the epicenter of Amma’s tsunami relief efforts – where almost 2000 homes have been built. Amma had been here twice before – less than two months after the tsunami struck, and again about a year later – for a public programme. In the first visit, I saw first-hand, the devastation that struck a small fishing village. During the second visit, I went to see a village of 340 homes that had just been completed, but not yet occupied. I was eager to return to see how things have changed since then…..

Chinnapillai sat in the road selling vegetables and berries in the shadow of a Krishna Temple. It was here that two years ago, less than two months after the devastating tsunami , Amma first visited Chinnapillai’s village of Kheel Pattinacherry in Nagapattanam, Tamil Nadu. Amma had sat inside the Temple, while hundreds of villagers gathered to receive her darshan and consolation.

I remember being here then, walking towards the beach while Amma was giving darshan – seeing first-hand the immense devastation that struck the homes closest to the ocean. Today, I was walking these streets again, this time with four Brahamacharinis and two young men who were telling the villagers about Amma’s visit and handing out copies of her photo.

When Chinnapullai was given a photo, she immediately grabbed it and smothered it with kisses. “How can I forget Amma? She is the one who gave us food.” When asked if she herself was affected by the tsunami, she was quick to answer, “I cannot lie, my home was spared, I lost no relatives and I am safe. I was sitting here just as I am now, and when people started running from the ocean. I only then realized what had happened. I then started to give out the food I was selling for free. “ She gave us each a handful of berries in a gesture of gratitude. I ate a few – they were like small peaches. Not yet ripe, a little bitter.

We continued further into the village. I wasn’t sure what to expect. I thought perhaps that the village would have been abandoned – with everyone moved to the new homes. But there was life all around. Children playing, women bartering over produce, animals in the streets. Indeed the tsunami had struck here, and those who had lost their homes had already been relocated or were still waiting for the government to grant their request. But some homes were spared mostly due to the lay of the land - and life continued for these folks.

I was accompanied by Mohan who has been assisting with Amma’s tsunami relief efforts for the past two years. He came from Coimbatore less than a week after the tsunami struck and decided to remain and help. All the villagers know him. As we walked the streets, young children affectionately called him ‘Palkaran’ (milkman) – as his first task was to distribute milk to all the villagers.

We stopped at Ramayan’s house. He’s 65 years old, but looked more like he was 80 – his face weathered by the ocean. When food was being distributed in the days after the tsunami, Mohan would bring some to his home. He was grateful for Amma’s efforts – there were photos of Amma in his home. He told of how the tsunami had knocked down the four foot high cement barrier in front of his house. Water had risen more than 6-feet on his street, but the main structure survived. He is hoping for a new home if the government will give him one, as are many of the remaining villagers. When asked if life has been returning to normal, Ramayan’s daughter Elachi was quick to note that occasionally, rumors fly that another tsunami will strike. The fear is still there for these people who live perhaps only ½ km from the sea.

Mohan and I crossed paths with Devi, an 18 year old girl, who was now enrolled in college studying for her BC in Computer programming. She was one of the students who received tutoring provided by the Ashram to tsunami victims. Her family’s home and boat were both damaged by the tsunami. “I have great affection for Amma,” said Devi. The tutoring classes helped me prepare for my studies in college.”

We continued our walk. Down to the beach where about two dozen tsunami boats were lined up on the sand. Many bore the yellow and red markings of boats repaired by the Ashram. They weren’t being used today. Not a single fisherman in site. The villagers were taking a four day holiday because Amma was coming. I was told that many of the women were at the programme site chopping vegetables. A group of children were standing in one of the boats – future fisherfolk. But instead of casting nets, they were trying to fly makeshift kites in the soft breeze that blew in from the ocean. I watched. Such simplicity and innocence in the midst of chaos.

Mohan and I walked back into the streets of the village. We came upon Muragan’s home where a red boat engine sat in front. Muragan is the expert engine repair man for the village. He and two other village repairmen were employed by the Ashram during the months after the tsunami struck to help repair over 200 engines that had been damaged. The Ashram provided workshop space and labor fees .

We wrapped up our walk in front of the temple where we started. The Brahmacharinis recalled Amma’s visit. We passed out more photos of Amma. The children all posed holding up their new pictures of Amma. Tomorrow night they will be seeing her again – this time in person.

The first time I visited Samantapettai, the streets were filled with villagers seeking out their newly assigned homes. The homes were still unoccupied, the streets unused. One year later, I came back to see how it had changed. I was alone - I didn’t have a translator this time so I couldn’t ask questions. I only wanted to look around – to observe and see how one year had transformed the villager’s lives.

I found life everywhere. I first encountered a group of women gathered around a water distribution tank. We exchanged smiles. Children played all around. A small boy had a plastic bag tied to a string. He was trying to make it fly like a kite. Goats, chickens were everywhere. Two goats were on the stairs to the roof of one of the houses – one at the top, the other at the bottom - challenging each other in a stare-down. An occasional photo of Amma in the front entrance of some homes. I came across a group of children who were delighted to have their photo taken. A few dozen gathered around and kept posing, insisting that I take their photo. A camera and children – a great way to overcome language barriers…
There was a huge sign with Amma’s picture in the field just inside the entrance to the village. The children insisted that I take a photo of them standing in front of it. They ran to the sign, some held their hands in prayer, others waived – and I clicked.

These were poor villagers. Amma has provided them with four walls and a roof from which to build a new life. Some may have received her warm embrace. Who knows where they would be today if Amma hadn’t showered her compassion on the people of Nagapattanam….. Amma will always be a part of their lives.

Sri Pati, USA
30 Jan 2007, Nagapattanam

Amma in Ramanathapuram

2007-02-06T05:26:00.000+05:30

After the programme in Madurai, Amma reached ramanathapuram by 8 .p.m (5 feb). One of the priest of the Rameswaram temple was there to receive Amma upon arrival.
This is Amma's first visit to the city. Ramanathapuram is located 50 km away from the holy place - Rameswaram.
the yatra has been so hectic, could not post any thing here in the last few days.
namah sivaya
Dhyanamrita

Sugar story

2007-02-03T05:48:00.001+05:30

Nine buses were parked on the side of the road for a bathroom stop on the way from Nagapattanam to Madurai. We were about 300 people scattered along the roadside in the middle of nowhere. Open pastures, farmland and trees were around us. I was talking with a fellow devotee, recalling on how during the North Indian Tour last year, I had discovered the bliss of raw sugarcane. At that moment, I turned around and saw a few Brahmacharies scampering off the road up ahead. There was a field of sugarcane right there! I spotted one holding a three foot long stick of sugarcane in his hand. That's all it took – I ran off after him, and into the maze of cane stalks standing about 10 feet high. Still being a novice, I asked one of them to break off a stick for me. He obliged. At once, I put the stick in my mouth – using my teeth to tear off the hard outside. It was primal but in a blissful way. The texture of the soft center is a lot like celery. You chew on it only to get at the juice – and spit out the rest. All I can say is that my whole body was rejoicing at the nourishment that came from that stick – It's a rare treat – I felt like a young Indian boy at play in a timeless way – as if I had done this in many lifetimes before.

Sri Pati, USA
1 Feb 2007

Bat and Advaita

2007-01-29T18:44:00.000+05:30

In Trichy, during darshan, in the wee hours of the night, a special darshan was there.   He had 4 legs, but he didn't walk. He could fly because he had wings. He was a small black bat, very tiny, like the size of a small mouse. Somehow it ended up on the stage - on the Women's side - and there was a big freak out - everyone was afraid. A Westerner caught it and brought it to Amma.   Amma stopped darshan, and put it on the back side of her hand, and started to caress it, brought it up to her face, while stroking it's back, and softly kissed it. Oh it was a sweet darshan!   Amma asked what to feed it - and gave it a banana. It sniffed the banana, but didn't eat.

In Ettimadai, Amma was with a calf, fondling its neck, stroking its face and head. She kissed it, and kissed, and kissed. The calf licked Amma's face.

Back in Amritapuri, one day, a small baby sitting on its mother's lap came for Amma's darshan. Amma took the baby on her lap.   The baby had a pacifier in her mouth. She looked at Amma, took her pacifier, and put it in Amma's mouth.   Amma was sucking on the pacifier just like the baby.

Sounds simple, these small acts.   The act is simple, but to do it so spontaneously without aversion, you need immense courage, love, and wisdom--the wisdom that every thing is your own Self.

It's easy to talk advaita, but to live it, not easy.

Dhyanamrita
28 January 2007

Stop. Rest With Amma

2007-01-28T05:22:00.001+05:30

The other evening, on the way from Trichy to Chennai, our caravan stopped along the side of the road for dinner. Amma was still far behind us. It would be about two hours before Amma would arrive.

The sun was setting. We were in the middle of nowhere. A small village lay about ½ km down the road. Otherwise there were open felds all around. A small pen of ducks was there. Villagers were walking their cows home from pasture. We were our own herd of people – scattering out among the grounds in groups. Some were, walking about, meditating, chatting, or helping to gather wood to cook chai. I found myself joining a group that was singing bhajans accompanied by a small portable harmonium. It was so blissful to be singing and playing harmonium. We probably sang for about an hour. A few local villagers had gathered around – some even joined in.

Amma finally arrived. She sat in her chair, her face beaming at all of us who were sitting in front of her. These impromptu rest stops with Amma are the best part of traveling with her. It makes the long bus rides, the sleepless nights, the dusty air, all worthwhile.

We all passed our tiffins to be filled with dinner, which were then passed to Amma who passed them back to us. We’re supposed to have our names written on the sides of the plates so that they can easily be identified. But with all people, getting the plates to the proper owner can be quite a task. In no time, there was a sea of plates being held high above heads – names being called out – making an endless circle from hand to hand - trying to find their way home. As more and more plates started circling, and more and more names being called out, Amma joked that we sounded like little chirping birds – and suggested that we should just eat from whatever plate we now had and give back to that person later. Amma even made sure that all the local villagers received a plate.

After singing a new bhajan”Om Shakti Om Shakti” with us, Amma headed to her camper. On the way, she called out for Prasad – she would give a quick standing darshan to the villagers who were there – a hug, a soft whisper in their ear, and a packet of vibhuti and a piece of candy.

Amma left, and we boarded our buses. A few of us felt inspired to give some of the villagers photos of Amma. As they stood there waving us off – holding their Prasad in one hand, photo in the other, we smiled at each other. Perhaps Amma will stop here again next year. Perhaps they will feel the pull of Amma’s love and find their way to Amritapuri or a nearby stop during next year’s South Indian Tour?

Hopefully, Amma will stop again with us on the way from Chennai to Nagapattinam.

Sri Pati – USA
Trichy to Chennai 28 January 2007

shubaratri again

2007-01-26T21:46:00.000+05:30

oh! there is amma. she is by the road side in a field distributing dosa...
all children had gathered around her. some others are making tea little further away.
by not far from amma, there is group of ducks inside a net-fence. both had similarity. the scene, the contrast stuck me. here one is there due to the bondage. No freedom to choose the life of their own. the other group- the children around amma, is for freedom from the bondage. they have chosen of their own.

some one was taking photos. clicking , clicking. he does not belong to the tour group. i asked him-- where is he from? he said he is from 'dinakarn' a tamil daily. i wondered what he is going to do with the photo of amma sitting with ashramites and having food. he said it is very important for him. amma had come to his village. centainly he will publish the news and photo. he said it with such a spirit jumping on to his bike and running to his press office. i dont think i will be able to see the local edition of dinakaran. but one thing.. even in the villages people know about amma. they have respect and love for her.

we had our dinner... amma sang two tamil songs. the last one ‘om shakti om shakti’ was ecstatic and beautiful...

then we started again for chennai. now 9.30 pm. -- another 180 k.m. to go....
shubaratri once again.
namah sivaya

dhyanamrita
26 jan 2007, trichy to chennai

good night

2007-01-26T20:01:00.000+05:30

darshan in trichy went on till 8.30 am in the morning. people have so much faith in amma , so much love for amma. it was reflected in the words of mayor and the minister who spoke. you could see the police people in the uniform joining the line to give prasad to amma-- usually only volunteers of the local area gets such a privilege.

Amma stayed in a house next to the national college grounds. during the padapujaa, those family members put a kind of kingly turban on amma. it was very nice to see amma with the white turban with some yellow glittering beads hanging down.

by evening 4.30 amma visited an ashram residence - radha and ramesh - parental house next to sri rangam temple. sri rangam temple has the tallest temple gate in the world. Lord vishnu in ananta shayana is the murthi of the temple.

the house was in an agraharam- the place were the ayyankar brahmin community lives. there were about 60-70 people living in that house. it was a joint family. they all looked alike. they welcomed amma with chants and smiles and cries. after the puja, amma initiated a young boy with sacred thread. upon their prayer.

the house is like a small passage and small rooms on either side. after giving prasad she went to kitchen where swami ramakrishna was making coffee. she took the kettle from him and stretched out a cup of coffee.

when she came out of that house there was a big rush of people waiting for darshan.

with the help of the police amma could easily get out of the traffic of the city. before the police left, they made sure to come and get amma 's blessings.

writing this on our way to chennai, we are little far away from amma. the whole tour group is ahead of 150 km.

i didn't sleep last night, had my breakfast and slept for 4 hours. i was not feeling hungry. so didn't take lunch.
unless amma stops, we won't stop. so waiting for chennai to have my dinner.

we are supposed to reach chennai after midnight... now it's 8 pm.

good night --- shuba ratri.

Dhyanamrita
26 jan 2007, trichy to chennai

Badaga Inspiration

2007-01-25T18:17:00.000+05:30

I love watching the Badaga dance in Coimabatore. Two years back when Amma last was here, and again during Amma’s 53rd birthday celebrations in Amritapuri, they also enchanted the crowd - inspiring westerners, students, and Ashramites to join in . The same happened again this year. Young and old, men and women. Their rhythmic movements, graceful flowing hands and bodies, the beating of drums and call and response voices calls to the dancer inside us. It’s so primal, so natural, and so beautiful. One wonders how long these people have been dancing like this - how far back in time? How wonderful that India has been able to preserve these timeless traditions.

For a while, I was content just taking photos, or watching from the sidelines - focusing on their movements. But I found my inner self wanting to join in. I stood there - conflicted - trying to overcome my inhibitions - people would look at me - a westerner in white awkwardly throwing his body around. But then some westerners did join in, the Badaga happy to show them the movements even as they were ‘throwing a wrench’ into the coordinated movements of those already dancing.

Still, I stood by the sidelines. Then, at the end of the first night, as Darshan ended, and the Badaga still playing, Amma Herself stood up to leave the stage - and made a full circle - turning round with the beat, no inhibition, no concerns. Just dancing.....

The next day, I knew the Badaga would be there again. Would I join in?

Around 2am, they were singing and dancing again. Again, I stood by the sidelines, thinking about how Amma was so natural, innocent when She danced. I recalled how Amma says it’s just not enough to stand at the shore of the ocean and just get your feet wet. You have to dive in. I recalled how I overcame my fears when I used to go firewalking (walking on hot coals) - I would stand there trying to convince myself that it would be fine. It just takes a leap of faith...

In a moment of surrender, I joined the line. I found myself behind a Badaga man who was more than happy to call out the movements and changes as we made our way around the circle. I loved it. At times, it was awkward, but once I got the jist of it, it seemed so natural, so beautiful. When we were in synch -hands, legs, arms, - it was so nice - like a huge drum circle when they reach that magical moment when all the drummers are connected and the music just flows. So did our bodies- around and around, faster and faster.

I can’t wait till the next time..

Sri Pati, USA
Coimbatore, 23 January 2007

amma in temple city

2007-01-24T23:58:00.000+05:30

right after covai brahmasthanam, amma visited the amrita university campus in ettimadai. the sun has not yet risen in the horizon at that time. first amma blessed the new big swimming pool by touching the water. this is a newly constructed swimming pool of international standards situated under the shadow of the western ghats. she then visited cattle farm and went around the campus. you could see people running after amma's car. some of them running behind amma were just coming out of the bath room -- you could see that their wet hair was still dripping.
some people who were doing their morning exercises and practices not even noticed that amma has passed by.

amma served lunch to all the children who are traveling with her. we also had satsnag the jokes with amma.

left for trichy ( trichinappilly) in the afternoon, reached at 11 p.m.
amma is staying at a devotees house.

trichy is a city of temples. the city has 69 famous temples to its credit!. forget about the other small temples.
this is the first time amma is having program in this city.

dhyanamrita
24 jan 2007, trichy

may be a second thought?

2007-01-24T14:47:00.000+05:30

the marriage held at the end of darshan in covai was little funny. a young brahmin couple were getting married. they had lot of special rituals. boy was from Orissa and girl is form Maduari, Tamil Nadu. the girl was asking the boy to tie the 'mangalya sutra' around her neck during the ceremony. amma was laughing so much seeing the strange custom. i dont know whether is a custom or bit of boldness (arrogance). they have put 3 malas to the bride and groom. then they exchange malas. then the girl will try to put the mala on the boy, who would not let her do that. he tries to block her.
why?
may be its time to make a second thought ?
a warning.
why should i enter the samasara?
maybe?
maybe not?
or it's custom to invoke the intimacy and love between them.
then the boy puts one of his malas to her. she avoids it. like to catch a dog with a noose he caught her in the mala. every body was enjoying so much --the interactions between them.
may love prevail in their life. may amma bless you.

dhyanamrita
24 jan 2007, coimbatore

last night in covai

2007-01-24T14:31:00.000+05:30

night time in covai its more cold. by the 3rd day the dust was coming more off the ground.
all the 3 nights the Badugas rocked the house. at one point Amma expressed that she wanted to dance with them.

after sani puja amma made an announcement in tamil over the microphone asking people to give way for the devotees who did sani puja to go to the temple with kalasa brought cheer to the devotees and much clapping.

Amma finished darshan in covai on the morning of 24. there were so many people to receive mantras and a padapuja and marriage.

when amma was leaving the stage devotees were praying to amma that she should not leave...

she left the brahmasthanam temple in another 10 minutes to the next place in her schedule.

does she really leave her children?
no.
she takes them with her always in her heart.

dhyanamrita
24 jan 2007, coimbatore

first day covai

2007-01-22T03:49:00.000+05:30

this is the first time in this year i am seeing so many mosquitos. at night in the room i had to put on odomos - an ointment -- to drive away all the mosquitos. it worked well.

the weather in covai is very nice and cool. usually when we come in the month of april or may it's hot. unbelievably hot. really torturous. now the air is so fresh and cool. outside it is dusty though. but considerably less than previous years.

****

in the morning Amma came to the stage a little earlier than usual, little ahead of schedule. is there any thing called schedule for amma? i wonder. whatever she does is as per her schedule. For She who has transcended time, how can time limt her?

***

at night the Badugas from Ooty village came and rocked the stage. all those watching them were on their toes. Amma was watching their dance while giving darshan. they sing with so much bhava -- non-stop for almost 2 hours. at the end when Amma stood up they were still singing. Amma danced a full round standing on the stage. it brought much cheer to the devotees. even after Amma went to her room at 3 a.m, the Badugas were still singing. the celebration continues...

Dhyanamrita
22 Jan 07

Reached Coimbatore

2007-01-21T01:59:00.000+05:30

Amma reached the Coimbatore Brahmastanam around 11pm. We were caught in the traffic and came few minutes later. Two hours later, Amma's children arrived by bus. As they walked across the Ashram towards their accommodations, Amma was standing on the stage, surveying the surroundings, making sure everything is ready for tomorrow's programmes. As they walked towards the stage, Amma looked out at all her children and waived 'hello', a huge smile on her face. Everyone smiled and waived back. i am sure that it might have been a warm welcome after a 11-hour journey.

Dhyanamrita
21 Jan 07

praying for happy journey

2007-01-20T18:28:00.001+05:30

Around 3 p.m, Amma left Amritapuri for the 3 week visit to Tamil Nadu. It's a 7 hour journey by road. Nine buses and six cars with about 500 children of Amma, four trucks with luggage, sound system, bookstall, and kitchen items are there with Amma on the tour. Really , it's the Ashram on wheels.

Tamil is the native language of Tamil Nadu - the neighbor state of Kerala.

Amma has a long connection with Tamil Nadu. Even before she started her mission, Amma had been to the temples of Madhurai and Rameshwaram with her parents. In the early years of Devi Bhava Darshan Amma used to talk only in Tamil. Now-a-days Amma's talk in Malayalam is translated into Tamil by Swami Ramakrishnanda.
It's always nice to watch Amma during the translation of her satsangs. Amma and Ramakrishana Swami will have nice interactions.
Will keep you posted about the nice moments with Amma.

i am posting this while traveling in a car right behind Amma. Thanks to the technology. Thanks to Amma.

Praying to Amma for a happy spiritual journey.

Dhyanamrita
20 Jan 2007

Tamil Nadu yatra

2007-01-20T13:41:00.001+05:30

Tamil Nadu yatra of Amma begins today. people are getting ready for the tour.

Dirty Dhoti

2007-01-12T22:08:00.001+05:30

During darshan, Amma often tells people to sit on the stage in her presence for a while. The first night in Kodungallur, near the end of darshan, she invited a feeble little old man with inquisitive grey eyes onto the stage. Two of us devotees who were on stage lifted the man from the ramp below without difficulty. He wore a sleeveless t-shirt and a stained dhoti that was pulled up to his knees in the manner of someone who had been doing physical labor, or just had been sitting around his home. In short, I saw him as a simple villager who didn’t consider changing clothes to come for Amma’s darshan.

I helped him to sit down near Amma. It happened that a jet of cool air was blowing right onto this little man who had no flesh on his bones to keep him warm. A devotee brought a new white dhoti that I draped around the old man’s shoulders.

Soon after, Amma finished darshan and departed down the central aisle of the open-air hall. Devotees hands were clamoring to touch her as she passed. As I helped the old man to stand, the devotee who had offered the dhoti said that he could keep it. He was also concerned that the man might have arrived at the program with someone else but was now alone. We couldn’t ask him since we didn’t speak his native language – Malayalam. We asked a brahmachari if he could ask the old man if he needed assistance. The brahmachari simply said, ‘Oh, he’s the landowner of these grounds!” The other devotee and I had a nice laugh as we let the landowner shuffle off to his house with the new dhoti still draped across his shoulders.

The next morning, at the program, I slipped behind the stage to take a path that ran past a few of the locals’ hut-like houses. My eyes landed on the same old man wearing a dirty dhoti as he was being strongly addressed by a little old woman. She was pointing at the dhoti and then at the darshan hall, and saying what I could only understand as ‘No!’ in Malayalam.

Sometime after Amma started the morning darshan, I saw the old man shuffle onto the stage, this time in a much nicer dhoti, but with a button-down shirt that had a tattered collar. A woman devotee who was in that corner of the stage, leaned over to me and said in a concerned whisper, 'He just came up here on his own.' With a knowing smile, I replied, ‘He’s the landlord!' She looked the old man up and down slowly as if to see through the emperor’s new clothes and said surprisingly ‘Him?’

Alas, Amma still has a lot of work to do to get us past our attachment to appearances.

I next saw the landlord one more time later on that night. He again came for Amma’s darshan, and again, she invited him onto the stage. I saw him standing there, his gray eyes surveying this village woman who had brought tens of thousands of people from all over the world to his land. This time, though, he wore a nicer shirt along with a bright white dhoti that flowed from beneath his shirttails all the way down to the carpeted stage floor. In the end, did it matter to Amma?

Abhaya, Italy

10 January 2007

Sunny Faces

2007-01-12T18:17:00.000+05:30

Amma's Kodungallur Ashram was a nice surprise for a program location with beautiful nature surrounding it. The attractiveness of the area showed not only in many luxuriant trees and flowers, but also in the bright happy smiles of the local devotees. As I was wiping the ladies' faces in the darshan line, I mostly only saw sunny faces even during the latest hours.

Also the Amma doll that I was carrying with me received a lot of attention and ended up going through the arms of many women and children in the line who were eager to hold her.

Amma was giving darshan in her normal fast pace, but to these open hearted Kodungallur devotees, even those couple of seconds close to Mother seemed to be their dream come true.

Jayambika, Finland
8-10 January 2007

madness of the soul

2007-01-10T16:17:00.001+05:30

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

sameness

2007-01-10T16:16:00.001+05:30

every darshan program follows the same schedule. amma comes to the hall, gives a talk, followed by bhajans, meditation, then darshan. as a westerner we travel with amma, go to the program, help with seva and spend time on stage. after so many cities, so many tours, one would think that this sameness would get boring. Not with Amma and certainly not for Amma. for as she travels across India, she gets to see tens of thousands of her children who are doing her work out in the world. Students, doctors, engineers, labourers, politicians. All imbibing or trying to imbibe Amma's teachings into their lives. - many have never been to amritapuri, let alone get to travel with her. if a feeling of sameness sets in, one only has to look at the crowd - the joy in their faces when they come to see amma, and the mutual joy that Amma gives back to them seems to indicate that they are doing what Amma wants them to do. how patiently they sit just for a three second darshan. how they strive to save money to make the journey to the program - taking off work, missing valuable pay. one wonders who has more of the grace - whose windows are more opened to let her light in and keep their internal lamp lit for the benefit of others. we are all trying to be this light for her and the world. as she travels around India, she is rekindling, or increasing the intensity of this inner lamp. we are blessed that Amma is here - to teach us that her eternal lamp is always available to us whether we are physically with her or not.
10 January 2007
Sri Pati - US

just given dakshina

2007-01-10T14:31:00.000+05:30

two children came onto the stage in elaborate dress and makeup to perform kathakali, a traditional dance of Kerala. I busied myself trying to make room for the dancers and musicians. This done, my attention was caught by a couple saying in unison to one of the child-dancers; "No, No!" I looked at the girl and saw that she wanted to wipe away a single tear that seemed frozen on the surface of the thick green theatrical makeup. My suspicion was confirmed when I turned to the father and he told me with a satisfied smile, "She had just given dakshina to Amma!"
9 January 2007
Abhaya
Italy