2 Nov 2007 —
Question
Q16: First darshan?
Question 16:
“When did you get Amma’s darshan for the first time?” (Place, date and a brief two-sentence description)
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Question 16:
“When did you get Amma’s darshan for the first time?” (Place, date and a brief two-sentence description)
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
Washington DC, 1997. It was either July 4th or 5th. A week before, a friend gave me a pamphlet and said ‘Go…sit as close as you can, and stay as long as you can….’ I remember people chanting ‘Om Amriteshwariye Namah’ while waiting for Amma to arrive – I strained to make out what was being said, but all that could come out of my mouth was mumbo jumbo. Oh how I long for that same wonder and innocence of the first time!
I “saw” AMMA in 1986.. i was a small boy then. AMMA was singing bhajan in the kalari. Even though i didnt get a hug from AMMA, that was my first Darshan.
Assisi. July 1992. All innocence and poetry… It happened in that beautiful white tent set up in the hills outside the city of Assisi, surrounded by valleys, hills, flowers and trees…
All One with that Universal ‘Mother Nature-Life’ energy…
I simply offered Amma a flower… a beaming smile, and an innocent tear…
15.08.1995 in Zürich. Within 10 to 15 minutes i got darshan, because i was with 2 small children.
March 1998, Bombay. As I’m waiting for Amma’s darshan next in the line, I was overpowered with sudden burst of emotion & started crying: Next I was now Amma’s arms! I didn’t understand what was happening and tried very hard to control it, then as I was walking away, my heart cried out ‘Amma, Amma’. I still feel the same and even now, at every thought of Amma I cry and feel a pang, don’t understand it.
It was in 1999. In Vallikkavu… Amma was giving Darshan in the small Temple and it was a very serene moment… The bhajan “Dhanya Dhanye Janani” was playing in the background.. and as it was my turn the line was “Kannukalku enthoru anandam ambike munnil minnum ee Divya roopamrutham”… it felt so apt. As Amma hugged me for the first time.. I felt so emotional..I cried for no reason… I got a kiss from Amma and I felt my mind go blank for a moment. The journey started there…
July 4, 1992, at the Universalist Church in New York City. I was literally pushed toward the darshan line and was so terrified as I made my way up to Mother, was even stiff in Her arms, but She held me and rocked me for what seemed like forever and then it was all over…
I met AMMA in 1984 when I was 7 years old. I was a small kid studying in 2nd standard. It was in Ernakulam. AMMA had come to a devotee’s house. I still remember it being a small house. Hardly 50 people where there. I went up to AMMA, I do not remember AMMA hugging me, but surely she might have. But I remember AMMA was burning camphor in water as she usually does during a House visit or the Devi Puja before Devi Bhava. That was a miracle for me then. I used to say AMMA burnt camphor in water!
January 30, 1997. Near Trivandrum, in Kerala. It was a great experience, and I think that my life was changed since that day.
I met Amma in Palo Alto in 1989. I had been following Yogananda, and so I knew what a God realized person was, so when I heard She was God realized, I hastened to meet Her. I was maybe too much in my head to get the full benefit, but I remember that when I went for darshan, She made a funny sound, like drawing air in through her teeth. Perhaps She recognized that I was Her’s. She suggested that I live in Her California ashram which had just been established, and so I did.
July 9 2003 Mt. Pleasant, Iowa. The Mind recognized Amma’s Divine Embodiment, then within the small mind the entire path shuffled and consolidated like a deck of cards with the Queen of Hearts smiling on top, the heart extended into a “begging bowl” with a mantra, ‘please allow this child to love and serve you’ for the heart knew–this is my True Mother, the body rocked from deep within, and the soul knew and rejoiced for the RETURN TO HOME AT LAST.
It was at the Arlanda airport, Stockholm Sweden, 12th August 1996, ca. 9:45 pm, two days before full Moon. People surrounded her and each time I got near she turned to the other direction to hug someone else. Finally as almost the last one I got her darshan and her sweet look, inviting this soul also to board the plane of Her Grace. When she left she hugged on the way also those who did not come for her! They all looked after that like babies who just had woken up.
In 2003 in Milano (Italy). After one year that I was frequenting the satsang, I decide to meet Her.
Darshan was wonderful, but what impressed me was the end of Devi Bhava. I was feeling Her look on me. A strong energy filled me. I had the impression that this energy (shakti) was pervading all the hall.
2000 NYC , rest is history :)))
June 17th 1992, in Battersea Town hall London! I don’t remember much, but i do remember thinking, ‘this is a nice lady, she is giving me a hug!’ I don’t think i really understood then what was going on 🙂
In 2004 at the San Ramon Ashram. I was about 10 or 11 and I really didn’t know who I was going to see and what it would be like. We stood in line for a darshan ticket and it was a cool morning. When I first saw Amma, I really didn’t know how I felt. I was happy, but I didn’t feel the click immediatley. We had Darshan and talked about how cool that was. I didn’t realise I really belonged to Amma till the following year.
June 1996, San Ramon, USA. I was in my last month of pregnancy of my first child and thought it would be good to get a Saint’s blessing for the important parent journey that lay ahead. Amma blessed me and my husband and lovingly smiled and blessed the baby inside. I remember being mesmerized by the Bhajans. But in truth I had no comprehension of anything spiritual until our second meeting 7 years later in June, 2003. Then I realized She was the one I would be grateful to have as my Guru.
1994 December on a Thursday at Amritapuri. Went for AMMA’s darshan in the morning and evening. When i saw her from afar, i felt -“OK, i have reached my destination safe and sound and an immense sense of relief overwhelmed me. Needless to say, I was crying for the 2 hrs or something. The evening bhava darshan was pretty intense and I have never seen crowds that intense EVER at Amritapuri, for AMMA’s darshan. It was a sea of people pushing to reach AMMA.
my first darshan was in 2002 in ammas cbe visit. my whole family had cme for the first time to see amma..when i had gone for darshan amma told me to study well
When i was a small baby. The darshan which i remember happened in 1999, AMMA was giving darshan in i think Kodungallore. When i reached the spot AMMA was singing bhajans and there was long queue of people!. I had heard a lot about AMMA already from my father. I started counting my worries and started praying to AMMA,… i was trying to make sure that i don’t forget any of the counted ones before i reach AMMA :)….when i found myself in AMMA’s arms, SHE whispered into my ear “molootty molootty Ellam sariyakum” (my darling child, everything will be allright)
August 1998 at Vallickavu I got my first physical darshan from Amma. I don’t know what was happening with me when She touched me. Just blackout; I was crying uncontrollably for long ….. I go cracy even now when I recall that memory ……
Later through so many experiences I realized that She was there with me through out this janm, surely previous janms.
1997 July at Amritapuri. But in 1995 AMMA gave Darshan in a dream, and in 1996 on a Geetha Jayanthi day, towards the end of the chanting I saw a ‘Girl’ in Krishna’s yellow and green dress that walked towards the dais and merged in Lord Mahavishu’s Photo. This vision occured three times. Nextday morning when a devotee gave me AMMA’s Krishana bhava photo.
Which one (from these 3) is the First darshan to this child? AMMA only knows.
July 1997. A blessed day on one of the Saturdays that I had first met AMMA having come from Calicut where I was doing my post-graduation in Engineering. Her Love was boundless yet I didn’t have much faith as I was too much carried away by the media and the other sources.
July 1998, in Chicago. Very skeptical with all the Indian/Hindu atmosphere with flocks of Americans – I told myself, here is another Indian Guru! Once I got in the darshan line, I was in a total altered state, heart pounding, totally open heart – all questions, and skepticism vanished – I somehow knew I was in the presence of a very pure, divine, Godly Being. The next think I knew, I was on my way to RI retreat and then Amritapuri…
July 2004, in Mount Pleasant, Iowa. I was 10 when I went, so I don’t think I really understood what was going to happen! All I remember is after Darshan, I felt this incredible joy and exhileration after I walked off the stage.
My first darshan was on 13th april 1993. i was 7 years when i saw amma. she was in devi bhava that day.
I met Amma in 1987 when She first came to Singapore. I wasjust five years old. Ohh those were the golden days!! Amma’s programmes that year were held in garden outside my aunt’s house….what sweet unforgettable memories..
I met Amma in June of 1989 in Seattle, Washington. I had been invited by a new friend and went even though I had no interest and didn’t want to be there. I started crying the minute the bhajans began, and didn’t stop….. my life changed forever.
2006, Devi Bhava in Albuquerque, NM…after the hug I remained, waiting, I wanted to look into her eyes…then she looked into my eyes and into me, and smiled. I saw absolute acceptance and unconditional love and I felt happier than I ever had in my whole life. I tell people, I met God, and she smiled at me!
🙂
On 22nd March 1998 in New Delhi Ashram and it was my birthday! As it was a working day there wasn’t much crowd and I got a relaxed darshan. I did not feel that I am seeing AMMA for the first time. I am still unable to express in words the feeling I experienced when AMMA first touched me.
2004 – Toronto Canada. I went to check Amma out and in the end Amma checked me out…..I was reborn….and needless to say; I was mezmerized by Amma. No looking back now because I have received Amma’s grace.
5:35am, 19 February, 2002 Bangalore. Can I forget that! Though I come from a place close to Amritapuri and had known about AMMA since 1976, I had no intention to see Her. Persuation from a friend over 2 years made me go. Rest as they say is history!
In 1985, I was learning to ride bicycle in a school ground in my native place in central Kerala. Suddenly a small crowd gathered in the same ground and when enquiring I came to know that it is Amma. I was a boy of 13 then. I would have gone for a darshan in that year itself if I could foresee that this Amma would become my everything (father, mother, Guru, God) after 12 years.
July 25, 2005, Toronto public programs. I am a hard nut to crack and it was not until Devi Bhava three days later that my heart was shown to belong to Her. But the first darshan was enough to bring me back for more. 🙂
July 2004,NY Though I come from Tamil Nadu & heard about Amma, it was only here that I met Her through a friend. I felt good after and mostly amazed how Amma kept hugging so many people…But it did take sometime and definetely has changed my life for the better for which I’m grateful…
I think the next question should be “Best Darshan?”, since the first may not have been the best for many.
Christmas Day 1997
Right after finishing Swamiji’s biography of Ammachi I was crying for my new found Master and Guru. At long last I had found her. I passed into a deep sleep and was awakened with an electric-like shock to my mulhadara chakra with Blessed Amma appearing to me with heaven fragrance and the words,”I have always been with you and soon you will be living with me!”
Ahh, Amma I fall at your Blessed Lotus Feet.
It was in March, 1996 or 97. I wanted tyo ask AMMA lots of questions and before the moment of First Darshan; lots of kachara was filled up to brim and was supposed to come out as QUESTIONS! As i inched forward in the darshan queue; my EGO started getting fizzled out like a ‘pin-prick’ in an inflated balloon. When being 5th or 6th in the queue to meet AMMA for the first time, my mood changed and eyes started getting flooded up with tears and started crying. AMMA asked something but no reply but crying only and it continued………..
July 1995, Rhode Island – I remember enjoying the Jai Ma Ambe bhajan and also recall receiving Amma’s impromptu hug while exiting the hall.
2006 dearborn,michigan,usa..at the hotel…i thank my wife for her brainwave..
January 2000,at guruvayur…i was anxious to see her…AMMA hugged me and told me ponnumole..i feel very happy..
18.2.2004; Mangalore; Rest is history
In 1987. At the Mumbai airport. It was a Monday. When She reached the airport, Amma sat in a chair in the Lounch and sang two Bhajans. One was ‘Amba Bhavani’. And Amma hugged everyone present. In the excitement of moment, I lost my purse. A small girl found it and recognised it that it was mine and gave it back to me. Imagine, in the huge crowded Mumbai airport? That was already my first ‘experience’ with Amma.
It was in 1989 when Amma visited Palakkad to set up the Ashram.I was a little boy studying in 4th std. Hailing from a communist family with all sorts of theories and confusions and apprehensions in my mind I met Amma. But it took a long time for me to understand what Amma really represented.
Now I have surrendered on her lotus feet.
Aum Amritaishwaryai Namah.
I got my first hug on Dec 28, 2003. Before that I loved staring for hours at Her birthday photos. She was so beautiful and once a photo whispered and guided me to Her ashram! When I went to the local ashram, Her photos seemed to be talking and I felt I knew about Her and I couldn’t wait to meet Her and unburden myself on Her.
I got my first hug on 9th March 2008 at 2200 hrs. in Faridabad and then on 12, 13 at Vasant Kunj Delhi. It is the turning point of my life
I got my first hug on 22nd september 1992.(can’t remember the time) That was my first ‘experience’ with Amma.My total life is changed.
Eyes started getting flooded up with tears and started crying. AMMA asked me how it happend but told her everything what happend with me.
Amma would become my everything for me (father, mother, Guru, God)
I am still unable to express in words the feeling I experienced when AMMA first touched me in 1992.(:
got my first hug in 1996 when i was in my1st grade…..
In July 2007. I first heard about Amma ten years earlier but could not see her due to my work schedule…it was worth the wait:-)
I met Amma first time when i was in 2nd std.she came to our hometown.public program was near our home.she huged me,kissed me.gave me two prasad and said me to study well.