Ancora! Bravissimo! Bravissimo!
28 October 2007, Italy
Traditionally one does not applaud a bhajan. It is a prayer set to music. The intent of singer is not to perform for others, but to pray through song. Similarly, the listener is attempting to focus on God through the medium of the song, more often than not singing along himself. The prayer becomes as much the listener’s as the leader’s. But when Amma sings in Italy, the applause thunders forth regardless. Sometimes it is like the end of an opera; people whistle and shout and call out bravissimo, bravissimo! Often, there are standing ovations. The Italians simply can’t help themselves. They’ve been touched and want to show their appreciation.
In fact, when Amma finishes giving darshan in Italy, she gets a standing ovation—every time. They are celebrating her—her darshan, her smile, her life. Applause is how they do that here.
Often when Italians have Amma’s darshan, I hear them whisper grazie as they leave Amma’s arms. Again, according to Indian culture, “thanking” Amma may sound a little odd. But in reality could there be a response more appropriate? Amma is giving the most precious gift—the gift of transformation from agitation to peace. Perhaps, a heartfelt “thank you” is quite called for.
Tomorrow morning at the end of Devi Bhava, Amma will get a standing ovation as grand as is given in Milan’s famous opera house, Teatro Alla Scala. I feel it is appropriate. After all, haven’t the devotees just witnessed an atbhuta leela—a most wondrous play? Amma—whose true nature is the sakshi caitanyam, the witness consciousness—donning the bhava of the Divine Mother in order to uplift mankind. I too say, “Bravissimo, Amma! Ancora! Ancora!”
—Sachin
Bravissimo, Amma! Ancora! Ancora
thank you sachin
I said – Thank you – to her when she was giving me the darshan !!
Because i wanted to thank her for giving me her blessings, for being here on this Earth with us, for all sacrifice she does to guide us to enlightment!
Bravissimo (Thank you) Sachin for this wonderful post…
I sometimes get confused on on this subject of clapping…. We do clap during Bhajans having the nature of singing glories of Amma… And, we do not clap while singing Bhajans having a nature of prayers (for betterment of one’s situation in this material world)…
Indians typically clap to keep time and rhythm for Bhajans especially as the tempo increases, but its not an applause for the bhajan itself. It’s usually because we are also singing along with it and the song/prayer carries us with it. Generally we dont clap after the song, since we don’t want to interrupt the meditative mood and want the mood to continue onto the next song that AMMA chooses to sing. Having said that, its quite nice to see Westerners opting for an applause, because AMMA and the swamis and swaminis and others deserve it!
Thanks for this wonderful account of the Italian appreciation of Amma. I don’t say “Thank you” enough to Amma and I’m heartened to hear about how other Nationalities show their gratitude! Bravissimo!!
I must say: “Bravissimo, Amma. Ancora Ancora!” Thank you Amma for come every year in Italy!!!!
A wonderful thing it is happened during the Amma’s program:
We were together everybody in the washing point… to wash the dishes. All of sudden we have taken plates, pots, and the spoons. We enter in the hall of darshan all of us, and we have sung ‘Shiva Shiva Shambo’ using pots and dishes as music instrument. All people was enjoing!! Amma laughed so much!!! She was very happy. i am happy…