There are various views possible of the beautiful backwaters at the Ashram’s backyard: while strolling along its bank, walking up the Amrita Setu, from the top of one of the tall ashram buildings….and so on. From anywhere I look at it, the mind takes on a poetic mood….

Well, if rivers are metaphor for the individual soul’s life journey, quoted in scriptures and film songs alike, and if the sea is the symbol of Eternity into which everything merges…. what does this convey to us? – the water of the sea flowing back into the land, a la a river. Did it not want to remain merged in infinity?

The sea water is salty and so not fit for direct use. Nature has to process it and send it as rain so it can be beneficial to the biosphere. But this kayal’s water here is sustaining dense greenery all along its sides. Coconuts, cashew, almond, and innumerable other lush trees and bushes; which in turn house innumerable birds and creatures. A variety of water creatures are in the kayal- fish, crabs, and jellyfish. It makes a beautiful waterway not only for those going on boats, but also for birds. Believe me, many birds flying long distances fly above this kayal route! And the serenity that stretches over the calm water is beyond description: while walking over the bridge, stop on the central flat area, and sense along the long lengths on either side; see if you can send out feelers from the ears….Soft silence raps on the ear: ‘no-noise zone’ all along its stretch: that renders it the serenity of the Himalayan valleys. The gentle flow of the kayal transforms into beautiful patterns on the surface when one maneuvers a boat across with one’s long pole, or when a motor boat plies along, or when a fish leaps up for frolic. The reflection of little lights cause its surface to shimmer at night, while in the day, the sun blazes forth in its clear reflection. It flows round the year like the perennial rivers.

The kayal, unlike the river, has no eagerness to rush or meet the sea: for it is the sea itself flown back into the land!

This is a fit metaphor for our beloved Amma’s compassion. Amma has no need of anything from the world. She is one with the Parabrahman. But still She has taken a human form, come back to our world only in order to serve us, nurture us, save us, connect us to the Sea.

In this regard Amma’s deeds are indeed infinite, innumerable; even an effort to describe seems futile to me. For example, even to sit back and enjoy a few hours of Devi Bhava every few days, we here in Ashram have so many adjustments to make in our routine- seva, sleep, bath, laundry, etc… Then how can we ever measure Her deeds? How Amma is doing a thousand more things with greatest ease and highest form of beauty! Into every area of human suffering is Amma’s compassion flowing and disseminating service and peace of mind, like the innumerable water-ways of the kayals.

Kayals are more worthy of worship than rivers or seas in this sense.

Hence the line in a song:
(Gangeginta pavitralu neenu Amma…)
Amma You are holier than Ganga
— Sandhya