18 Jan 2008, coimbatore
The other day I was discussing with one senior brahmachari about how many devotees who come to see Amma for the first time have extraordinary experiences. One example he said was a woman who had a dream where Amma appeared and gave her two coins, which she found in her hands when she woke up. Though she had never met Amma before, she came for darshan and asked Amma what to do with the coins. Amma replied by telling her to keep them in her puja room.

Like this, how many thousands have unexplainable and extraordinary experiences with Amma, though they may have never met Amma before that. Many people with severe diseases have found a cure, just after a word or a touch from Amma. Others have found an unexpected solution to financial problems, etc.

At this point in the discussion, the brahmachari said, ‘you see, Amma is doing things that we see, like building houses for a few thousands, and giving pensions, etc.. but how many people receive Amma’s help without us knowing of it?’

When he said this, there was the sound of a lizard croaking loudly. In Kerala, everyone knows that a lizard croaking is a sign that a person is telling the truth. Almost all Keralites have this faith, and I have had several experiences where a person talking to me says, ‘you see! A lizard croaked!’ The people here accept this as a divine sign that the words are true.
Such beliefs are very common in India, and it shows their close connection with nature. Some of these signs in nature are related to the sounds of crows and other animals. Such was the subtlety of the rishis, that they could listen to and understand the language of nature, in the same way, that we can see Amma.

Piyush
18 January, 2008