28 Jan 2008, Thirunelvali, Tamil Nadu

Amma’s public programmes are generally held in large outdoor fields. There is a huge stage on one end which is covered by a shed. Then the crowd extends out for perhaps two or three football fields – depending on the grounds.

When Amma comes to one of these cities, millions attend. No, not millions of people. Millions of bugs. Last year, I wrote about the onslaught of winged ants during the Madurai public programs. It hasn’t been that bad, but there have been plenty of bugs on this tour. It’s an entomologist’s dream. Sitting on stage or in the crowd, they land on you. In your hair, on your arms, or legs. Sometimes they get in your clothes and you have to find a discrete way of getting them out of your pants or shirt. If you are not careful they get in your mouth, nose and eyes. They are landing on the screen of this pc as I type. They also land on Amma. One of Swamini Krishnamrita’s main jobs has been to pluck the bugs off of Amma’s sari during satsang.

I’ve watched more than a few bugs find themselves scurrying along one of the many sound system cables that snaked across the stage. It’s amusing – they seem to be heading somewhere – caught up on this serpentine highway to nowhere. Or somewhere to them. Around and around they go.

I’m sure in our youths we’ve all familiarized ourselves with the bugs of our native land. The bugs in India represent a whole new world to explore. More than once, when one lands on me, I have found myself holding them up to observe their unique beauty. Their shapes, their colors, the designs on their bodies. There are so many varieties. Sometimes they linger on my finger for a while. Other times, they suddenly and surprisingly sprout hidden wings and fly off for some unknown business. Amma says that every life form has a purpose…