What to do when Amma is gone…..The boys have returned to the stage, and the girls to the Temple for morning Archana and evening bhajans. The Arati bells have resumed their nightly chiming. Amma is physically away from Amritapuri and won’t be back until mid-April. The Ashram is very empty now. Almost all the Brahmacharis and Brahmahcarinis have gone with Amma on the North Indian Tour, as have most International visitors. Some have remained behind for any number of reasons. And there are always one or two dozen tourists who come by boat and spend the night. With no Devi Bhava webcasts expected until Singapore/Malaysia/Australia to lift our hearts and keep us going, we are left to go inwards in search of the many pearls that Amma has given us. Or we can go to Mangalore to see Amma… Brahmastanam Installations are rare festivals where Amma consecrates a new Temple and installs the murti inside. There are maybe 18 now and Mangalore will make 19. It’s an experience that is profound, intense, incredible, and beyond words. 10 years ago, my first Brahmastanam installation programme in Palakkad solidified my relationship with Amma in so many ways. So when I found out about the train, I jumped at the opportunity to go. As of today, about 40 more International visitors and Residents are also going along with any number of Brahmacharis and Brahmacharinis – a significant group considering how few people are here. There, we will be joining perhaps 100,000 others who will be descending on the city for the programmes. At the end, we’ll return to Amritapuri while the rest of the tour continues on to Hyderabad and onwards. The next Brahmastanam Installation is in Calcutta at the end of the North Indian Tour.Sri PatiAmritapuri 14 February 2008