Towards the end of the morning program on the first day of retreat, Amma said that she would dance after darshan.  Eager devotees gathered around as the last person came to receive Amma’s hug.  Then, a circle was formed, and Amma stood up to dance.  But the musicians didn’t know what bhajan to play.  Then…..apparently, people in the crowd started to call out ‘Mata Rani’…. And so it was.   The musicians started to play, and Amma gracefully began to dance – making a full circle around the crowd of gazing devotees.   When the time came for ‘Mata Rani Ki….’   Amma stopped in her tracks, threw up her hands, and shouted it out – which of course was followed by a rousing ‘Jai!’

Having made full circle, Amma stood near the peetham, and continued to sing along with the crowd.  This time, when Amma shouted out ‘Mata Rani Ki… Jai’ and her hands went up, it seemed that she literally jumped in the air – her feet appeared to leave the floor for a brief imperceptible moment.  I thought she would start soaring upwards to the ceiling and even through the roof.

Mata Rani continued for sometime to the delight of her Australian children.  And then, just when one thought it was finished, Amma began singing ‘Narayana Narayana Jai Govinda Hare, Narayana Narayana Jai Gopala Hare.’  I don’t think anyone here can recall when Amma last sang two bhajans while dancing on retreats!   The bhajan, which consists of those two simple lines, continued for some time, increasing in speed and in intensity.    It was devotion and bhakti to the max – voices thundering in unison, Amma’s face lit up in divine union with her children down under.

Gopal

7 April 2008, Melbourne