After Amma’s public program in February 2008 in washim, around 1,500 people expressed the wish to visit Amritapuri for Amma’s darshan. Many inquired with me about the cost of travel expenses and they started saving the money for the trip. At last on 14th September, a group of 16 ladies and 22 gents dressed in traditional maharashtrian costume arrived in Amritapuri. The ladies were wearing the 9 meter (madisar) sari and the gents dhoti and cap, all typical village attire.

After Amma’s darshan their hearts melted and they became very emotional. Many of them had brought food to offer to Amma. Amma tasted everything joyfully. On Tuesday, the 16th, the ashramites’ meditation day, Amma called all of them to come first for prasadam (the lunch served by Amma).

Again on Wednesday during darshan Amma called the doctor to come and test their blood sugar levels. Amma was upset that they were not offered chappati (Indian bread) to eat, and were only served rice, which is not their food. Amma said that because they were eating only rice, their blood sugar level had increased. She immediately arranged for chappatis to be served to them that night and also for their journey back on the next day.

On Thursday, early in the morning before leaving some of them went near Amma’s room and collected sand to take to Washim. They said, “If we visit God’s place of worship, we should bring its remembrance with us but we did not have sufficient money to purchase Amma’s photos, hence we are taking this sand, which has been touched by Amma’s divine feet. We will plant Tulasi (holy basil) in this sacred sand as remembrance of Amma’s presence in our houses.”

I was overwhelmed by their sentiments and was feeling very sorry for not giving them Amma’s photograph as a token of remembrance. I expressed my feelings to them. But they consoled me saying not to feel bad about it. But they said:”Amma is in our hearts. Until now we had seen God only in pictures and stones but here we have seen the Living God. In remembrance of the Living Goddess, we are taking this sacred sand for planting Tulasi Devi. We are going to plant a Living Goddess.”

The ladies expressed their happiness as they felt as if they had visited their mothers’ home. They were thankful towards Amma’s motherly love, showered on them during their stay. They said that in Maharashtra, during the Nagpanchami day (festival worship of snake (i.e. kundalini-feminine energy), they visit their mothers’ house. ” We feel at home here. It is like our mother’s house. In Maharahstra, we have a tradition: every year married women go back to their mother’s house to swing on a huge swing and have fun together. When we came here and saw this swing (A swing set for Onam), we felt we were at home in our own mother’s house.”

One person told me: “By Amma’s touch my whole being feels transformed. I’ve decided to stop drinking alcohol. I want to become Amma’s good child. Now I know how to come here, whenever I feel the urge to see Amma I will come as soon as possible.

Each person in the group contributed Rs 100 to Amma’s charities. They said, “Next year, for Amma’s birthday we will come as volunteers to serve Amma.”

Br. Eknath