Amritapuri ashram

Under huge tamarind trees

The tamarind grove behind the Amrita kuteerams in Panakudi dreamt dream this amavas- new moon night. Darkness was becoming insufferable; there was even a solar eclipse the previous day. Still  there had been glorious sunrises in many parts of tamilnadu these days…

The sun had risen directly in front of Amma who was giving light into the hearts of multitudes in Madurai, in Neyveli…

The tamarind trees in the Panakudi grove heard about it all and dreamt of something auspicious approaching.

The night after the new moon night was just as dark as the previous one. The stars above them shone more brightly with compassion for those drowned in darkness. And they were much more in number than can we see in the sky above towns and their polluted atmosphere.

The trees were whispering something to each other… “Hey it feels like a Full moon night…” said one.

Very soon Amma the bearer of all glory of the full moon did come, along with her shine of 400 odd children all in whites. At that hour no one would think of venturing into such a dark recess. But here She was the mother of Immortal bliss, who doesn’t spare any living or non living thing from Her Bliss.

It was a walk way on muddy grassy path of more than 2 kilometers. Dark and quiet in the midst of many trees, standing silently wondering how they got bright visitors out of the blue. They didn’t ask us to stop or to pass through any metal ditectors.

Amma came sat under a huge tamarind tree. All her immediate family took places under the low hanging branches of tamarinds. My childhood fear of tamarind trees in dark, which they said housed the pretas or spirits of the dead, smiled in my face as Amma smiled Her love-smile on all and everything around.

Amma sang bhajans, a bunch of those new Tamil Bhajans of the year. Amma made several of her children talk, and all of them extolled Her glory, in distant Germany or other places. Amma held out to each one the Prasad of Sumangali murukku.

It didn’t look like any one of us wanted to leave that heavenly place. But Amma got up to go to meet her children in Kanyakumari, and once Amma leaves what is heaven for her children in any hevenly groove. We too left, after feeling the pristine nature and her love.

– Sandhya

Comments

3 responses to “Under huge tamarind trees”

  1. ammasrama

    The story narrated by the German devotee was good. This devotee had an opportunity to drive Amma, swamiji and swamini Amma to the program. On the particular day, there was also a rock concert in the city. The streets were crowded and the traffic was slow. They were running late to the program. She was feeling bad that Amma is late to the program and was in tears. After some time the traffic cleared and she drove the car fast. Amma also encouraged her to drive faster by saying “fast, fast…”. All of sudden a police car came from behind and signaled to park her car. Now she was feeling bad that Amma and Swamiji will also be in trouble because of this and she started to cry even more. When the police man came, he looked like an angel to her. He said, “mam, I know that you are driving fast. But I cannot tell how fast you are driving, since I don’t have the equipment with me. So kindly drive within normal speeds….”. He let her go without ticket or any other sort of inquiry. She felt relieved and thanked Amma. Finally the devotee was able to drop Amma at the program.

  2. susannahpryce

    Wherever Amma sits is a place that no one wants to leave! It is great that your fears of tamarind trees in the dark was overcome. I love these stories! Namah Shivaya, thank you for posting it! It makes those of us who are far away feel so close. Many of us will not have the opportunity to experience Satsang in nature with Amma. This post is prasad for those devotees who cannot dream of doing such because of physical or financial limitation. Your post will always be here…in the archives for those who wish to experience the bliss.

  3. maitri

    Thank you for this story. I could feel the atmosphere of love & nature. So I was there too, in a way.

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