16 Aug 2009, Amritapuri
Last few days have been Darshan days one next to another. It amazes us every single day plainly to imagine and see Amma’s white saree yellowed or even turned dark reddish brown with the many faces that feel the loving embrace. Amma keeps on giving Darshan from morning continuously without a break until almost midnight sometimes stretching until 4am or so. Today Amma finished her Darshan at 11:20pm. Considering that this is not just for today but four major days a week, here at Amritapuri, with this long schedule with no food, not even an extra minute’s rest and what not, Amma sets a high bar for all her children to follow. And, what a Mother, cause to her its all love. Even during Darshan Amma says she thinks of her many children who were unable to come to be with her and sometimes she even talks particularly referring to some of them by their names. Recently at a seaside session, Amma mentioned how much she yearns for to see her many children during Darshan, even if it was just a second. Explaining, how many of the devotees borrow money in order to make the trip, Amma went on to say how they wait the whole day to get that one second with Amma and how important that is (to her). Amma kept circling on that one second she spends with that devotee. She says it is so very important. What a Love! Amma is fantastic.
Since the last three days, in the evenings one could observe a small kid near Amma’s chair. The little kid would arrive earlier in the evening, have his Darshan and Amma would ask him to come on to her side. We noticed that once on the side, he took out an Archana book and started reading the 108 names of the Divine Mother in absolute concentration only to lift up his head every few seconds to look at Amma. On Saturday, Amma told us about him while he was just taking out his Archana book. The little boy was 5 years old and of Indian origin but lived in the States. He and his parents were frequent to visit Amma when Amma does the US tours. The boy could very well chant the Ashtothram or the 108 names of the Divine Mother. Seems his parents had showed him how and he had meticulously followed them. Amma mentioned that even at school the little boy kept chanting the Divine mantras.
The same thing happenned today. Swamiji’s rocking bhajans did not even divert the kid’s attention. Patiently he pronounced the Sanskrit syllables in the appropriate way but with the cute five year old’s accent. The sweet pronunciation moved everyone around Amma. Amma was looking into his eyes. There were tears in his eyes but it was not the cry of sadness but that of the deep yearning. Today, he had even offered more and was doing the 1000 names of Sri Lalita known as the Sri Lalita Sahasranamam. Amma was proudly saying that he had learned the same in the last two days. With an amazing smile, joyous glittering eyes and a majestic pose on Amma’s face, she even stalled the Darshan and remained still pleased as she heard the little one chant. Afterwards, like a proud Mother, she kissed him on his forehead repeatedly putting her head on his while the little kid rested his on her shoulder and all this while during Darshan. O what a sight!
Goddess Sri Lalita is described as “Aum nama parayana pritayai namah” or one who is pleased by the repetition of Her names. Perhaps that very Lalita acknowledged the beauty of innocent prayer. No enough words can ever express the emotions of witnessing that sight.
– shyam
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