Strange fantasy land
11 August 2009
Green coconut trees swaying in the wind, the bright afternoon sunlight glancing off the waters, little waves rippling on its surface- flashing like sequins… the backwaters looked like a silk sari laid out on the land…glinting & mesmerizing with its seductive charm… some unknown water bird calling in low musical notes…the wind lulling me to a near stupor of lazy contentment…
Hmmm. Enough of that. I’m not getting paid to daydream!
But if wishes were horses, and pigs had wings…well, there would be hordes of pigs flying through the air (not to mention, spreading swine flu in all probability!). Where was I? Oh yes, if wishes were horses, I’d rather be there, instead of here at work, dreaming of the strange fantasy land I’d left behind…
Strange? Fantasy? Amritapuri?
Yes. Amritapuri is a strange fantasy land for me; for I see things I don’t see anywhere else, or at least where I come from. People always happy, smiling 24/7…
You think that’s strange? Look around you now where you are – how many do you see? My last count as I sit at office = zero. Folks holding white collar jobs eager to do hard physical labour (usually the kind that gets you dirty & wet) …being civil to someone you know from back home (just to avoid whom, back home, you would be happy to duck behind the nearest tree) … folks sitting for hours with their knees squeezed up to their chest, occupying just 6 square inches on the floor, with at least 4 pairs of knees (not theirs), jammed into various parts of their anatomy, watching another lady hugging folks rapidly… all this with huge grins plastered to their faces like this was the best thing to happen to them…
Strange? You bet.
Wishing for some ice cream in the heat? Available at the Juice stall. Pizza? Available at the western café. Carrot soup for the vegetarian soul? Definitely available at the western kitchen. Madras maami longing for idli, dosai & sambar? Take your pick at the Indian canteen.
Doll house, library, book store, temple, old friends, sea shore, dolphins, soulful music, red sunsets, orchids (yes! at the new horticulture nursery), finger chips, swimming pool, flea market (for the shopaholics), boat rides, bells, carbonated coconut water(!!!), hospital, hostel, 101 nationalities, elephants, butterflies, homam, advanced computer research lab and love…all under one roof.
Fantasy land? You definitely bet!
(am waiting for the roller coaster to be added soon)
Amrita? Available on all days. Puri? Available (on certain days for breakfast)
Amritapuri? You most definitely bet!!!
With the one & only Amma, who can make strange fantasy lands. And make them so beautiful. And strangely fill you with longing & satisfaction at the same time. I want to come back, Amma. Yeh dil maange more!
Minu Anand, Chennai.
Join the conversation! 13 Comments
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.
nice post! thanks.
yes, yes, yes!!!
wonderful! :), reading this brought the smile back to my face which had disappeared since yesterday, thanks. liked the portion describing the scene on the stage when Amma is giving darshan – reminds me of the portions from Ramayana where the ashrams of some maharshis are described as places where everyone (people, all animals..the entire nature) exists happily without hurting each other.
If I were a bird I would have flown just now to Amritapuri. Thanks a lot it is a beautiful description. I am waiting when my divine AMMA will fulfill my wish of letting me to come to Amritapuri. MAA please call me soon.
Normally, when one is in love, there is a smile on the face most of the times. And when we all are near Love Incarnate Amma, there is bound to be a smile on our faces 24/7 🙂 For me Amritapuri is truly a fantasy land cause I have never been there 🙁 after reading this post, I felt for a few minutes I am in Amritapuri. thanks.
😀
am all Smiles!!!
Amritapuri sounds like what heaven is. Feeling the love and a little paradise with our Mother of the Unviverse. I want to visit there so badly! thank you so much for this post!
Beautiful post… i smiled with every paragraph… thank u minu….
This is exactly what I felt during my first visit to Amritapuri. Ashrmites are so willing and helpful in giving any information about darshan and stay. Right from the start of my journey till I returned I felt everything was preplanned. After visiting Amritapuri one feels the real difference between worldly and spiritual life. Yes it is the true heaven!!
Wonderful….yes really true…Amritapuri, strange fantasy land… whenever I get a chance to be in Amritapuri….I forget everything…all bonds…all tensions….i feel I am home…..with my beloved Amma…where else should I be?…Thank you for this bful post
this is so true … this fantasy land gives only beauty and joy to the heart…. It’s Amma’s grace that we got the chance to pay homage to this sacred land! Thanks for the very beautiful post, it really made me smile.
So well captured! I have had the same feelings sometimes. How strange it is for a person from another place to be in this world! One person keep hugging and hugging! Others sing and sing! I keep thinking of it as an ‘unreal city’, but maybe it is the other way around. And for some reason, the temple looks like a light pink candy I would love to eat.
You have my feelings captured so right that i have a smile extending from one ear to the other hehe HAIL TO AMMA WHO GAVE US PARADISE IN HER ARMS – JAI JAI MA! 🙂