4 Aug 2010, Amritapuri

Tuesday is a special day indeed with close Satsang, Q-and-A with Amma and most blessedly, getting the Prasad from Amma’s hands. This Tuesday was the first after Amma’s long US-Japan tour and as Amma came in, the crowded Kali temple became silently lively and joyfully dynamic. Amma sat in the center surrounded by her children. The little boy, Siddharth sat right next to Amma. After leading a beautiful meditation, Amma asked food to be brought so she can hand it over to one and all. Amma also asked little Siddharth to sing a song and in a beautiful voice came “Chita Chora Krishnaaa”. As one amazed at this kid’s voice and his song’s call, Amma’s voice followed his bhajan, putting us all in unpolluted delight. Amma later started distributing Prasad and while doing that she asked Siddharth to tell stories. To the amazement of many, the little one started telling stories of depth and wonder revealing the mysteries of Chamundi, Ambika and Ramayana in his style, even including an animated “twang” to indicate that arrows of Rama were released from the bow. Amma’s presence was like a sweet tender-coconut drink after a deserted two and a half months.

*****

Amma also came later in the evening for Bhajans. Past two days, another boy, also from US, would accompany Amma on stage and would “air” play instruments or try to imitate Amma during the Bhajans. He would sit right next to Amma near the Tablas and sing and shake as if he was playing tablas or drums. His finishing exclamations “Oh Wow”, “Weeee”,”Oh what a night”, “Keep it going” “This is exactly the way i like it”, “This is why i say, I love India” would even add a comical lightness to all. Amma lovingly smiled at him. As bhajans were about to sung, even the tune was enough for this boy who sat next to Amma and Siddharth sitting just behind Amma to start singing. As Amma decided one bhajan and the musicians started playing the tune, these two boys started singing the Bhajan in their own styles in two different tunes. Amma then started singing and shortly paused the song, and with a smile restarted to finish the Bhajan. Amma later said these two kids started singing the song earlier on and that she lost the rhythm hearing both singing. Most of us had not even realised Amma had paused in between. We had rather thought Amma was jokingly enjoying the song and the delay was deliberate to reveal the Vedantic punch. What an evening! Amma finished the Bhajans with “Om Namah Shivaya” followed by “Amma Amma Taye” taking one and all to the beautiful Devi Bhava memories. As arati was going on, Amma looked deeply into all her boys and girls with her smile as if saying “i still haven’t seen you enough”.

Smiles in faces, gatherings, family lunch and all – Festival of Joy indeed here at Amritapuri and this is just the beginning.

— Shyam