surprise devi bhava

yesterday came as a pleasant surprise. after the evening bhajans, a rumour started going around that amma would do bhava. i didn’t believe it. i knew there were two padapujas scheduled, usually done at the end of darshan. sometimes, during padapuja, amma is adorned with a silk sari and crown by the devotees. that happens once in a while.

but yesterday was different. while i was assisting amma during mantra initiation, i sensed the rumours are true. after the mantra, amma stepped down from the peetham and the stage doors were closed.

the news spread quickly across the ashram. the hall filled up. people waited in silence, anticipation thick in the air. a completely different vibration.

after few minutes the doors opened.

amma was seated on the peetham in a red sari and blouse with yellow and golden designs, a crown on her head, malas adorning her neck. eyes closed. hands full with flowers. the hall froze. utter silence.

yes. devi bhava.!!!

goosebumps. tears rolled down the cheek.

mantras were chanted. arati was done. the family started performing the pada puja, were in tears. they themselves were unsure if amma would accept their prayer, if she would appear in silk sari and crown before them.

there were two padapujas. because of the first family even the second family got the chance to do theirs in devi bhava.

in amritapuri, amma has not performed devi bhava for the last 17 years. children born after the 2004 tsunami have never seen it. most ashram children hadn’t either. so when the doors opened, some were thrilled, some cried, some trembled, few couldn’t contain their emotions.

the whole session lasted hardly 30 minutes. but late into the night, people kept speaking about the beauty of devi bhava and the blessing they received. today, a few told me they couldn’t sleep at all. such was the power. such was the energy.

* * *

how it happened—amma explained today, just before bhajans. the devotees doing padapuja wanted to place the crown on her head. instead of simply draping a sari over her white clothes, she had to wear it properly. that meant changing the white dress, putting on a blouse, untying her hair, and then placing the crown.
none of this was planned or intentional. amma wasn’t aiming for anything. it unfolded naturally, shaped by the prayers of the devotees.

** ** **

from now on, many will surely pray to do padapuja in devi bhava. and amma may oblige. who knows how the divine responds to the prayers of devotees.

what is special about devi bhava? nothing special really. amma only gives us a chance—to understand who she truly is… which she always is.

dhyanamrita
23 dec 2025, amritapuri