4 September 2007, Amritapuri

Yesterday when I was on my way to work I ran into what must have been a thousand Krishnas. I was immersed in an ocean of peacock feathers, crowns and beautiful smiles. It was a parade of children all dressed up as Krishna, with one looking sweeter than the other. Even our food carts had been converted into parade vehicles on which sat Krishnas and Radhas in various divine poses. I made me really to watch them, so innocent and beautiful.

Later there was the traditional pot breaking game, which is always good fun to watch.

After the pot breaking Amma led an incredibly vigorous chanting of Hari Bol.

After that was time for the regular bhajans. As Amma sat down on her piitham Shivan the tabla player showed up fully decked up as Radha. Everyone totally cracked up seeing him in full make up, paddings and a shimmering ladies dress. He played for one song and then left which probably was a good idea since there a Swiss TV crew started filming at that point.

The bhajans were:

• Kuch Na Le
• Arundu Cholluvan
• Anantamayi Patarunnor
• Dehachya Muralita
• Kezhunnen Manasam
• Banda Krishna
• Sarvavyapiyei
• Om Namah Shivaya
• Jai Jai Janani Jai Ho Teri

Around 11 o’clock Amma came out again in order to receive baby Krishna who arrived at the strike of midnight amidst tumultuous drumming, conch shells trumpeting, fire and smoke whirling and loud cheering from the everyone gathered in the hall. Amma gave a beautiful speech about Krishna and how he was the greatest and most beautiful personality ever to take birth on this earth. While other mahatmas had a message for a particular time and culture only, Krishna’s message on the other hand is universal and for valid for all times and places. He is immortal beauty and love that lives on in everyone’s heart. I bet everyone was thinking that all these things apply just as well to our beloved Amma – The Amrita-Krishna of our times.

Amma was in a really sweet and blissful mood all evening. In the end she led everyone dancing to the tune of Gopala Nacho Nacho, after which some North-Indian devotees brought some pots filled with curd and butter, which Amma broke with a stick relishing the contents afterwards like little Krishna himself.

Vishwanath