Category: AshramDiary
life at the Amritapuri ashram
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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…
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Hundreds of tabla players finding rhythm
Tabla is relatively new as a musical instrument in India. Traces of its first origin go back to just 300 to 400 years. Since then, going through a continuous evolution in the shape of the instrument and its tuning and usage, it has become an essential instrument in the Hindustan traditional classical music. Tabla is prevalent in spiritual bhajans and the romantic ghazal songs. In the early days, as Amma was singing devotional songs with her first disciples, tabla was one of the musical instruments that were part of the instruments used by the group of musicians singing with her.…
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There’s No Place Like Amritapuri-Home!
Within hours of my first day at Amritapuri (Abode of Immortal Bliss) four years ago, an immediate, warm familiarity overtook me, a déjà vu of which I had never experienced before. My whole being felt cocooned in the love that this sacred land holds. I knew then that I had arrived home – that this was exactly where I was meant to be. That feeling is just as true for me now as it was then. It has been two years since my last sojourn to the ashram – a haven open to all and home to countless seekers. Each…
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Arcana of the copper pod tree
This morning I did Arcana with the copper pod tree! The familiar tree almost on every street in the cities blooms its innumerable bright yellow flowers in its own time, and in its own selected branches. Just like Tumban and Bhakti display dog-qualities plus special qualities, the tree to the left-front of Kali Temple in Amritapuri shows its genetic as well as special qualities as ashram tree. Believe me. It obeys Amma’s instruction to the core. Amma says, “Children, the atmosphere is impure at twilight hours. Engage yourself in spiritual practices at that time.” This tree, planted a few years…
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We are here to kidnap Amma
Vaishnavi and Valsala are twin sisters. They are from Amrita Vidyalayam, Davengere (Karnataka). They came as part of a group from their school to visit Amritapuri and get Amma’s blessings. It was their first meeting with Amma. The meeting just blew them away… “There is so much energy, so much love, I feel like crying, I don’t know what’s happening” said Valsala. But it seems that just meeting Amma was not enough for these two bold sisters… They wanted to keep Amma with them! Therefore, they came up with a plan and unveiled it when they came back to Amma.…
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Little Lalita’s determination
Sitting near Amma saw another amazing baby interaction. New York Abeda comes to sit for meditation on stage during Amma’s darshan holding her one and a half year old baby Lalita.Lalita, however, has other plans… no sitting quietly for her. She wants one thing and one thing only – to get to Amma. It doesn’t matter to her that she can’t walk yet. She crawls, holds, falls over all of us until she makes her way up to Amma chair. Lalita talks to Amma, she calls Amma’s name (Abeda said: I could not make out ‘Amma’ in her baby talk…)…
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Tsunami twins
This afternoon, while on stage, there was a bit of commotion near Amma. The photographer and videographer were nudging for a clear view of two young children who were coming up for darshan. As I was near the chair, I managed to get a close look at the scene. The boy and girl were adorable, smiling and posing for the camera with Amma. Their parents were beaming with joy. Instantly, I realized what I was watching. These two children were Tsunami babies, born out of Amma’s infinite compassion. Ten years ago, Liji and Srijith had lost their son and daughter…
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Christmas Carols from around
Christmas Day in Amritapuri was celebrated with a 1-1/2 hour set of Christmas Carols from around the world sung while Amma was giving darshan on the stage. Groups from the US and Europe, sang traditional carols in their respective languages accompanied by keyboard, zither, bells, and clarinet. 18 carols were sung in all with words posted on the screens in the hall. The set ended with a joyous version of ‘We Wish You a Merry Christmas!’ Some of the carols that were sung included: Alleluia Silent Night (English) Es ist ein Ros’entsprugen (German) Les anges dans nos campagnes (French) Sydameeni…
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When is it going to snow?
Over 1800 foreign visitors from around the world have come to Amritapuri to celebrate Christmas with Amma. Festive decorations and lights adorn the International Canteen, and a small tree with a nativity scene lies at the base of the stairs to Amma’s room. Close to 150 children of different nationalities make up part of this mix. 12 year old Kishan from the UK and 9 year old Hermanni (Sandeep) from Finland especially love the annual play which is put on by the International residents and visitors and performed on Christmas Eve. Kishan went on to say that he loves to…