Category: AshramDiary
life at the Amritapuri ashram
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Rain Rain Go Away….
05 September 2007, Amritapuri For the past month, barely a day has gone by without rain. Sometimes it comes unexpectedly, dark clouds on the horizon over the ocean. Other times, it lingers like a drizzle, occasionally turning into downpours. Day or night. Amritapuri is wet, muddy. Puddles linger in front of the cafe. We dodge streams of water falling from the roof of the main hall on the way to the canteen. We sport umbrellas, commonly used in India to shield strollers from the strong sun. Clothes are rarely dry, stained with mud. Unwashed, they remain piled high in corners…
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Tuesday Bhajans
For those interested, last night Amma sang the following bhajans: Bara Gopala Pakalantiyilettineram Atbhuta Charitre Vani Mani Mate Abhayam Tan Aruluka Niyen Sri Rama Namamu Man Re Om Namah Shivaya Amma Amma Taye Vishwanath 5 August 2007
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Divine Plan
4 sep 2007, amritapuri It has been so wonderful to listen to Srimad Bhagavatam. Bhagavatam is a Purana written by Sage Vyasa depicting the incarnations of Lord Vishnu. A Malayalam translation of the original text is sung during Krishna’s Birthday Celebrations in Amritapuri. I had never heard such clarity, such musical tone, and nice voice. Amma was not there when a woman on the stage started reading the Bhagavatam describing the situations of the birth of Lord Krishna (usually there will be some cultural programmes, then Amma will come on stage and the Bhagavatam starts.) As the Bhagavatam reader was…
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Immortal Beauty and Love
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.…
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Timeless in Amritapuri
The clock on the temple wall is mistaken. It shows second by second, minute by minute, that time is moving forward, ever so gently. But my experience, here with Amma in the temple, is a timeless one. Who is right? Perhaps it is the constant pounding of the ocean surf that creates a sense of timelessness here. Or maybe the beauty of the Onam full moon reflecting off the backwaters, shimmering in silent grace, and bathing all, is what is creating this timelessness. Or is it the sea of coconut trees, expanding endlessly? Maybe it is the hum of humanity,…
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Arati in Amma’s Presence
In response to a question regarding the Arati and (un-)discipline, Amma said today during her satsang that in order to set an example for everyone she would stay and sit through the arati after bhajans as otherwise everyone will just scramble after her as soon as she gets up. It is amazing to what lengths Amma will go in order to show us how to do even the most basic things. The songs tonight were: Krishna Vasudeva Hare Parinamamiyalatta Adiyil Parameshwariye Pukare Mayya Tumhe Sada Ham Vyathayariykkaan Bandumuntu Sontamundu Om Namah Shivaya Jai Jai Mata Jai Jagad Janani The bhajans…
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Eternal Classics and Innovations
Tonight’s bhajans were somehow special and there were some real classics in the set: Jay Gopalaka Jay Hitakari Tapta Manasam Shrishtiyum Niye Maheshwari Rajarajeshwari Anandamayi Brahmamayi Makaranda Madhurya Om Namah Shivaya Enaikaka Unaiyantri Awaken Children Jai Jai Kali Ma There’s nothing like the eternal classics Srishtiyum Niye and Anandamayi Brahmamayi to bring tears of devotion to everyone’s eyes, and Amma sang them tonight with such overwhelming emotion that time seemed to stand still. For the last song Shivan (the brahmachari who plays tablas) brought Amma a kind of parade snare drum. It caused a lot of laughter as Amma tried…
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Amma’s Protection
I am one of the most fortunate amongst millions of people who have known AMMA . From the year 1991 I have had various experiences that have dragged more and more close to AMMA selflessly. One of the thrilling experience is the yearly function of ‘Avani-avittam ‘ which falls each year on the full moon day of the month of Sravan (August – September). This function is particularly important for the Hindus This day we change the sacred thread which we wear before teen age when symbolically the third eye or the eye of wisdom is opened. The holy festival…
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Onam With Amma
28 Aug 2007, Amritapuri Yesterday was such a fun and action packed day I didn’t even find time to write. In the morning Amma came out around 10 o’clock and started with an Onam message, which is posted on Amritapuri.org. After the speech there was a vibrant rendition of Mata Rani Ne after which Amma led the whole crowd dancing to the tune of Amrita Vahini. During the song Swamiji really let loose behind the microphone. That’s one thing about Amma’s Swamis, while being real Sannyasins nevertheless they also know how to relax and have fun. Surely they are not…