Category: AshramDiary
life at the Amritapuri ashram
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It has begun
It has begun. That is, over two thousand children have arrived in Amritapuri for a personality development camp. Every corner of the ashram is bustling with life and enthusiasm, like it should be. That’s what an ashram is about. It is refreshing to have so many children around. We can learn a lot from them as Amma says. One of the most important things in spiritual life is innocence, humility and a beginner’s attitude. Without these qualities one’s spiritual life will ultimately atrophy or turn into a farce and mockery. It is always a good took take a look at…
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Karunyamoortte
Karunyamoortte – Embodiment of Compassion Very nice bhajans again tonight, Karunyamurtte being the highlight of them, for me at least. Such a nice raga and beautiful lyrics: O Embodiment of compassion Who art of black color, deign to open Thy eyes.Art Thou not the destroyer of sorrow? This being so, do remove my sufferings. In this world Thou art the shelter, O bright colored one with eyes like the petals of a red lotus. I Worship Thee forever with the flowers of my tears. The list of bhajans tonight: Govinda GopalaIrul Tingi ValarunnaAmmayenulloru NamamorttidaveMere Hridaya Sree Ram BaseKarunyamurtteBholanatha HareOru Nimisham…
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Happy Birthday Swamiji
It was all started after midnight on Devi Bhava. Amritaswarupananda was sitting next to Amma’s chair. Suddenly, a group of Amrita Vishwa Vidya Peetham students brought a bouquet of balloons and presented them to Swamiji, singing, “Happy Birthday To You Dear Swamiji…” Today is Swamiji’s 50th birthday, and they wanted to be the first to offer their best wishes. They also presented him with a sweet photo of Amma soaking Swamiji with a hose during a North Indian Tour a few years ago. Amma handed the balloons to Swamiji one by one and spent a long time talking and joking…
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Puppy Love
The Amritapuri environs was charged with excitement. The Day : April 22’07 . You’ve guessed it right–it was the Bhava Darshan day. It seemed to have come after ages There was a mood of heightened celebration in the air. As my wife, and I got out of the flat and moved to towards the canteen to have breakfast –we encountered this bundle of joy. She was jumping around, sniffing strangers, trying to make friends. She was a brown cuddly puppy with a dash of black on its snout and a flash of white on its paws. She was just a…
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Devi Bhava day
When I first read on Amritapuri.org that Amma was going to hold Devi Bhava in India, I was actually sad. I had just left Amritapuri on Tuesday and have been staying in the San Ramon Ashram for a week. Even though there will be Devi Bhava here in the US during Summer tour, there is something about seeing one in India. I had been in India for the last Devi Bhava, but I missed most of it because I had gone to bed early thinking that it would last well into the morning and I could participate more fully after…
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Devi Bhava, can it be true?
Today it’s finally happening after a long time – the first Devi Bhava in Amritapuri since 20 months! Many probably already thought that it Amma will not give anymore Devi Bhava darshan in India, so it came as a pleasant surprise when Amma announced that there would be one this Sunday. Many people booked flights from all over the country after hearing the news. I wonder how many will call work tomorrow and say they will not be able to make it? That’s how irresistible Amma’s pull is. Like the Krishna Lila happening all over again.Amma first came out in…
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Makaranda Madhurya
Bhajans tonight were really sweet. During Devi Bhagavati Amma was clearly in a realm of bliss. Tears kept rolling out the corners of her eyes.There was a nice new Telugu song called Makaranda Madhurya. Nanda NandanaPakalantiyiletti NeramPadamulattile PamsuvayMakaranda Madhurya (Telugu)Om Namah ShivayaOti Oti Olivatenke (Tamil)(Kannada)Devi BhagavatiJai Jai Kali Ma Makaranda madhurya muna tenlendukuMalletotta cherenu bhramaramuA prema madhuryamuna telenduku AmmaOtiki cheranu namanam ediBhramarama telusuko madhuramu The honey bee goes to the Jasmine garden to enjoy the sweetness of nectarMy mind goes to Amma’s lap to enjoy the sweetness of that Divine LoveO honey bee, know which is sweeter Tirani dahamunu tircchuku…
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New and old
Amma arrived fairly early for bhajans tonight and sang a fairly long and somewhat surprising set of bhajans. She looked very fresh and happy as She walked onto the stage. I like watching Amma arrive for bhajans because for once there are very few people surrounding Her. She can move freely without being surrounded from every side. I remember how many years ago Amma could move freely like that all over the ashram. But of course things naturally change over time and everything is under Amma’s control. Amma’s pull is just irresistible. There were some classics and new songs in…
