Category: AshramDiary
life at the Amritapuri ashram
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Meeting of 2 ‘old friends’
Wednesday 25 This is the first day of the official celebrations, which will culminate on the 27th. Of course the festive atmosphere and the crowd have being building up since last week. But today is a turning point. The morning main question was: will Amma give today’s darshan still in Ashram or go to the other side to the birthday site. Yesterday night, the clear instructions came: there are so many people, Amma will give darshan the other side. So late evening, the ‘darshan crew’ started packing everything, sweets, apples, ashes, and many many other things. But, today is also…
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Filiming Amma
Monday, a new piece of the extraordinary puzzle of Amma’s birthday celebration came into place. A big film crew arrived with an impressive material of cameras to take some images about the 60th birthday. The director is Shekhar Kapur, renowned Indian film director. An extensive interview with Amma was set in the hut down by her room and i hope to be able to have a full version of it. After the interview, Amma first started to move as if she would go back to Her room. Then a TV journalist took his chance to ask Amma a few questions.…
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Maha Chandika Homa
25 Sep 2013, Amritapuri There were four days of traditional Maha Yaga (Great Fire Ceremony) held at the Yaga Shala in Amritapuri. Sri Ganapathi Homa was conducted on 22nd, Navagraha Homa was conducted on 23rd, Ayush Homa was conducted on 24th and Chandika Homa was conducted on 25th. Amma came to the Yaga Shala at 10:30am, towards the conclusion of the Mahachandika Homam. Amma circumambulated the Homa Gundam, offered Her prostrations, watched the ceremony and then blessed the priests who conducted the Homa. The Purna Aahuthi (the final offering) was offered into the Homa Gundam in the presence of Amma.…
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Karthika in Kanni
24 Sep 2013, Amritapuri Today happens to be the Kartika day of Kerala’s Kanni month, Amma’s birth-day. For Amma this is yet another day of serving Her world. Tuesday is ashram’s meditation day, but Amma wanted to meet Her children come for seva. Amma also wanted to serve them all food. So yet another Onam! Amma came down Her steps, was quite surprised to see Lakshmi – the elephant with her decked trunk. Amma rushed to meet Her, and fed her with fruits. All along the path many western men stood in traditional Indian clothes to offer pranams to Amma.…
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Procession of Gods
22 Sep 2013, Amritapuri Another special birthday event happened around 8pm, while Amma was still giving darshan. A procession arrive d from Kollam (about 30 km) with 4 chariots, the first with a big photo of Amma with garlands, then the classical scene of Krishna and Arjuna in the chariot with the horses, the meaning of this scene being a whole teaching by itself ! the chariots were animated, as if real, Sri Krishna was there. Next was Sri Rama and Sita on a swing. It was sooo sweet. to see the divine couples in a special seat. Then Lord…
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This is what Love can do
Amritavarsham 60 preparations – The Undefeatable Power of Togetherness Acres of land to be leveled, 164.9mm rainfall in Kerala over the last one week (highest rainfall in India, Indian Meteorological Department data), unstable soil, inability to deploy heavy equipment, time is ticking, just a few days for the commencement of the massive event – Amritavarsham’60. What to do? How can the soil be stabilized to support the weight of the gargantuan structure used for the event? What could be the quickest and effective solution for this? Such questions surfaced the minds of every individual present in Amritapuri. As time ticked,…
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Sand’s joy
21 Sep, Amritavarsham 60 Walking towards the University, with the moon lighting our way, nature was singing in tune with volunteer’s cheerful mood. Across the bridge, under the hall, a ballet was dancing, two by two, hundreds of us, bound by heavy sand baskets , the beehive was getting busy filling the soil, full of water and rocks. Scarves, Punjabis, dresses and saris bare spontaneously like the soil turned red. In hundreds of heart beats, a flow of hands, synchronized to carry the sandy baskets. On the other side of the hall, a water angel was distributing glasses to the…
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Flower of your heart
Saturday 21 Sep, Amritapuri Darshan starts to be big. Amma is organizing everything from her chair while she receives the people. She can give full attention to so many things at the same time! Around 6pm, as the flow was going on nicely, an old little woman, with some present for Amma was in the queue, approaching little by little. When it was her turn for darshan, immediately Amma was thrilled and looked at the queue and she said ‘locals, locals’. Amma looked like a young girl excited to meet friends. In fact, about ten of the women who came…
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Sand seva under the full moon
Just at the end of arati came the announcement that everyone was asked to join in doing seva across the backwater river over at the birthday program site after dinner. Within 30 minutes the first group began crossing over the Amrita Setu bridge over the river under the full moon. We couldn’t help remembering the old days when Amma herself came and helped with this kind of seva. Now she has too many other responsibilities and we have to be her feet and hands. It was an amazing scene that evening at the site. Hundreds of people were there: ashramites,…