Category: AshramDiary
life at the Amritapuri ashram
-
Opportunities for all ages
Rain was kind enough today to stop, so that the Friday meditation could be at the beach. Since 10 days, it has being raining a lot, and everyday, making it on one side cool but on the other side difficult to accomplish the preparation work for the birthday. So Amma came a little after 5 and we had a long and beautiful meditation with the sun going down on the ocean. How lucky we are! Thumban and Bhakti joined the meditation with enthusiasm, creating some slight distraction. The bhajans session which follows with Amma was another moment of grace. Swamiji…
-
Meeting for the foreigners
Today Friday 11am was a special meeting for the ‘foreigners’, for Amma’s birthday celebrations. At least 400 attended. We were given all information about the coming days… As many more of Amma’s children from abroad are expected (something like nearly 2000) the international office was asking for the help of everyone to solve the question of accommodation… Make room for others and welcome them nicely… and of course the huge amount of seva will be an opportunity for us to express our gratitude for what Amma does… When Priyan asked who has never been here for the birthday, it seems…
-
Amritapuri Ganesha ki JAI!
This afternoon, to the rhythmic ceremonial drumming of the Parippally Panchavatyam ensemble, and accompanied by the ashram elephant, Laxshmi, our beloved Ganesh murti rolled out the ashram gate to the sea. Before that he was offered one more round of rousing bhajans and arati at the kalari and then a big procession took him to the temple to offer his pranams to Amma. Amma was, of course, giving darshan, but she paused to acknowledge him with a long look and glowing smile. Slowly, he backed away (carried by some students) and returned to his cart for one more parade through…
-
Vyasa met Amma in 1982 – II
Vyasa (USA) visited Amma in Amritapuri in 1982. This is part 2 of Vyasa’s interview by Priyan. (Read part 1) Q: “What are some special moments with Amma that you remember from these days?” A: “Well, Amma was literally with us all the time. She ate with us, fed us, meditated with us, sang bhajans with us. I fell sick once and she came to check on me in my hut regularly, showing caring, concern and at the same time She made me feel that after all, the sickness of the body was not that important! Bhajans took place right outside…
-
Necessity is the mother of invention
With Amma’s sweet instructions not to be spendthrift, and to use only indigenous flowers , the pookalam aspirants now have less but more sensible choices before them. As a result they have become more creative than ever. Using the flowers as a whole, without plucking at their petals, the young aspirants –this time both boys and girls-have stumbled upon more innovative creations. A small bright flower sits within the lap of a big flower thus giving a different distinct appearance. Take a closer look at it yourself!!!! -Sandhya
-
Pre-Birthday Party
With many International devotees arriving early for AV60 and devotees from branch centres all over India arriving to do seva, the population here at Amritapuri is swelling hourly. Add the crowd arriving to celebrate Onam festivities with Amma and spend their Onam vacation with her, and you have the perfect Amma rainbow flower garden of devotees. The Ganesh Festival is also going on, so there is even more celebration, as well as extra pujas and bhajans. Every night after dinner, led by the Amrita University students, and joined by all interested, there are bhajans and arathi conducted in front of…
-
Deeper Lessons on Onam Pookkalam
Onam brings with it many special joys. The early preparations for this happy event make it a festival of flowers. Floral decorations adorn every household. With time the fine ritual like any other begins to assume the shape of a bane practice. Unfortunately, neglecting to grow flowers, people begin to buy flowers in huge competitive proportions. Blinded by the beauty of flowers, they sadly sever the petals from flower inflicting pain on the plant. In Amritapuri, as per Amma’s sweet instructions, young girls of the ashram go out around the premises collecting flowers grown by the ashram. A few morning…
-
Bhakti is Her Name!
A couple of years ago when Amma called a young female dog ‘Bhakti’, some wondered: how appropriate can such a spiritual poetic name be for a mere stray dog!? ‘Tumban’, the name of the other ashram male dog, was an OK name; Tumban is a comic character in Malayalam lore. Bhakti (or devotion) is a spiritual ideal, a spiritual path Amma prescribes for multitudes round the world, how could a dog assume this as its name!? Some ashramites are given this spiritual name too. Then we reminded ourselves and each other: Amma knows best. And today we understand more clearly:…
-
Newcomers in Amrita Gokula
Sunday the 3rd of March saw the arrival of twelve new members of four families into the existing fold of cows in Amrita Gokula, the ashram cowshed by Amma’s cottage. The cows came travelling a long distance from Mysore Amrita Vidyalaya, where they were being tended till now. When Amma was in Mysore last, may be the cows pleaded with Her that they want to come and live in Amritapuri, in Her Presence. Just like many of Her householder children. They are all of pure indigenous breeds. Three of the most attractive, fat brown ones (mother, son and daughter by…