Category: AshramDiary
life at the Amritapuri ashram
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Come, sign up for Seva
As one of the Seva Coordinators, my task is to sign up Western visitors and residents for various positions needed to keep the Ashram running. On any given day, these can range from veggie chopping, to cleaning the toilets, to trash removal, to sweeping the path Amma walks each night from her room to the Bhajan hall. With Amma’s 53rd birthday just over a week away, there will be lots of additional work needed. Which means we have to start organizing and planning now. So tomorrow, the signs go up inviting everyone first to a general orientation meeting, then to…
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Long bhajans
Tonight Amma came down for the bhajans already at 6.30 pm, half an hour earlier than usual and continued right past 8 o’clock. She sang 11 songs all in all: Jai Ganesh Jai Ekadanta (Hindi) Sri Krishna Saranam Vilical Vili Kelkkan Karala Mala (Shyam Radhe Bolo) Parasahasra Hridayangalil Andela Ravali Adugula (Telugu) Virahatti Patarunnen Om Namah Shivaya Lord Of Vrindavan Om Hari Om (Tamil) Jinki Karuna Hai Apar (Hindi) Amma was giving instructions left and right on how to keep the new song Andela Ravali going, which seemed like it would topple any moment – a very beautiful song otherwise,…
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Luv in Vallikkavu
I decided to go to the concret seva at the Amrita Setu and take some shots to put up on the website. The work was in full swing. I shot some pics. Seeing the work and enthusiasm of the people, there was an irresistible pull. I switched off my camera, hung it around my neck, took the shovel and started off. I felt like becoming brick in the bridge of compassion of Amma. The bridge is Amma’s compassion for the villagers. Most of the newcomer Brahmacharis and devotees were wondering… ‘How come he is doing it so fast and efficiently?’…
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Like one of Rama’s Monkeys
The word was out last night! Sunday morning, all the ashram residents would be doing ‘bridge seva’!Amma’s request ! I decided i’d go and join in… the seva was due to start at 9.30 am…i got held up for sometime due to some unavoidable circumstances…around 11.30 i got ready to leave for the bridge, before i left, i told a bramhachari who works with me, ‘today i’m going to build the bridge, like one of rama’s monkeys!’, he laughed and said goodbye. when i got to the bridge, i saw the hospital doctors sitting there, totally grey from the cement!…
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Giver of pure love and devotion
Amma walked on to the stage looking so robust and majestic, like She really meant business. And She did deliver a set of powerful bhajans: Nanda Nandana Hare Ellamirikkilum Illatirikkil Ajivanantam Bhajikyum Nyan Sundara Kanna Kanna Anantamayi Patarunnorakasame Badi Duvidha Me (Hindi) Vennai Unda Vayinal (Tamil) Om Namah Shivaya Jai Ma Ambe It is always a delight to hear Amma sing Anantamayi Patarunnorakasame. Somehow the song has some uncanny power to stir something within. I guess that’s Amma’s sankalpa working through the bhajans. Sometimes I think how lucky we are, being able to attend Amma’s bhajans. In fact how lucky…
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Krishna everywhere
Today is Sri Krishna Jayanti. I was thinking that maybe I have become enlightened since all day I have seen only Krishna everywhere, but no, it is all the ashram kids and the devotees toddlers that have been transmuted into little baby Krishna’s. They are so sweet and act as a great reminder of how we should also become innocent and childlike in order to attract the Lord to us. Amma has been in such a playful mood all day, surrounded by so many children. The bhajans tonight were: Jai Ganesha Jai Ekadanta Varalunna Hridayattil Pati Pukazhtuvan Mukhi Asude prabhuche…
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why i am not forgetting?
“amma yennulloru namam orthidave romancham akunnatenthe?” oh what a bhajan tonight! amma sang with a full voice. “ammayennulloru namam orthidave” i love it so much. these lines are not just written out of imagination by the poet, but they are born out of real experience of his love-bond with amma. i used to look at the sky and sing “neelambhudihi yilum neelambudhathilum swetambaramthilum nokki..” looking into the blue sky, blue ocean, white sky, i stand with my hairs on end. when i see these i think about you amma. oh kali.. oh shyame. in the love i forgot everything –…
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Ammayennulloru Namam
Tonights Bhajans were: Nanda Nandana Azhikullil Dinakaran Ammayennulloru Namamorttitave Pannagabhushana Paramadayalo Tiruvati Teti Vanten (Tamil) Vanimani Mate (Hindi) Amma sang the song Ammayennulloru Namamorttitave, which I don’t remember hearing that often. For a moment I thought she wanted to sing Ammayennullora Tenmozhikkokumo and was about to announce, but then Ramu made sure that I got it right. And what a nice song it is: Why is it that my hairs stand on end when I happen to remember the word ‘Amma’? Why am I forgetting everything else when I think of my Mother? What is my mind pining for and…
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Morning in Amritapuri
“Jaya Jaya He Mahishasuramardini Ramya Kapardini Shailastute…” Village crows continue their own version of the chant while Ashramites line up for chai after morning Archana. Roosters crow, and waves crash against the rocky breakers. Another day begins in Amritapuri. Sri Pati – USA 9 September 2006