Category: AshramDiary
life at the Amritapuri ashram
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Krishna cows of Amritapuri
The Krishna cows were first brought to the ashram back in 2010. Their cowshed is situated right across from Amma’s apartments so they have a very prized location in the ashram. On peaceful nights when everyone is asleep it’s easy to imagine Amma coming quietly down from Her room to visit the cows as they serenely rest. There are about 8 adult and young cows. And they actually have 4 different types of Kerala cows there. First is the “Vechur” breed. This is a very small cow and is actually an endangered species. There’s one Vechur adult female here. She’s…
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Birds in the rainy season
Even as rainy season is on, song of birds never ceases in Amritapuri. Like the nature poet John Keats said, ‘Poetry of the earth is never dead.’ Robins and bulbuls feel gloomy to sing as much as they did last month, but can’t stop singing altogether, you see. Especially in the morning hours. That’s after the archana. How can the birds not do their archana? But the curious woodpeckers or flame backs screech in joy as they fly from one tree bark to another. Kingfishers still trill their shrill tunes. Tree pies crackle as they fly from one tree to…
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Birds and Birds here!
Over a decade ago, once Amma was talking to the ashram residents from the US over the phone. We were calling out “Amma! Amma!” expressing how much we were missing her, and Amma said “Oh, if Amma were a bird she would come flying to you, children!” Now while Amma is again on Her annual US Yatra, Amritapuri’s air is bursting with birdsong: Robins, tailor birds, sunbirds, mynas, koels, barbets, bulbuls, woodpeckers, kingfishers, and the inevitable crow -sometimes in turns, but mostly in unison- sing to the sea and the sun every dawn and dusk. A person with knowledge about…
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Fry day
19 May 2012, Amritapuri After the bhajan ended Amma marched straight down the ramp with a determined look. It was FRY day. In front of her were set up 8 dosa grills and 3 large vats for frying French fries. Amma immediately started cutting, herself, the 10 kilos of potatoes before her. She cut the potatoes as if this were her profession, finishing it off in a matter of minutes, before throwing them into the boiling oil. Adding some salt water to the oil for the finishing touch Amma started off a magical night. As soon as her batch was…
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Hush!!! Herons Here!
Last month, the Ecology department seva-ite took a problem up to Amma. “Amma, with huge amounts of bird pooh falling on our plants from the tall trees above, we cannot think of growing any edible greens or vegetables in our yard. The white pooh is all over the place, sometimes painting all our plants white.” Amma smiled and said, “Amma loves birds. Don’t think of driving them away. Daughter, you can grow flower plants there.” The seva-ite accepted Amma’s words and hummed to herself, “Amma, in that case, may their tribe increase.” She told this to me a week ago.…
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Gopi and the Snake
Every morning, we take our Krishna cows for grazing to our Kulithura Farm about a mile from the Ashram. One day, as we were returning from the field, we saw a man in the back waters use a long bamboo to try and free a five feet snake entangled in a fishing net. This happens often in the fishing village. We kept watching the scene as the man kept pulling on the net and the snake trying to pull away. The more the snake tried, the more entangled it got and the net strangled its throat. The man got tired…
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Hatching in Amritapuri – II
Some have asked me for the latest about the birds presented in the blog “Hatching in Amritapuri” which was posted 10 days ago… So, here are the updates: The egret’s chicks have hatched, and the baby crow is getting ready to leave its nest soon! Enjoy the recent pictures below. Amma’s wish for many birds to hatch and grow in Amritapuri is getting realized: we have enjoyed spotting dozens of other nests in the trees around the ashram buildings… priyan
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Words count…
I can’t believe it has already been over 1 month since I have been at Amritapuri in the presence of the greatest living Avatar. To see Amma everyday and spend time in her presence is a great blessing in my life. I first met Amma in Australia in 2010. Last year I was lucky enough to join the adventurous North Indian tour which was a great experience. With a longing and curiosity in my heart, I returned to India again this year to visit Amma. After discovering that there was no tour schedule, I have ended up being with Amma…
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Hatching in Amritapuri
The other day, while walking to the beach for the afternoon meditation, Amma heard some birds singing. While enjoying their melodies and chirping, she said to the ashramites walking with her: “ Amma had the wish to one day see many birds make Amritapuri their home. She had a wish that many birds build their nests here and many chicks hatch and fill the surroundings with their chirping and singing…” “It seems that this wish is materializing now! Many birds are here now… They leave after the morning archana and come back for the evening bhajans!!” she added with a…