Category: General
not this nor that
-
Amritapuri – A Bouquet of Flowers VII
Cousins of Chettippu: Humming Earth’s Poetry “The flowers of our hearts have not yet blossomed. They are still tiny buds. However, if nurtured by faith in God, by love and compassion, and by adherence to the principles of Dharma, the buds of our hearts are bound to unfold. Revealing their beauty and spreading their fragrance, they become blessings to the world.” ~ May Your Hearts Blossom Amma gave this call in Her maiden International Speech in 1993, in Chicago, at the Parliament of World Religions. Flowers are symbolic of our hearts. At the same time, in our changed times, real…
-
Amritapuri – A Bouquet of Flowers VI
Dasapushpa: A New Concept in Gardening Forest is what is given to us; garden is what we have to make out of it…not desert. Left to itself the earth brings forth rich flora and fauna. Soil has all the seeds in it. Think of it: first the planet was there, and then we were introduced. So Earth has been providing for us. “Earth is the Mother of mothers,” Amma said recently. Bhumi is described as Navanavonmeshashalini prithavi, meaning Earth is able to rejuvenate Herself, which She does from time to time. During these lock-down days, just like wild animals have…
-
Amritapuri – A Bouquet of Flowers V
Kumkum flower: Tacchippu Chettippu. One evening Amma sang a new song “Chettippu Picchippu… ” wherein flower garlands were offered to Little Krishna. At that very instant i saw some ashram women by Kalari with trays full of this very flower, Chettippu, and little stars of Nandyarvattam, making garlands for worship. Hearing Amma’s words they looked up with wonder! Kerala’s landscape is incomplete without the bright red bunches of Tacchippu, though they are grown in gardens elsewhere also. The moment you call it Tacchippu, any Malayali around will repeat after you and immediately add another word, like this: ‘Tacchippu- Chettippu’. You…
-
Amritapuri – A Bouquet of Flowers IV
Arati to Mother Nature: Hibiscus Kali Mata resides in Amritapuri’s main temple. And here Hibiscus flowers, her favorite, bloom in plenty; almost all the varieties you see on websites are here. However, Kali is offered bright red hibiscus, those of the color her tongue, or of blood that drips from the severed heads (egos) in her hands. The ancient deity has with her a great treasure of myths and legends in this ancient land. Amma gives us the spiritual meaning of her fierce form. Kali is the Protector Mother aspect of Brahman. She is merciless when she destroys all negativities…
-
Amritapuri – A Bouquet of Flowers III
Guru Pada Padma: Amma’s Lotus Feet Amritapuri is very much God’s Own Island. The oleographs of goddesses from the works of the legendary artist, Raja Ravi Verma of 19th century Kerala, have made a deep impress on the collective minds of Indians about how the Devis, elaborately described and praised in Sanskrit literatures, really would look like: Lakshmi and Saraswati Devis are in the foreground, and Nature in all Her abundance covers every inch of the canvas: the green woods, flowering bushes, flowing waters, sporting birds, and, Lotuses. Amma says such depiction shows that God is one with Nature, not…
-
Amritapuri – A Bouquet of Flowers II
Panchakshari in Petals: Nandyarvattam Flowers are always there in Amma-Lore. Amma instructs in Manasapuja: “…Imagine a bush without leaves but full of only white flowers… As you chant, with each mantra imagine taking a flower from your heart and offering at the Feet of the Divine…” This helps one develop Ekobhakti, one pointed devotion. In the Shivapurana, Parvati Devi gets Her name Aparna (lit. no leaves) for offering such flowers during her austerities to please Lord Shiva. “Flowers symbolize our soft feelings. We offer our love to our chosen deity through flower offerings.” “Anything done without Bhavam is like transferring…
-
Amritapuri – A Bouquet of Flowers I
From Lotus to Brahmi One early morning, way back in the late 90s, after Devi Bhava, as Amma went up Her steps, as usual She stood at the landing and turned around to see Her children. Amma’s Face bloomed with a bright smile like the Sun yet to rise. Looking at the smiling faces of Her children Amma said, “Lo! I have so many colorful flowers in My garden.” Kisses flew from Her on all Her children, like the flowers She splashed on us just half hour ago at the end of Devi Bhava….! For Amma the entire world is…
-
Big problem, simple solution
Sometimes, a big problem just needs a simple solution. And, we can witness this with an incident that took place in Amma’s Bharat yatra this year. Every year as spring dawns and brings happiness to all the being around, so does Amma goes on Yatra to many cities around the world to spread happiness! To rejoice Amma’s presence, thousands of people come to meet Amma and seek her blessings. Lots of people gather and celebrate the occasion turning it into a yearly festival. But few people use this opportunity for robbery. Every year, even amidst securities, surveillance cameras and police…
-
Sitting by my Guru
What could be more beautiful than sitting with my guru in the cowshed, smelling the cow dung from the floor, sitting close and listening to the words of my master and eat out of her own hands. What could be more beautiful than sitting at the edge of the jungle by night, with full moon, singing bhajans with the master, drinking chai, eating, laughing and just marveling. To sit under the open sky, with a full moon next to my guru is for me absolute beauty, pure oneness, true unity. I am born on a full moon and I feel…