Amritapuri ashram

Category: interesting

selected posts because its interesting

  • Taking care like elder brothers and sisters

    25 sep 2009, Amritapuri

    Every year, students and staff of Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham are active participants various service activities that an event of such large scale as Amma’s birthday celebrations entail. This year, their services call for something more than just their physical presence at the venue, but compassionate commitment towards a group of children who come from financially underprivileged sections of the society.

    These are beneficiaries of Mata Amritanandamayi Math’s Vidyamritam programme, around 10,000 children who find the quarterly stipend given by the Math their only window to the outside world.

    The children have started arriving at Amritapuri and one can see large group of excited children who fill the halls and corridors of Amrita School of Engineering of the Amritapuri campus. Under Amma’s personal guidance, a variety of activities have been planned for the benefit of these students including a puppet show and a magic show. These children will also be given free clothes, each of which have been stitched to the exact measurement of each student.

    How has the Math been able to manage the logistics of managing 10,000 students aged 12 to 18, many of whom are travelling outside their villages for the first time in their lives? It’s the staff and students of Amrita University who have been working to make sure the children who come to Amritapuri are taken care of like welcome guests in a home. Working along with the systematic and meticulous planning of their Pro-Chancellor Brahmachari Abhayamrita Chaitanya, a dedicated team of staff from the University have been involved in the Vidyamritam project for more than a month now- preparing identity badges for the children, arranging their food and accommodation, distribution of cheques and clothes for the beneficiaries and above  all, making sure that these children who are probably leaving their parents for the first time feel at home in Amritapuri.

    In order to ensure everything goes smoothly, around 26 counters have been set up in the Amrita School of Engineering grounds, manned by 784 staff and student volunteers from Amritapuri and Ettimadai campuses of the university.  These counters will take care of registration of Vidymrtiam beneficiaries and from that point every volunteer will be assigned a group of 10-25 children and the guardians accompanying them.

    “The next three days, act as elder brothers and sisters to these children”, instructed Brahmachari Abhayamrita Chaitanya, and the students have taken these instructions to heart. The volunteers have to accompany the children to their accommodation, meals and the programme venue. They have to ensure that their charges get their meals on time, go to bed by 10 in the night, and wake up at 4. 30 am to get to the venue in time for the programmes. The volunteers’ duties also include toilet training for at least some of these children, who might be totally new to the idea of keeping washrooms clean.

    “I find this experience great and a real service to Amma”, said Dhanya,  MCA girl from the Amritapuri campus.

    By  Gaurango Banerji and Sabyasachi Biswas

  • Winning to meet Amma

    Sreeranjini, 8th standard, Kozhimala, Idukki District
    sreeranjani
    “My teacher told me that Mata Amritanandamayi Devi was giving scholarships. Before that, I’d never heard of Amma nor her ashram. I sent an application directly to Amma’s address. Amma read my letter and gave me Vidyamritam,” recollects Sreeranjini, a student in the 8th standard from the remote village of Kozhimala in Kerala’s Idukki District.

    Sreeranjini was one of the first Vidyamritam beneficiaries, enrolled in the scholarship program in 2007. Her mother—whom Sreeranjini’s father abandoned when Sreeranjini was only four years old—works at a cardamom plantation. Her meager wages are the sole support for not only Sreeranjini but also for Sreeranjini’s grandparents.

    For Sreeranjini, Vidyamritam has opened up new horizons. Not only has the scholarship allowed her to remain in school, but she has also been able to travel twice now to Amritapuri. The first time was for the enrolment ceremony in 2007. In fact, that was the very first time she had ever left her village. Now, after receiving first place in the Vidyamritam regional elocution competition for juniors, Sreeranjini has come to Amritapuri a second time to compete in the finals.

    “I want to take first place,” she says. “Then I will receive the award directly from Amma. I really want to study hard, so that I can get a good job. Then I will be in a position to help my mother.”

    preeti-eswarPreethi Iswaran, 10th standard, Nedumkandam, Idukki District

    Peethi Iswaran’s father was rendered blind during an accident in the marble quarry where he was employed. For him and others like him, there is no such thing as workmen’s compensation or disability pay. Now their family is supported exclusively by her mother, who earns what she can doing masonry work. Preethi was enrolled in Vidyamritam in 2007.

    Preethi took first place in Vidyamritam’s regional elocution competition for seniors. She says she has only one wish: “To meet Amma, who has been paying for my schooling for the past two years.”

  • kuchela of sriranga-pattinam

    23 mar, bharata yatra 2009, sriranga pattinam, karnataka

    en route to bangalore from mysore, we stopped at sriranga-pattinam for lunch. it was sangama of kaveri river. its a beautiful place; the river flowing around the tip of the land, big banyan trees shading the banks, serene atmosphere of the temple, chanting of the mantras by people doing the rituals for their ancestors…

    kavery

    amma came and sat on the steps leading down to the river. she sat on the very uppermost step. people rushed to get a seat near amma as always. sometimes i see that the old adage is true after all: love is blind. love for amma makes our eyes blind to the surroundings.  in their rush to be near amma, some of the devotees accompanying the tour knocked down the small table of an old man who was selling puja items there. 3, 4 small bottles of sweets, nuts, a few coconuts, betel leaf, arecanut.. all that you can fit in to a big-shopper bag.
    this was on the right side. on the left there was a coconut seller. the tour group nearly sat down on top of his stand in their eagerness to be near to amma.
    amma was there for over an hour. we had lunch, storytelling and bhajan before we left. as she was leaving, amma asked that 100 rs be given to the seller of puja items, saying that his business was blocked for nearly 2 hours by the group’s presence.  but the coconut man?? our people have bought a lot of coconuts, so he didn’t need a bonus.

    lingappa, the old man in his seventies, wearing half a dothi and a torn banyan, and eking out barely a living selling puja items on the banks of the river here, was amazed by the amount of money he was given without selling anything at all.

    lingappa came forward to amma with a coconut, betel leaf and an arecanut and presented them to amma. you do that when you see a mahatma, or any one great. and when you are giving some thing to the greatest giver on this earth. it will come back to you in manyfold.

    kuchela

    receiving his gifts, amma immediately said to give another 500 rs to him, and gave darshan to him before she got up from her seat.
    after amma got into the camper and drove away, the devotees accompanying amma on the tour made their way back to the buses. having witnessed the scene between amma and lingappa unfold, they also felt they should give something. many gave the old man 50 or 100 rs as they passed.

    i am sure he cannot forget this beautiful day and blessing he  received.

    to me, he was reflecting the culture of india. even if you don’t have anything, you still give like the kuchela of bhagavata. that was the wealth india had. seeing today’s scene unfold, my heart was saying victory to india and her culture who taught this attitude of giving.

    ~ dhyanamrita

  • one who takes across the ocean

    18 jan, bhavani, bharata yatra 2009

    bhavani is always fascinating. i had written about it before {click here to read}. this time it was all different. amma reached after the tour group. the water in the river was full. amma sat on the banks and straight away took the mike and asked her children to narrate some spiritual stories. in between the stories amma added pearls of wisdom to the stories – giving more depth of spiritually to the stories.

    myself and kannan walked around with camera trying to capture those beautiful moments with amma at this pilgrimage center against the beauty of the river.

    suddenly i was informed that amma is going to go in a boat into the river. wow! i was excited. asked a boatman to let amma use the boat which he happily agreed. these are special boats which weigh about 3 kg, made out of bamboo sticks and tarpaulin with a tar coating at the bottom.

    the boats look like big bowl with a diameter about 2 meters, can hold 5 people inside.

    amma entered in to the boat. taking oar into her hands she started rowing. the boat man was puzzled. he had his oar. started to help out amma. the boat started spinning around. i explained to the boat man that amma is familiar with the boat, and she knows how to row. so dont worry. but the boat man was reluctant to let amma row.

    amma rowed into the river for some time. the sun had already set. the night began to fall. it was sooo beautiful to watch amma rowing with a pause in between. the 500 odd members of the group stood wonderstruck at the banks of the river.

    when amma reach back at the bank, everyone clapped in joy.

    does any one realizes that this is the one who can take humans across the ocean of samsara?
    – marthyre samsara varidhikkare ethichidum bhavatarini ambike…

    ~ dhyanamrita

  • Mysterious Bhavani, Mysterious Amma

    Jan, Bharata Yatra 2009

    This south indian tour has been fascinating for me. Usually I have seen Amma on US tours- somehow seeing Her near temples and holy rivers, seems more appropriate than in hotels and ballrooms… This time was the first time I accompanied Amma’s famous trips to Her favorite Bhavani river. Little did I realise the rich symbology that was to hit me.

    I first thought that Bhavani was a simple river, whose banks have been sanctified by Amma each year. But somehow, I thought, if each time, Amma stops there, there must be something special there. I heard that Amma had said that many mahatmas had bathed in Bhavani river before, and that there were many subtle beings there..

    but little did i know what was to hit me.. Bhavani was not just a river… turns out that it is a “sangamam” or confluence of three rivers…. just like the famous Prayag of North India, Bhavani was South India’s prayag.. I was told that it was a confluence of two rivers- Bhavani and Kaveri.

    But it turns out, that just like the prayag of the north, there is a THIRD RIVER that meets these two rivers. The third river is supposed to be an underground river- a “subtle river”. I was excited when i heard that .. this was similar to Prayag of the north, where Ganga and Yamuna meet the underground river “Saraswati”.

    Some locals were there, and I started talking to them. It was then that they told me the name of the third river that joins there…

    The river is called…. yes… its called “AMRITA” !!!!!!

    Wow! The symbolism blew me away.

    More was to come..

    Bhavani is not just the confluence of three rivers.. Right there, on the banks , overlooking the “sangamam” lies a beautiful beautiful Shiva temple. The Devi there is called “Bhavani” and the Lord is called “Sangameshwar”.

    But right where near were we sat, there were many shiva lingams around. The whole place felt so mystic. I walked up to a nearby shrine for one of the Shiva lingams…

    And I was again blown away—

    The name of  The lord there is “Amrita Lingeshwar”!!!! – The Lord of “Amrita”.

    Amriteshwar He is called. In feminine case, it is called Amriteshwari. Wow.

    Any doubts I had about Amma’s connection to the temple were gone..

    The shiva Lingam called “Amritalingeshwar” is supposed to be crystallized Amrita, made by the sage Parasaras several thousand years ago. Thats what the old writing on the temple wall told me.

    By then I was thoroughly overwhelmed. This temple was all about Amma- Amrita River, Amrita Lingam….

    And finally I walked to another shrine of Lord shiva across from the Amrita Linga one. Thats called “Sahasralinga”- thats a thousand small shiva lingas put together to form one. But thats not what impressed me most- on the walls of that shrine, were written immortal lines in Tamil, from the great Saint Vallalar. It was all about compassion, and love for others. “Jeeva Karunya”, and non violence. It was written that the way to the “Supreme Grace light” was compassion and Love for others.

    Thats what finally clinched it for me. Here we had this temple, overlooking the Amrita River, with a Shivalingam called ” Amritalingeshwar”, made of crystallised Amrita, – and the teachings on the walls were all about Love and compassion!

    No wonder Amma keeps coming here- this was HER temple!!!!! This temple was all about Her! But yet this was several thousand years old. What a mystery!

    Just as I was musing over all this, Amma came , and sat on the steps of the ghats.

    We all crowded around Her and listened to Her bhajans, and saw Her go boating. Was She really only boating ? Or was She blessing subtle beings there? Was She with us, or was She elsewhere, enjoying and sanctifying again ,the temple that seemed to be all about Her? Who knows?

    But as She sat there, on the steps, and  looked up into the sky..and seemed to commune with someone unseen up there, I got a glimpse into how incredibly lucky I was.. Here I was, sitting near the Mother of The Universe,  who seemed to become more and mysterious with each passing day…

    – Bala

  • A Polishing Walk

    Some of Amma’s children have very unique ways of reaching Amma’s arms. One of them is Andrzei Makowski, a 61 year old retired police officer from Poland, who just walked 7000 kilometers by foot to reach Amritapuri. “I like challenges and risk in life,” says Andrzei, “I came to India four times before, but sitting in the plane for ten hours is very boring.” This is why on September 7th 2007 Andrzei set out with a 25kg backpack on his shoulders, a compass and map in his hand and a picture of Amma in his pocket to go on what would become the biggest adventure of his life. His 15-month-long pilgrimage took him from the city of Wroclaw in Poland to the Ukraine, Turkey, Iran, Pakistan and Kashmir before he finally reached Amritapuri on December 8th 2008.

    On average Andrzei would walk 20 kilometers per day. But in countries like the Ukraine with temperatures of minus 20 Degrees Celsius and snow up to the waist he could walk only 12 kilometers per day. In some places the adverse conditions did not allow him to take bath for weeks together. Having been an athlete and sprinter in 100 and 200 meters certainly helped Andrzei to endure all the physical strain and hardships. But in situations when he was really reaching his limits, he would take out Amma’s picture from his pocked and glance at it for some time. The remembrance of Amma gave him the optimism and zeal to carry on, step by step, to reach Amritapuri. Maybe this is why Amma once gave Andrzei the name “Indrajit”, which means ‘the one who has mastery over the mind”?

    Of course, Andrzei did not have any pre-booked hotels along his route. Most of the time he had to knock at people’s doors, asking shelter for the night. And when his compass and map failed to show him which road to take he always met someone who would show him the right way. “I believe in the goodness of people.” Andrzei says. “My experience proved me that money is not important, language is not important. What counts is love.”

    Having been a strict vegetarian for eight years, circumstances sometimes forced him to overcome his likes and dislikes and accept the humble offering of chicken dishes by poor Ukrainians who gave him shelter for the night. If there was no chicken in the house, they would even go to the neighbors to get one. Andrzei says “I was surprised by the enormous friendliness and hospitality of people from different countries, cultures and religions. Sometimes the media and politicians give a distorted image of reality. They say many negative things of some countries and religions. But this is not true. I especially found Muslims in Iran, Turkey and Pakistan extremely helpful and kind.” Andrzei also visited many Christian pilgrimage sites on the way. In Kashmir he saw what is considered as Jesus’ tomb.

    Andrzei also carried some pictures of Amma with him and gave them to people, whom he met along the way. Many people said they could feel Amma’s energy from the picture. They remarked how much love and beauty Amma’s image radiates.

    He says he wanted to give a message through his pilgrimage: “In order to achieve peace, we have to cross all barriers of religion and nation. You have your Allah or Christ in your heart, I have my God in my heart, this God is one and the same. There is only one true religion, and that is Love.”

    Andrzei, who speaks only Polish and a little German, had to literally overcome the barriers of language and religion in many ways: In Turkey he used German to communicate, in Iran he spoke Polish and in Pakistan only body language would work. India, he says he has been here four times, so he is familiar with her. Nevertheless he always found a way to connect to people.

    All along his trip the media was very interested in his pilgrimage and intention behind it. In Turkey itself he had to give 22 interviews! When asked how he intends to return back home, Andrzei says that he would prefer to walk back to Poland – given that he will get another visa for Pakistan. Otherwise he might walk to Mumbai and then take a ship to Europe or – most boring of all options – fly back.

    Asked, which one was the most beautiful and touching experience during his adventure, Andrzei cannot pic anything specific. “Every day was beautiful, because I met beautiful people every day. Every day gave me lessons in humility and faith.” Andrzei really turned his trip into a beautiful pilgrimage. His devotion and determination made his journey a truly spiritual one.  Just like we pray at the end of Amma’s guided meditation: May we take each step in remembrance of you. May our steps never falter. May we finally come to see you and lay in your arms for a while. Andrzei turned this prayer into reality, and reached Amma’s arms after 15 months of pilgrimage.

    Having fulfilled his dream of reaching Amritapuri by foot, Andrzei now has a new mission: inviting Amma to Poland. He says: “Amma is giving big doses of love. Especially in the west people crave for love. Amma is the greatest power of love. In her arms, you loose yourself and find love. I have seen many people cry when they meet Amma. This opens up their hearts. In this way Amma changes the world. This is why I would like to welcome Amma to my country.”

    I am sure the organizers of Amma’s European tour will be very happy to consider his request – under one condition: that Amma doesn’t have to go there by foot.

    – Nath

  • Ultimate satisfaction

    I have been having Amma’s darshan for about 15 years. Amma had come to our place when I was in the 6th standard. We were staying in Suratkal at that time. The program was in a beach side village near Mangalore. My exams were going on at that time but my father forcibly took me to meet Amma. We started from our house at 1 am and reached the program site at 3 am. I had exams the next day so we thought that going early would help us get darshan earlier.
    I met Amma during the morning program – it was a very nice feeling, even though I was small I still could feel something special in Her presence. My father became an ardent devotee in just that one meeting.
    At that time the family had been going through a difficult time. We had little money and all three siblings were studying – so there was a strain on my father. But the moment we met Amma our lives seemed to change. After that our lives changed, all our problems started disappearing. Since that first darshan I have been meeting Amma every year.

    So naturally as soon as I finished my internship my father wanted me to start my career in Amma’s hospital. In the time I have been here I have also finished my post grad diploma in clinical research.

    My father had always wanted me to see the different facets of life – how difficult it is for some people to eke out a living. Though our family had gone through tough times because of my father I never knew any hardship. So I too wanted to meet people who really needed help. When I told my father that I was going to Bihar as part of the ashram team to help people there, my father cried.

    In Bihar I found a different India. A face which was not shining. At Patna station I talked to a newspaper vendor. I bought a railway timetable from him and he could not even tell me the price. He asked me to read out the price and pay him. Poverty, lack of hygiene, lack of education and proper housing – these sites met my eyes as I went further in.

    nishank.jpgI feel so good that I am able to do something at our camp. Every patient who comes – who tells me that he or she is feeling better, when they come with a smile on their face – I feel so touched. It encourages me to do more for the people. When a patient comes back and expresses relief from some ailment it is an incomparable experience for a doctor. You are able to help another human being – that is the ultimate satisfaction for a doctor.

    Since we have a wide range of drugs, vitamins & minerals, health tonics and health supplements – we are really able to help the patients. This is what we really need here – just antibiotics, etc would have been but half a cure, for there are so many cases of malnutrition, anemia, deficiency disorders, etc. Lack of vitamin A could make a person blind – but just 2ml of vitamin A supplement could prevent this.  It is fulfilling to be able to provide this. We also have lots of food supplements for children.

    I am also learning from this experience. In complicated cases I have been able to get expert advise from our doctors in Amrita through our telemedicine facility. I feel that this is one of the cheapest methods to provide expert medical guidance in far flung remote areas in a country as vast as ours. For an ordinary doctor such consultation is the only proper means to reach a proper diagnosis.

    Now as I head back to Kerala, I think on what I have gone through in these past few days and I can feel that I have grown from this experience.
    – Dr. Nishank

  • The Golden Spectacles

    It is astounding how Amma comes down to the level of the person with Her and works to uplift him/her. When you are sitting by Her side when She is giving darshan you see so many instances of Her astounding examples of Her love and understanding.

    Two days ago a family came to Amma. There was an ancient lady with white hair. A man of around 40 years and his sad, distraught wife & child. As the story unravelled we understood that the man was suffering from some ailment and so was unable to work and look after his family. They were in a pretty bad condition. As Amma started talking to the man the very way She talked told us that the man had some mental problems too. I had been a bit away from Amma to hear all of the introduction.

    Amma asked him, “My son, why don’t you work to support you family?”

    “But Amma I am not able to work. I cannot work.”

    “Why can’t you work, my son,” Amma asked.

    “I cannot see. My eyes are not ok,” he said

    Amma took some fenugreek that had been kept for Her, from Her side and held out a few of the small seeds in Her palm, “Can you see this, son? What is it?”

    “It is fenugreek.”

    Amma held out a small piece of paper, “What is this?” “Kadalaas (paper)”, he said.

    “So he can see,” everybody around Amma exclaimed, also laughing at the way in which Amma had brought out this fact.

    “But I cannot”, he insisted, “My eyes cannot see.”

    “Then how were you able to see the things I held out, was that not with your eyes?” Amma asked.

    “No.”

    “Then how did you see?”

    “With my face,” he said.

    “Ok, son, if Amma were to give you spectacles would that enable you to see?” Amma asked him.

    He was happy, “If I had spectacles I would definitely be able to see.”

    “And then you could go to work too….”

    “Yes, I could.”

    Amma asked him to sit by Her side as She sent someone to get a pair of spectacles for the person. After a few minutes a very good looking pair –  golden framed spectacles were brought.

    Amma had him put it on – a perfect fit! He looked so pleased.

    “Can you see now, my son?” Amma asked him.

    “I can see perfectly,” he said.

    “You look handsome. I am sure that now you will be able to work and earn your living,” Amma said. He agreed whole heartedly.

    A beautiful pair of spectacles – perfectly plain glass! But it worked.

    What an astounding example of love and patience. When Amma says we have to go down to the level of the person who needs to be uplifted – this is an example.

    But there is more to it – Is She not doing the same with us too? She seems to agree & disagree with us, be someone whom we can relate to and there is so much that She gives to us. And as we all know we are all crazy to some extent or the other. So I am sure you have also received a pair of golden spectacles and that you loved it! I did! Aum

    – Nijamrita

  • Seeds of Change

    seeds.jpg

    Eighty bags filled with rich soil and vegetable seeds currently line the cement wall inside Amrita Vidyalayam, an elementary and secondary learning institution created by Mata Amritanandamayi in Kerala, India. Although somewhat simple in appearance, these bags are the product of collectively eighty hours of passionate finding, folding, lifting, mixing, filling, planning, transporting and most importantly, Divine Grace. The process began on August 19, 2008 when eighteen individuals, aged 18-30, set out on an ecological mission: to introduce organic farming techniques to schoolchildren and in doing so, help mitigate the detrimental effects of global warming. This diverse and dedicated group, consisting of youth representatives from Spain, Germany, France, India, and the United States, was led by Cal Berkeley graduate and environmental activist Kusuma Venkatesh. The project stemmed from Amma’s request that someone find a means of spreading the knowledge of organic gardening. As soon as the AYUDH members heard about this idea, they immediately went to work.

    The first step was to locate empty sand bags, which could be used as planting vessels. Eighteen youth divided up locations to search and by the end of the day, 80 sand bags lay stacked up. The following day twelve group members set out to dig up fertile soil, which was hidden in a weed-covered plot of land just outside of the M.A. Headquaters. Using two gardening hoes and their bare hands, the kids began scooping up fistfuls of beautiful, organic soil which consisted of composted coconut shells. Each bag was filled about ¾ full, each one weighing 30 pounds, and was later transported in a lorry to Amrita Vidyalayam. Altogether, the 80 bags of soil weighed in at one and a half tons, not including the red soil and sand that would be mixed in at the school the following day.

    seeds2.jpg

    The next day, the youth took a bus to the school. There, the bags were emptied onto the ground of the school yard so that red soil and sand, which were brought from surrounding areas, could be mixed in. These two extra components were crucial in creating a healthy environment for the tiny seedlings. Once the three soils were thoroughly mixed and put back into the bags, the kids loaded the bus once more to return to the Ashram.

    The next step in the planting process was the most rewarding by far. Sixteen AYUDH members, including representatives from France, Spain, U.S., Germany and India, took a bus once again to Amrita Vidyalayam for the actual planting with the students. As soon as they reached the school, 80 eager eighth graders came pouring out of the school building and lined up before the AYUDH members. The students were divided up into groups of ten with two AYUDH members for each group. The students immediately dived right into the planting procedure. There was so much laughter and so many smiles coming from everywhere. Students were learning to use farming tools for the first time and they seemed to truly enjoy working with Nature. The girl students were slightly hesitant at first but as time went on and they witnessed the female AYUDH members digging with their hands, the girls giggled and eagerly participated in the process. The students learned the value of planting organically and they went home with a knowledge of how, where, and when to plant vegetables and other plants.

    At the end of the day each volunteer boarded the Amrita Vidyalayam school bus, exhausted, sun-burnt, sweaty, and grinning from ear to ear. I believe I can speak for everyone when I say that this experience was one of the most fulfilling and gratifying endeavors I have had the privilege to be involved in and I hope to see more projects like this one in the near future.

    – Abigail Priya Lorenz