Category: WithAmma
travelling with amma
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Devotion and Hope
22 March 2008, Andaman One of the most striking aspects of Amma’s recent visit to the Andaman Islands was the overwhelming open-hearted hospitality and warmth expressed by the local devotees and islanders. Many of the people on the Andamans are still struggling to recover and rebuild after loosing their homes, loved ones, and livelihoods in the Tsunami, yet you would almost never realize it upon a first impression given the warmth and welcome they exude. Many of us traveling with Amma were also deeply touched by the local devotee’s devotion for and desire to serve and welcome Amma especially considering…
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Early Morning Arrival
25 Mar 2008, Singapore Amma’s early morning arrival didn’t stop a hundred or so devotees from gathering at Changi International Airport to welcome her to Singapore for four days of programmes. Around 6am, about a half hour before Amma’s flight was to land, people started arriving just outside the baggage claim area. While most were from Singapore and Malaysia, many had come from all over the globe: India, USA, Australia, Europe… a true international gathering. As the expected time of arrival approached, everyone’s faces were turned to the glass wall that was separating us from the baggage claim area –…
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the return
22 march, bharata yatra 2008, kolkata to amritapuri as we returned to amritapuri, many seats in the buses remained vacant. the 4 trucks, 8 buses, 3 cars, and the camper without amma… all go in line. seeing the white buses and people in white dress, everybody looks with wonder; ‘who is this?’ our routine is the same. we stop for lunch, stop for chai and dinner. temporary light is set up, we serve food, have our prayers.. and leave. no satsangs; but the words of amma from the last satsang echos in our mind. today’s travel is about 840 kilometers.…
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amma to andaman
22 march, bharata yatra 2008 to see off amma to andaman islands, all of us were there at the airport: those who are going with amma and those returning to amritapuri. it looked like a white pond. as amma walked into the airport she touched every one with a smile … i could not touch her. some one jumped in between. whether she saw me? i think so. as she disappeared, a silent cry deep down in the heart, a drop of tear. ~ dhyanamrita
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the last meeting
21 march, bharata yatra 2008, kolkata the loooooong bharata yatra is coming to an end. we were on the road for days and nights, of many weeks; in different states, languages, food, climates, travel, programes, bhajans, satsangs and jokes, prasad from amma… it’s all getting over. all that has happened is becoming beautiful memories.. the majority of the group will go back to amritapuri, some to their homes around the world, and a few with amma to continue to andaman, singapore, australia… before leaving, amma gave a satsang. it was a reflection of the tour, what we did, what we…
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joy joy ma
18-20 March, Bharata Yatra 2008, Kolkata Brahmasthana Pratishta the brahmasthanam, 2oth of its kind, is being installed by amma here. i was there for the first one when amma installed in kodungallur. during the time of abhishekam, there is something in amma’s face, that you simply cannot miss. it has been the same for the last 19 brahmasthanams i have seen, soooo radiant, blissful, an enchanting, silent smile on her moon-like face. when you see the love with which amma pours water on the murthi, you wonder, is the stone image alive? it is the same expression when amma consoles…
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kali kerala vali
13 march, bharata yatra 2008, delhi after the programs in delhi, the next day some devotees and volunteers were waiting for amma outside. in the evening, amma came out and spent a few minutes with them. their joy was unbounded, and different people started calling ‘jay jay kar.’ one person shouted, ‘mata rani ki jai!’ Another shouted, ‘jai mata di!’ Then others shouted, ‘prem se bolo,’ ‘dilse bolo’… one said ‘ma jota vali ki, jai!’ one said ‘shera vali ki, jai!’ then one of the devotees coined a new slogan – ‘kali keralavali ki jai!’ (victory to Kali from Kerala)…
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entering bengal
17 march, bharata yatra 2008, to kolkata we stayed overnight at dhanbad, in the state of jharkhand. the next day, we proceeded to kolkata, the last leg of the great bharata yatra 2008. what will be the next surprise that lies with amma? who knows? on the roadside, it was a series of factories and mines. then the fields of potatoes and rice.. the first thing you notice of the bengalis is lack of cleanliness. they are generally tamasic. it is the state where ramakrishna and vivekananda were born! now amma is going to install a brahmasthanam to awaken them.…
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kalis glance
16 marcch, bharata yatra 2008, varanasi to kolkata after the stay at varanasi, we started off to kolkata. a few kilometers later, we entered the states of bihar, and then jharkhand. if it was cultivation in bihar, it was mines in jharkhand, on either side of the road. most of them were coal mines. you pass many trucks carrying coals. people on the road all look painted in black on their face and clothes. the road side trees and plants all have black shade in its leaves and flowers. when we stopped for dinner, it was not easy to find…