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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
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Bhaktavatsale Devi
As a result to requests I post the lyrics to Bhaktavatsale Devi here. They are of course very approximate. Writing Malayalam with roman letters and without proper transliteration codes is only indicative of the correct pronunciation. Anyhow as Amma says, if the child does not know how to intone “mother” correctly, it does not mean that she will not respond. Singing along with a recording of Amma singing this song is good way to familiarize oneself with the song. Bhaktavatsale Devi Ambike Manohari Bhakta janartti tirppan shaktayayimevum devi – O Devi, O Ambika, Beauty Personified, O Thou Who art Affectionate…
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Amrita TV is back
After being absent from the bhajan hall for sometime, Amrita TV was again present tonight filming the bhajans. Lights, cameras, and all sorts of equipment were aimed at the stage bathing Amma in light. I thought to myself that is their anything Amma will not put up with for the happiness of Her children? So many people will be able to enjoy Amma’s profound bhajans in their own homes. Who still says technology is a bad thing? Amma sang the following tonight: Vraj Me Aisa Amme Yi Jivente Muka Ganam Kasturi Tilakam Katinnu Katayi Bholanatha Re Where Can I Go?…
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Morning Meditation
Recently, Amma requested that Her Western devotees meditate together by the sea from 6:30-7:30am and 5-6pm daily. After morning Archana and Chai, a number of Westerners can be seen making their way to the seaside. We take a path that goes through some of the neighboring village, and along the way are local vendors selling coconut milk, snacks and tea. Villagers can be seen sweeping their walks to start the day, or waiting for the bus. Scattered along the shoreline, we sit in meditation. Some do the IAM Technique, others salute the sea, while others simply sit with eyes closed.…
