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Karthika in Kanni
24 Sep 2013, Amritapuri Today happens to be the Kartika day of Kerala’s Kanni month, Amma’s birth-day. For Amma this is yet another day of serving Her world. Tuesday is ashram’s meditation day, but Amma wanted to meet Her children come for seva. Amma also wanted to serve them all food. So yet another Onam! Amma came down Her steps, was quite surprised to see Lakshmi – the elephant with her decked trunk. Amma rushed to meet Her, and fed her with fruits. All along the path many western men stood in traditional Indian clothes to offer pranams to Amma.…
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Procession of Gods
22 Sep 2013, Amritapuri Another special birthday event happened around 8pm, while Amma was still giving darshan. A procession arrive d from Kollam (about 30 km) with 4 chariots, the first with a big photo of Amma with garlands, then the classical scene of Krishna and Arjuna in the chariot with the horses, the meaning of this scene being a whole teaching by itself ! the chariots were animated, as if real, Sri Krishna was there. Next was Sri Rama and Sita on a swing. It was sooo sweet. to see the divine couples in a special seat. Then Lord…
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This is what Love can do
Amritavarsham 60 preparations – The Undefeatable Power of Togetherness Acres of land to be leveled, 164.9mm rainfall in Kerala over the last one week (highest rainfall in India, Indian Meteorological Department data), unstable soil, inability to deploy heavy equipment, time is ticking, just a few days for the commencement of the massive event – Amritavarsham’60. What to do? How can the soil be stabilized to support the weight of the gargantuan structure used for the event? What could be the quickest and effective solution for this? Such questions surfaced the minds of every individual present in Amritapuri. As time ticked,…
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Sand’s joy
21 Sep, Amritavarsham 60 Walking towards the University, with the moon lighting our way, nature was singing in tune with volunteer’s cheerful mood. Across the bridge, under the hall, a ballet was dancing, two by two, hundreds of us, bound by heavy sand baskets , the beehive was getting busy filling the soil, full of water and rocks. Scarves, Punjabis, dresses and saris bare spontaneously like the soil turned red. In hundreds of heart beats, a flow of hands, synchronized to carry the sandy baskets. On the other side of the hall, a water angel was distributing glasses to the…
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Flower of your heart
Saturday 21 Sep, Amritapuri Darshan starts to be big. Amma is organizing everything from her chair while she receives the people. She can give full attention to so many things at the same time! Around 6pm, as the flow was going on nicely, an old little woman, with some present for Amma was in the queue, approaching little by little. When it was her turn for darshan, immediately Amma was thrilled and looked at the queue and she said ‘locals, locals’. Amma looked like a young girl excited to meet friends. In fact, about ten of the women who came…
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Sand seva under the full moon
Just at the end of arati came the announcement that everyone was asked to join in doing seva across the backwater river over at the birthday program site after dinner. Within 30 minutes the first group began crossing over the Amrita Setu bridge over the river under the full moon. We couldn’t help remembering the old days when Amma herself came and helped with this kind of seva. Now she has too many other responsibilities and we have to be her feet and hands. It was an amazing scene that evening at the site. Hundreds of people were there: ashramites,…
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Opportunities for all ages
Rain was kind enough today to stop, so that the Friday meditation could be at the beach. Since 10 days, it has being raining a lot, and everyday, making it on one side cool but on the other side difficult to accomplish the preparation work for the birthday. So Amma came a little after 5 and we had a long and beautiful meditation with the sun going down on the ocean. How lucky we are! Thumban and Bhakti joined the meditation with enthusiasm, creating some slight distraction. The bhajans session which follows with Amma was another moment of grace. Swamiji…
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Meeting for the foreigners
Today Friday 11am was a special meeting for the ‘foreigners’, for Amma’s birthday celebrations. At least 400 attended. We were given all information about the coming days… As many more of Amma’s children from abroad are expected (something like nearly 2000) the international office was asking for the help of everyone to solve the question of accommodation… Make room for others and welcome them nicely… and of course the huge amount of seva will be an opportunity for us to express our gratitude for what Amma does… When Priyan asked who has never been here for the birthday, it seems…
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Amritapuri Ganesha ki JAI!
This afternoon, to the rhythmic ceremonial drumming of the Parippally Panchavatyam ensemble, and accompanied by the ashram elephant, Laxshmi, our beloved Ganesh murti rolled out the ashram gate to the sea. Before that he was offered one more round of rousing bhajans and arati at the kalari and then a big procession took him to the temple to offer his pranams to Amma. Amma was, of course, giving darshan, but she paused to acknowledge him with a long look and glowing smile. Slowly, he backed away (carried by some students) and returned to his cart for one more parade through…
