Sitting on Amma's lap

Saturday night and one of the busiest Darshan days in the week. Amma was talking to many Ashramites asking about the Seva and clarifying their questions. Amma would pay a lot of attention to the person getting the Darshan at the same time. She would even talk of them in midst of all discussion.

A devotee from far away had come and Amma had made him sit at her side. A long meeting ensued. It is plainly beautiful to observe Amma. Every act she would do carries with it the full awareness and alertness. She would be observing the one coming to her, the one coming next, talk to one, answer to another, listen to a conversation nearby, say something in the ear while hugging, observe who hands out the prasad to her besides a lot more and all at the same time and this goes on for hours at a stretch. It is real lesson on alertness just to observe Amma.

Around a few minutes after that, a mother and her little son came for Darshan. Amma noticed the boy even before they reached her and started looking at him dearly. But when the Darshan position came. Amma took the boy in her lap, like she usually does with little ones and with a loud authoritative but loving voice asked him "Why dint you come to my lap yesterday?(Amma was mentioning the day of the Krishna Jayanthi, when many children had the chance during Uriyadi game) ". The little boy said "Amma it was crowded near you" as if he did understand the situation of not troubling Amma. Amma immediately responded "why do you bother about that? Isin't it crowded now? Still you came." The boy said "Amma i dint want to ask." Amma looked at him dearly and with an extra high volume replied "Why do you have to ask someone to sit on my lap? Isint Amma waiting for you?" The little boy just looked all around and then at Amma and smiled in a content yet innocent way. Amma hugged the boy's mother and they both left.

Amma then looked all around and smiled. While sitting next to Amma, one tends to only wonder how to tell Amma all what we want to tell her and not bothering to be concerned about her too. Yet this boy's concern and the way of talking to Amma was so mature to amaze all around Amma that evening. Much more was Amma's enthusiasm when she said "Isin't Amma waiting for you?" Being near her, really tells us how much Amma waits for us. At the very end of Darshan, Amma asks if there are people who came late and did not get Darshan. She makes no exception if one had come early but not early enough to get their queue token which is usually distributed early in the morning. She forgoes food, sleep from her everyday activity and even forgets pain to meet any number of her children much after almost a full day of Darshan. Such is our Mother!

Celebrating Krishna with Amma

Yesterday was Krishna Jayanthi and at Amritapuri it is super special. Amma came out three times just for us to enjoy in her presence.

Around 3:45 last evening, the popular game for children known as Uriyadi was staged near the new Juice stall. Uriyad or striking pots hung on a tall pole with a stick is a game where one or two people control a hanging pot and while another tries to strike it. The pot is moved up n down and swung in order to make it difficult to be hit besides the major distraction being water splashed onto the face of the competitor who strives to win by breaking the pot.

Amma was seated few meters away from the pole and in the very center, surrounded by tiny tots who were mostly dressed as little Krishnas and Radhas. Some'bigger' Krishnas and Radhas occupied the position near Her too and the fun continued. Amma rejoiced every single moment whenever a pot was broken. Amma always says she wants her children to be happy and enjoying every moment. Uriyadi has an analogy in everday life. The player is the one struggling in worldy existence hit by the waters of sensory illusion and the goal being the breaking of the bonds that hold him to release the infinite bliss restrained by the pot of the egositic mind, the only tool being the stick of Divine Grace.

Amma picked up many of the tiny tots as their mothers brough them closer to her and Amma would have them in her lap. Sometimes they were two, sometimes one and sometimes more. The little ones would sit on Amma's lap and enjoy the day. After some time, Amma started singing a melodius "Bolo Bolo Gokula bala" bhajan resounding the victory of broken Uriyadi pots with her own "Bolo bolo" and what a scene of victory.

After a few minutes, Amma soon came back to the bhajans later that evening. After bhajans, Amma left back to her work.

Crowds seemed to flow in as night set in. The main celebrations were around mindnight. A colorful delightful stage was set the mood of oncoming festivities. Amma strode along led by "panchavadyam", the traditional Kerala welcome music. Amma had a small flute in her hands which swung gracefully as she walked by the platform onto the stage.

A peedham in midst of many lighted lamps, sweet smelling incense, flower garlands, a beautiful puja with baby krishna, the senior Swamis flanking on either sides, many bramhacharis on all sides and musicians with their multitudes of instruments transformed the atmosphere. Amma charged the whole environment with the beauty of simplicity and her smile. Even before singing, Amma looked at all her sides spending time to note every single occupant on the stage, below the stage, on the sides of the stage. As the midnight hour slipped by Amma started with the bhajan "Agatanayi Agatanayi Vishnu Devan." Several beautiful songs peppered the whole evening with the memories which only Gopis of Vrindavan would have shared with their Lord Krishna. Amma's body seemed to dance subtly with the melody of the bhajans.

Amma stopped after a couple of bhajans and requested everyone to stand-up. She asked us all to forget everything else and to remember the presence of the Lord and to dance in that very Bliss. Amma moved her hands gently in a posture of blissful dancing motivating the same gesture in all near her. Amma made the whole stage dance in that joy. Eyes with tears of joy seemed to swing in graceful gesture as the bhajan caught its momentum and whenver it slowed, Amma would raise the tempo again.

After those bliss-filled moments, then Amma told us all that "today is celebrated as Lord Krishna's birthday. The real birth of the Lord should happen in our heart."

Amma moved to the ledge of the stage. She had wanted to distribute payasam to all, one by one. To start, two huge cauldrons of palpayasam (milk pudding) were brought. Volunteers helped Amma by filling up glasses of payasam which Amma distributed to all. She had a twinkle in her eye as she handed out each glass of payasam to all present. She would rarely talk as the number of people were large but the eyes and her smile talked a lot. She is truly our Queen of smiles. After making sure to distribute to all, Amma left the stage. A glimpse of our very own Vrindavan. What a day! How beautiful are the ways of the Lord.

The Special Prasad

It was five in the afternoon and the bell rang. At Amritapuri, the ringing bell apart archana and class, usually announces the arrival of Amma for a Satsang or Darshan session. Amma came to the beach and sat in her usual meditative silence as she does in the start of every meditation session. Amma sat below a young coconut tree, in her peedham(seat) and around her sat the rest of the Ashram. Amma's eyes remained shut and the angle of the face looking up in the direction of the setting sun on the Arabian sea. A perfect look of silent bliss fills one who observes the scene. All around, happily following Mother's example, shut their eyes and delved deeper into their self.

After almost an hour, Amma opened her eyes and the scene changed. Amma was looking at all around her. Two little children rushed near Amma and Amma made them sit on her seat by her left and right sides. Both children were beaming at the crowds. Like a new mother, Amma kept looking at them and kissed their tiny heads. The children responded to her by hugging closer. The only common sound seemed was that of the waves crashing against the stones on the beach.

Amma picked up the microphone and asked a question on what one had to practice to have constant awareness in thought, word and deed. Amma insisted that the answer should come from her children who have been practising meditation and from those staying in the Ashram trying to do the same. The answers came, some beautiful and thought-provoking. Amma later added how important the awareness is, in one's sadhana(or spiritual life).

The sun-lit sky started changing. It was as if the clouds wanted to hear Amma. They moved closer, more like people rushing to sit near Amma's peedham in the Ashram stage. Amma sat unmoved and listening to her children and as an eager Mother enjoying to be in their presence. Some drops fell on us all. Amma remained still. An umbrella was raised over her head, Amma's swift hands moved it away. She wanted to feel the Nature's touch. Some people got up slowly covering themselves as a protection from the rain. The rain drops became a flow and soon.. a drizzle started.

Amma patiently covered a child near her with some sheets to protect him from the rain water, all the while enjoying the pitter patter on herself. Many eyes forgot the fact it was raining and sat unmoved observing her. Amma's compassionate eyes had noticed their attachment to her Love. Translation of Amma's Satsang was going on. Amma looked at all and then with the beaming smile made a gesture of continous flying kisses, Amma used both her hands and showered kisses on all.

To be there in that moment was so touching. Amma enjoyed happily as the rain became heavier. Every Tuesday, Amma distributes prasad. This time, we had our extra prasad on Monday in the form of a Nature's shower. According to Sanatana Dharma, the prasad has the deity's(or the Perfect Master's) blessing residing within it. Like a temple priest distributing holy water, the clouds showered us all in Mother's beautiful presence. The word prasad literally stands in Sanskrit to mean "Grace". O! What a Grace it was.

Amma soon asked us all to start towards the hall as it was bhajan time. We all rushed and Amma started a touching medley of Bhajans including the famous "Nirvana Shatkam". Pure Bliss!

Namah Shivaya