Month: August 2004

  • Dance in the bliss of the remembrance of the lord

    Dance in the bliss of the remembrance of the lord

    28 August 2004, Amritapuri Several thousand devotees came to Amritapuri for the traditional Onam festival. Amma sang and danced, gave darshan and served prasad lunch to more than 7000 people. For ten days preceding the festival, students of Amrita Institutions who reside at the ashram made large flower mandalas at the base of the steps…

  • A rapidly spreading celebration

    A rapidly spreading celebration

    Amritapuri — Saturday, 28 August 2004 “What is it that is ancient and yet ever new?” Amma wanted to know. She was sitting on Her peetham before some 12,000 devotees, all of whom had come to celebrate Onam at Her ashram. Amma’s voice was casual, like that of a teacher posing questions to a group…

  • She had become one with them

    She had become one with them

    Amritapuri — Tuesday, 24 August 2004 When you visit Amma’s orphanage at Parippally and speak about Amma with the children who live there, they never fail to mention one thing: Amma’s dancing. On holidays, such as Onam and Amma’s birthday, all 500 or so Parippally children come to Amritapuri — to listen to Amma’s bhajans,…

  • Ganesh Chaturthi 2004

    Ganesh Chaturthi was celebrated in Amritapuri on 22 August 2004.

  • Onam celebration at Parippally

    Onam celebration at Parippally

    20 August 2004 — Parippally, Kerala For Malayalees all over the world, the coming of the fall month of Chingam brings with it sweet childhood memories—of time spent with family, of eating nice meals and, for many, of collecting flower petals with which to make colourful mandalas. All these are part of the month’s 10-day…

  • Watch out for those green lights

    Watch out for those green lights

    Amritapuri — Friday, 20 August 2004 Today Amma came to give satsang to all the ashramites. One of the first questions put to Her was by a new visitor to the ashram. “Amma,” he said, “When I first came to the ashram I had a wonderful experience. I felt my aajnja chakra [third eye] open…

  • Give the body, live after your death

    Give the body, live after your death

    Amritapuri — Tuesday, 17 August 2004 On this meditation day, Amma was asked a question about the posthumous donation of organs to scientists and hospitals. “Does it effect the soul, whether the body is buried, cremated or donated?” the questioner wanted to know. Amma replied that what happens to a body after its death only…

  • Jhilam jhilam chilankakal

    Jhilam jhilam chilankakal

    Amritapuri — Tuesday, 17 August 2004 This Tuesday, one of the mothers living in the Ashram performed padapuja to Amma. After washing Amma’s feet with the traditional offerings, She clasped a pair of gold chilankas around Amma’s ankles. Chilankas are belled anklets that ring lightly as the person wearing them takes each step. Normally Amma…

  • India is not just a piece of land, It is the Mother

    Independence day was celebrated in Amritapuri with Amma on 15 August 2004 Students of Amrita University (Amritapuri campus) celebrate India’s 57th Independence Day at the Ashram, paying their tribute and respect to this great land of Bharat. Lamps were lit along India’s border and flowers marked Her seven sacred rivers. The students danced, sang patriotic…

  • AYUDH celebrates India’s Independence

    AYUDH celebrates India’s Independence

    15 August 2004 — Amritapuri “Bharat is the spiritual centre of the world, its spiritual heart,” said Swami Jnanamritananda on the evening of the 57th anniversary of India’s independence. “Bharat is not just a handful of sand. It is the Mother. Just as a mother feeds her child from her breast, so too this Mother…