The fair was from May 12 to 17.

There were 1600 participants from 70 countries of 9 students representing India.

These were the last two days before Amma’s Japan-America yatra. Amma came yesterday for Tuesday satsang and mentioned that she would come to the swimming pool in the evening, feed everyone Masala Dosas and mangoes.

Blissfully beautiful

Later that evening, as promised, Amma came to the pool soon after the bhajans. Amma spent the first one and half hours with Ashram girls. As the girls enjoyed the presence of Amma with them, there were cries of yearning from boys outside “Amme.. Ammme”. As soon as the girls session ended, boys started trickling in. Amma sat at the deep end of the pool and each one got a chance to be nudged into the waters by Amma. With a unique smile, Amma would sweetly ask if each one knew swimming and for those who did not, request a safety ring and keep her bramhacharis ready while she would shove them one by one. She would playfully tease them, evoking peals of laughter from all around. Amma would keep a watchful eye on each person as they dove into the pool, making sure they he would come up and make it safely to touch the side of the pool.

Amma asked for a ganjira and started singing bhajans. Her voice overshot the sounds of her children and “He Giridhara Gopala” rang through the night air of Amritapuri.

After everyone getting a chance to swim, Amma was alone in the water- swimming and floating in the pool for a while. Her legs were in padmasana, hands were holding mudras with only her forehead, eyes, nose and a small part of her chin above water. All were silent, as lights danced on the ripples of the pool. A gentle breeze caressed every one and Amma was in samadhi. It was blissfully beautiful.

After swimming, Amma went back to her room leaving the whole ashram awake, happy and relaxed, remembering her beautiful presence.

Dosa Fest

15 May 2013
The last evening before the US tour was the second annual super-special Dosa festival.

Even during Bhajans several dosa grills had started sizzling. Amma jokingly started saying “How can the mind be focused (on bhajans) when the smells and sizzling sounds rise on either sides”, as dosas were being made. And between each round of dosas water was used to clean the big grills causing clouds of steam to rise all around the hall. As soon as bhajans ended, Amma climbed down the stage and the Dosa fest began.

Amma made dosas with care and then with her own unique style, initiated the distribution process. Amma started serving hot Masala dosas with spicy chick pea curry and freshly cut yellow mangoes from Ettimadai. After most of the devotees were served, Amma insisted everyone to take a second portion: “Children, take a second dosa, or cut one in half and share. Don’t worry, we will make more for you. Amma felt all of you should be given a full mango but the person in charge of the kitchen was concerned for the numbers, so he sliced them up, but at least that makes it easy to eat. There is lots more, Please help yourselves!”. Amma then said “may all children be happy in body and mind, may all those here and everywhere be well. Go on eat!”. Saying so, Amma took a bite of dosa after chanting the Bramharpanam mantra. Two very big dosas were made for Amma one from girls side and one from boys. Amma took pieces from each and then distributed the rest to everyone.

As stomachs filled, Amma passed the microphone around and asked for people to share jokes. Amma would add spiritual insight into each joke, adding wisdom to the humor.

Amma then sang “Maiyyaji me ne tu chahdi’ – Mother I am yearning for you – with a lot of shouts of “oho”, “aha” and ended with “Mata rani ki.. jai”.

Amma then left early in the pre-dawn hours for her two month long Japan-America yatra.

To Amma, there are no limits. She goes every extra mile to make her children happy. Look at this – an ordinary evening she converted in to a big celebration, made masala dosa and distributed it hot to over 3000 people in an hour and twenty minutes, filled the session with satsang, jokes and bhajans!!

Are you looking for miracles? This was one.

- Sakshi

Botswana
Two public programmes were held in Gaborone. It was Br. Shubamrita’s third visit to the country, and the programmes evoked a very good response.

Zambia
It was the first time that a representative from Amma’s organization visited Zambia. Br. Shubarmtia held talks, devotional singing, meditation sessions and house visits in Lusaka and Livingstone. The two public programmes were held in Lusaka, in the Radha Krishna Mandir and in the Vedanta Centre. In total, more than 500 people attended both events. He also addressed a gathering of LILA, an organization supporting many deserving causes in Zambia, on “Amma’s Mission and Vision.”

South Africa
Last on his tour, Br. Shubamrita visited three cities in South Africa: Johannesburg, Durban and Cape Town. Apart from two evening programmes in Johannesburg, Br. Shubamrita also addressed 600 students of Lenasia South Secondary School on April 12th. The talk was titled “Embrace Your Dreams” and encouraged the students to pursue their individual talents and capacities.

Then Br. Shubamrita visited a school and handed out free lunch packets to children from challenged backgrounds and interact with them. He also had a meeting with Ms. Nozipho January-Bardill, Committee member on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination Board, and Founding Chair of SA Gender Education and Training Network, who expressed great admiration of Amma’s humanitarian work and conveyed her invitation to Amma to visit South Africa and extend her arms of compassion to the less fortunate of this country.

April 14th, which is celebrated as Vishu, Bihu, and Baisakhi in India, was celebrated by Br. Shubamrita in Sarva Dharma Ashram in Durban, where he was invited for a talk. Durban being the home to the largest Indian population outside of India, many South African Indians were happy to have an opportunity to take part in the satsang and bhajans. After the talk, he distributed meal packs to several hundred children from the surrounding settlements and paid a visit to nearby old-age home and orphanage.

As the last stop of the tour, Br. Shubamrita held an evening programme in the Sufi Temple in Cape Town on April 15th. Members of all sections of society attended the event and the enlightening talk: “Happiness is a Decision.” They also participated in the soulful bhajans and guided meditation. The last programme in Cape Town was held at the Brave Foundation headquarters on the 17th.

This journey showed that this part of the world has already been bated in Amma’s river of love–a river that is ever ready to grow in size and depth through the sincere devotion and longing of Amma’s African children.

- Nath

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When Amma arrived at her Brahmasthanam and Ashram in Kaimanam, Thiruvananthapuram on the evening of the 22nd April, lamps had been lit all along the roadside leading to the ashram, creating a welcoming and beautiful path for Amma.

Upon arrival, Amma served Prasad to the devotees and conversed with them.
The following day, on the first morning of Amma’s programmes, Amma was presented with the first-ever Vishwaretna Award by the Maharaja of Travancore, on behalf of the Hindu Parliament. Presenting the award, to overwhelming applause the head of Travancore’s royal family indicated that this was one of the most fulfilling moments of his life.
After the award ceremony, Kerala’s Minister for Agriculture K.P. Mohanan presented organic seeds and fertilizers to 500 people as part of M.A. Math’s new Haritamritam program, aimed at encouraging households around the state of Kerala to take up organic gardening and organic farming, thereby promoting health and vitality as well as a renewed appreciation and reverence for nature.

During the program, Assembly Speaker G. Karthikeyan said that Amma was a refuge to the world suffering from all ills.

The devotees were largely sheltered from the blazing summer sun as Amma took care to make sure that shelters were erected throughout the ashram, creating nearly unbroken shade for all her children.
Addressing the devotees, Amma emphasized the need for protecting environment. She exhorted the authorities to restart the ‘Sevanavaaram,’ a week-long cleaning programme taken up by schoolchildren.

“Nature, which once blessed us with resources, is now in a state of devastation. We have destroyed our nature by 40 per cent within a span of 25 years,” she said.
On the last day, Amma sang bhajan ‘Elappula Elo’ with her children. The ladies dressed in silk sari danced beautifully to the tune  of Amma. “It was like so many  Devis’ (goddesses) dancing. You all danced naturally in union. It was very good” said Amma on the mike about the dance. The darshan came to a close after 3:00 in the morning, bringing Amma’s 2013 South Indian Yatra to a joyful, sweet denouement.

- Tulasi

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During Amma’s visit to her ashram in Kaimanam, Thiruvananthapuram, Shri Uthradam Thirunal Marthanda Varma, the Maharaja of Travancore and head of the Travancore royal family, presented Amma with the first-ever Vishwaretna Puraskar (Gem of the World Award), bestowed by newly constituted Hindu Parliament.

Several officials of the Parliament were on hand to share their reflections in giving the award. The stage was also populated with a wide-ranging constellation of government officials and other dignitaries, including Assembly Speaker G Karthikeyan, Health Minister VS Sivakumar, Sri Ramakrishna Math (Trivandrum) President Swami Lokahitananda, SNDP General Secretary Vellappilly Nateshan and many representatives from different social organizations around the state.

Hindu Parliament General Secretary EP Sugatan explained, “The Hindu Parliament is a congregation of 108 organisations of different strata of the society. Our aim is to initiate a new renaissance in Kerala in the light of Amma’s life and teaching. Amma doesn’t need any award. God doesn’t need an award. By giving the award, in fact it is we who are honoured. The need of society now is brotherhood, love and spirituality. This movement aims to take steps in the light of spirituality. Just by going to the temple, one cannot become spiritual—this we have realized. With Amma’s blessing, the Hindu Parliament wants to go forward, taking all the strata of the society, all lower and upper castes, bringing all along for the renaissance.”

Hindu Parliament President Shankaran Kutty Nair said, “Hindus believe that Vishnu is sustainer of the world. Here in front of us is an incarnation who preserves and sustains individuals in their day-to-day life. Whomsoever comes for a job, for a house, to cure a disease … Amma is the only answer; not the government. She has been active for the last 36 years, providing anything and everything for the society—we can’t measure it all. Providing relief to the common man, who with loneliness, mental problems, other problems, approaches Amma to get satisfaction. This is the justification for presenting the Vishwaratna Puraskar to Amma.”

And in presenting Amma with the award, the head of Travancore’s royal family Uthradom Thirunal Marthanda Varma offered only the highest praise for Amma. “Amma is trying to show the path for us to go in dharma, to go in peace. She is showing us the path for our action, for our mind, and in the soul. In trying to talk about her compassion, I am speechless. This small offering (the award), Amma has accepted. I have not received more joy, happiness and peace than this before. Whatever we hear from Amma here today should not go in one ear and out the other, but go into our head, and into our heart. We should meditate on it, accepting Amma’s thoughts, becoming Amma’s disciples and servants. Let us strive to take Bharat (India) forward and forward. I am praying to Amma in this way.”

After being offered the award, Amma bowed in front of the award trophy. Swami Amritaswarupananda spoke on behalf of Amma, saying, “Amma offers this award to her children.”

- Sakshi

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On Amma’s fourth visit to Kanyakumari (India’s southern cape), her public program was held on the grounds on the recently completed Amrita Vidyalayam. This expansive, beautiful school joins the constellation of Amma’s 56 primary and secondary schools throughout India dedicated to inculcating timeless spiritual values in India’s youth while imparting a top-class academic education – education for living, and education for life.

Swami Jagadeeswarananda of Sivananda Ashram, Vivekananda Kendra Vice President Nivedita as well as MLA Pon Radhakrishnanan, Swami Chaitanyananda of Vellimalai Ashram, the District Magistrate and others shared the dais with Amma.

In his remarks, Swami Chaitanyananda said, “Out of compassion, Amma travels around the world, blessing all of us.

Mata ca parvati devi
pita devo maheswara
bandhava shiva bhakta ca
swadesho bhuvanatrayam.

(“Parvati is the Mother, Shiva is the father, the relatives are Shiva’s devotees, the native place is all the three worlds”). I am remembering this sloka by Shankaracharya. When I studied that I realised that it will be possible only if you live in the highest plane of consciousness. Now as Parvati Devi, Amma has come bless all of us.

MLA Pon Radhakrishnan shared, “30 years ago, my father met Amma in a function. People were coming to her and get blessings. At that time I thought egoistically, ‘Why we should get the blessings of a human being?’ Two years later I was introduced to Amma. When I met her I was crying and crying. Amma asked me why. ‘Amma, please protect the children of Kanyakumari’ is the alms that I begged.”

Amma answered his prayer, proceeding to embrace the children of Kanyakumari one by one. Despite the massive size of the crowd, the assembled devotees were remarkably peaceful – as if they knew that Kanyakumari herself was among them — having reached her, they were in no rush to go anywhere. They listened closely to her satsang and bhajans, and waited patiently to receive her darshan all through the night.

Her darshan went on until 9:30 am the following morning.

- Kannadi

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On arrival in Chennai, Amma continued the tradition of the tour, serving Prasad to the assembled devotees, as well as sharing jokes, spiritual stories, and practical advice with them. To the delight of the devotees, Amma made several comments in their mother tongue of Tamil as well.

One devotee asked Amma, “Whenever I come to the ashram, you are sitting like this amongst your devotees, smiling and giving darshan. Amma, when do you sleep?”

Amma replied simply, “When you have all awakened, Amma will sleep.”

Continuing a second tradition that has unfolded on this tour, Amma gave many practical instructions to the brahmacharis in charge on how to make adjustments to the programme venue in order to accommodate more devotees and make them more comfortable. In the case of the Chennai ashram, an old bookstall structure was demolished over night in order to make space for more of Amma’s children to sit in the shade and participate in her programme.

During Amma’s programmes in Chennai, His Excellency the Governor of Nagaland, Dr Ashwini Kumar met Amma and participated at the 23rd Annual celebrations of the Chennai Brahmasthanam.

Speaking on the occasion, he said, “This is a very special day for two reasons- firstly today is Ramanavami and we are very lucky have Amma’s darshan. Secondly my wife and I have had the good fortune to garland Amma on your behalf and present a shawl on behalf of the people of Nagaland. It was many years ago, that I had first read about the charitable work being done by her. Two decades later I have had the good fortune to meet her today. The enormous charitable work done by Amma is appreciated world over. It was rightly said by the noble laureate Mohammed Yunus that Amma has done more work than many governments have ever done for their people. Her contribution is enormous.”

Various renowned Karnatic musicians like   Dr R Ganeshan, Mahesh Vinayakram, Neyveli Santhana Gopalan, Malgudi Subha Umayalapuram Sivaraman (Mridamgam), Lalgudi GJR Krishnan (Violin),  N Ravikran (Chitra Veena), Uma Shankar and team (Ghatam), Anuradha Sriram & Sriram Parashuram (Hindusthani calassical), Udayalur Kalyanaraman (Sampradhaya bhajan) performed for Amma as she gave darshan.

“It is believed that Nandikesha plays Mridangam in front of Lord Shiva and Parvati. I feel like the same when I play in front of Parashakti, our Amma. I would like to come and play for Amma’s 60th Birthday. Amma, please bless my family and my art and all of us” said Umalaylpuram Shivaraman on the mike after his 30 minute performance on Mridangam.

During the two-day celebrations Amma gave darshan to countless people who gathered despite the sweltering heat in Chennai. For nearly 48 hours continuously, the Chennai ashram was packed to overflowing with Amma’s children who patiently bore the crowds and the heat in order to enjoy a few moments in her arms and imbibe her divine energy. Amma’s children know the secret to true happiness, as taught by Amma – air-condition the mind, taking refuge in the shade of Amma’s blissful presence.

Darshan ended after 5:00 in the morning as Amma concluded her darshan by singing joyfully amidst her children.

- Kannadi

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