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Kartika puja for the New Year
3 January 2004 — Amritapuri After bhajans ended this evening and Amma returned to Her room, many made their way to the kalari for the monthly Karthika Puja. In addition to the annual birthday observed in the West, which is based on the sun’s position, a monthly birthday is also traditionally observed in India that…
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Another New Year with Amma
1 January, 2004 Om Lokah Samastah Sukhino Bhavantu. This is the prayer that is chanted in Amritapuri, and by Amma’s devotees around the world, as the clock strikes midnight each New Year’s Day. The collective effect of many thousands one-pointedly chanting this powerful prayer for the peace and happiness of all beings everywhere serves to…
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Christmas Eve
24 December 2003, Amritapuri Amma has said, “The Lord comes not once a year, but every moment. This Christmas Eve saw Amma, as in every moment, immersed in the spirit of giving … darshan. While She was doing so, some devotees began decorating a tree that lives in the garden in front of Amma’s house.…
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Heaven on Earth
25 December 2003, Amritapuri It was after midnight on the morning of 21 December as seven busloads of Amma’s weary children returned to Amritapuri from the Kozhikode tour. One of the first things to greet everyone as they entered the ashram’s back gate was a humble manger scene near the western canteen. The sight offered…
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Kozhikode is Amma’s Brindavan
20 December 2003, Kozhikode, Kerala Like a mini-Amritavarsham50, the crowds, as many anticipated, were indeed the biggest today, turning out in full force for Amma’s final Kozhikode darshan program. Over 12,000 men’s darshan tokens were distributed for the evening program alone, and over 18,000 were given for the women, with lines winding all the way…
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Kozhikode Chronicles
19 December 2003, KozhikodeOver the past three days the atmosphere at the Kozhikode ashram has become as if super-charged. The five daily archanas, the special pujas in the brahmasthanam temple and the general devotional enthusiasm of the crowds has generated a palpable spiritual energy. This day saw the biggest crowd so far for this program.…
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The Wealth of the Poor
18 December 2003, Kozhikode, KeralaMany of the devotees in Kozhikode are very simple people. Rural villagers and tribal people come for Amma’s darshan, saving what little money they have just to travel here. Kozhikode is yet another example of how Amma is touching the lowest substratum of society with Her infinite compassion and all-embracing Love,…
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Amma’s Brindavan
15 December 2003,Amritapuri A lone butterfly danced happily on Her garland as Amma stood gazing at Her children in all Her divine magnificence. Thus the first Devi Bhava in Amritapuri since early September came to a close this morning at 11:30 am. Yesterday morning Amma began giving darshan at 9:45 am, and stayed until 2:15…
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Lakshmi arrives in Amritapuri
11 December, 2003 AmritapuriA large crowd gathered in front of the temple this morning, as Amma welcomed Her newest resident into Amritapuri. New ashram residents don’t usually cause such a stir, but this is a special case. Her name is Lakshmi – the elephant. It was just after 11 a.m. and everyone was on or around…
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Ram and Lakshmi
11 December 2003, Amritapuri As bhajans ended this evening and Amma left the stage, there was a race of eager devotees to Amma’s house. Amma almost always feeds Ram at the base of Her steps after bhajans, and with this morning’s arrival of Lakshmi, tonight’s elephant feeding promised to be a double feature. Ram was…