See Goodness in Everything

Amma's Message on the Festival of Vishu

15 April 2007 — Amritapuri

Amma ushered in Vishu (the Malayalam New Year) this morning in Amritapuri along with the large crowd that had gathered for the celebration and to receive Amma's darshan.  The main hall was filled with children and their parents, most of who had come from all over Kerala.  Upon reaching the stage, Amma began singing Hari Bol, then Mata Rani.

Amma then spoke of how, "Festive occasions are not meant to be rituals celebrated just once a year. Festivals like Vishu, Onam, Deepavali, Holi and Navaraatri hold noble meanings that are to be practiced and realized."

Amma continued by saying that "on Vishu, the mother or grandmother of the house will go to the bedrooms of the young children and the elders, wake them up and, covering their eyes, lead them to the puja room. Seating them before the pictures of gods the mother or grandmother will tell them to open their eyes. This custom contains the message that one should see good and pure in everything at all times, not the bad.

The first things we behold on Vishu, the Vishukkani, are natural items, gold and money, which are symbols of materialism, and new clothes, among others. Witnessing all these objects is the Lord. From this, we should understand that when we encounter the objects of the universe, we should not forget their Creator. In other words, when we experience creation, we should not forget the Creator. Creation and the creator are not two.

In the olden days, the children would fall asleep hearing the ancient Puranic stories and songs of Lord Rama and Lord Krishna that their mothers or grandmothers would tell or sing to them. This has changed today. These days, even children fall asleep watching television programs or hearing songs that are inappropriate for their age. In those days, it was Krishna, Rama and Devi who used to make an impression on young minds. Today, it is lust and other thoughts arousing evil vasanas or latent tendencies that make an impression on their subconscious minds.

We should tell children while they are very young that there is a power known as God who controls everything. If we teach a child to remember this divinity in all circumstances of life, that child will be able to keep his or her inner poise in every situation, whether it be victory or defeat. The child will not become depressed when confronted with failure. He or she will learn from that experience and move ahead with confidence. The belief that "God is with me. I am strong," will lead him or her onwards. In order to gain this strength, we should be able to see goodness in everything. Vishu and the Vishukkani represent that goodness."

 Indeed, all had come to celebrate Vishu with Amma and imbibe that same goodness.

After her satsang, Amma sang Krishna Govinda Gopala.  Half way through the song Amma signalled for everyone to raise the arms skywards and sing out to God, "Hari Bol, Hari Bol."

—Kannadi