Amma, Mata Amritanandamayi Devi
14 January, 2004, Madurai “What is the cause of the modern day’s cultural degeneration?” As they gathered on the rooftop of Amma’s Madurai ashram, those traveling on the Dakshina Bharata Yatra were all asked this question by Amma, thus beginning this evening’s unplanned Satsang. As Amma sat, Her easy smile lightened everyone’s spirit as always. […]
11 January, 2004 – Kanya Kumari The stone idol of the Virgin Goddess Kanya Kumari Devi in Her temple at the southernmost tip of the blessed land of Bharata is standing in meditation, facing north and longing for oneness with Lord Shiva in Mount Kailash. This longing of the Goddess for spiritual union is expressed […]
11 January, 2004 – Kanya Kumari Just a few hours after Amma hugged Her last Thiruvananthapuram child, the first fully loaded bus set out for the next stop on the 2004 Dakshina Bharata Yatra — the holy city of Kanya Kumari. This famous pilgrimage centre is located at the southernmost tip of the Indian sub-continent, […]
10-11 January, 2004 – Thiruvananthapuram The three days of Thiruvananthapuram programs were attended by huge crowds, as always, and enjoyed the standard Brahmasthanam Festival fare — dawn to dusk archanas, planetary pujas each day to Mars, Rahu and Saturn respectively, and of course Amma’s divine satsang, bhajans and darshan. Thiruvananthapuram is the capital city of […]
Wall to wall with outstretched arms, the room undulated with a single upward prayer
7 January, 2004 — Amritapuri There they were, as always. Whether it’s a Devi Bhava or festival day, a Brahmasthanam Temple installation or, as in this case, simply Amma preparing to leave for the South India Tour, if Amma is out and about you can bet they are too: three eagles, circling directly above. Known […]
4 January 2004 — Amritapuri As the large wooden doors rolled open and the sacred verses chanted, the many thousands present received a dense blast of the scent of flowers and camphor. As always this was mixed with another mysterious, divine fragrance that penetrates deeper, beyond the senses… Before us appeared the heart-bursting vision of […]
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 […]
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 […]