Category: Ashram Life
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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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The paradox of Knowledge
those who think they know, do not know, and those who think they do not know, know not
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Matruvani Loading Seva
Students of Amrita Institute of Computer Technology who live on the Ashram campus engage themselves in various sevas in the Ashram. One among them is to help out in the loading of over 200,000 copies of Matruvani, the Ashram monthly magazine. The magazines are sent to the postal service for dispatch to waiting devotees. The…
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A week of special prayers
14 Sept 2001, Amritapuri After evening bhajans on Tuesday, Amma was informed of the terrible tragedy in America (9/11 at the World tade center, New York), which had occurred less than two hours before (due to the time difference of nine and a half hours, it was then around 8:00 pm at Amritapuri). She spoke…
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Tai Chi classes
In ancient times Bodhidharma went from India to China, and it is said that for many years he meditated at the Shaolin monastery. He devised a system of physical exercises which served both as a means to maintain the health as well as a system of self-defense. The martial art he developed was Tai Chi.…
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Vishu celebrations
April the 14th, 2001, marks the New Year in the Hindu calendar. The focal point of the Vishu celebrations in Amritapuri was the Kalari, where Amma first started Krishna Bhava in 1975. The vishukkani (literally, ‘first sight of the year’) was kaleidoscopic display of elaborate floral arrangements and a platter of fruits. In Indian tradition,…
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Falling in love with Amma is Christmas
24 December 2000, Amritapuri Just before Christmas, Mother gave darshan to about 15,000 people a day in Calicut in northern Kerala, virtually around the clock for four days and nights. The programme ended early in the morning on December 24th. Without getting any rest after that marathon, Mother got into the car for the day-long…
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Trikarthika Puja
Once a month, a special two-hour puja is performed in the original little temple at the ashram, in honour of Karthika, the day of Mother’s birth star. This month, on the auspicious day, the ashram was decorated more beautifully than ever. Throughout the grounds hundreds of oil lamps were lit and garlands were hung; the…
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Scripture classes
When Amma leaves for Her world tours, the ashram continues to be a hub of activity. Recently a brilliant, visiting lecturer, Swami Anubhavananda, conducted classes at the ashram. Mixing humour and dramatic language, his talks inspired profound reflection. He gave lectures on Srimad Bhagavad Gita and on ‘Panchadasi’ a Vedantic text. He spoke for four…
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Kali puja on Karthika
26 July 2000, Amritapuri On Wednesday 26 July, Amma’s Birthstar (Karthika) was celebrated with a Kali puja in the Kalari. The entire ashram had been decorated with garlands and lamps, and the Kalari itself was graced with traditional motifs (mandalas) and more lamps and garlands. The highlight of the ritual occurred during the singing of…