Category: Cultural
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The Living Upanishad
The Upanishads are the most revered texts of Sanatana Dharma, the Eternal Wisdom, which represents the essence of Life. The most sublime philosophy concerning the nature of Reality is expressed in these Upanishads. The literal meaning of the Sanskrit word Upanishad is “to sit down near” or “to sit Totally (with complete attention) near the…
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Amma’s rituals – with lotuses
30,May, 2001 Generally as a religion matures, its rituals become fixed and unvarying. This preserves something fine from the early times; it also tends to breed mechanical repetition and to block the heart’s natural tendency to respond with newness and freshness. Ritual can be the death or the life of religious practices. We are blessed…
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Brahmasthanam Installation – Covai
2 May 2001, Covai, Tamil Nadu Between the hours of eleven in the morning and one in the afternoon on Wednesday, the 2nd of May, 2001, Amma consecrated a new Brahmasthanam temple at the new ashram in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, the southern state neighbouring Her home state of Kerala. At Mananthavadi just over two months…
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Mananthavady Brahmasthanam Temple Pratishta
28th February 2001, Mananthavady, North Kerala The preparatory ceremonies purifying the place, the temple structure and the stone image were performed in advance by Amma’s disciples five days prior to the idol installation. The stone image which weighs about 250 kg, was thoroughly purified by many selected herbal preparations. It was then immersed in holy…
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Brahmasthanam Temple – Prana Pratistha
At the astrologically specified time, to the sound of bells and a conch, Mother walks into the heart of the new Brahmasthanam temple. In there we can see a rather empty place—a small square room containing only a black square hollow at its centre. Murthi The murthi (idol) is still outside. Mother designed this unique…
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Brahmasthanam temple – Kalasha Sthapana
Stupika installation Thousands of devotees converge to witness the dedication of a new Brahmasthanam temple. As dawn breaks, Amma walks up a ramp to the temple’s peak, where a temporary platform has been erected. She is accompanied by a small group of pujaris and sannyasis who will assist Her during the Kalasha Stapana. The Stapana…
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Kumbha Mela
January 9 to February 21 2001, Allahabad, UP The Kumbha Mela of 2001 was held from January 9 to February 21. The shahi snan dates were January 14, 24 and 29, and the main bathing date was January 24. About 40 million people were estimated to participate in the holy event. The previous Kumbha Mela…
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And, She closed her eyes…
26 February 2001, reaching Mananthavadi Ashram It was shortly after seven in the evening; the sun had just set-or had it just risen on the little mountain town of Mananthavadi? Perhaps it had risen, to judge by the shine in the eyes of the thousands who had gathered on the grounds of the new Amrita…
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Mananthavady – Stupika Installation
26th February 2001 The Stuptika Pratishtapana ceremony was performed at the Brahmasthanam temple, Mananthavady by Amma on 26 Feb. 2001, a day before She was to consecrate the idol. The highest point of the temple structure, received a sacred Stupika (a pointed metallic apex vessel). The architecture of religious buildings is symbolic. At the lower…
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What is Kali Puja
Kali Pujas take place on the veranda of the Kalari at Amritapuri, which is prepared with exquisitely coloured drawings, made with coloured powders. The diagram represents the peetham (seat) of the goddess who is symbolically present in the form of a tall lamp standing in the centre. Kali is the compassionate Mother in Her fierce…