Category: Festivals

  • Elephant worship on Ganesha Chaturthi

    Elephant worship on Ganesha Chaturthi

    31 August 2003 — Amritapuri Sri Ganesha, in the form of Ram, the ashram elephant, was led into Amritapuri’s large hall at about 8 a.m. this morning. The waiting devotees received Him with expressions of joy, for today was His birthday, Ganesha Chaturthi. Standing within an area cordoned off by elaborate kolam designs (decorative patterns…

  • Guru Purnima at the Ashram

    13 July 2003 — Amritapuri No matter what one may say about Amma not being confined to the physical body, Her physical presence does make a difference. Anyone who has met Her will vouchsafe for that. But absence has the virtue of making the heart grow fonder. Those who participated in the Guru Purnima celebrations…

  • Amrita Keerti Puraskar awarded to Parameswaran

    27 Sep 2002, Amritapuri This year’s Amritakeerti Puraskar went to P. Parameswaran. Union Law Minister Jana Krishnamoorthy presented the award. Sri Parameshwaran is an acclaimed and eminent scholar, thinker, and philosopher. He was born in Alapuzha, Kerala, in the year 1927. Shri Parameshwarji had his higher studies at University College, Trivandrum which he passed out…

  • Amma’s Birthday Celebrations – 2002

    25 Sept, 2002 On Amma’s birthday proper, Amma descended from Her room at 8:45 a.m., pausing for a moment to allow Her largest darling son, the elephant Ram, to place a garland around Her neck. All those who had packed into the darshan hall rose to their feet to try and catch a glimpse of…

  • Amritakuteeram free housing scheme expanded

    27 Sep 2002, Amritapuri As an expression of Her infinite compassion, Amma has been providing homes to the homeless and the destitute in Kerala since 1987. Moved by the plight of the homeless all over the country, Amma, later, launched the unique, and massive Amritakuteeram Project in 1996 for building 25000 houses for the homeless.…

  • Utsav is the state when mind overflows with love

    Birthday Celebrations 2002, Amritapuri   “Utsavam (festivity) is the state in which the mind overflows with Divine Love, when the Love that is within us finds expression in external activities. My children should pray for the peace and welfare of one and all, rather than indulging in outward exhibition. Mutual love is practically the only…

  • We were never born, nor will we ever die

    26 Sep 2002, Eve of Amma’s 49th Birthday The day before Amma’s 49th birthday celebrations began, Amma talked some with the ashramites. With all the birthday excitement in the air, it seemed She wanted to remind all assembled that, in truth, we were never born, nor will we ever die.  “The day that the thought…

  • Ganeshotsav at Amritapuri

    Ganeshotsav was celebrated in Amritapuri with great enthusiasm and devotion. The celebrations commenced on the morning of September 10, 2002 with Gaja Puja (worship of the elephant) in the new prayer hall. The ashram elephant Ram – adorned with sandle paste and the traditional golden head ornamentation – was worshipped as the form of Lord…

  • Guru Purnima with Amma in Amritapuri

    Today marked the second time in 15 years that Amma has been in Amritapuri for Guru Purnima, the day of paying homage to the lineage of Guru. And as Amma only arrived in India three days ago, it is as much homecoming as holy day – with thousands of devotees taking their first darshan of…

  • Navaratri celebrations

    Navaratri celebrations

    On the ninth day of Navaratri, a special program was held at Amritapuri for those devotees who are members of an Amrita Kutambam. An Amrita Kutambam is a formal group of ten families which meets regularly for satsang and service activities. Over 1000 devotees attended. The program, led by Br. Sivamrita Chaitanya, included satsang, archana,…