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Greenshore: Protecting Kerala’s coast by making it green
17 August 2005 — Alappad Panchayat, Kollam District, Kerala As the sun set on the beach in Cheriya Azhikkal–a village in Alappad Panchayat, five kilometres from Amritapuri–villagers gathered to plant hundreds of small casuarina saplings (Australian pine). The saplings are being planted with the aim of curbing erosion caused by high tides and to protect…
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88 Houses completed in Cuddalore
16 August 2005 — Pudukuppam, Cuddalore District, Tamil Nadu On 25 August 2005, the Ashram will hand over the 88 houses it is building in Pudukuppam, Cuddalore District, Tamil Nadu. The houses will be the first tsunami-reconstruction houses to be finished in Tamil Nadu State. This will make the Ashram the first organisation to finish…
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The dawning of Vedic culture in India
16 August 2005 — Amritapuri “It is impossible to say exactly when Vedic culture began,” Amma told the devotees and disciples gathered for Tuesday’s meditation and question-and-answer session. “The Vedas are anadi [without beginning]; they were there even before the beginning of the human race. The Vedas are said to be isvara nisvasam–the exhalation of…
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Amrita Sanjeevani
Amrita Sanjeevani On August 15, 2005, when all of India was celebrating the 58th anniversary of her independence, the students of Amrita University were celebrating the joy of selfless service. The students at the Amritapuri campus formed the Amrita Sanjeevani, a new student seva association. The students and staff of the University will take a…
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Teaching values: an untraditional way, from children to parents
Today, the father of a child enrolled in Amrita vidyalayam —Mangalore came forward for Amma’s darshan; his eyes were filled with tears. It was difficult for him to hold back his emotions. And as soon as he fell into Amma’s arms, he began to tell her his story. One day last week, he was invited…
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A celebration of true freedom
15 August 2005 — Independence Day at Amritapuri Celebrating the freedom of India is not cheap sabre-rattling nationalism. As India and Sanatana Dharma cannot be separated, India’s Independence Day is in fact a celebration of the nation’s cultural heritage—a celebration of the countless mahatmas that have taken birth on its soil, of dharma, compassion and…
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Amrita Sanjeevani
On August 15, 2005, when all of India was celebrating the 58th anniversary of her independence, the students of Amrita University were celebrating the joy of selfless service. The students at the Amritapuri campus formed the Amrita Sanjeevani, a new student seva association. The students and staff of the University will take a more active…
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Teaching values an untraditional way
15 August 2005 — Amritapuri From Children to Parents Today, the father of a child enrolled in Amrita vidyalayam —Mangalore came forward for Amma’s darshan; his eyes were filled with tears. It was difficult for him to hold back his emotions. And as soon as he fell into Amma’s arms, he began to tell her…
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Elephants and innocence
4 August 2005, Amritapuri This evening, when Amma reached Her room after bhajans, Ram and Lakshmi, the ashram’s two young elephants, were waiting eagerly for Her. It had been more than two months since they last got prasad from Amma. Both were chained. Previously, only Ram used to be chained. But now, Lakshmi, who used…
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Amma coming
The Ashram is bustling with activity as residents prepare for Amma’s arrival. Ashram residents are busy cleaning and sprucing up the premises to welcome Amma back after Her two-month Japan-North America Tour. Residents can be seen painting flower pots, changing curtains, and lovingly painting flowers on the steps the Amma climbs daily. All the different…