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Amma in Finnish senior high school textbook
Amma has made Her way into yet another Finnish school textbook, this time for students in senior high school [pre-university in India]. The Ark of Finnish Religion features under a section entitled “Religious Diversity,” a photo of Amma giving darshan, is a short description of Amma’s visits to Finland since 1998, the year the Amma…
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The Kumbha Mela of the South
100,000 people are going to sleep in 42 schools, 105 community centres and marriage halls, and 52 spacious temporary tents
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Ready to receive 100,000 guests daily
13 September 2003 — Cochin, Kerala For a moment you think are on a film set. Temple fronts are being erected, pillars and statues are caste out of plaster, and tents and halls are being built. Walking up the area of the International Stadium on the outskirts of Kochi, you can see huge posters for…
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This is not a human wish, this is divine
September 2003 At lunchtime, everybody takes a short break and food is served under a thatched roof just outside the stadium—rice, curry, sambar and buttermilk. 35-year-old Savitri is a devotee from Allepey, 60 kilometres south of Kochi who has come to help.”When we heard Amma wanted people to help clean, we came with the whole…
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Transforming stadium into a spiritual centre
Nehru stadium, Kochi, Kerala Along the now still-empty “grand avenue,” arches are being built. On the left, temporary buildings are emerging for the Colours of Compassion Exhibition and several medical exhibitions. On the right, a huge darshan hall is decorated with artificial garlands and flower bouquets. The hall is more than 100,000 square feet, more…
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Our every need is taken care of
Have you wondered how the more than 100,000 devotees will find sanitary facilities during Amritavarsham50? Read on. Each night after bhajans, 150 or so devotees crowd around the stairway to Amma’s room to delight in Her feeding of Ram, the ashram elephant. Tonight Amma showed Her design skills as well, with strict attention to detail.…
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Teaching Ram
As a frequent visitor to Amritapuri, I have often watched my beloved Amma feed the elephant Ram after bhajans everyday. It is such a joy to watch the spontaneous and innocent interactions between the Mother of the Universe and Her elephant son. Nevertheless I have sometimes wondered why Amma spends so much time on this…
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How to live a family life
“A bird sits on the dry twig of a tree and eats a piece of fruit it has found somewhere. It knows that the twig may break at any moment; so it is very alert as it sits on the twig. You should understand that this world is like that. Everything may be lost at…
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Ganesha Visarjan: the immersion ceremony
6 September 2003 — Amritapuri Amidst the rousing melodies of a nadaswaram and takil, the Sri Ganesha Murthi which has received daily worship in the Kalari for over a week was brought to the base of the temple steps this evening. There the crowds gathered for this final ceremony of the Ganesha Chaturthi Festival to…
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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…