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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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Midnight celebrations – Krishnasthami
After bhajans all the devotees took their dinner and, as Amma returned to the auditorium, settled down to watch a evening of performances including a dramatic, musical staging of the Bhagavad Gita, produced and performed by ashramites. Directly after the performances concluded, the reciting of the Srimad Bhagavatam, the Purana which describes the life of…
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Janmashtami – Krishna’s birthday
As always on Sri Krishna’s birthday, today was a day of great festivity at Amritapuri. The celebrations began at three o’clock in the afternoon with a parade to the local Krishna temple. The procession was headed up by some of the ashramite children costumed for the day and carrying an ashram banner, followed closely by…
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Onam celebrations
Onam at Amritapuri was a day of many surprises. In the morning, Amma announced that She would hold the morning darshan program in the new hall where only bhajans and Devi Bhava darshan are usually held. Talking to the devotees present, Amma said, “You have been able to see the ashram as your own home.…
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Pure dance
31 August 2001, Amritapuri It is natural to feel a bit reserved among strangers or in big crowds. And when you are in an ashram, you would imagine that you would have to behave with a certain decorum. But when the Guru Herself tells you to drop your shyness and embarrassment, stand up and dance……
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Want Rice?
21 August 2001, Amritapuri A Real-Life Allegory Watch! A little boy arrives in front of Mother’s table. She has finished serving Tuesday lunch to everyone else in the temple. She asks him, “Rice?” No particular response. So She takes a plate of rice and curry and holds it out to him. He shakes his head…
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A mere pigeon?
16 August 2001, Amritapuri Last Tuesday, a mangled bird lay nestled on Amma’s lap while She meditated. No, not exactly Her lap. Mother sat in the half-lotus position, with Her right Foot on Her left thigh, sole upturned, as She usually does for meditation. When a little girl brought the wounded bird, Mother (Who had…