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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
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Kali In the kitchen

13 August 2001, AmritapuriThere was an eager crowd waiting for Mother after bhajans; that’s when She feeds and plays with Ram. But Ram was not to be seen. When Mother came, instead of walking to Her room, She took a left turn and strode into the big, new “industrial” kitchen. It was time for one
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Payasam for Pachyderm
11 July 2001, Amritapuri Amma is not one of those people who say one thing and do another. You can count on it: if She tells Her children to do things a certain way, She will follow Her own directives. She models what She teaches. Take this evening when She was playing with Ram after
