Tag: elephant
-
Onam celebrations – pookkalam, sadya, tug of war and cutural programs
4 Sep 2017, Onam celebrations, Amritapuri Ashram For the last ten days, as per the tradition of the Onam harvest festival, the entire state of Kerala has been ordained with lush, beautiful flower mandalas. At Amritapuri, each day the floral decoration in front of Amma’s room was unique. Each day, the beautiful arrangement depicted a…
-
Amma playing with Lakshmi
The elephant Lakshmi was waiting by Amma’s house after bhajans to be fed and played with by Amma. When Amma was about to come around the corner Lakshmi felt it and began trumpeting in excitement. In the meantime a lot of ashram residents & visitors where gathered as well to enjoy the rare occasion and…
-
Celebration of Amma’s birth star
30 January 2004 — Amritapuri Tonight is Kartika. As always on the night of Amma’s birth star, the ashram was alit with various lights and candles, in particular, the pathway Amma follows from Her room to the bhajan hall. Towards the end of the night’s set of bhajans, Amma surprised everyone by practicing a new…
-
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…
-
Ram is growing up!
5 August 2001,Amritapuri Mother is still playing with Ram the baby elephant after bhajans, but the scene is changing, because Ram is growing! He is much bigger and seems to have matured, not that he is old but he does seem to have more dignity and a certain bearing. Now the crowds who gather after…
-
‘Kumbha Mela’ in Trissur
25 January 2001, Trissur All the splendour India is capable of was in evidence during Amma’s recent one-night programme in Trissur on 25th January, 2001. It was Her first visit to this town in three years, and the enthusiasm of the devotees was overwhelming. The whole city seemed decked out to welcome Amma. There were…
-
She just won’t leave!
24 September 2000, Amritapuri Amma’s last scheduled darshan at the ashram for the next two months. Crowds of devotees, eager to have Amma’s darshan before Her long absence, have been arriving in the ashram since the previous night. By 11 a.m. the temple is packed to capacity. Amma comes at 11:15 a.m., bows to the…
-
Amma and Ram
15 September 2000, Amritapuri Mother comes down the spiral steps from the temple, and Ram is standing, facing Her as She walks across the yard. She draws abreast of him, calls out, ‘Ram!’ and stretches Her hand towards his trunk, which is already reaching towards Her. More like a puppy than an elephant, he follows…
-
Ram’s temple darshan
28 July 2000, AmritapuriIt seemed a day like any other here in Amritapuri i.e. a day full with Amma: Mother sat for meditation for a while, threw pebbles at a few sleepy meditators, then gave satsang for an hour or so. Then Amma began singing a bhajan: “He Giridhara Gopala!” She sang, and “Rrrrraaarrrgh!” came…
-
Baby Ram settles into his new home
Like all babies, Ram is endearing himself to the hearts of his Amritapuri family, from whom he is receiving continuous vibrations of affection, if not actual hugs. “Is he eating, sleeping, taking his bath, is he happy??”, they ask. According to his keepers, he is progressing well, although they would like him to eat a…