5 May, ErnakulamAt the end of darshan on the last day, about 50 staff members of Amrita School of Arts and Sciences, Amrita University, performed pada puja to Amma. Each person participated in a part of the puja; a few people for pouring the water on Amma’s feet, another few for applying the sandle paste, and others for applying the ornaments on Amma’s hands on feet. Amma told everyone to clear the stage, saying that these devotees have been waiting years to do this, and all of them should have the chance to see. Seeing so many offering their gratitude to Amma together, one is reminded of Amma’s saying, ‘orammayude makkal,’ - ‘we are all children of one Mother.’Once the puja was finished, Amma started to sing ‘Mata Rani’ - ‘Oh Mother! You have come and fulfilled all my wishes.’ Thus, Amma concluded the 2-day brahmasthanam festival in Ernakulam and exited the stage, resting before the next day’s program in Pallakad.- Piyush

Question 57:
“For you, does spirituality mean perceiving things around us as ‘Maya’ (illusion), or seeing all as sacred forms of the divine?”
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3 May, Ernakulam

Swami Amritatmananda Puri gave a beautiful speech before Amma arrived for the evening program. He mainly talked about innocence, and how people tend to use temples as places to give their lists of complaints to God. He told one story.
Once there was a man begging outside a temple. He was seated underneath a sign that read, ‘no begging allowed.’ When the authority in charge of the temple heard about the man, he came near him, and said, ‘no begging outside the temple.’
Hearing this, the beggar simply got up and went inside the temple. Sitting there, he again began to ask for alms. At this, the authority was really mad. Normally, it should be understood that there is no begging inside the temple, so he asked the man, ‘what are you doing? Don’t you know there’s no begging allowed here?’
The beggar said, ‘I don’t see what the problem is. All that I see here is people begging. They say, ‘give me money, give me money.” I am also saying the same thing, so what’s the difference?’
So, the meaning is that we shouldn’t use God as a means to fulfill our desires. We should try to develop selfless devotion.

Amma sang the following bhajans during the morning program;

1. Dayakaro Tum (Hindi)
2. Sundar Hai Nayana Tere (Hindi)
3. Vilicchall Vili Kelkan (Malayalam)
4. Vilvattal Arccitom (Tamil)
5. Manasa Vacha Karmana (Malayalam)
6. Jai Jai Janani (Hindi)

Here is the list of the bhajans Amma sang on the first night of programs in Ernakulam.

1. He Gananayaka (Hindi)
2. Kucha Na Le (Hindi)
3. Kalpantarangalkku (Malayalam)
4. Kannunir Kondu Nyan (Malayalam)
5. Om Namah Shivaya
6. Collu sakhi nammal (Malayalam)
7. Meri Jhoppidi De (Punjabi)
8. Albuta Caritre (Malayalam)
9. Sarvavyapiye
10. Mata Bhavani Maheshi Ambe (Hindi)

2 May, Ernakulam

Amma reached the Ernakulam Brahmasthanam at night on the 2nd of May. The first program of Amma’s Kerala Tour starts tomorrow with a two-day brahmasthanam festival. Before Amma reached the brahmasthanam, the students from Amma’s school were chanting Vedic hymns very nicely, as well the Lalita Sahasranama and some bhajans. Actually, in the Amrita School of Arts and Sciences, all the students are required to attend the daily archana and evening bhajans.
Amma was greeted by Sri Girish Kumar, chairman of Sripuram Tantrik Research Center, Irinjalakuda. Sri Girish presented a purna kumba to Amma, and then pada puja was performed to Amma in front of the Sarasvati statue. Amma then went upstairs, being heavily crowded from both sides by the students.
As Amma reached the first floor balcony, the students below were wildly singing, first one song and then a next, building up the energy. Amma smiled and showered flowers below, and one student standing next to Amma grabbed her opportunity and kissed Amma’s cheek. Finally, as everyone was singing ‘Mata Rani,’ Amma lifted both arms to a shout ‘Ki Jay.’ In the silence that followed, Amma went to her room.
After Amma entered her room, the crowd again erupted with more singing and dancing. ‘Ti ti ta ta ti ti to, ti tai taka tai tai to.’ So the festival begins.

- Piyush

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- Admin

I first saw Amma on a CBS special: In God’s Name. I was immediately attracted to her presence.

Then I saw a PBS special called: Darshan.

I wrote this little poem about my experience of watching her on TV:

to see a glimpse

to experience a welcoming hug

to feel accepted and loved

this is darshan

this is God

- Kathy Dowell Cartersville, GA, USA

Question 56:
“Do you have a TV set in your living place? How much time do you spend watching TV per day? What kind of programs do you watch most?”
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Please make your answer brief and clear.