40. Om manikya mukutakara janu dvaya virajitayai namah: I bow down to Amma whose knees are like crowns shaped from the precious red manikya jewel (a kind of ruby)
A few weeks ago, I came across a website that had proudly positioned itself against Gurus around the world. And my only thought was: why would you go anti-beauty? anti-happiness? anti-everything-that's-wonderful-with-the-world?
I have known Amma for 24 years but I have only realized what it means to be Amma's devotee, a few rains ago. It has it's own share of responsibilities. It's not enough to get excited when Amma comes to our city, stand in line for darshan, buy trinkets and memorabilia of Her visit and then walk away from everything She taught us. What's the point of Amma sitting for hours giving darshan and sacrificing everything for us when we can't sacrifice our well fed egos at Her feet? What's the point of standing on stage and praying to Amma only to walk away and ignore the first person who really needs your help? Amma isn't a mere concept. She's a way of living!
As I go through my one-mantra--a-day journey, I find myself dwelling more on the positives of life. Even Amma's knees are shaped like crowns. And they're red from the manikya jewel. Everything precious. And larger than life. Each mantra is a celebration of Amma. Each mantra is reaching out to us and saying: celebrate life, for you are surrounded by so much wondrousness. Sure life throws an ugly wave every now and again but in the larger scheme of living, happiness really has to be our best foot forward. We owe it to ourselves. But more so, we owe it to the mother whose tireless effort at creating joy in the world cannot and should not go unanswered. If we truly care, we will not hold a filter to happiness. Why go through life anti anything? Let's do the journey in Amma's arms, pro life!
Om Amriteswariye namah!
A few weeks ago, I came across a website that had proudly positioned itself against Gurus around the world. And my only thought was: why would you go anti-beauty? anti-happiness? anti-everything-that's-wonderful-with-the-world?
I have known Amma for 24 years but I have only realized what it means to be Amma's devotee, a few rains ago. It has it's own share of responsibilities. It's not enough to get excited when Amma comes to our city, stand in line for darshan, buy trinkets and memorabilia of Her visit and then walk away from everything She taught us. What's the point of Amma sitting for hours giving darshan and sacrificing everything for us when we can't sacrifice our well fed egos at Her feet? What's the point of standing on stage and praying to Amma only to walk away and ignore the first person who really needs your help? Amma isn't a mere concept. She's a way of living!
As I go through my one-mantra--a-day journey, I find myself dwelling more on the positives of life. Even Amma's knees are shaped like crowns. And they're red from the manikya jewel. Everything precious. And larger than life. Each mantra is a celebration of Amma. Each mantra is reaching out to us and saying: celebrate life, for you are surrounded by so much wondrousness. Sure life throws an ugly wave every now and again but in the larger scheme of living, happiness really has to be our best foot forward. We owe it to ourselves. But more so, we owe it to the mother whose tireless effort at creating joy in the world cannot and should not go unanswered. If we truly care, we will not hold a filter to happiness. Why go through life anti anything? Let's do the journey in Amma's arms, pro life!
Om Amriteswariye namah!
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