56. Om sriman nagara nayikayai namah: I bow down to Amma who is the Mistress of the most auspicious (or prosperous) city
Amma is the Mistress of the city of hearts. And if I'm not mistaken, we all live in that city. Or hope to live there. She has created this city and kept it open for all Her children. We are free to walk in whenever we want. The gates are always open, to anyone, irrespective of color, caste, creed, religion or social status. It's the golden city where with Her spiritual midas touch, Amma has created the most prosperous city in the world. It's where the only truth we need to know, is Her.
I went to such a city many years ago, young, impressionable. I still vividly remember the train ride to Her city. It was full of expectations and a sense of nervous anticipation. Who was this lady? Why did my father advocate Her? How could "God" walk away from the altar and sit in an ashram? Would I get rich? Beautiful? Would I need to ever sit an exam? Would She listen to my deepest, darkest secrets unlike the Gods I had prayed to before?
She was just a lady in white. She sat on a stage and a small queue snaked it's way up to Her. I took in the temple. The clean, neat space where all the devotees were seated. And something changed in the mind of a 20 year old. Or rather, She claimed the mind of a 20 year old. My train ride back was equally memorable. I didn't care to get rich, beautiful or good marks in my exams. I just knew I had met God. And what was incredible? God was actually quite human! She was a beautiful, dark lady with the nicest smile, the most incredible voice and the warmest of hugs. God had the softest hands and the simplest way of reaching out and loving us. My God, Amma, was going to be a wing mate for life.
That was 23 years ago. And nothing has changed. Bindu spoke about Amma's simplicity today. And that's exactly what Amma is. Simple. Simply beautiful; Simply wonderful. She's the very core of nature. Our nature, which we lose in the web of life. When we reach this golden city, She untangles all the knots and presents it back to us. Which is why we feel that unbridled joy when we get a hug from Her. Even the mere sight of Her is enough to get our hearts singing. As we walk the countdown to Amma's 60th birthday, may we all find the grace to discover this simplicity and make it an integral part of our life.
Om Amriteswariye namah!
Amma is the Mistress of the city of hearts. And if I'm not mistaken, we all live in that city. Or hope to live there. She has created this city and kept it open for all Her children. We are free to walk in whenever we want. The gates are always open, to anyone, irrespective of color, caste, creed, religion or social status. It's the golden city where with Her spiritual midas touch, Amma has created the most prosperous city in the world. It's where the only truth we need to know, is Her.
I went to such a city many years ago, young, impressionable. I still vividly remember the train ride to Her city. It was full of expectations and a sense of nervous anticipation. Who was this lady? Why did my father advocate Her? How could "God" walk away from the altar and sit in an ashram? Would I get rich? Beautiful? Would I need to ever sit an exam? Would She listen to my deepest, darkest secrets unlike the Gods I had prayed to before?
She was just a lady in white. She sat on a stage and a small queue snaked it's way up to Her. I took in the temple. The clean, neat space where all the devotees were seated. And something changed in the mind of a 20 year old. Or rather, She claimed the mind of a 20 year old. My train ride back was equally memorable. I didn't care to get rich, beautiful or good marks in my exams. I just knew I had met God. And what was incredible? God was actually quite human! She was a beautiful, dark lady with the nicest smile, the most incredible voice and the warmest of hugs. God had the softest hands and the simplest way of reaching out and loving us. My God, Amma, was going to be a wing mate for life.
That was 23 years ago. And nothing has changed. Bindu spoke about Amma's simplicity today. And that's exactly what Amma is. Simple. Simply beautiful; Simply wonderful. She's the very core of nature. Our nature, which we lose in the web of life. When we reach this golden city, She untangles all the knots and presents it back to us. Which is why we feel that unbridled joy when we get a hug from Her. Even the mere sight of Her is enough to get our hearts singing. As we walk the countdown to Amma's 60th birthday, may we all find the grace to discover this simplicity and make it an integral part of our life.
Om Amriteswariye namah!
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