Let's give Thanks to the Goddess!

131. Om santimatyai namah: I bow down to Amma who is peaceful

"Peacefulness is Devi's nature. She forgives every fault of Her devotees, with no agitation and with abundant kindness. Devi's ultimate aim is the peace and welfare of the universe. She will not tolerate anything which hurts that cause. That is why She appeared to be cruel towards Bhandasura."
(The Thousand names of the Divine Mother: T.V Narayana Menon)

So many times in life, we realize we chase moving targets. The very young only want to enjoy life to the fullest. They take life a minute at a time (which possibly accounts for the innocence and happiness of childhood). In our 20s, we chase wild and seemingly impossible dreams. In our 30s, we look for wealth. In our 40s, for wealth and health. And so on and so forth. But when we are on a solid spiritual path, all we seek, is peace. Peace that only a learned master like Amma can bring to us. It is only the spiritual guidance of Amma that gives us such a high level of divine awakening that even practices like meditation begin to rapidly open us to the realm of high understanding. Amma is the perfect conduit for us in this journey. Wouldn't She be? How incredibly lucky we are!!! Amma is the journey AND the destination. Peace is the way. Peace is the final stop. And everything in between. Who wouldn't want a life like that??

On this occasion surrounding thanksgiving, let us give Thanks to the Goddess who has graced our lives by taking birth in this period. By allowing all of us to be a part of Her life. She completes us. She is the perfect rhythm to this beat of life. She is the breeze that we encounter as we step out of our house. That loving, caressing breeze that tells us, nature will surely look after us. She is the peaceful murmur of the ocean's waves that lulls us into a safe cocoon of nature's beauty. She is the quiet scent that each flower gives us as we tread softly by. She is everywhere. She is everything. She is omnipresent. My mother, thank you for being there for me. For us. For making everything so perfect for us. For pulling us out of the deepest and darkest of times; for hauling us up and lovingly holding us in Her arms, whispering "I am always there for you". I know You are Amma. I feel Your presence everywhere. And I cannot express my gratitude in words. Someday, I hope I will be worthy of everything You have lavished me with.
Thank You.

Om Amriteswariye namah!

     

Amma and the power of prayer!

130. Om satodaryai namah: I bow down to Amma who is slender-waisted

My slender-waisted Amma. Slender-waisted and large hearted. Satodari is Parvati, wife of Lord Shiva. Yet again, a reference to the divine union of Shiva and Parvati. But today I feel the need to write about the Sri Lalita Sahasranamavalli. Amma strongly recommends chanting these mantras everyday. She promises that regular chanting will cleanse us and ensure fear-free lives. There are many a times I started chanting. Especially when I was worried about something. A medical report. Something important professionally. Something critical personally. Each time, I would start by 'bribing' Amma. Please Amma, please grant me this. I will chant the sahasranamam everyday. I promise!

The fever would last a month perhaps before losing to hectic work schedules, sleepiness, tiredness and general unsupported procrastination. The next dilemma or worry and there I would be, back to holding the prayer book and chanting. During "off" periods, I would rationalize with myself: I don't even understand all the mantras.  Isn't it just better to take Amma's name regularly? Would Amma like my chanting the mantras half asleep? Of course not! So therefore there was no need to chant. It was enough to take Amma's name 108 times a day. Ok, maybe 54 some days. 27 on really hectic ones. Most days, 9 was a good number. Lucky. Complete spiritual cycle. But Amma doesn't want us to chant the 1000 names in vain. We are meant to keep our focus on divinity while chanting each of them. 1000 ways to get happier. After we finish chanting, how lovely to hug ourselves and say: I just got a thousand times luckier!

It truly is a powerful prayer. 1000 names of Devi. 1000 names of everything divine in the world. 1000 ways to perfect our lives everyday. If Amma is saying we must, we must. Because She will only tell us what is good for us. I hope my run of chanting it stays. Because this is one habit I hope to make into a routine. Just as I wake up, do my ablutions and eat, so also chanting should become second nature. Because Amma has said so. And if She has, Her will be done!

Om Amriteswariye namah!

At the true epicenter of compassion!

129. Om sarac-candra-nibhananayai namah: I bow down to Amma whose face shines like the full moon in the clear autumn sky

When the path gets tough, true friends stand out. They shine out through the quagmire around us. And Amma is the one who identifies them for us. From the sea of people who surround us, only a few will stand by us in time of need. But the only one we are always sure about, is Amma. Today a friend wrote to me from thousands of miles away. She asked Amma "if She was hearing prayers and conversations with Her from thousands of miles away." Amma gave her a stern look and said She was, and how could we even think otherwise.

During times of need, Amma is the only constant. Actually, at every time, Amma is the only reality. And that is where we need to unburden all our problems. I remember a story about Lord Shiva. Every time a devotee would call out to Shiva, Shiva would run but return very quickly. When questioned, Lord Shiva said that He was running to calls from His devotee but the minute they began unburdening to others, Lord Shiva realized He wasn't needed and returned. So if we are undergoing any trouble, Amma is the only one we should unburden to. All our friends or acquaintances will take away what they want from our situation. Judgements will be thrown our way. But Amma never judges. She accepts us with all our flaws. She won't chastise saying "why did you do that?" She will accept us, embrace us and protect us.

I was lucky today to meet Purnaswamiji today. And receive his blessings. And Swamiji gave me very good advice. And with his blessings, he said that Amma would always protect me. But that's true of all of us. Just as we protect our children, so also Amma will always protect us. It is by Her feet that we need to rest and repose. Because that is where we will find our true spiritual path. At the feet of Amma whose face shines with love, understanding, compassion. I surrender everything to You, Amma. Forever.

Om Amriteswariye namah!

Realizing ourselves through the divine mother!

128. Om sadhvyai namah: I bow down to Amma who is chaste

The explanation of this mantra is beautiful: "Sarasvati, Brahma's wife, yields to all learned men. Laksmi, the goddess of wealth and Visnu's wife, is always on the move and accessible to all. But devi, Mahesvara's wife, yields to no one. She who is parasakti is also absolutely free. The implication is that learning and wealth can be achieved by anyone with effort, but Self-Realization is extremely difficult." (From: The Thousand Names of the Divine Mother. With commentary by T.V Narayana Menon)

Self realization is a concept I find difficult to grasp. How does one realize the self? To do that, and I may well be wrong here, one has to look at the self from the outside. To look on as an onlooker, a witness. Because then we can see ourselves for what we truly are. And that is when we can introspect and look within. And discover our true nature. Realizing ourselves while being involved on a physical and material level is extremely difficult. We can only realize ourselves when we examine ourselves from within and see each blemish for what it is. The best way to realize ourselves is through Amma. Examine what will help us grow for the greater good because each of us is connected to each other. And eventually each of our actions affects everything around us. We do good and the good will come back to us ten fold. That is Amma, right there! Chaste. Pure. Loving. Her only concern is how much love to envelop us with! Her purity is untouchable. And while we can't reach Amma's level, we can emulate in our own small way.

Help me Amma. Help me realize that whatever path You are creating for me today, is for my own good. That each step IS a step in the right direction. That everything that happens is because You have willed for it to happen, for my own spiritual journey. Hopefully one day I will understand Your intentions. But for today I am still an unlearned child. Please help me Amma. Hold my hands through this difficult journey. Today and always.

Om Amriteswariye namah!

Amma's trail of happiness!

127. Om srikaryai namah: I bow down to Amma who bestows riches in abundance

Srikara is Visnu. Srikari is Devi, Visnu's sister.

The abundance mentioned here may refer to many different things. Abundance in terms of money. Abundance in terms of spiritual wealth. I would hope it means spiritual wealth more, because when the last bone has burnt into an ash, there is little the ash will evolve into with money. So Amma bestows even more spiritual riches on us. She fills us with a sense of abundance. So much so that we are forced to sit up and take responsibility with the faith She reposes in us!

The past few days have been an emotional roller coaster for me. And while the foundation of a few beliefs were shaken, Amma was there stolidly. As usual. As always. I may have lost faith in doing good for others but I know Amma will pull me out of this quagmire and make me see that doing good for others will always have to remain my dharma. It's each of our dharma. There can be none other. How can we possibly float through life with hands outstretched, taking and taking without sparing a thought for anyone else? How can we possibly take a step forward without wondering whether it will hurt an ant or not?

As the world is growing and 'progressing', our ideas of wealth and abundance is getting skewed. We all want more and more money to make mountains out of. And yet we would never sit atop these mountains to meditate. We might stand in them, neck deep, and ponder over the advantage of greed. But if this were a mound of spiritual abundance, the more we swim in it, the better it is for us and for all those around us. Spiritual abundance is a sea that gives of itself. It's nature. We can take away as much as possible and it will only swell! So what is spiritual abundance? Those same qualities I tom-tom here all the time. Compassion. Kindness. Goodness. If we are able to show even one person a sliver of compassion in one day, we have done our dharma. Not surpassed it but exercised it. Who knows what battles the other person is fighting? Once an arrow of kindness is released from the bow of our spiritual abundance, it'll blaze a trail of goodness. Happiness. Who can't be touched by kindness? We live entire lives looking for ways to be happy. What we forget is that our happiness depends on how much of ourselves we give to others. The more we give, the happier we are. Amma cleverly devised the world like that so we never forget that we're all connected. And this abundance is meant to be shared.

Om Amriteswariye namah! 

The tidal wave of happiness from Amma!

126. Om sankaryai namah: I bow down to Amma who gives happiness

Thank You Amma for the abundance You have gifted us with. Thank You for the beautiful world that surrounds us. Thank You for the security and warmth You envelop us with. Thank You for Your love that falls like an all embracing cloak on us. Thank You for all this happiness You give us. Not just in terms of things or feelings or emotions but because primarily the first thing we all have to hold a gratitude candle for, is You! 

We could well be living in a time and space in which we are unaware of You. But You ensured that all Your children have known You from different stages of our lives. Some from before birth. Some, soon after. Some, 18 years into their lives. Some, at 40. But each one's first embrace is a life changer. Mornings will never ever be the same again. A sunrise will hold a different beauty. I remember walking up to the Matterhorn and having only one thought: to meditate to Amma. Sitting on that grassy plain, the most beautiful thing I could do looking at that majestic peak, was feel ultimate bliss and happiness as I dwelled on the creator. Amma. From the very first moment I saw Her, I knew. I was only 18 or so, but I just knew I had found my master. The One I hadn't realized I was looking for. Even today I am looking. She is a mystery because She holds the answers to the universe. We probably have been witness only to a infinitesimal part of Her powers. Imagine if She unleashed Her entire power! Would it be like a spiritual tsunami? When I see Amma, the tears that overwhelm me are already like an emotional tsunami from within. 

But this flow of emotion has nothing to do with anything negative. It's totally an outburst of gratitude. Everyday we see negativities floating around us. This threatens to pervade our lives. It threatens to choke every cell in us to an extent that we cannot breathe. Imagine living like this for days on end! And then You arrive, Amma. With the sweetest of words, gestures. That much awaited embrace. And it's like a tidal wave of happiness that chokes me. I buckle in gratitude to the universe. Today I went to the ashram after a long hiatus. Incredible that I went there for chanting the sahasranamavali but as soon as I sat down, the bhajan group sang my favouritest song: chilling keti odi odi vaayo!! I cried in gratitude. How well You knew Amma, that I needed these comforting lines? And then as I prayed by myself, someone decided to play yet another favorite: Shivoham Shivoham! 

Thank You for letting me be a part of Her. Thank You for allowing me a glimpse of Her. Thank You for keeping me under Her umbrella of grace and compassion. Kindness and beauty. Thank You for allowing me the grace to feel gratitude. And these are what total up to the feeling of happiness. May we live with this feeling forever!

Om Amriteswariye namah!

The epicenter of happiness...Amma!

125. Om sarma dayinyai namah: I bow down to Amma who confers happiness

For those who chant the sahasranamam everyday, this echoes ones again in the 126th and the 953rd mantra: Om sarmadayai namah: I bow down to Amma who is the giver of happiness.

Can this even be something we need to think about? She is the centrifugal source of happiness. She is the very epicenter of the happiness of the world. She is the one who ensures that our minds are occupied in the finest spiritual space. That we are kept occupied by the welfare of others. And thus we stay happy. Happiness is a state of mind which comes about when we dedicate our lives to doing good for others. When we decide to place the happiness and well being of others on par with ours. When we keep aside our busy schedules and look into the lives of others. When we are able to forget the ego within and search for peace at the feet of Amma.

Isn't it Amma-zing how Amma is really a life force! And all one needs to do is meditate on Her form. It fills us with such bliss and such Amma-zing reassurance. It's almost like if we are to see Amma at every step of this journey, it'll be such a pleasant voyage. And if the voyage has been pleasant, how beautiful the destination should be! Our happiness can only come from Amma realization. That every ounce of happiness, every ray of sunshine in our lives, comes from Her. I pray to Amma that I reach a spiritual zenith where everything I feel is Her; every word I hear is Her, every fragrance I smell is Her, each utterance is a dedication to Her and every sight I see is because She has willed me to see it. Everything, just everything is because of Her. I want Her to fill my life with truth. With so much truth that I should have its complete fragrance in my life. Because there is much happiness in truth. And the only real truth, is Amma.

I always wondered why even Amma's pictures afforded me so much joy. It's the same as looking at a baby's picture. The innocence, that non-judgmental all accepting look is enough to melt any heart. That's Amma right there. Non judgmental. All accepting. Ever compassionate. All She does is engulf us with love and embrace us with happiness. How supremely blessed we are that what people seek in solitude and with years of sadhana, can actually be found at the feet of our dearest Mother. May we dwell in this happiness forever. And may this happiness grow as we learn to share it with each of our sisters and brothers.

Om Amriteswariye namah!

The essence of beauty...Amma!

124. Om sarvanyai namah: I bow down to Amma who is the wife of Sarva (Shiva)

"Siva in His earth-form is known as Sarva (One of Siva's eight forms) The Linga Purana says: 'Those who have transcended all the sastras call the Deva who is the essence of the earth as Sarva. His wife is known as Sukesi and His son as Angaraka.' Angaraka is Mars, also known as Kuja. Kuja literally means 'the son of the earth'. There is also an astronomical theory that Mars is a part that broke off from the earth." (From: The Thousand Names of the Divine Mother. Commentary by T.V Narayana Menon)

Sukesi. Also the female essence of the earth. Because Amma truly is the essence of everything around us, and in us. She is the one who gives rise to everything. Things happen because Amma realizes it is for our growth. Amma is also always there to protect us. She will always have Her umbrella of grace, kindness and protection over us. She will always ensure that we stay unharmed and happy. She is after all, our Mother! She will spread out the path of spirituality that we need to walk. Only She knows the bigger picture: only She knows what lies in wait for us and how to cleanse our Karma. Only She can help each of us move ahead in life. When even the next step is an uncertainty, the best way to live is by dedicating each moment to Amma. How beautiful life will be if our every word gets preceded and succeeded by the word of Amma. Like perfect bookends. Bookends that will never, ever let the books fall down and ensure that only the highest calibre books are placed there.

Amma, please help each of us. Please be there to walk us through this maze called life. Where every path is a different one from the one we have just traversed. Give us strength. Of character and wisdom. Give us the energy to deal with everything that comes our way. Give us the discretion to understand that standing in the ocean of samsara, we have to know just what to take and what to leave out. What to internalize and what to accept. Please help us in this journey Amma. For you are the very true essence of everything that's beautiful in this world.

Om Amriteswariye namah! Om Namah Shivaya!   

Amma's light upon us!

123. Om saradaradhyayai namah: I bow down to Amma who is worshipped by Sarada (Sarasvati, the Goddess of speech)

Dear Amma, I am undergoing a tough time. I am hurt and I am bruised. I just wish to heal. I wish people would not hurt the way they do. I wish they would not speak the way they do. I wish there wasn't so much negativity in the world. I wish people would stay kind and innocent - the way they are meant to be. The way Amma has wished it for us.

Please Amma, let there be healing. Let there be Your magical presence in my life that feels so strong, it heals, soothes and helps me along. Please remove the negative strand from my life. Please cut it away so that I can grow. Every day, I grow. I learn so much. I mature and walk through life in ways only You can set for me. I realise that healing is always from within. But You live within. So please heal me Amma. Why do I sometimes feel so alone? Do I need to walk every path alone? Have You not promised me Your hand in this journey? Have You not promised that when I am down and out, You will pick me up from the depths and carry me? Can You please be here for me, now? This child needs a loving word, an outstretched hand. Please give me the strength to meditate on You, to see You in everything I see; to hear You in every word I hear; to feel You in everything I touch. May You form my every thought. May You be the sum total of my existence.

Om Amriteswariye namah!

Shiva Shakti!

122. Om sambhavyai namah: I bow down to Amma who is the wife of Sambhu (Shiva)

I've said it before. I love references to Amma and Shiva. It gives the world a whole new dimension. I see the world joined beautifully with two powerful energies. Energies that compliment each other. The caring and compassionate feminine and the practical and protective masculine. Amma, to me, is a reflection of the world. She holds the feminine and the masculine in Her. Which is also how we should be. Being a woman is not just to show the caring and compassionate side of us; nor is it to be ever misunderstood as being the weaker sex (Amma is anything but weak!!). Both feminine and masculine requires the mind to be in perfect harmony - the yin & yang. Caring, compassionate, practical and protective. Be graceful and powerful. We needn't sacrifice the one for the other. Amma is the epitome of grace. And yet when She speaks, Her strength of character is unparalleled.

She is so small is physical stature but a giant in moral and spiritual eminence. How many wonderful pictures like the one above have we seen where this little Goddess can walk through a crowd and hold everyone's attention? It's more than just being a vehicle of unending love. It's because She is a powerhouse. Of Love. Compassion. Empathy. Tolerance. Grace.

I remember reading a story once about Amma's visit to Kolkata. After the programme, all volunteers were cleaning the venue. As Amma was leaving, She noticed a half eaten banana (I may be sketchy on the details here. I hope Amma forgives me for this) in a dustbin. Amma took the banana out of the dustbin and ate the rest of it. She said given the fact that so many in India were starving, it was extremely unwise to throw food. Amma could well have shown the banana all around and given a lecture about wastage. And none of those around Her would have questioned. They would have taken away the lesson. But Amma isn't merely a thinker. She's a doer. She leads by example. And what a stellar example She is. I am sure She taught everyone a lesson which they would never have forgotten! I haven't forgotten it and I only read about it in the matruvani!

This beautiful Goddess is the other half of Shiva. She teaches, instructs and helps us on our spiritual journey. And the next time we say our gratitude prayers, do thank the universe for giving us a Guru who holds within Her both the magnetic energies of this world.

Om Amriteswariye namah!

To Her who calms...

121. Om bhayapahayai namah: I bow down to Amma who dispels fear

I could chant this again and again. Oh the millions of times I have felt the stab of fear. Everytime I feel it, my immediate response is to reach out for Amma. And slowly, depending on the situation, calmness descends. There are times when I have gone form fearful to fearless in less than 6 seconds. When I have felt Amma's arms encircle my body and calm me down.

Each time I have chosen to dissect the fear. What is it? Is fear a feeling of not being in control? Or not being in the know of something? Or does it rise in a situation when we worry about something impending? And in each of these, it's the lack of belief in Amma. Mea culpa! For all my posturing, I go through several times a day when I forget Amma or even worse, question Her. I wonder if She really is on the lookout for me. That health issue...how much should I worry? Should I be panicking?? But in reality, what possibly can I do? Yes I feel fearful but what will that achieve? Amma always says that there are 24 hours in a day. We can choose to either go through them as happy 24 hours or worrisome 24 hours. Irrespective, time will pass. The choice is entirely ours. So the trick I'm guessing is in choosing the right attitude and realizing that nothing, absolutely nothing lies in our hands. It's all upto Amma. Only She can help us on our way. And for that, complete trust and faith is a prerequisite. Place ourselves in Her hands wholeheartedly, unquestioningly.

But it's easier said than done. I have faced this dilemma a zillion times. But then that's exactly why faith is no mere word. It needs a spiritual inclination which not everyone can achieve. But when we can find that golden pinnacle, fear will be just another harmless word. And the only word that will matter for us, will be "Amma"

Om Amriteswariye namah!

A round of goodness!

120. Om bhakti vasyayai namah: I bow down to Amma who is to be won over by devotion

Amma can be won over by devotion. And this is not to mean devotion to Her. But devotion to a higher cause. To goodness. To kindness. To helping others. I find Amma the best of the teachers of the world.  She may not teach history but She teaches how the past is best left behind to live in the present. She doesn't teach chemistry but we will learn that love is the most potent solution of all. She may not teach drawing but She definitely teaches the art of living life correctly. She may not teach maths but for Her, the perfect equation is when prayer dominates a family. Her english may falter but when She whispers, "My child", do we need to know the language any better? Hasn't She conveyed love and understanding so beautifully in that miraculous embrace? She may be no doctor but She can cure better than any learned doctor can.

All we need to do is walk Her bridge of faith with utter devotion. I doubt if even Amma would advocate sitting in front of the altar for a large part of the day praying? What use is prayer if all we are going to do is get away from the altar and tarnish our minds with vices and petty thoughts?! Devotion is much better expressed by doing good to everyone around us. By enriching the lives of people around us. That is when we will truly show that we have learnt and imbibed every lesson Amma has worked to teach us.

For a Goddess who has sacrificed every hour of Her life into enriching ours, it's the one act we absolutely must follow. Here's to goodness, all around!

Om Amriteswariye namah!

Awash with kindness!

119. Om bhakti gamyayai namah: I bow down to Amma who is attained only through devotion

Many blog posts of mine carry a mention of my spiritual soul sister, Bindu. For those of you who don't know her, she is one of the nicest human beings on earth. She also shares an incredible connection with Amma. I always felt her prayers to Amma were powerful and always carried results. I naively believed in Bindu's soul connection with Amma. Today, it's no longer a naive belief. I know. It is a connection for real.

She believes in dedicating her day to Amma. It started with dedicating prayers in the morning in her small prayer room. With framing and exchanging posters of Amma. With having small gatherings of devotees in her house. It expanded to doing helpline prayers for others, talking about Amma to one and all and reaching out to as many people as possible regarding Amma. She's been busy professionally for a few years and all she does despite her hectic schedule, is dwell on Amma. She never thinks a word out of place for others. She will pray as hard as you want her to, despite prayer being a very personal space and time. She will sacrifice her time and do anything when she sees it as being a diktat from Amma.

And when we are able to step out of the "I, Me, Myself" mould and look to others to extend help and prayers, that is true devotion. Because Amma looks at us as emissaries who carry Her message, we have to live life in its purest form. Do as much good in as many ways as we can. It may sound cliched but we have no idea what the other person is going through. What sorrow hides behind wavering smiles, who's to know? Amma can see through everything and know our true nature. But we can't. When we are able to see Amma in each other, that is true devotion. When we are able to wipe a tear without wanting any reward, that is true devotion. When we can see beauty in everything, that is true devotion. What use does Amma have of flowers and incense stick and sweets? Her true reward is in seeing us being good to each other. When each of us can approach Her with a smile. When She can see the world alight and awash with kindness, that to Her will be a perfect moment.

Let's express our devotion then, through the language of kindness towards all.

Om Amriteswariye namah!

For in my world, only You exist!

118. Om bhakti priyayai namah: I bow down to Amma who is fond of (and pleased by) devotion

One of the things that struck me and stuck with me early on was the fact that Amma never asks us to worship Her. For Her, devotion isn't about praying to Her. It's believing in the power of an almighty. It doesn't matter which, so long as we acknowledge there is a higher power and are able to increase and improve our spiritual quest. Even when we queue up for mantras, the first question they ask us is who our ishta devata (preferred/desired God) is. It's never about imposing Herself on us. In fact, Amma never ever sees Herself as God; She considers Herself a Guru, who helps us reach God. It's a different matter that for us, the search for God does not travel further than Amma. For She is God. Godliness. Divinity.

She of course sees the Higher power. Before Devi bhava, the wonderful bhajans sung by Her are heart wrenching. One can feel the presence of the Higher being. Of Devi. It's the way Amma reaches out. Unrelenting. Single minded. Devotion in its purest form. Which is eventually how we should pray to Amma. This Guru of ours who we are blessed to know; who has endowed us with enough good karma to even be in Her presence, should be worshipped with a single minded devotion. An unwavering devotion that does justice to the spiritual world that Amma cleanses for us; for all that gratitude that is due to this amazing Guru; for all the love She bestows on us.

But faith is the demanding partner of devotion. So while we may bandy words like devotion rather loosely, faith is a different genre altogether when it comes to true commitment. It requires and asks of complete trust. There can be no ifs or buts. It's s synonym for 'surrender'. And when this is practiced to its true essence, that is when real devotion gets churned up. That's when real devotion is born. And that's when Amma will smile, pleased that we, Her children, have finally connected with the Higher realm.

Om Amriteswariye namah!

I asked Amma...!

117. Om bhakta saubhagya dayinyai namah: I bow down to Amma who confers prosperity on Her devotees

This is quintessential Amma. The personification of goodness, kindness and generosity. Who will give up everything only so we, Her children, are happy always!

I once asked Amma for something. I was pregnant and all I wanted, was a happy child. A child free of any mental or physical problems. A child who would grow up in Amma's shadow.
She has given me the sweetest daughter I could ever have hoped for.

I once asked Amma for the ability to create. I had felt a deep desire to write and to be able to express myself. I just wanted the pain in my heart to find an apt expression.
I began to write.

I once asked Amma for the answer to a question that had been plaguing me for so long. I sat in front of the altar and crumbled.
She answered me that very evening

I once asked Amma to to help me on the path I had chosen. It was a tough path but I needed to walk on it.
She has held my hand ever since.

Amma is my mentor, guide, spiritual healer, Mother, friend, confidante. She is the one who is also my guiding angel, who will always look out for me. I can only ask Her for mental happiness. She's the one I turn to for material prosperity. And Amma has always been kind. I can't do much without saying several thanks to Her everyday. Because when I look back on my life, yes, I see several problems that have happened but I also see a rainbow of grace and blessings that have come my way. She has showered me with prosperity. And to that, I cannot be blind. Amma only gives and gives. The least we can do, is say thanks. To fold our palms in gratitude and surrender everything to Her.

Om Amriteswariye namah!

The word: Amma!

116. Om bhadra murtaye namah: I bow down to Amma who is the embodiment of auspiciousness or benevolence.

She is everything benevolent. Nothing should start without Her blessings and nothing should move without Her glance. The world that moves at the gentle rhythm set by Her, is happier for it. For Amma is a benevolent soul whose only religion is kindness. Her kindness is so well documented. It is documented as part of each of our lives. It is documented in the happiness we feel when we are hugged by Her. It is documented in the love She feels towards all of humanity. It is documented in the fact that a devotee can rise above a failure to shine forth. It is documented in the life of Her child who left the sunny shores of a country at age 46, to arrive at a country that has embraced her so beautifully. It is documented in the heartbeat of the thousands who await their turn at a hug from Her. It is documented in the smiling faces of the hundreds who line the airports waiting eagerly for Her. It is documented in the lingering gesture of an old woman as she allows her hand to lay frail and fragile, in Amma's hands. Or in the look of sheer gratitude and hope on the face of a wheelchair bound man as he receives Amma's consoling pat. In the tears that flow silently and effortlessly as we leave Amma's all embracing hug. If all this isn't kindness and benevolence, nothing is.

She is also everything auspicious. Wouldn't She be? Auspicious is the start. The beginning. Like Om. The word that holds inside it the beginning of the world. And that is Amma. She is from where everything has started. The Om of everything spiritual. 'In the beginning there was the word.'

Yes. And the word, is Amma.

Om Amriteswariye namah!

Because for us, Amma is Auspicious!

115. Om bhadra priyayai namah: I bow down to Amma who is fond of all auspicious things, who gives all auspicious things

She has dedicated Her life to making ours smoother. She has dedicated Her every moment to ensuring that we live ours fear-free and in the bliss of the moment. For Her, life isn't about the past or dwelling in the future; it's about the NOW. At this moment in time, as I'm writing this, my concentration should purely be on these words. On Amma. On finding Amma in these words. Because that's how Amma wants us to live. When we dwell in the past, everything becomes a burden. We're shouldering so many regrets, so much nostalgia that we become totally unaware of our breath or the world around us. And when we are unaware, we forget to give thanks. How wonderful it would be if I could live my life giving thanks for the air that I am able to breathe in right now. For the water I am able to drink and nourish my body. For the snow that Bindu is experiencing in New Jersey and enjoying. For the fact that my faculties are intact and I am able to think. Not everyone in the world can give gratitude for these things. And I realize that these are auspicious enough things. When we make the moment important and give thanks, every moment becomes auspicious; every moment becomes a prayer of gratitude said to the universe. Once our thanks has been released to the universe, I don't care whether the universe reverts with tenfold of the same thing. I just care that Amma has been thanked for her tireless effort at keeping us happy.

I know that even on a flight, passengers approach Amma for blessings. Or to talk to Her about their problems. And She listens. We get on flights hoping to chill and relax for the entire duration. We ask the stewards for a DND. There is no DND when it comes to Amma. She wouldn't even put one because Her life isn't about being "not disturbed". Her life is about everything in the present, in the now, everything auspicious. And for me, auspicious is just another word for Amma. Where Amma is, it is auspicious. When Amma is there, that moment is auspicious. The rose petal She threw, is auspicious. The words She uttered are auspicious. Spiritually auspicious, is Amma.

Om Amriteswariye namah!

By Her feet...

114. Om bhavaranya kutharikayai namah: I bow down to Amma who is like an axe to clear the jungle of samsara

Can we trust our lives in anyone else's hands? I wouldn't put my faith in anyone but Amma when it comes to knowing where to take the next step in life. While I can only see till the bend on the road, Amma can see the entire path. While I can only see the tree, She can see the entire forest. And so, in Her I trust. She knows what is good for us and what will wash away our sins and our earlier life debts we have arrived here with. The baggage from our past life can only be cleansed at Her feet. How many times horoscope readings have been made null and void because we have had Amma's hand upon our heads! We do make our own future but I think when Amma's shadow falls on us, it helps carve out a better future. Because this time, our angel is guiding us.

She guides us carefully through this journey, through the jungle of samsara. In a life defined by materialism and underlined by acquisitions and greed, it is perfect to have a guru who teaches that everything is really just an illusion. The ultimate and innate truth is devoid of every material possession: it is the desire to achieve such high spirituality that we may even break the cycle of birth, death, rebirth. We may get out of this ferocious cycle wherein we return yet as seekers. Amma's cleansing ability is brilliant in that She removes every stain of the past, from us. Towards this, we also have to be willing to give up many of the things that seem such necessities now. Trivial in the larger picture but necessary for instant gratification. Worshipping Amma has nothing instant about it. Neither are the prayers instant, nor even the line to get Her darshan. I find it annoying when people ask: "can we get Amma's darshan as soon as we come there?" Like Amma isn't a Goddess but an instant noodle or a vending machine! But then I realize it isn't their thought - we, as a civilization, are used to instant gratification. Which herds us even deeper into samsara, or worldliness. If samsara were an actual jungle, it would have carnivorous plants and deep rooted vines choking everything in it. That's the life we are leading now. And for us, the ONLY hope is Amma. Who else can we trust but a Mother who would give up Her sleep and Her comforts only so Her children are happy. Who would ensure that we cross the jungle or the crocodile infested river of samsara carefully.

Who else but Amma!

Om Amriteswariye namah!

Amma in our lives!

113. Om bhavanagamyayai namah: I bow down to Amma who is unattainable through imagination or thought

Isn't it wonderful that Amma is unattainable through only imagination and thought? To attain Amma, we need to also pray from our hearts. She cannot merely stay a speck in our imagination horizon; She has to be invoked through heartfelt prayers too.

The internet is replete with stories on the many miracles Amma has performed for devotees. How incredibly lucky are we that we are born under the umbrella of Amma who is always looking out for us! Who isn't a Goddess of our imagination or thought or a touched up painted picture of an artists imagination but is a real, live Goddess! She's descended from heaven only so we can lead a life towards spiritual freedom. So we can wake every morning restful in the knowledge that the new day brings with it even more blessings from Amma; even more grace and love from Her never ending river of love. Would a Goddess of our imagination do so for us? As my soul sister Bindu wrote many weeks ago, Amma isn't a Goddess who merely stays at the altar. She steps out and takes our world into Her stride. And we are so much more blessed for that! I find it incredible that what I seek in a temple, I find at Amma's feet so easily. That when in moments of utter helplessness - like when I miss my dearest friend who has now moved 12 hours away from me - I can immediately walk into my storehouse of memories and pick up one where Amma has strongly touched my life. And the helplessness gives way to gratitude. And then all's right with the world.

Amma is a doer. She believes in doing good, all the time. And thus we, Her children, learn from Her example. We are naturally inclined to doing good for humanity. Oh the invaluable life lessons Amma teaches us!! Never in a million years could a religious book inspire us to do as much good as Amma with one action can! We are so, so blessed to be part of this large, ever growing Amma family. And it is when I say thanks for the goodness and humility Amma has given each of us, that I thank the universe for not making Amma attainable only through imagination and thought. A day with Her is what keeps us fueled for the rest of the year. Our calendars work on the time when we meet Amma, and the period thereafter. Not on calendar months but on the number of times we have seen Amma that year. How blessed are we!!

May we revel in this blessing always. And may we always realize that we have the best gift the universe could have ever given us: Amma!

Om Amriteswariye namah!

A Mother who knows!

112. Om bhavanyai namah: I bow down to Amma who is the wife of Shiva

I love the union of Shiva and Amma. She is His shakti, His parvati, His powerful half. Just as in life, so also in marriage, every successful path needs the power of 2. Which is why Amma created the concept of parents: a father and a mother. The masculine and the feminine. And She gave each distinctive characteristics. Each of us has a masculine and feminine within us. It is the way the world is meant to be. Yin and Yang. A balance in itself means between 2 objects. Amma is the perfect Shakti to Shiva's powers. As he destroys, She creates. They live in perfect harmony, thus reflecting the perfect alignment of the universe.

When Amma hugs a family, She will always ensure that the man and woman are together. She will always hug them together. That is Amma ensuring that the couple stay equal. Shiva and Shakti. Just the way every couple should be. I totally love Amma for Her forward thinking. She ensures that a woman doesn't feel inferior to her man. Instead, Amma places them on the same footing. To me, Amma is woman power. She teaches us never to see ourselves as inferior. She helps us see ourselves as true representations of Shakti, the divine power.

When the world will align itself in a realm where there will be no gender bias, where a woman is given the respect due to her, where a woman can walk on an equal footing with a man, only then will the universe bow to our wishes. Because the truth of the universe is that the destroyer and creator are seen as equals. If one can take away or transform, the other can create. A balance at the very root of it all. And this is what is in actuality meant to be the order of the universe. I pray that Amma gives us all the grace to realise this greater truth. For in this truth lies our happiness.

Om Amriteswariye namah!

Fine and Delicate...like a flower!

111. Om bisa tantu taniyasyai namah: I bow down to Amma who is fine and delicate as the fiber of the lotus

Fine and delicate. Like the fiber of the lotus. Strangely, even ego is very fine - too fine - and delicate. It breaks at the pull of an insult. Or the swipe of a challenge. But Amma has no ego in Her. There isn't a trace of the "I" in Her. For Her, it's all about us. And in such a heart, there can be no place for the ego. And so, She is fine and delicate as the fiber of the lotus.

Sometimes I wish I had Amma's strength for an egoless existence. I say sometimes because it is virtually impossible for us to live with no ego. You have to be in the realm of saints like Amma to live like that. When there is ego, the hurt follows quite easily. There is a lot of anger, pain, jealousy and misery wherever ego thrives. One word spoken out of the boundaries our ego has cunningly drawn for us, and we dive straight into the pool of anger or the lake of pain. Or even the ocean of hatred. That's all it takes. Amma has removed these boundaries and ensured that She sees Herself in all of us. When there is no 'I' and 'You', how can there be any boundaries?! Since every ego defined line has been wiped clean by Amma, She blends seamlessly into our spirit. Which is why we love Her so much. She is Us. And because She totally lives in the moment, Amma doesn't dwell in the past or the future. Her 'now' is the only truth. These are the amazing spiritual qualities that make Her so incredible. She is fine and delicate and She is also a powerhouse. She yields a strength I have never seen nor will ever see in anyone. The mental strength She has that allows Her to sit for an entire day giving darshan to lost souls like us, is nothing but sheer divinity. A power She has reached out and plucked from the spiritual cloak of the universe.

Give me the strength to cast aside my ego, Amma. So I can also be fine and delicate like nature. So I can enjoy the present and not mull over the past or worry about the future. So I can put aside each strand of ego to allow anger, jealousy and hatred to exit my mental room very quickly. Please give me the grace to let this happen.

Om Amriteswariye namah!

My ever protective Mother!

110. Om kundalinyai namah: I bow down to Amma who has the form of a coil

Once again, I explore Amma's presence as a major feminine shakti. Her power isn't in any way dormant. It lies in a coil at the base of Her spine. To me, Amma's chakra sends out waves of feminine power. Sheer Shakti that has the power to change the world and heal it. Even Her embrace is laced with this powerful Shakti. Otherwise how else can just a hug influence so many hearts? An embrace that can create a change in a life; that can have us feeling the deep tremors of spirituality influencing our lives: all that can only come from a Mother whose femininity is aroused and whose third eye has the divine vision.

Many years ago, I was traveling in a taxi that was speeding down the Mahabalipuram stretch. I was on my way back form Pondicherry to Chennai, after a taxing shoot schedule. It was around 8:30 in the evening and night had already descended. I was watching all the farm houses and the empty land areas around us. And the ghostly outlines of the tall casuarina trees. There was no one else in the car except the driver and the production manager, both of whom were sitting in the front. I suddenly felt a presence. I turned and felt Amma's presence very strongly! I dare say I even saw Her sitting by my side. All this happened in a matter of seconds. I remember thinking: "Wow! Amma! Amma's sitting in the car with me!". And then I heard the skidding of tires. We had missed another vehicle by inches. There was panic in the front seat but I felt a deep sense of calm. Amma was there with me. She'd come only to ensure that an accident was averted. She'd come to protect me at all costs.

Amma will never, ever let us down. As a parent, would we ever let down our child? As a child, have our parents ever let us down? Amma is the supreme Mother whose feminine power is the highest it can ever be. She loves us too much and will protect us come what may. Which of us hasn't been touched by this angel?? With that faith, let the night transcend into a beautiful dawn.

Om Amriteswariye namah!

Amma power!

109. Om maha saktyai namah: I bow down to Amma who is greatly attached to the festive union of Shiva and Shakti

I enjoy the whole concept of Shiva and Shakti. Yin and Yang. 2 sides of the same coin. The masculine and the feminine. In a day and age where the divide between the two has become too large and unhealthy, the beautiful concept of the 2 merging, is wonderful and apt. Only when Shiva and Shakti work in unison can the world be aligned in a miraculous zone. A zone where there are no crimes perpetrated against women and where a woman is given the respect due to her.

This is the one amazing thing about Amma. She wields power. She receives respect. She is humility Herself. She is a meeting point of contrasts. And as a woman, She wears each of Her labels very well. As a mother, She envelops us in Her unending reservoir of love ever so affectionately. As a Guru, She guides us on the spiritual path of perfection. As a Goddess, She teaches us to ease out the ego whilst caring for our every step. In Amma, I see the true power of a woman. A woman has been granted the power to create which overrides every other power. And Amma to me, is the ultimate creator. She creates happiness, She creates positivity, She creates all the goodness one sees in the world. She is compassionate to an extent and beyond that only women display. When I see Amma, I feel empowered. This is true Shakti. Unadulterated, undiluted, in all it's resplendence. Amma in Herself, is a perfect blend of Shiva and Shakti. Her masculinity and femininity are in perfect balance. Which actually represents what is ideally should be like in society. We however have yet a lot to learn!

I hope one day that the Shiva and Shakti aspects of the world work into a perfect balance. For when as in Amma's nature, this balance is achieved, the world will be as beautiful as Amma: with respect, compassion and love for each other. And then, the Gods will have no choice but to shower grace on us!

Om Amriteswariye namah!    

In utmost gratitude!

108. Om sat cakropari samsthitayai namah: I bow down to Amma who resides above the six chakras

Another day when I have thanked Amma for allowing Her to be in my life. Another day of supreme gratitude for allowing me to grow up having Amma as my supreme
Guru. She who resides above the six chakras. She who is beyond everything and above everything material.

I love the above picture. Look at the multitudes of people who have come to get relief from their worldly lives. Where else is it possible that  thousands can congregate in one place and share their joys and sorrows with one person? Where thousands can sit together and feel a sense of oneness, a sense of shared glee with each other? Only at Amma's feet! And can so many thousands be wrong? I had the misfortune of reading a blog that expounded ideas against Amma and all I could feel was sympathy for the person. Amma has helped me evolve in this respect. earlier I used to feel anger towards the naysayers. Now, I just feel sympathy. How unfortunate for them that they aren't able to recognize divinity when they see it? But I love this photograph. So many thousands reaching out to our darling mother! So many paying obeisance to the high priestess of spirituality; to the Goddess and Empress of the Universe. A little lady from a fishing village. She doesn't have an education to write home about but has the wisdom of the universe. She is unschooled but can tutor us about the spirituality written about in our religious books. And this little lady has captured our imagination. She has caught us in the web of Her love and we sit there, willingly, because we know what we are gaining.

Every second spent in Her thoughts enriches us. She is the absolute divinity of the world. She is the wonder of nature; the coolness of a waterfall, the richness of the earth and the melody in a bird's song. I love Her in many ways. I love Her as a mother, as a friend, as a compatriot, as a guru, as a Goddess. The avatar I enjoy the most is of Her as a mother. Loving, kind, careful, mindful, selfless. Just the way a mother should be.

We are so blessed to be part of Her world. We are blessed She chose us to be part of Her universe. I enjoy that thought. And as I lose myself in that thought, another thought comes gently by: How lucky are we that this Goddess who resides above the six chakras, chose to take birth in our times!

With that thought, I kneel in gratitude.

Om Amriteswariye namah!

My Amma, the divine beauty!

107. Om tadil lata sama rucyai namah: I bow down to Amma who is as beautiful as a flash of lightning

I walk alone and yet I am amongst the believers. For me, Amma's beauty is something that never fails to mesmerize. I have said this before: She is no classic beauty. There aren't the time ravaged definitions of beauty in Her. But for me, She is the most beautiful person on earth. She has the loveliest eyes, the most mesmerizing smile. The softest hands. Everything about Her is perfect. Her hair may not be patted down or gelled or blow dried but they are Hers. In a sea of humanity. She is easily the one everyone's moist, tear brimmed eyes are turned to. In a room packed to the gills with the believers, She is the most captivating. I have seen pictures of Amma with film stars and yet they aren't a patch on Her.

This is true beauty. A beauty that cannot lie quietly within. It just shines through with the most incredible aura and glow. It affects everything it touches. The ashramites call it star gazing and I love that. Sitting on stage, post darshan, gazing at Amma. She hugs with unconstrained love. She consoles with a compassion that comes from a deep, deep affection for us. She holds on like only a mother can. That calming, reassuring hug and yet a worry crease will line Her brow when a devotee unburdens something unfortunate to Her.

Her beauty isn't earthly. There's a divinity to Her beauty. It's a combination of all the grace, compassion and love that She stands for. It's a sum total of all the adoration we feel for Her. And such a beauty has to be like a flash of lightning that streaks across the sky lightening up the world; a flash of lightening that makes everyone gasp in awe and wonder. Such a beauty, is my Mother!

Om Amriteswariye namah! 

The sweetness of being...!

106. Om sudha sarabhi varsinyai namah: I bow down to Amma who pours out streams of ambrosia

Words hurt, as do actions. As we grow up, we become insensitized to others. We are quick on the repartee. We are very swift in passing judgements and saying mean words with the absolute intent to hurt. Hurting others gives us a kind of pleasure that is short lived but tinged with triumph.

So when life brings us at a juncture where Amma becomes our Guru, we realize what it is to hear the purest of the pure words. What it means to be embraced by a divine being whose divinity is so strong, it has the power to shatter our past karmas and rewrite our future. What it means to see the selflessness of Amma's only wish: "Everyone in the world should be able to sleep without fear, for at least one night. Everyone should be able to eat to his fill, at least for one day. There should be at least one day when hospitals see no one admitted due to violence. By doing selfless service for at least one day, everyone should help the poor and needy. It is Amma's prayer that at least this small dream be realized" She chooses not to have wealth or material things. Instead, She wants what is best for us.

Such a mother pours out streams of ambrosia- the food of the Gods. She swaddles us in this ambrosia because for Her, every moment is about Her children. Everything She does is for us. It does not affect Her that some days an entire sunset and sunrise has passed by as She continuously gave darshan to Her children. Because for Her, only we matter. When we stand in front of Her, Amma sees us no differently from anyone else. And yet She makes you feel so important, so wanted, so loved. Like we matter. And that's honestly all each of us wants, isn't it? We want to feel important wanted, loved. Amma makes us feel this, purely based on the power of Her love. And She does that somedays 20,000 times over!

You are, Amma, the pinnacle of spirituality. You are an ageless stream of love. You are the one who makes us believe that now, everything is perfect with the world.

Om Amriteswariye namah!

The chain of love!

105. Om sahasrarambujarudhayai namah: I bow down to Amma who ascends to the thousand petaled lotus

She rules the world with a single weapon: Love. And we, Her disciples, recognize that what we are a part off, isn't an ordinary person or a happening. It is a once in thousand years experience. An occurrence. When Godliness pervades the earth, cleansing everything within its radius. Amma's cleansing of Her children began from the moment She came soundlessly into this world. And ever since, Amma has been ascending to this beautiful thousand petaled lotus flower. As She walks towards this lotus, She stops and embraces each devotee with the good karma of being Her child. I discovered Amma's presence through my father, at the age of 18. But it is my biggest regret that I did not know of Amma from the time I was born. I find children devotees of Amma so lucky! From the moment they have stepped into this world and for some, perhaps even before that, they have known of Amma. Amma has lovingly held them as babies. They have grown up into wonderful human beings. Whatever path they  have gone on to choose for themselves, the one common thread that ties them with a million others, is their love for Amma. And that always keeps them on the right path. Much more than all the possible life skill books can or all of the world's life coaches or even the best of parenting skills! When Amma takes a child under Her wing, we know the child is blessed. We know the child will think twice before doing wrong because Amma's love isn't an easy bind to cast aside. It's what keeps us tethered to reality. To Her. To goodness.

On this occasion of Diwali, I hope that Amma's footsteps will illumine a lot more homes across the world; that Amma's teachings reach many more ears all over; that plentiful more people realize that the real wealth isn't in coins or notes but in the realization that reaching Amma is the equivalent of reaching our creator. Our true Mother. It's life's cue to us. To put down our burdens and finally take the path less trodden by. The path of spiritual practices. The path of unconditional faith. The path where you must learn to share the love that Amma engulfs you with. And that is a big responsibility She entrusts us with. How many of us share the prasadam Amma gives us? We take a banana from the altar and share it with friends and family. So also must we share the love She gives us. And then a chain is formed. A chain of love that will extend all the way to this thousand petaled lotus.

Om Amriteswariye namah!
   

A symphony of virtues!

104. Om rudra granthi vibhedinyai namah: I bow down to Amma who breaks through the knot of Shiva

I bow down to Amma who is the ultimate destroyer of vices. Of everything that can create possible harm in this world.

To me, Amma is Shiva. She is Shakti. She is the reason the sun shines for us everyday. She is the reason we wake up to a new dawn. Her grace, like Her love, overflows in abundance. In a time of kalyug, when even a child would not hesitate to kill a parent, Amma's unconditional acceptance and love of each individual holds the fragrance of divinity. We live in a world where nothing is trustworthy anymore. Love, trust, faith: these are empty words that have begun to mean nothing. More reason then that Amma's love shines out from a continent away because we will never find this love anywhere else. Not even in our near and dear ones.

On this day of diwali, I pray that we all find our true nature. I read a quote from a Brian Weiss book today and it, like many other wonderful things, reminded me of Amma: "We are to be humble, kind,  generous and compassionate. We are spiritual beings, and this is how spiritual beings feel and act. This is timeless wisdom-and this is how we can save the world". How appropriate!  Amma knows this timeless wisdom and has used it well. She is kindness personified. Her humility - well, can it ever be any other way?! She is generous with Her love, Her time and just all of Herself. Her compassion: one day the word will be redefined to include in its meaning, Amma Herself. She is the ink that pens virtues all day. She is the scent in the flower of goodness. She is the destroyer of the unwanted, the unnecessary. She is the one who transforms us into beings worthy of Her love.

Amma, for diwali, here is my wish. Make me an instrument of your love, your grace. Allow me to do the good I can, when I can and in as many ways as I can. All I ask of you is to stand by me, holding my hand and gently nudging me forward on the path of righteousness.

Om Amriteswariye namah!

Amma and the third eye!

103. Om ajna cakrantaralasthayai namah: I bow down to Amma who resides at the centre of the Ajna chakra

Ajna. The third eye. The eye of intuition and intellect. The bridge between the Guru and the disciple. It is exactly where Amma would reside. It's also where spiritual energy from the outside enters our body. And that makes me glad that Amma resides there. Because every flicker of energy that enters our body through the Ajna chakra is being filtered by Amma! She ensures that it is cleansed and that we are ready for the wonderful experiences ahead that She has in store for us.

As Amma resides there, it naturally follows that we need to keep ourselves so spiritually clean that we are open to powerful intuitions. That we are able to use this wonderful gateway that links Guru to disciple. It isn't just any path; it's a spiritually energized path that connects us. Like an umbilical chord. It's the same way mothers have strong intuitions when it comes to their child. This is so comforting because if we are in tune with Amma, She will always look out for us and protect us, come what may. What a beautiful relationship we share. We weren't physically born off Her, but can it ever be any other way? The only truth is that Amma is our mother. Not biologically but She has given birth to us through our our biological Mothers. She has ensured that we are safe and cared for. Once under Amma's umbrella, we are safe. It's the shelter we seek when the silver lining isn't visible. But ideally it should be the shelter from where we look at the sun too. The place we can sit in anytime, because our beloved Amma is there.

Please always keep us under the shelter of Your love, Amma. A love wherein You open our third eye so that we are more receptive to all the wonderful spiritual energy around us. So that we may grow and be blessed even more by You!

Om Amriteswariye namah!