No place for the wicked, with Amma!

193. Om dusta-durayai namah: I bow down to Amma who is distant from those who are wicked

This is the message I was looking for! Many a times I have grappled with people's actions and wondered whether such people can ever have the umbrella of divine grace over their heads. What is it that makes people spread so much wickedness around? Is it their karma or ours? Theirs in spreading it or ours in receiving it? Being the recipient of vileness can be painful and soul destroying. It makes one question beliefs and spirituality as a whole. Thus when I read this mantra, I know that people who do wicked things to others, are not anywhere close to Amma. They cannot feel Her grace. They are walking under their own self created negative storm filled sky. Anyone who can even have one evil thought that can destroy another's soul, cannot be anywhere near Amma. They may be physically in Her proximity but they can never, ever be spiritually close to Amma.

Amma's goodness is so pure and so beautiful, it is like the laugh of an innocent baby. There is no space for evil in it. Her love for us is from Her heart. She will always think only for our good. She will change our ways with the strength of Her love. But for those whose karma it is to stay wicked, Amma will never grace them with Her presence. She knows the pain such thoughts and actions can cause to the rest of the world. She has seen what sorrow can do to a soul. She has felt our pain as we have cried out at the injustice of it all. She has heard us sobbing into silent pillows, under the whip of another's wickedness. And She cares too much to ever let us be affected. After all, She is our beloved Mother!

Om Amriteswariye namah!

Amma: the giver of hapiness!

192. Om sukha-pradayai namah: I bow down to Amma who is the giver of happiness

Amma isn't just the destroyer of sorrow. She replaces it with ample amounts of happiness. It's like we're guests at a banquet that Amma is hosting. Maybe this is what life is really all about: We're guests and Amma is the host of this party called life! She ensures we have to our hearts fill. She also ensures we know the rules of the party. Like the perfect host, Amma gives us everything we need. She fills us with happiness. And if we walk the right spiritual path, there's a return gift too: no rebirth. Perfect Karma.

I read this story and was so moved. That this has happened in some part of our world. That someone has had the injustice of being poor and thus faced hurdles in treating his child. That someone was fortunate enough to feel Amma's grace. Sometimes I love browsing through the picture gallery at Amma's many websites. Each of them tells one story: Amma's grace blowing like the wind through the crowds making each child of Hers, a happy one. Any randomly picked picture will always show such happiness on everyone's face. Even someone who's crying, is crying out of a sense of relief, because they have finally arrived where they have been meaning to reach. A big lesson there too is that happiness needs to be shared. We need to spread it. Each time it's shared, it doubles till the world is enveloped by it.

Sometimes Amma puts us in situations where She asks of us for introspection. Look within, She whispers to us. For the answers are always all there. After all, Amma does reside in our hearts. And if we stay true to our faith and we quiten down and listen, from this incredible vantage point, She paints the most miraculous pictures for our lives. And sprinkles it with generous amounts of joy and happiness.

Om Amriteswariye namah!

Amma, my wonderful Mother!

191. Om duhkha-hantryai namah: I bow down to Amma who is the destroyer of sorrow

I had a beautiful dream. I was traveling on holiday with my family and suddenly I saw Amma, sitting on a chair. I was startled and I heard my daughter utter a surprised "AMMA!". And then the most beautiful thing happened. Amma said She was sitting there waiting for me. She knew I was upset about something and She asked me about it. We talked. And then the dream morphed into another. It was a wonderful sleep state. When I woke up, I realized Amma hadn't given me any concrete answer but in the dream that it had morphed into, She had given me a hint. She also made me realise that what I have been worrying about probably means I need to look at my life with a  tooth comb and come to some realization on my own. She's put me on the path of self discovery. Which is probably my spiritual route for 2014. Amma wants me to look within and see why I have felt the pain in the past. She wants me to come to my own conclusions. She is empowering me to overcome the sorrows and pain and find a solution from within.

Only a true Goddess and Guru can do this. She has so much love for us, Her children. She will only do what is needed for our growth! What I loved about my dream was that Amma was waiting for me. For me! Amma! It just made me feel so wonderful and wanted. Isn't that the essence of Amma's hug? She makes us feel so wanted. When the world's turned away, Amma will ALWAYS be there for us. She doesn't judge us. She doesn't rate us. She doesn't need to put likes on our status. She just loves us for what we essentially are. She believes that we are good people. And She works Her magic at destroying all the pain and sorrow in our lives. Even if it means that She needs to wait till I fall asleep and meet me  quietly in my dreams!

Om Amriteswariye namah!

The slayer of evil!

190. Om durgayai namah: I bow down to Amma who is the Goddess Durga.

Amma is the vanquisher of everything evil in this world. Amma is also the very concept of removing evil from this world. She has so much goodness in Her, that vices have no place when Amma is there. She is the beautiful Goddess Durga. Mahishasura Mardini. The protector of Her devotees who with Her many arms, protects us from all directions. She is the slayer of evil. Whether it is the demon durgama or Mahishasura. Amma will always protect us from the demons.

The demons are rarely outside of us. The worst demons we encounter are all within us. Whether it is fear or anger or hatred, we feel it within us. Whatever the external factor, the vice starts within us. No one reaches in and plants it there. And the higher the vice, the less our faith in Amma. Amma graces us by actually helping destroy these demons that reside in us. That we surreptitiously give birth to. That we unknowingly nurture. And She doesn't do it with weapons. Just pure love. Something we cannot ignore. Something more powerful than a million weapons. This is the reason we feel so much at peace when in Amma's company or, at a more realized level, when we dwell on Amma. She removes all these demons and helps us find peace. We are finally rid of the devil in our life. And Amma totally erases them for us. How blessed we are! I wonder if we have actually fully understood the extent of divinity we are being graced with. This is no ordinary occurrence. The Goddess Herself - the very creator and preserver of this world - is there to hold us, listen to us and to give us a hug. She cares for us and will do everything to make us happy.

Now if only we could hold the faith!

Om Amriteswariye namah!

Oh to finally reach Amma!

189. Om durgamayai namah: I bow down to Amma who is approachable only with extreme effort.

"Placing me by Her feet that grant liberation She blessed me with Her presence."
Every second of our life is blessed because Amma is gracing it with Her wonderful presence. We are able to stand in a line and be near Amma. She even hugs us, wiping away our tears and taking away our sorrows. But have we really 'reached' Her? Is it ever possible to truly reach Amma? For that, the spiritual path requires us to be totally ego free. Just as we brush our teeth for fresh breath, sl also to reach Amma we need to cleanse our thoughts and hearts. Remove the 'I' that seems to be under the misconception that it is doing everything. We can't move a muscle without Amma's blessing.  And only then in this cleansed state can we truly approach Amma.  She is the Empress of the world. The one whose blessings lighten up our hearts. The one eho weaves turmoil in our lives only so She can remove the dirt of accumulated vices and ego.  The day we know that we truly know NOTHING, that moment Amma will grace us with EVERYTHING. More importantly,  we will be able to eventually reach Amma. And even death will be but the final stop before unconditional surrender at Amma's holy feet!

Om Amriteswariye namah!

On the road to winning Amma!

188. Om durlabhayai namah: I bow down to Amma who is won only with much difficulty

You truly are not easily attained. One has to do much tapasya to achieve Amma. We can each of us recognize this feeling. How many times have we cried out for Her? Amma naturally reaches out to children because in their innocence, love flows more freely and they can reach Amma much easier. As adults, we are wrapped in ego. We find it difficult to shed this ego and reach Amma. And so, our tears are larger and laced with more pain. We have more lessons to learn before we reach Amma. As adults, to win Amma, we have to undergone the painful surgery of removing ego from our minds and vices from our hearts. We need to cleanse ourselves and be as pure as possible. It's a constant tapasya. And then somewhere in that journey, a sort of spiritual catharsis takes place. Once Amma sees us bereft of negativities, She will be there with us. Each time we cry for Amma, our cleansing is occurring. Through the flow of these tears will be shed every drop of hatred, jealousy and anger. Then will our hearts be purified enough to receive Amma.

Besides, we never value that which we get too easily anyway. And Amma is priceless.

Om Amriteswariye namah! 

The zenith of creation!

187. Om nir-atyayayai namah: I bow down to Amma who cannot be transgressed.

"The word atyaya has the following meanings: transgression, destruction, decay and punishment. Devi is without these. Even Brahma, Visnu and Shiva do not go beyond Devi. Just as She cannot be transgressed, She Herself does not transgress. Although She has created this entire universe, She does not transgress the rules and the rulers She has provided for the protection of the cosmos. In Nature's storehouse, even Isvara will show great restraint. This mantra is also interpreted as, 'She who removes the danger faced by devotees from time to time'. " (From: The Thousand Names of the Divine Mother by T. V. Narayana Menon)

What a beautiful commentary about this mantra. Amma can never ever have any negative word associated with Her. She is the embodiment of creation. Creation in itself is such a wellspring of hope. Something new. Fresh. Rejuvenated. Like after a wonderful prayer that washes away all negative thoughts. Isn't that the exact feeling we experience after we are bathed in Amma's love? One hug from Amma is enough to drape us in a newness that is full of hope and promise. "Never mind how the days that went by were. From now on, it can only get better. Because I now have Amma's blessings." Amma is the very pinnacle of creation. The very zenith of the universe. From where everything emanates. Including love. How fortunate we are! We are able to hug creation Herself. Not a messenger but the Goddess Herself. Just thinking of the fact that Amma has accepted us as Her children is enough to bask in the soft glow of gratitude. And it really goes even beyond gratitude. She's made it a way of life for us. It's like the soft breath we take. And She, our wonderful, gorgeous Amma, is in it. Ma. Om. Gratitude in. Ego out.

Om Amriteswariye namah!   

Imperishable Love!

186. Om nir-apayayai namah: I bow down to Amma who is imperishable

Amma isn't just a being. She is an ethereal being who laces every step of ours with goodness. Who has held our fingers and slowly taught us the alphabets of virtue. Who has taken us by our elbows and taught us how to cross the road of samsara. Who has paddled the boat of spirituality for us. Amma is the all enveloping goodness of the world. She is the positive stroke with which we haul ourselves up to (f)ace another day. Amma is everything. The wind, rain, sunshine. She is the very breath we are graced to breathe. She is the kindness in our parents hearts. She is the kinship we feel for our friends. She is the love we experience for our loved ones. Amma goes beyond a form. She is a concept. The very concept of goodness in the world around us. However dark our times, Amma is the one light; the beacon of hope, that will eventually show us the light to reach our destination. She is the wind beneath all our wings. She is the lulling fragrance in the air that tells me all is well. She is the gurgle of a baby. The instinct that everything will be alright. The faith that will extend a lifeline. She is everything beautiful and perfect in this world.

Amma is impersihable. She will always live on as a growing goodness in our world. Let's not forget to thank the universe for this wonderful unique gift: the gift of knowing and being under the care of this very essence of life known as Amma!

Om Amriteswariye namah!  

The most beautiful person EVER!

185. Om nila-cikurayai namah: I bow down to Amma who has shining black hair

"Light the lamp of love within you and move forward. When we take each step with good thoughts and a smiling face, all the goodness will come to us and fill our being. Then God cannot possibly stay away from us. He will embrace us." 

"What distinguishes a true teacher from an impostor? In the Presence of an Enlightened Being, one feels a tangible aura of love and tranquility. We can observe the equal treatment that all receive regardless of status or fortune, religion or race, from one immersed in Divinity. Each word and action of a true Master serves to awaken people spiritually. No trace of ego or selfishness exists in a Mahatma, who, with open arms, receives and serves all."

“May Amma’s children become messengers of love and peace. Amma prays that all of her children’s lives are filled with peace and happiness. May grace bless one and all. Let us chant “Om Lokah Samastah Sukhino Bhavantu” — May all the beings in all the worlds be happy — together. It is difficult to remove darkness, but in the presence of light, darkness spontaneously disappears. Likewise, may the lamps of love and compassion burn bright in the hearts of all of Amma’s children. May the Paramatman (Supreme) grace us with strength.”

Beautiful words of Amma's. Everything for Amma, is in order to make us the charioteers of peace and love. Through these, we will achieve so many wonderful things in the world. Through these, we will generate so much love all around. Isn't Amma just wonderful? Somedays, words aren't enough to do justice to Her awesomeness. Bindu shared this brilliant video. Here it is for anyone who needs a lesson in faith. And a glimpse of the most beautiful person ever: Amma!

Om Amriteswariye namah!

With no parallels!

184. Om nis-tulayai namah: I bow down to Amma who is incomparable, unequalled.

This isn't a poem. It's a listing of everything connected to Amma:
She stands as the very embodiment of love.
To us She is our mother. A Mother to millions.
Not even a tear of ours goes by unnoticed. Amma is everywhere. With each of us.
She is our friend, philosopher, Guru, Mother, God.
Her aim lies in enveloping us with grace so that we walk on the right path.
Her dream is to see a world without fear and strife.
Her every cell works at making the world a more loving place for each of us.
She works tirelessly just so we may have a better life.
There is not a moment when Amma isn't reaching out to spread love and compassion.
Her every action is a direct result of Her overwhelming love for us.
Who cares so much for us in the world? Who will put their own needs totally aside for us sinners?
Amma.
For Her, even time stands still. She can be giving us the most beautiful hug while discussing an administrative matter with a Swamiji. And She will do both with the maximum amount of concentration.
She has been acknowledged by beings - humans and animals, alike.
We feel Her immense divinity. Which is why we cry in Her presence. Such purity needs nothing but to be washed by the tears of our repentance.
Amma makes each of us want to be a better person. During Her visit, we are on our best behavior being wonderful to each other. And that's all Amma wants from us even for the rest of the year.
A Mother who works night and day only so Her children can be happier and better human beings....She truly is unparalleled. Unequalled.

Om Amriteswariye namah!

To the clearing of no attachments!

183. Om nis-parigrahayai namah: I bow down to Amma who does not acquire or accept anything

I love this picture. It totally captures the essence of Amma. She is praying to the universe for Her children always. Lokah Samastah Sukhino Bhavantu. May all beings in the world be happy!

This amazing Mother of ours does not want anything. She barely even attends to Her daily needs in terms of food or rest (we need not even mention sleep here!). Even on a flight between programs, Amma has devotees queueing up to get Her darshan. Even at airports, Amma is surrounded by devotees. Amma will even then distribute sweets to all those thronging around Her. What is this amazing mother all about?? She only gives, gives, gives. Of Herself. As much as She can. It's the only mantra of Her life. To make us happy. To give us everything we ever ask Her for. She is so true to us. I wonder how many of us are true to Her. I most certainly am not. If I were, would I ever so often forget Amma and allow fear or anger to take a hold of my life? When the very essence of Amma's teaching is love, why would I make place of even one negative moment in my life. Hiding behind the "I'm only human" apology is nonsense because Amma believes in us. She knows we are capable of walking the path and cleansing ourselves. She is leading the way. She who never takes anything from us only really wants us to cross that karmic bridge and safely reach the other side. But we stay selfish. Because it's easier to wallow in our vices.

Amma, You do not need to acquire or accept anything because You are the embodiment of every virtue. It is a difficult journey for us, Amma. Please grant us the much needed grace to walk this jungle and get to the clearing of no attachments!

Om Amriteswariye namah! 

Everything for the best!

182. Om nis-kriyayai namah: I bow down to Amma who remains without action

Today I had an incredible moment with Amma. I was doing my chanting at the ashram. A friend was distributing the prashad. I looked up once briefly and really wanted the banana so I could take it home for my family. But I also knew that by the time I finished with the chanting, the fruit would have been distributed. The lady giving it out seemed like she didn't wish to disturb my prayer. I took a moment. I prayed to Amma for one banana. And then as I had put out my prayer to Her, I left it in the TRUST zone. And I went back to praying to Amma. Not long after I looked up briefly to see my friend approach me with the banana. I was praying and yet she was bringing it to me. It was almost magical. I had trusted and wanted. And Amma gave it to me. She made sure I received.

I wept softly. For every time Amma blesses me in some way or the other, I feel a sense of being overwhelmed. Amma, the Goddess of the universe is looking out for me!!! It makes me happy, it makes me safe. It also makes me feel responsible. We can't just throw away our lives. Amma is ALWAYS looking out for us. She will only do what is good for us and for our emotional and spiritual growth. We are protected. We are safe. Most importantly, we are loved. By Amma. And in that knowledge, let us all only do good for everyone.

Om Amriteswariye namah! 

Amma, the Eternal!

181. Om mrtyu-mathanyai namah: I bow down to Amma who destroys death

All fear stems from the fear of death. We live entire lives cloaked in this fear of death. It's an ill fitting garb that tightens itself around us, making it difficult to breathe. And ironically, eventually, live! To many of us, most prayers are said to earn more money and to avoid death. We can't avoid death but we hope to delay it inordinately. Like if we should appease the Gods, Death will be kept at bay.

But Amma handles this so beautifully. She is eternal. The love and compassion She has woven around the world is so timeless in nature. Even hundreds of years from now, people will always talk about Amma and Her incredible healing hug. And Amritapuri, even more than now, will be the resting place for the tired and the weary who will go there looking for succor. Death is perhaps just a passage from a physical body to an eternal one. And Amma is already in the eternal realm. So She has totally destroyed death.

While saying my prayers today, I felt like Amma was everywhere. I felt Her presence everywhere I looked. And it was beautiful. And hugely reassuring. That's when I calculated my life and realized that Amma is a 100% of my life. Everything else, is merely an offshoot. But I'm still looking for answers. Searching for Her in everything I see. Where truly is She? But then I realise that Amma is within me. And yet She is without. She is omnipresent and eternal. In that knowledge, I feel the bliss.

Om Amriteswariye namah! 

My gorgeous Mother!

180. Om nir-nasayai namah: I bow down to Amma who is imperishable.

Amma will always live on (and thank heavens for that. For us. For generations after us). Just as there will always be oxygen around us, so also Amma will always be an integral part of nature. The goodness She has created in the world will always remain like a beautiful lingering fragrance forever. The Love She is generating everyday with Her embrace will live for as long as the hills. Amma's legacy, which is Her unending compassion, has a life of its own.

Amma is imperishable. She is beyond time, space, beliefs and any such limitations. She is everywhere. She does not succumb to time. She is no slave of space. How can it be that a sincere prayer can reach Her from India and She answers from America? We don't need an email to reach Her. A heartfelt prayer is enough. Amma reaches out to us from any part of the world. During my prayers today I thought of my soul sister in NY and cried out to Amma. Within minutes of finishing my prayer, Bindu called. Just like that at an unexpected time. Amma knew I needed that call. We fear because the situation is not under our control. The next moment isn't a surety, then how possibly can a situation? The only surety in our lives, is Amma. When we surrender everything at Her feet, we know that the divine force has seen it and taken it from us. We know that we have been safely placed on the spiritual road. We know that Amma, the greatest Mother in the universe, is always with us.

Om Amriteswariye namah!

Because She loves us!

179. Om bheda-nasinyai namah: I bow down to Amma who removes from Her devotees all sense of differences born of vasanas.

The beautiful thing about Amma is that She knows exactly what is needed for our growth. Think of all those times we went through so many problems. Like a vortex, we were sucked in. And we kept spiraling out of control. Or so we thought. For Amma was shielding us from the worst, like She always does. When we find shelter with Amma, She will ALWAYS protect us. It's just a matter of keeping the faith. I find that having come to Amma much later in my life, my faith is still quite shaky. When one is introduced to Amma from when one is a baby, faith becomes a way of life. Blessed are those who have grown up knowing of Amma. For them, Amma is a way of life!

LIfe is a mix of ego and vasanas. And both are prime ingredients for sadness and stress. All the sense of difference that arises in us because of our ego and vasanas, is obliterated by Amma. Such feelings have no place in our lives. But we bring them in from the outside and cloak ourselves with ill-fitting clothes. Which is why and when the discomfort starts. The feeling of ultimate bliss that we feel with Amma is purely because we allow ourselves to feel a deluge of love for Her: we don't feel any boundaries, no distinction. And Amma sees Herself in us. So there really is nothing demarcating Her and us. We belong to Her. She belongs to us. And with that incredible thought, we are undertaking this beautiful spiritual journey. Even when we pray to Amma, the thought of love overpowers us. Most times I do not know what the mantra means but because we love Her as much as we do, it doesn't matter. The words are enveloped in our love and devotion. And the universe carries through our message.

Dear Darling Amma, please always grace our lives with Your presence. The peace and calm can only arise from that.

Om Amriteswariye namah!

One with the Divine!

178. Om nir-bhedayai namah: I bow down to Amma who is beyond all sense of difference

There is no difference between Shiva and Shakti. They really are just two sides of the same universe. One cannot exist without the other simply because they are one and the same. They are purely different facets of the same face.  This is such an interesting concept of non duality.  Essentially what it means is that we are no different from the other.  Each of us is connected to everyone else by the universal law of oneness. Of non duality. Amma doesn't see us as being any different from Her. For Amma, no one is different from Her. In our hearts She resides. And in Her heart we live. Which further means that we need to make ourselves worthy of being one with Amma. We need to cleanse our thoughts and actions. Amma is the very epitome of spiritual mastery and Her every word is a reflection of Her purity. Let us ensure that in this universal embrace of oneness with Amma, we are touched by Her everlasting grace.

Om Amriteswariye namah! 

Peace even in the eye of the storm!

177. Om nir-abadhayai namah: I bow down to Amma who is not disturbed by anything.

She truly isn't disturbed by anything. I have seen photos of Amma very upset when She embraced the victims of the 2004 tsunami. But She was purely mirroring what the universe was feeling. Amma's inner peace cannot be disturbed by anything. If I were to scratch the level deeper, I would say that the reason for this is because She sees Herself differently from no one. And when there is no difference between the 'you' and 'I', why would She be disturbed by anything? The giver and the taker are the same.

We are affected by the slights vibrations around us. We are quick to take offense at one wrong word. We dive into the pool of fear and anger very swiftly. Sometimes, too soon for everyone's comfort. But Amma keeps the calm within Her because She is at peace with the universe. She meets thousands of people a day who unburden every problem to Her. Even an iota of fatigue does not show on Amma's face, purely because She isn't disturbed by it. What we may consider fatigue, is purely Love towards Her children, for Her. Amma's equanimity at all times is a lesson in itself. We may pray all day and light every lamp in the world. But when faced with a difficult situation, it is so easy for us to get extremely disturbed by our circumstances. We are so quick to forget Amma's ever flowing grace in our lives. We fret, fume, doubt. About Amma. About the world. And still Amma continues, servant like, to work for us. Even as I write this, I feel a gnawing sense of shame. How often have I been guilty of this! When faced with a black hole, I buckle, I cry, I lament, I question, I doubt. And I sit in a corner, hugely disturbed and ask the world, "Why Me?" The world must be laughing behind my back wondering exactly when I will open my eyes and acknowledge the presence of the all powerful Amma in my life?! The only one in the universe who can correct all wrongs and with one sankalpa, make it all right!

Om Amriteswariye namah!

An embodiment of love!

176. Om nir-vikalpayai namah: I bow down to Amma who is free of false imaginings

Vikalpa is false imaginings. It's that period and place of the mind when it takes us on rides through the country. When it puts us on pedestals we aren't standing on. Or in situations where we haven't reached. It puts us in modes of stress we needn't really be in. The mind's an incredibly mean and fast vehicle. We go from 0 to 300 in less than a second. We go from happy to worried as quickly as the blink of an eye. We go from Singapore to New York before I can finish this sentence. The mind makes us imagine falsely. It is this false imagination that creates an entire parallel universe that has nothing to do with reality. Caught in this false world, we forget our connection to spirituality. We forget that goodness is our very nature.

Michael, my spiritual bro reminded me today that we have to stop the wanderings of the mind. We cannot be attached to what the mind tells us or where it takes us. The mind is here on it's own journey. But to me, the mind is the litmus test. It's testing to see how pliable we are. Will we buckle and fly away from our chanting? Will we succumb and think of a million other things as we pray?

Amma is free of false imaginings. Her mind is always trained on the here and now. When we are with Her, Amma doesn't think of anything else. She has mastered Her mind. It works for Her. She tells it where it should go. She commands it to do Her bidding, for the good of humanity. And that is the one big lesson we need to take from Amma's life. There is no fear, ego, anger or jealousy. She has decided to only feel love for everyone. Isn't that just beautiful?? Tonight when we say our prayers, let's not forget to thank Amma for being what She is. A beautiful embodiment of love.

Om Amriteswariye namah!

This blessed life!

175. Om bhava-nasinyai namah: I bow down to Amma who destroys the sorrow of samsara (the cycle of birth and death)

This cycle of birth, death, birth, death...it is what causes a lot of suffering in us. The bhavanasini river cleanses. Those who bathe in it are not reborn. This life has been given to us by Amma. We are in this world for a purpose. The larger purpose is of course to understand and love each other and progress humanity but each of us has a specific purpose too. Whatever that may be. And as our spiritual path cleanses, the purpose reveals itself. And it will always be for the good of people around us.

Once this purpose is done and when death claims us, we should not seek to be reborn. Let go of this life as best as we can because in another life, the search for the purpose will start all over again. And if it is this one birth, then let us make it the best life we lead. Love with as much purity as we can. Reach out to as many people as we can. Spread the net of compassion and speak the words of gratitude to the universe as often as we can. Amma lives each moment to the fullest. Each second of each minute is spent consoling, calming and spreading love. In making the lives of everyone around Her, so blessed! That's what we should look to create. A beautiful world wherever we go. Have the ability to only speak the nicest words. Have the grace to show only the nicest gestures and do only the most heartwarming actions. These aren't easy by any stretch. Doing good and being good needs one to keep that ego aside and allow our real nature to blossom. And as we work on such principles, the universe will conspire to make this one life the best it is. It already is, isn't it? For it is here that we have met the most gorgeous mother of the world: Amma!

Om Amriteswariye namah!

Amma, eternal!

174. Om nir-bhavayai namah: I bow down to Amma who is without origin

Amma, Devi. She has no end. No origin. Nothing to tie Her down to a specific time line. Because Amma is the very embodiment of eternity. She is eternal in every sense. She always was, She is, and She always will be. She is the ultimate, fantastical truth about this world. And the good news is something spirituality itself teaches us. That we are one. There is no duality because in duality lies fear, anger, frustration. We are one. Our atmans are one and so, in Amma, we live. In us, Amma lives. Eternally, without origin. Forever.

There are times in our lives (quite often, actually) when we wonder about our mortality. We are aware of our physical mortality and thus from a fear of death arises many other fears and worries. We panic at anything that may even threaten to terminate our tenure here on Earth. We fear losing our loved ones. In all, we spend many moments wrapped in this massive fear. But if for a moment we just let go and realized this oneness, we would know that we are a soul that's been there since time began. We beat with the same rhythm. We pulse with the same divinity.

Amma trusts the universe and it's plan for Her. Amma is the universe. Thus also, we should trust Amma's plans for us. For who is without origin and who is eternity itself, will only paint our story on the grandest of canvases, with the brightest of colors!

Om Amriteswariye namah!

Heaven in Amma's arms!

173. Om samsaya-ghnyai namah: I bow down to Amma who kills all doubts

My most memorable train journey was at the age of 19 or so, when I accompanied my parents to see this "Guru lady". My father had spoken to me about Amma, a Guru who lived in Amritapuri. I was intrigued. During the journey, many thoughts plagued my mind. Who was She? Would She like me? Would I feel unburdened? Would She truly be all that my father had spoken about Her? Was She a Goddess...No, that wasn't possible! Living men and women weren't Gods! Gods were dead, divine beings hidden behind a sacred glass, encased in a poster. So who was Amma? Why was She called Amma? Did She have children?

And then I stood in that line consisting of about 100 people. Those days I thought it was a very, very long queue (I laugh now at this observation!). And then that life changing moment. I began to cry. Just like that. No warning, nothing. I just felt overwhelmed by it all. And once I met Amma, all doubts disappeared. Destroyed. Swept away as Amma's love engulfed me. And then the questions didn't matter. In fact, not one even came to mind! All I could think of was: I had reached home and She was my mother.

Many a time in this beautiful spiritual journey, I have worked with doubts. Sometimes I wonder if Amma can hear me. Is She even interested in listening to me? And then, I get a whiff of vibhuti. Or roses. Or even another sign. And I realise Amma always listens and She is with me because She never left in the first place. When we mar this beautiful relationship with Amma with doubts, it is unfortunate. Doubt is equivalent to questioning Amma. She is the most adorable person on earth. She is everything to us. She is life itself. And truly, in Her arms, there lies heaven. Undoubtedly.

Om Amriteswariye namah!

Without doubt, Amma is supreme!

172. Om nih-samsayayai namah: I bow down to Amma who is without doubts

She can mesmerize a crowd of thousands. Watch any video of Amma's bhajans and all we see is every devotee's attention riveted on Amma, gazing at Her with love. Some teary faces. Some happy. But each one as a collective whole reaching out with they heart like they've never, ever done before. A feeling of elation like never felt before, like a blanket draping each of Her children. Watch "Mata Rani" to get the real feel of how Amma has taken spirituality and made it such a happy feeling, allowing all of Her children to revel in it. Everyone's singing the song, swinging and dancing to it. There are bhangra steps, bollywood steps, their-own steps. But it all merges together so beautifully to become an offering of the purest kind to Amma, Devi.

Amma is without doubts. Either about Her intent or the intent of the world at large. We live our lives cloaked in doubt which leads to fears and worries. Amma has none. Her intent is pure. She's an unending source of love to all Her children. That's the summation of Her life. In the midst of giving Her hugs, She carries children, hugs infants, reaches out to those disabled, sings a song because Her children want it, laughs, cries, speaks to people about their problems. She doesn't eat or sleep. She just constantly gives of Herself. Such a divine level of energy can only happen when the intent is pure and there is absolutely no doubt even marring the horizon. Everything about Amma is virtuous. How else is it possible that a crowd of mixed races can work itself into a frenzy of pure love just gazing at this beautiful, gorgeous, incredible little woman from Kerala? As She walks majestically, hundreds of hands reach out to touch Her. Some hope to touch Her feet. Some get a fleeting feel of Amma's pristine white saree. But all everyone wants, is Her blessing. Because we all know that the world aligns itself with Amma. She is the empress of the universe. Even nature bows down to Her. She is the beginning, the middle and the end.

Om Amriteswariye namah! 

The route to selflessness!

171. Om lobha-nasinyai namah: I bow down to Amma who destroys greed in Her devotees

Perfection can never be achieved in a day. It's a long spiritual road. Even attempting to achieve perfection in our professional lives requires us to see the world around us in a different manner. And there are so many road blocks along the way that crop up. Most of them, self created of course. The rest, are karmic in nature. Basically each stems from vices we have stored in ourselves. Anger. Greed. A second mile marker.

Greed can manifest as avarice towards wealth & material things. Once again it is the quiet devil, ego, playing its villainous role in our lives. Greed makes us forget to look beyond ourselves. Greed wants everything for itself. The entire anthem of greed starts with "I, Me, Myself." And in this quest, we forget to see others or even feel their need. Greed can be dangerous. It's like the midas touch. Lethal. Consuming.

Amma knows the fatal power of greed and works at destroying it in us. Once we have Amma's grace in our lives, we never see the need to hoard or have a selfish desire for everything. If we can share time with other children while wanting Amma's affection, surely what is that new high definition tv? Even the Gurudakshina we give Amma isn't kept by Her to buy material possessions. Everything goes back into society to reach out to those who need it. Amma Herself tells us to only have what we essentially need. I heard a gentleman years ago talk about people's habit of buying clothes. He said that during natural disasters, when people do clean out their cupboards and donate clothes, he realized how at least 80% of the wardrobe was barely ever used. Each extra item we keep out of greed is eating into the worlds resources. Greed begets selfishness. Thankfully we have Amma in our lives who cleanses us of this greed. Who teaches us to look beyond ourselves and reach out to others. Who teaches us the essential lesson of being selfless in life. It's an important life lesson. One in which we learn that like love, even sharing is something that grows.

Om Amriteswariye namah!

My ever giving Amma!

170. Om nir-lobhayai namah: I bow down to Amma who is without greed

How else can Amma be? She takes nothing from us. Her long road in life, is replete with everything She gives of Herself to others. She gives us Her time, Her love, Her good karma, Her mothering, Her everything. She has kept aside every material comfort so that we, Her children, may remain happy. There are no relaxing days or days off. There is no medical leave taken. Even for Her own self, Amma shows no greed. The only thing She knows is to console and make happy everyone around Her. The whole concept seems so fantastical because we are nothing like this. We are attached to our worldly possessions and create a false sense of happiness by gathering material objects. Going from strength to strength essentially means from one house to a bigger house. One car to a swankier one.

Amma lives in a small room in Amritapui. Even while traveling, Amma's needs are basic and Her time anyway is consumed by attending to all Her children. If there is one person who knows not about excess and gives everything She can, it is Amma. Money sent to Amma by devotees and by the sale of items, goes into charitable activities around the world. For Amma, charity truly begins at home. I remember while doing line monitoring once, a gentleman asked me what the charges were for meeting Amma. I almost laughed out aloud! But then quickly realized that this is possibly how a lot of people perceived it all. Here She was, this amazing Goddess, sitting in one place and healing the world. Surely there must be a price to it?! In Tokyo, volunteers stood outside advertising "Free Hugs".

Funny isn't it that this extremely valuable hug, this life changing embrace is actually for free? Here is the one thing as precious as the air we breathe, that does not succumb to inflation. It's just there for us. For everyone. For the asking. Amma knows nothing of greed. If ever She were to pick up a strand, it would only be so Her children may have a better life. In fact for me, one of Amma's gestures sums up everything about Her. After a strenuous nightlong Devi bhava darshan, Amma doesn't just get back into the curtained stage to change. She stands there, showering flower petals on Her children. It's tiresome for sure but She's no mere mortal. She stands there for a long time, a smile playing on Her lips, showering it again and again and again. Giving. The one verb She knows very well.

She in fact is the very definition of the word.

Om Amriteswariye namah!

Towards a calmer life!

169. Om krodha-samanyai namah: I bow down to Amma who destroys anger in Her devotees

An anger that kills. An anger that maims those that inflict just as much as those upon whom it is inflicted. Anger is one of the worst emotions we straddle ourselves with. I read somewhere that scientists injected the blood of an angry person into a rodent. It died within ten minutes. That's how potent and deadly anger is. It goes against our true nature. And one of its biggest players, is ego. When our ego has been trampled upon, it sends anger to finish the job. If ego wasn't bad enough, this combination is a double devil. It slowly consumes us from the inside leaving absolutely no place for spirituality.

Amma is everything peaceful and perfect. We look to Her to help solve problems because She can break it all down and help us see exactly what we need to solve. We are tied down by so many negatives but Amma, with Her clear and pure heart, sees everything in its simplicity. Amma has no anger in Her. She is patient, calm, forgiving. She sees herself as our servant, willing to serve us at all times. Isn't that just so brilliant? When She sees Herself as a servant, She has already removed every layer of ego within Her. She is already bowing down, willing to help. There is no place for ego in Her heart. She has only one resident in Her heart space. Love. And with this river...flood of love, She has gone about cleansing the world. Anger has never been a solution to anything and will never be either.

Amma destroys the anger in us. Whether it means treading on our egos to kill it off completely, or lovingly showing us the way, Amma does it all. She will peel away layer by layer of our mammoth ego and anger, and balm us with Her love. She knows that anger is a double edged sword and will kill many. A harsh word. A nasty vengeful deed. A physical act of cowardice. These are all the dark rays of anger. And by destroying it, She saves not only us but everyone near and dear to us. Thank you for eliminating anger from our lives. Yes, we still falter. We still need directions. But with Your help, we will get there.

Om Amriteswariye namah!

Only with Love!

168. Om nis-krodhayai namah: I bow down to Amma who is without anger

It's one of Amma's teachings: anger is like a double edged swords. It hurts the person carrying it and the person it is used against.

Amma never loses Her equanimity. Thousands come to Her everyday with enormous problems - problems that would weigh us down and have us severely agitated. But Amma listens to each of us, feels the pain and solves it with Her love and resolve. She doesn't get flooded under the weight of all those negative emotions we unburden at Her feet. She in fact takes it from us willingly. And there is no anger ever at the long hours She has to sit to embrace us with Her love. There is no anger at the fact that She barely eats or drinks. Or that each of us, each one of us, demands Her time, Her attention, Her advice, Her hugs. We stand in front of Her and tell Her each and every detail and expect an answer, a solution. And Amma gives it, with no rancour. The only emotion She ever shows, is LOVE. She has stopped emotional deluges with that, She has stemmed hatred, jealousy, fear. She has created strength in people to heal themselves, or find a way. And Amma has only done it with LOVE. Anger has absolutely no place in Amma's life. Anger kills. Anger maims. And Amma has no place for these in Her heart or Her world.

This is yet again one of Amma's biggest teachings. When She leads without anger, who are we to carry it in our lives and our hearts? Why would we willingly destroy the soul? Isn't it better to reach every solution to this puzzle called life, with love, compassion and understanding? If we truly walked Amma's path, the world would suddenly cease to feel the strain. And we could all breathe easy. And Love. Like Amma would want us to.

Om Amriteswariye namah! 

Towards a sinless life!

167. Om papa-nasinyai namah: I bow down to Amma who destroys all the sins of Her devotees

We live our life wrapped in many sins. Anger, jealousy, ego, hatred. It doesn’t take much to speak a bad word. Or hurt someone intentionally. Or even hold on to anger and hate. All the while ego keeps doing it’s destructive dance in our lives. If someone has hurt us, our ego and our mind won’t let us forget it. It’ll prompt us to hate. And edge us towards anger. And cloak us lovingly in fear. What we fail to understand, or rather, are blind to, is the fact that anything that prevents us from keeping a clean heart free of even one negative blip, is a sin. Because our heart is the abode of Amma. Keeping even one negative thought in it is equivalent to sullying the seat of Amma. And that is a sin.

Amma destroys all the sins of Her devotees. She knows that these sins are what create bad karma in our lives. This is what leads to even more unhappiness in our lives. A vicious cycle sets in of every possible negativity. Whether it’s something as innocuous as doubt to larger blots like hatred, each thought takes us a step away from Amma. If we TRULY believe in Her, why would we ever seat anything else in our hearts except love for Amma? How truly beautiful that life will be wherein we surround ourselves only with love for Amma. Nothing that can smear the purity of our hearts. No other thought except the overwhelming one of Amma.

You are the only rope that tethers us to sanity in a world of insane crossroads. You are the rope that tethers us to our true nature. You are the rope that allows us to explore, to fly, to find our true self. You are the one who keeps us sinless. Who destroys everything negative in our world. You work subtly and yet Your sankalpa is so strong, it redefines karma. You are everything to us. Thank You Amma for helping us keep ourselves clean and pure. Yes we are burdened by the many facets of a worldly life. But a sin free life is really the only life we should lead. 

Om Amriteswariye namah!

Amma, pure and simple!

166. Om nis-papayai namah: I bow down to Amma who is without sin

Some of the words I associate with Amma. (You could have your own list): Peace. Love. Happiness. Pure. Sinless. Innocent. Beautiful. Calm. Strength. Goodness. Gratitude. Birth. Newness. Fragrance. Roses. Compassion. Giving. Spiritual. Forgiving. Renouncing. Surrender. Clean. White. Accepting. Hugging. Embrace. Claritude. Splendour. Brilliance. Mother.

Everything that is right with the world. Every word that can possibly hope to define Amma though we know that no word, no emotion, no sentence can ever 'define' Amma. She is without boundaries. Which is why sitting in one continent, She can hear me from another. Which is why seamlessly She is able to reach out to anyone, anywhere. Color, caste, creed, religion: absolutely nothing can stop Amma's love. It's on it's own journey, like a river cleansing everything it touches. Amma's purity is what shines forth. Like the brilliant unseen aura that everyone feels. She is without sin. The only thoughts and actions that surround Amma are pure and clean. She will only do that which is necessary for us. For our growth. Even the terrible patch I went through end Nov to Dec 2013 (and hopefully it is over), was for my own growth. I needed it to understand that goodness should never be doled out for nothing. Like Swamiji explained to me, just like universities do a background check on people, so also we need to know properly who the recipient of our good action is. Otherwise it would have all gone to waste. I needed that lesson. And I am the wiser for it.
 
Amma's purity and goodness. The gurgle of a baby. The gentle murmur of a passing river. The very core of our nature and as we should be. May this year create a sinless attitude in each of us.

Om Amriteswariye namah!

Gratitude for all that we have!

165. Om mamata-hantrayai namah: I bow down to Amma who destroys the sense of ownership

"Your children are not your children. They are the sons and daughters of Life's longing for itself"
The Prophet by Khalil Gibran.

We can never own anything in the world. Because we have arrived with nothing and we leave with nothing. So how possibly can we have a sense of ownership to anything? Everything that supposedly is a part of our life, is a gift from God. Including our children. From the breath we take to the food we eat to the shoes we wear: how possibly can we think that all these things are our birthright or even only ours? Isn't it humbling to realise that while we may enjoy a pair of shoes, there are so many others who have nothing to protect their feet? That while we are able to take a deep breath comfortably while there are others who struggle to even take one breath of fresh air. That while we walk into our warm homes and settle for the night, there are others who are helpless and have nowhere to go.

Our hard work and luck are just words that really reflect Amma's grace in our lives. When Amma has showered Her blessings on us, life becomes a series of beautiful events. And gifts. And none of it is our doing. The sooner we understand that, the sooner ego will edge its way out of our life. When the mantra says that Amma destroys the sense of ownership, it really means that Amma is destroying the ego in us. Ego arises in us because of an inflated sense of achievement. Of ownership. But it's all Amma's doing really, isn't it? The fruit on our table, the ability to buy that book, the christmas gifts we lavished on our loved ones. Let's never forget that Amma makes it all possible for us. Each one little thing. And towards such abundance, let us always say our profound thanks to Amma. Just like children, even achievements are life's longing for itself. To regenerate. To increase. To better. But not without thanks to a Mother who makes it all possible.

Om Amriteswariye namah!

Only for us!

164. Om nir-mamayai namah: I bow down to Amma who has no self interest in anything

She sits for hours on end ensuring every one of Her children gets Her famous healing hugs. She has sacrificed every worldly pleasure to make sure we, Her children, have better lives. She can go without sleep, without food, without rest just so that we are more rested and relaxed. Amma. In essence, a Mother in every way. She hasn't physically given birth to us but She is what a Mother is all about. Caring, loving. And having no self interest whatsoever.

2013 was a harsh year with harsh lessons. But the one positive lesson it taught me is that Amma is truly my only hope. I had walked off the spiritual path but She brought me back on it. She taught me that however harsh the lesson, She will always be there to keep the flickering flames alive even in the wildest of storms. She will stand in the way of our karma and bear the onslaught, just so we lead more protected lives. I hope 2014 will be a more forgiving year. A year more gentle on me. A year where I will not leave Your thought ever.

May this year also teach us to be as selfless as possible. In the vein of Your teaching, please let us all learn to do one good deed for at least one person, every day of the year. Imagine lighting up one person's life every day. 365 ways to better our own lives through the smiles of others.

Thank you Amma for everything. Thank you for the very grace of having us under Your umbrella. Please keep us totally in Your shadow this year so that we only do what You would approve off. The best way to increase our selflessness and make the world a happier place. Lokah Samastaha Sukhino Bhavantu.

Om Amriteswariye namah!

To find our true nature!

163. Om moha-nasinyai namah: I bow down to Amma who destroys delusions in Her devotees

Amma knows that when we walk through life in delusional states, we set ourselves for a lot of disappointments and sadness. It's a known fact that when expectations and reality differ, it gives rise to problems. Amma wants us to understand our reality and live our life under no delusions. 

My soul bro Michael is at Amritapuri. He wrote to me yesterday after a discourse by Amma by the beach. Amma advises us to look at events in our life as we would a tiger in a zoo. We would never put hands inside the tiger's cage for fear of it being bitten. Similarly so too, life events. When we are unable to create a distance between events and our reactions to it, we set the stage for sorrow. That's when delusions creep in. When we look at life as a witness, from a respectable distance, the clarity is startling.  And revealing. But when we get too close to everything (which possibly is a result of allowing ego to take the drivers seat) we lose perspective and focus. What Amma does is allow us the much needed distance. Then our hearts and minds are stripped of all delusions. All that remains is the bare honest true nature. A state we are meant to dwell in. The way God meant us to be!

In this new year may Amma shower this grace on us. Om Amriteswariye namah!