Happy moments with Amma!

253. Om vijnana-ghana-rupinyai namah: I bow down to Amma who is the embodiment of all-pervading solid intelligence

Amma is the embodiment of life. Of celebration. of everything divine. Amma is the ultimate resting stop where we, life weary travelers, can put down all the baggage we have chosen to carry, and unburden our cares to Her. And Amma takes all the baggage willingly. She mends our karmic bridges. She shines up our fraying and faded halos and sets us back on the path of a virtuous life.

The all-pervading solid intelligence is present in everything around us. It is the heartbeat of the universe. It is there in each one of us. We just don't see it or realise its presence. It is when Amma hugs us with all Her love that we feel its beat within us. And that's when we begin to feel happy. When the scales of pettiness and everyday humdrum falls off our eyes; when spirituality comes up close and claims us for Her own. Happiest moments ever! But of course, with Amma!

Om Amriteswariye namah!

Supreme bliss!

252. Om paramanandayai namah: I bow down to Amma who is supreme bliss

I have often wondered exactly what gives us the the ultimate bliss. Is it helping people? Shopping? Donating? Drinking a coffee? Meditating? Running? A pastry? The conclusion I have come to, is that it is all of the above. We can drink a coffee and feel the ultimate bliss if only we think of Amma while drinking it. If we help people as an extension of what Amma has taught us; if we shop because it give sue time to chant Amma's name silently as we browse; if running means seeing Amma in the flowers and trees around us: if we can keep our concentration on Amma at all times, every minute of every day will be blissful for us. It will be comprised of moments when we take our mind away from the mundane and focus on the divine. When we rein in our meandering thoughts even during an activity and give it the breath of divinity. When this is what happens, how possibly can we ever utter a wrong word or do a wrong action? Or even think a bad thought? Once the negativity is wiped out, we will only be left with bliss. It's so simple. A QED moment. And yet, it's the most difficult thing to do! Because it isn't easy to attain Amma. For that, we need to surrender everything at Amma's feet unconditionally. Including our massive egos.  And let faith do the job!

Om Amriteswariye namah!

Humanitarian, Mother, Guru!

251. Om cinmayyai namah: I bow down to Amma who is consciousness itself

"If we look at Amma’s life, this is what we see—someone who has offered her every thought, word and deed for the benefit of others. Giving is the essence. It’s just that when the homeless come crying for shelter and Amma gives them a house, we call her a “humanitarian.” And when the sorrowful come crying for emotional solace and she gives them love, we call her a “mother.” And when those thirsty for spiritual knowledge come earnestly seeking and she gives them wisdom, we call her a “guru.” This attitude of selflessly serving all creation, knowing others to be extensions of one’s own self, Amma refers to as vishwa matrutvam—universal motherhood. And it is to this pinnacle of human existence that Amma is trying to awaken the world through her life, teachings and darshan [divine embrace].
Questions about the nature of the soul, the universe and God; about dharma, love and family life; about meditation and other spiritual practices…. Amma has been clearing the doubts of sincere seekers on such subtle subjects since her youth. She never had a guru nor studied the Vedas, yet she speaks on the truths expressed within the scriptures with wisdom, clarity and true insight. Hers is not an academic knowledge, but the knowledge of one who is ever-established in the Ultimate Reality. It is for this reason that Amma’s simple childhood home has become the spiritual home to thousands—an ashram where aspirants from around the world reside in order to imbibe Amma’s wisdom and realize the Truth that is their real nature. The seeker is instructed as per his level—from the child to the sannyasi [monk]."

(Excerpts from an article)

 Humanitarian, Mother, Guru. Amma in every way completes us. She is the one we look to for guidance at every step in our life. Amma is the one who shines the torch of spirituality on the path ahead for us. Amma is the dance in our step and the tune in our song. She is the only one who will clear the obstacles in our path by standing in front of our karma. If there is a God on earth, it definitely is Amma!

Om Amriteswariye namah!

I miss You, Amma!

250. Om panca-brahma-svarupinyai namah: I bow down to Amma whose form is composed of the five Brahmas

Amma, it's less than a month to go for a very important day in my life. You were supposed to be here in Singapore. You were supposed to have listened to my worries. You were supposed to have blessed everything and everyone in my life. Why aren't You coming here Amma? I shouldn't be feeling this sense of emptiness and loneliness but I am. And it comes down to one thing: I miss You. I need to see You, to melt into Your arms so that I can finally find strength and peace. There's just too much turbulence in my mind and I need to find Your feet, Amma. I need Your hug. That soothing embrace. PLease Amma, PLEASE! You are my wonderful Mother. You are the one I think of and seek shelter with, every day. You are my Mother. Isn't it only fair that You come visit Your daughter? Please don't make this so difficult for me. Please.

Om Amriteswariye namah! 

Amma, pure existence!

249. Om panca-pretasanasinayai namah: I bow down to Amma who sits on the seat formed by five corpses

"Brahma, Visnu, Rudra, Isvara and Sadasiva are the five corpses here. They are also known as the five Brahmas. Brahma conducts his task of creation by the power known as vamasakti obtained from Devi; without it he is as powerless as a corpse. Similarly, Devi's sakti is indispensable to Visnu, Rudra, Isvara and Sadasiva in performing their tasks. Without it they are all like corpses. One becomes a corpse when the inner Existence leaves. The five corpses may refer to the five elements (bhutas) in creation: earth, water, fire, air and space. Devi, who is pure existence, abides in this universe made of these five elements. She is pancapretasanasina in this sense also"
The Thousand Names of the Divine Mother by T.V Narayana Menon

I love the line about Devi being pure Existence. That's Amma, isn't it? She is existence in the true sense of the word for us. Life and living is really all about Her. With our minutes and moments dedicated to Amma, our entire existence centers around Amma. And isn't this just the perfect way to live? We are truly blessed as her children because we have a Mother who is constantly showing us the way. She keeps us away from the wrong path. She removes all traces of negativities. She holds our hands and guides us throughout the day. She teaches us that the biggest makers of our destiny, is us. And then She helps us wade through the karmic waters we have dug up for ourselves. Thank you Amma for being there for us. Thank you for starting Your Facebook page!! *LOVE IT!*

Om Amriteswariye namah!  

Amma's colors of love!

248. Om padma-raga-sama-prabhayai namah: I bow down to Amma who has a resplendent red complexion like the ruby

I absolutely LOVE this picture of Amma! Amma looks as She always does: beautiful, gorgeous, resplendent in every color of compassion and love. But look at the others! The children and devotees around Her. They are absolutely ecstatic just being in Amma's presence and having colors showered on them! For them, it isn't just colors of holy. It is blessings being showered upon them. By their favouritest Mother in the whole wide world. It doesn't matter to them that the color may enter their eyes. It doesn't matter that there's a crowd and someone may be watching. All they want is to bask in Amma's love and blessing. The joy on their faces is pure, unadulterated, unedited. A sliver of joy and hope caught in time, forever! 

This is exactly how each of us feels when in Amma's presence. Nothing else matters. Time stands still. We exult. We revel. We enjoy the moment. Suddenly life's full of color. We close our eyes and laugh with unbridled happiness. Because finally we are in the hands of God!

Om Amriteswariye namah!

A beauty that surpasses everything!

247. Om padma-nayanai namah: I bow down to Amma who has eyes that are long and beautiful like the petals of the lotus flower

Praises of Amma's beauty can be found on everyone's lips. And for me, Amma's eyes are one of the most beautiful I have seen. They remind me of an elephant's eyes. They have a gentleness in them and when Amma looks at us, it's so easy to melt: in love and gratitude! And it's those pools of love that makes us surrender everything by Her feet.

Whenever I see anyone who is making a difference to the world through their small actions, I think of Amma. We celebrate heroes who reach out to others but we judge a Guru who is making blanket improvements in society and amongst millions of people. Amma should never be judged by anyone. She has given up everything just so we can have a smile on our faces. She is the very epitome of surrender and sacrifice. Who do we know who will ever give up even a minute's comfort for our sake? There is beauty in every thing about Amma. And to this beauty that surrounds us, we must remain grateful!

Om Amriteswariye namah!

Amma, the most powerful!

246. Om parvatyai namah; I bow down to Amma who is the daughter of the Mountain (Mount Himavat or Himalaya)

A few years ago I had thought of this very strong imagery: When Amma sits for meditation, it really looks like Amma has evolved into a strong mountain, like the Himalaya or the matterhorn. Powerful. Unyielding. And yet, on Her face there is a softness which is like the melting snow on the mountaintop in summer. Amma is exactly like a mountain. The mountains have been there since the world began. They have been eternal witnesses. They see everything and yet do not judge or yield. They just stand strong, come what may! Nothing perturbs them. People try to conquer them but one little flag cannot a conquest mean. The Mountain will allow others their little triumphs but no one can claim victory over a Mountain.

Amma is exactly like this. No one can conquer Amma. The only thing Amma cedes to, is pure and unadulterated Love. Amma's nature is to always give to others. Her generous spirit is what has seen Her sit for hours on end wrapping us in Her compassionate embrace. And to know Amma is to know love and recognize it in everyone. I wish the entire world could feel the power of Amma. The day the world surrenders at Her feet will be the day wars will stop, evil will take a back seat and goodness will shine and triumph. That will be the day when the believers will walk to the mountain, look up at its might and recognize its power. Let us pray that this day arrives soon so that the blanket of gloom from the world is lifted soon!

Om Amriteswariye namah! 

The ultimate devotion!

245. Om cakra-raja-niketanayai namah: I bow down to Amma who abides in the Sri Chakra

'Sricakra is the most important cakra in Tantra and is called the king of the cakras. Devi dwells in the nine cakras, beginning with the Trailokyamohana, which are within Sricakra.'.....'It is clear from this that Devi who dwells in the Sricakra is not easily attainable and that constant worship is the way to obtain Her darshan, that unalloyed devotion alone is sufficient to win Her blessings.' (From The Thousand Names of the Divine Mother)

I heard a beautiful story narrated by Amma. 2 children are swimming in a pool while their mothers are sitting by the edge of the pool. One of the children gets agitated and begins to almost drown, ending up swallowing a lot of water. The second child meanwhile continues to play very happily in the water. The agitated child says he got scared and worried and thus lost his balance. The second child, when asked why he didn't get upset, says he was sure his mother would watch out for him and so continued to play happily. This story will never leave me. Ever. The more I have my faith strengthened in Amma, the more I can enjoy splashing about in the pool of life. Right now, many a times I lose balance and end up swallowing a lot of unnecessary water! And for this faith to stay strong, constant devotion is the best way forward. Not prayers as and when but a regular routine of prayer. Where we can totally lose ourselves to Amma and Her infinite wisdom and love!

Om Amriteswariye namah!

Ruler of our world!

244. Om caracara-jagan-nathayai namah: I bow down to Amma who is the ruler of the animate and inanimate worlds

Amma is the ruler of our world. We are happy for Amma to rule over our world because in the universe where Amma rules, life is all about finding our true self and becoming a better person. It's about putting others before us. It's about doing as much good as we can in as many ways as we can. Sometime soon I hope You will agree to come to Singapore. We really, really need You here Amma. You know exactly what's been happening here. You know what vicissitudes I have seen. You know how many times I have stood by the altar and called out for You. Please come here Amma. I really, really need You. I need You to hold me tight and hug me and tell me it's all ok. That You will always be with me. That You are there for me as You have been in the past. That You will help me climb every mountain and cross every bridge.

Just for 3 days Amma! Is that too much to ask of my Mother?

Om Amriteswariye namah!

With love and hope!

243. Om caru-candra-kala-dharayai namah: I bow down to Amma who wears a beautiful crescent moon that does not wax or wane

I miss You, Amma. I miss You so much. I know I am supposed to feel Your omnipresence everywhere but I'm not spiritually evolved enough to feel this. I just feel a deep ache for You. When life throws me lemons and small failures, I feel the pain acutely. When I have a small triumph, I wish You were there so I could run to You and tell You this. When my ego plays tricks and games with me, I wish You were here to check and correct me. Please come to Singapore, Amma. Please. Don't stay away this one time when I am faced with so many difficulties. I cannot handle all of this on my own. You have got me this far. Please help me cross this bit of rocky road too. Please. I await Your arrival here. With loads of love and hope!

Om Amriteswariye namah!

Amma, with the most beautiful smile!

242. Om caru-hasayai namah: I bow down to Amma who has a beautiful smile

This is one of my most favorite pictures of Amma. Her smile says everything. "I care for you. I will always look after you. Trust Me." I know You care for us, Amma. If You don't, who will? We know You will always look after us.  You are, after all, our Mother. Yes, we trust You because You are the very fabric of trust.  Amma's smile is also the most gorgeous smile ever. There is no malice in it. It's just a 'from-the-heart' innocent smile that holds the world's capacity for  compassion and love. It is a smile that conveys all of Her grace and beauty.

Amma is the most incredible person ever. Today I was saddened to know that Amma wasn't coming to Singapore. We know how much harm gale tredwell's misguided and fictitious accounts of her stay in Amritapuri have done. Amma will always stay untouched as She is too pure to be touched by worldly malice. But in not coming to Singapore, I see Amma's greatness even more. Amma knows that people will talk and that will hurt us, Her children. She wants to spare us this hurt. She does not want to put us in spots where we have to take sides or explain something to the non believers. She is sparing us all that. Amma, my darling Amma is under so much scrutiny but through all this Amma will smile Her beautiful smile and continue showering Her blessings on us. Because giving is what Amma knows best.

Om Amriteswariye namah!

Beautiful Amma!

241. Om caru-rupayai namah: I bow down to Amma who has a beauty that does not wax or wane

Amma is the most stunning, gorgeous and beautiful person ever! Amma is probably the only person who truly is beautiful from the outside and the inside. I have been seeing Amma for over 20 years and Amma looks exactly the same to me. Yes, a few grey hairs have cropped up but nothing has changed on Amma's face. She's the same gorgeous Mother I saw the first time, on a wonderful sunny day. It all comes down to a simple fact: Amma's heart is filled with so much love and compassion, Her over powering beauty cannot but shine through filled with this very compassion and love. I can see Amma's features very clearly in my mind: those beautiful, loving eyes. Those eyes that look at us with so much compassion, they melt our hearts.

She is the personification of everything that's beautiful with this world. She's the early morning dew drop and the fragrance of flowers. So truly, how possibly can Her beauty wax or wane? It's a constant. Just like Amma's compassionate heart.

Om Amriteswariye namah!

Amma, we await Your arrival!

240. Om candra-mandala-madhyagayai namah: I bow down to Amma who resides in the center of candramandala, the moon's disc

My dear, darling Amma,

I don't need to tell You that Your singapore children are awaiting Your arrival very eagerly. We sincerely hope You will forgive the world its trespasses and will come to visit us. We are Your children and these children desperately need their mother. Please visit us, Amma. If only for 2 days but do come here. There is a collective cloud of sadness here which will only blow away once You arrive here. Please spare a thought for all Your children who have, for a year, kept each thought, each memory quietly tucked away only so we can surrender it all at Your holy feet. Please Amma! Not seeing You for 2 years is too much of a punishment. You will go to the US so why not here? We love You immensely. Please, please come to Singapore, Amma! We will do everything we can to make Your visit extremely pleasant. We have always adored You and will continue doing the same, every second of every day. Have we ever failed You in any way? We will never do anything to hurt You. Ever. Please spare a thought for us, Amma. We sit here counting the days and wondering when You will come to us. We promise to be good always. We promise to not bear any malice towards anyone. But rest we must our weary hearts at Your feet. We need the calmness of Your soothing voice and one all encompassing embrace. Only then, will everything be alright with the world!
Om Amriteswariye namah!
Your loving children! 

And the world lives as one...!

239. Om candra-vidyayai namah: I bow down to Amma who is the embodiment of Candravidya

Imagine all the people
Living for today...

Imagine there's no countries
It isn't hard to do
Nothing to kill or die for
And no religion too
Imagine all the people
Living life in peace...

John Lennon sang this song in 1971 by which time Amma's spiritual identity was already being established. He just hadn't met Amma and realized Her overpowering divinity. I heard the song again today and realized that Imagine, is set in Amma's world. Imagine all the people living for today: yes, that's exactly what Amma tells u to do. Live in the present moment. 'Imagine there's no countries'...It truly isn't hard to do. In Amritapuri and at any of Amma's programs, there are no citizens of various countries. There are just Amma's children. 'Nothing to kill or die for, And no religion too'...All Amma teaches, is Love. Amma celebrates Hinduism, Islam, Christianity, Buddhism. There is no binding religion. Just a spirituality that roots for humanity and compassion. 'Imagine all the people, living life in peace'. That's how Amma and Her swamis and swaminis live. That's how beautiful Amma has made Amritapuri. The ashram is a sacred sanctum sanctorum. It's where Amma's children go to for rejuvenation from the worldly humdrum. It's where we take a break and think. It's where the holiest of the holy Masters, Amma, resides. It's the place where no one needs to Imagine. Because all the beauty one wants, is all there. 

Om Amriteswariye namah!

Amma, the only way ahead!

238. Om manu-vidyayai namah: I bow down to Amma who is the embodiment of Manuvidya

Amma, why is there so much negativity in this world? Why do we surround ourselves with so much baggage? Why do we carry so many burdens ? Why is our ego so large...so large, our body can't even begin to think of carrying it! If we knew how soon everything can stop, we would never ride such a large ego wave. If we realized that even the next breath isn't a certainty, we would stop assuming a certain level of immortality. There are disasters all around us. We're still reeling under the mystery of the missing plane. 239 passengers with not a clue what the future held for them. We still don;t know. But that is pretty much the blue print of most of our lives, isn't it? We never know for sure what the next breath holds for us.

The only certainty in life is Amma. For me, I know She's the best thought I can have when I go to sleep. She's the best word I can say when I wake up. She's the best image I can remember each time I feel sad or happy. She is the ultimate relief for a weary mind. She is the best prayer I can ever chant. She is the best life lesson I can ever learn.

Om Amriteswariye Namah!

Amma, our everything!

237. Om maha-catuh-sasti-koti-yogini-gana-sevitayai namah: I bow down to Amma who is attended by six hundred forty million yoginis

Our Amma is attended by Her army of children. Amma's army. But we're a peace loving army who love our commander: Amma. She rules us with the iron hand of Her unending love and compassion. Amma's strongest weapon is Her hug for which we, Her children, will wait hours willingly, to get. We will wait wherever and whenever: be it at an airport, under the hot sun or through the night, to be with our Mother. And whenever one of the army turns against Amma, we will NOT respond with brickbats. Instead, we will pray for her because that is how Amma would want us to behave.

This beautiful Goddess has moulded entire nations of Her children. We think with more compassion; we behave with more morality; we act with more consideration for other people. We wrap ourselves in prayers and meditation and in general are able to realise that we must do service towards others. We weren't born nor raised with this level of spiritual awareness. It has happened to us only after we have come under Amma's grace. Amma's dissidents can give interviews to any news channel but the truth is, Amma has single handedly changed the spiritual map of the world with Her ever loving embrace. Amma's hugs have cured and changed us for the better. She is the reason we are able to wake up with optimism. She is the reason children chant prayers and learn goodness rather than waste time over trivial pursuits. She is the reason people are able to recover from natural disasters. She is the comma and full stop in our lives. And nothing anyone out there says can change that. Ever!

Om Amriteswariye namah! 

The real fount of selflessness!

236. Om catuh-sasti-kala-mayyai namah: I bow down to Amma who embodies the sixty-four fine arts

Everything creative, inspiring and fulfilling reminds me of Amma. She creates so much happiness for us in this world. When any one of our desires is fulfilled, we know it is Amma silently at work making sure Her children are always happy and content. She truly is our Mother for reaching into the universe and giving us more than our share of happiness. She serves us like a servant his master. And the least we can do, is emulate the highest example of selflessness there ever will be and say a prayer of gratitude.

"Excerpted from Immortal Bliss: Issue 1, 2011: A volunteer shares his thoughts on serving the world under Amma's guidance.

Some years ago, a psychologist published a study on human happiness. His research showed that we have no idea what will really make us happy. We often believe that a certain thing will give us bliss, only to find that when we get it, we are not moved. And things we thought would not give us much happiness give us deeper satisfaction.

In the Bhagavad Gita, Sri Krishna says as much to Arjuna:"What tastes at first like nectar is usually poison, and what tastes like poison is usually nectar." We believe that to be truly happy, we need to spend as much time fulfilling our own personal desires as possible. But it is only when we forget ourselves in the service of others that we begin to experience real fulfillment and happiness.

There are many spiritual teachers who will tell us, "It's all good -- do whatever you feel like doing. Your only job is to express yourself, to manifest whatever is inside you." But this is not Amma's message. There are problems in the world, and Amma wants us to be part of the solution. That is why she encourages us to reduce our unnecessary spending, and to work an extra half hour a day to raise money for the poor. That is why she says that wasting food is a form of violence. When we are watching TV and we see people suffering in the world, our first instinct may be to change the channel. But Amma says we shouldn't turn a blind eye to the problems in the world. Instead, we should try to do something to solve them. This is not only the right thing to do, it is also the secret to a happy and fulfilling life.

Once, while talking to a reporter, Amma commented that she came to this world to fulfill certain goals that are beneficial to society, and that she has complete faith that she will achieve them. This gives me tremendous hope for the world. But recently, it occurred to me that maybe I should not feel quite so comforted. Amma said she would accomplish what she came for, but didn't say the same thing about us. Whether or not we will accomplish what we came for remains, for most of us, an open question." 

(From www.amma.org)

Om Amriteswariye namah!

Amma, my dawn, my dusk!

235. Om catuh-sastyupacaradhyayai namah: I bow down to Amma who is adored in sixty four ceremonies

Of the sixty four ceremonies described in Parasurama's Kalpasutra, 16 are of utmost importance. They are : invocation, offering of a seat, water for washing the feet, offering of water or other materials, water for rinsing the mouth, bath, clothes, ornaments, fragrance, flowers, incense, a lamp, food, betel leaves, circumambulation and prostration. (SOURCE: "THE THOUSAND NAMES OF THE DIVINE MOTHER")

I had looked everywhere for God. I searched in nature, in my food, in the air around me. Maybe God was hidden inside that goal encrusted altar picture? Maybe God was the Krishna murti at the altar? Or maybe God was watching me in the guise of my parents? Now I feel the presence of God in everything beautiful. Even a moment that feels perfect is the presence of God. A heartfelt compliment is the fragrance of God's overwhelming beauty in a word. With Amma, it is everything. Her words, Her gestures, Her eyes, her soft hands, Her feet. It is all a sum total of Godliness. Amma is the shade we sun soaked humans have been looking for. I am not blinded in my love for Her. I was blind when I couldn't see Amma. Now, thankfully my eyes are wide open. All those who sling mud on pristine and innocent beauty are unaware and blind, to say the least. It is to me, the equivalent of throwing a child down from a cot. How can anyone possibly hurt my Amma? How can anyone hurt the most beautiful person on earth? For me, every event, every ceremony feels the need to be a dedication and an adoration of Amma. She is my dawn, my dusk. She is everything. I feel Your presence, Amma, all the time. May my life ONLY move forward like this!

Om Amriteswariye namah!

The best Mother ever!

234. Om maha-tripura-sundaryai namah: I bow down to Amma who is the great Tripurasundari

My beautiful, gorgeous Mother. She's the most beautiful person ever. There are so many people in the world who owe their good habits and their spiritual bent of mind to Amma. She has put so many youth on the right path. Because of Amma, thousands have moved away from bad habits and vices. Purely owing to Amma's love, thousands have mended their ways and many have taken to tolerance and prayer as a means of living stress free lives. Only because of Amma do we have people exploring generosity and finding a generous niche in their hearts to give to those less deserving. It is Amma's grace that allows people to plant more trees, donate blood and feed people during their birthdays. It is because of an example set by Amma which makes us think twice before wasting food. Believing in Amma means leading a life that requires us to adjust our level of morality to a much higher one required by Amma. She is our Mother and we are answerable to Her.

Amma has ensured that we are accountable to ourselves and to Her. And thus so many people around the world have become kinder, gentler, more compassionate. That is a massive victory for mankind. And it has been done single handedly. Purely by the power and strength of Amma's unending love.

Om Amriyeswariye namah!

Amma's life is a dedication to us!

233. Om maha-kamesa-mahisyai namah: I bow down to Amma who is the great Queen of Mahakameshvara

(Excerpts from amritapuri.org)

23 Feb, Parippally – Bharata Yatra 2014

The travel journey between Palakkad and Trivandrum on Amma’s Bharata Yatra had a peculiar aspect: The route to follow meant that the caravan of buses would pass right by Amritapuri on the way to the capital of Kerala.

The lunch stop was at Paripally orphanage. It was a special treat for all the wonderful kids living in that institution – the very first project that Amma undertook as early as 1991. The 420 westerners in 13 tour buses, some of them first timers, would also have the chance to discover the orphanage and meet the children.

The highlight of the 3 hours spent at the orphanage was that Amma gave the microphone to the kids gathered around her asking them to share stories, make imitations, present brief performances and sing bhajans.

She later sang two memorable bhajans, in folk tune, with everyone following suit with the kids, singing with great enthusiasm and joy, clapping hands and moving around.

A life-time shared moment, that most of the children and many of the tour group members present, will never forget."

Amma's charitable activities and network is increasing by the day. Everyday, Amma finds a new way of reaching out to every possible person on earth, whether it is by Her love or by Her unending compassion. Of 24 hours, at the very least, an educated guess would be that 22 hours go into helping people around the world. She has no time for anything worldly except perhaps the running of the ashram. Like in the story above, Amma not only visits the orphanage, She will also find time to sing bhajans and spread cheer all around. 

Shame on all those attempting to malign this greatest of the great Masters ever! Amma has dedicated Her life to bettering humanity. She has sacrificed this life so that we may fulfill our karmic debts. Amma is the Goddess we are all fortunate to have in our lives. Let us fill our lives with this overwhelming reason for gratitude. 

Om Amriteswariye namah!

From the beginning of time!

232. Om mahesvara-mahakalpa-mahatandava-saksinyai namah: I bow down to Amma who is the witness of the great Tandava dance of Maheshvara (Shiva) at the end of the great cycle of creation.

All of creation owes it's presence to Amma. Amma is the one who has sculpted us from the destiny rock of the universe. She is the one who has written our fate. Which is why Amma says that when we aren't even sure of our next step as it isn't in our hands, what use is the very evil ego? We need to surrender everything to our creator. Amma has witnessed the beginning of creation. She has witnessed the legendary Tandava performed by Shiva at the end of the great cycle of creation.

We see Amma as a wonderful Goddess from Kerala who is approachable and treats us like Her children. She listens to us, comforts us and is there with us at every triumphant corner and every failed junction. Amma in actuality is more than a Mother. She holds the universe in Her palms and has the power to extinguish as well as create. Like the sound OM, She is the beginning. And the end. We owe our very life breath in gratitude to Her. We are alive to read this because Amma has draped us in Her grace. Creation is also a beautiful word for life. Newness. And this is how Amma touches our lives. By constantly sending waves of newness our way, whether it be in experiences or spiritual energy. Whenever we find ourselves feeling happier and more buoyant than usual, Amma's woven Her magic around us. It's Her reminder that creation started with the most beautiful of dances. And everyday, we need to celebrate that with a little dance in our steps!

Om Amriteswariye Namah!

A prayer for humanity!

231. Om maha-bhairava pujitayai namah: I bow down to Amma who is worshipped even by Mahabhairava (Shiva)

Our thoughts should only be with the families of those whose fate is yet unknown and who were passengers on MH370. Every time I read/hear of a disaster, I can only think of words Amma has taught  us: Lokah Samastaha Sukhino bhavantu. I know Amma will be praying for the passengers and their families and so should we. As Amma tells us, we are all connected by a bond of humanity. In fact, Amma is instrumental in bringing us all together. She is a common thread in so many intertwined lives. She is a like a spiritual currency, if I may, that helps us reach out to one another. At a programme, we are able to make friends and talk about Amma to absolute strangers. It feels right and any conversation about Amma always feels correct! We share our experiences, we discuss Amma and Her many miracles and on the way we realise that Amma has single handedly helped make us better people. We are more attuned to the suffering of the world. We are able to reach out more easily to each other. We find it in our hearts to lend a helping hand.

Amma has made us better people. She has helped us clean out our Karmic paths. Let us pray for all our brothers and sisters who are in need of a prayer. Even those misguided souls who have strayed far enough to be unable to see the light. Gail Tredwell, our prayers are with you. May you realise your mistakes and seek forgiveness from Amma. Amma will forgive easily. Hopefully you will open your eyes and feel Her unending love.

Om Amriteswariye namah!

The universe's gift to us!

230. Om maha-yaga-kramaradhyayai namah: I bow down to Amma who is worshipped by the ritual of mahayaga

A mother and Guru such as Amma can only be attained after years of penance and after several births. To finally find God in our lives in no mean feat. It comes to the fortunate and to those whose karmic debts have been repaid. It comes to those who have gone out seeking a master. We earn an opportunity of unburdening ourselves at the feet of such an incredibly loving Guru only after the universe has truly deemed us fit for this exalted moment. A living master is actually putting aside Her material comfort in order to help us unburden our weary hearts. The universe has orchestrated a spiritual tune and presented us with Amma. Who can ever say they have known God? Been hugged by God? Been shown the right path to a better future by the creator Herself? At whatever time of our lives we have reached Amma, that's really the beginning of our life. It's when we have finally opened our eyes to a beautiful spiritual world. She makes us sing bhajans, chant mantras, say prayers. She makes us occupy our time with sounds of the highest power. She makes us want to be better people. Amma does everything She can to help us better ourselves.

And how grateful then are we?  My one question to Gail Tredwell: Have you no idea what you have thrown away? Someday when you realise what you have done and open your venomous mind to Amma's forgiveness, hopefully you will know the pain you have caused. Not to Amma, for She is beyond such emotions. But us, Amma's children. You are attempting to take Her away from us. Nobody can take our Mother away from us. Least of all, idiotic stories of a bent and ungrateful mind.

Om Amriteswariye namah!

A special something...!

229. Om mahasanayai namah: I bow down to Amma who is seated on great seats

I remember many years ago going for Amma's darshan. It was the first time I was seeing Amma. The queue had about 100 devotees and I remember groaning and thinking "this, will take ages!". More than a decade ago I went for Amma's programme in Mumbai and I could barely see Amma in that sea of Her children. There She was, a dot far, far away. A spiritual dot of love and compassion. I just hope there never is a time when Amma is unapproachable because that would be heartbreaking! Imagine a time when we can see Amma but can't go for Her hug because of the swelling crowds. Each of us wants Amma for themselves. Selfish as it sounds, it also rings true. We love Her and want every second of Her time, with us. We look for ways, from the airport till the time She leaves, to spend in Her presence. Even when Amma is meditating, we will take a quick peek at Her. We stargaze at Her in the hope that the image stays etched in our minds forever. We seek Her in a crowded room or a lonely intersection: our way of connecting with Amma at every juncture. Each of us shares our own personal journey with Amma. It's a relationship that changes as the years go by. But wherever She is, however high the seat She is on, Amma will always stay a true mother: ensuring that everything that happens in our life is for our own good. It's the only way Amma would have it.

Om Amriteswariye namah!

The essential part of our lives!

228. Om maha-yantrayai namah: I bow down to Amma who is in the form of the great yantras

My humble salutations to the all knowing Mother. I would dedicate my entire life to Amma because She is the architect of my life. Every second of every day, I would like to walk in the faith that Amma has pre determined this moment for me. I know it's easy to write this when the going gets good but the truth is I have also thought this when life's been down. In fact I have found myself crumbling at Amma's feet when the chips have been down. It's the only sane way I have found of finding my feet and walking. Amma is the spiritual crutch I need in times of trouble. I may get poetic and call Her the wind beneath my wings but the truth is, Amma is the reason I have wings. Amma, through my parents, ensured I learnt to fly. At every step, Amma is there making sure I'm airborne and happy. It isn't just my life. If your life is enveloped around Amma, do take a moment to review it. At every corner and step, you will find that Amma has played a big part. At every page turner moment, Amma has been there silently holding your hand and moving you forward. She is the confidence within. She is the independence we feel; the freedom we always wished for; the final spiritual frontier! The reason I am always thankful my life turned out like this is because Amma has been the biggest part of it. And for that, to the universe I stand eternally grateful.

Om Amriteswariye namah!

The best prayer there is!

227. Om maha-mantrayai namah: I bow down to Amma who is the greatest mantra

Don't we have wonderful days when all we want to say is "Amma, Amma, Amma!" A celebration of life! A celebration of everything wonderful in the world. A joyous remembrance of all that's right in this universe. Whether it's a happy day or a worrisome one, all one has to do is lose oneself in the chanting of the best mantra there is: Amma! Amma! Amma!

Which brings me to the harsh reality of certain forces hoping to tarnish our Mother's image. Firstly, NOTHING can ever tarnish Amma's name or image. Absolutely nothing. You can try as hard as you want and write realms and realms of fiction but the universe knows the truth. Her true children know their Mother very well. We have melted into the arms of this Goddess (Yes, Goddess!) many a times and have felt a deep connect. If you haven't, that really is your sad karma!

As for Amma and Her Goddess stature, Amma has NEVER EVER said She is God. She has always considered Herself a Guru who helps us find God. If we, Her children, choose to see Her as a Goddess, as divinity Herself, then that is our choice and prerogative. Millions of people cannot be wrong. And we aren't, because even taking Amma's name, is the best prayer there is!

Om Amriteswariye namah!  

Amma: the journey and the destination!

226. Om maha-tantrayai namah: I bow down to Amma who is worshipped by the great tantras such as kularnava and Jnanarnava

When this entire brouhaha over GT's baseless allegations came to the fore, I remember feeling (and I sometimes still do!) a deep feeling of anger suffused with anguish. Why would someone do this? How could someone do this to our beloved Amma? Our Amma? Amma, who from decades, hasn't slept a wink only because She is busy consoling us and reaching out to erase our pain! I even went through a period of asking: Amma, are You truly divine? Because if You are, how can You let her do this to You?

And in my moment of anguish and despair, I found the answer. From the beginning of mankind, living Masters have been questioned and cast aspersions on. When people are unable to understand the divinity in front of them, they find it much easier to sling mud because it's the easiest thing to do. It's the closest thing they can reach out to. Someone like Christ was betrayed and crucified. Not just mud but nails needed to be driven in, to ensure the divinity did not prosper. Living Masters will always face such ordeals. But more than them, it is a true test of our faith. Is it just lip service or will we continue to believe? Will we be like unshakeable rocks or deserting rats? This period is more so a reflection of each of us who has received the calming hug from Amma. It is a reflection of each of Her children who has benefitted in one way or other, be it a soothing word, a gesture or an action, by Amma's unending river of love. This is our test. How much do we truly and believe Her? The non believers will come, cast and go. Who will choose to stay bank on the banks of the spiritual river? Every thought we have is a choice. For me and people like my spiritual sis Bindu, Amma is the journey and the destination. People who throw stones are merely blips. We intend continuing this journey, basking in Amma's beautiful, compassionate love. Because Amma is the only truth.

Om Amriteswariye namah!

A true Master!

225. Om maha-yogesvaresvaryai namah: I bow down to Amma who is the object of worship even by the greatest of yogis

For self realized souls, seeing a true master and realizing Her importance in the universe is easy. The greatest of yogis have seen the light and know the answer to questions like why we have taken birth and what is our greater purpose. And when in the presence of living Masters like Amma, they know they are in the presence of divinity. This is the state they are striving for. Amma has reached a state of complete realization. Words we bandy around like purpose and karma are physically visible to Amma. She sees what we can only hope to, one day. The higher purpose She has been born to fulfill is really to create spiritual happiness in our lives. Amma does it with love and compassion. Every moment of Amma's day is filled with threads of compassion that bind all of us. She has initiated us into mantras and spiritual practices that we never followed prior to knowing Amma. She has changed the spiritual and moral landscape of each of our lives. While we may still have faith that shakes at every tremor, the greatest of yogis know that Amma is an extension of the universe. She reflects all the good there is in the universe. And what better karma can we have than the fact that She is our Mother!

Om Amriteswariye namah!

A thought to Amma!

224. Om maha-siddhyai namah: I bow down to Amma who is endowed with the highest attainments

In hopefully a month's time, Amma will be here in Singapore. And here is what I will tell Amma (albeit mentally!):

Dear Amma,

I am sorry from all of us for what some people have done to Your name. I know You will never be affected by what they are doing. In fact, should they come in front of You, You will do what You have always done best: shower the with love! But on behalf of humanity whom You have served tirelessly, I am sorry. How can a person whom You may well have saved from the path of excess, get tangled up so much in webs of deceit? How can she create such horrid ripples of hatred? For someone who stayed cloaked in Your love, how easily she has forgotten! I know a lot of us feel a deep dislike and hatred for her but we also know that we need to do Your bidding, which is stay calm and pray. You have always taught us to live in the moment and to pray. And that is exactly what we must do. Pray for her so that she sees sense soon. Pray for all those who are out to malign You. But You can never be maligned. Don't they understand that no stain will ever stick to Your pristine nature? If anything, remnants of the mud will dirty their hands.

I am sorry Amma that the world is even having to witness such a terrible turn of events. That people can be so selfish so as to sit in their little holes and malign the masters! I read the rubbish this woman has written and I am sorry Amma. I am sorry once again for the fact that an overactive imagination can bring out so much trash. And yet You will forgive her, Amma because it is in Your nature to always be forgiving. I hope we are able to safely get out of this kalyug we have unleashed upon ourselves. For this is truly kalyug when even a living Master like Amma has to answer the filthiest accusations ever. We are sorry Amma. We truly, truly are.

Om Amriteswariye namah!

A Mother who only works for Her children!

223. Om maha-buddhyai namah: I bow down to Amma who is supreme in intelligence

I have just returned from a service trip where I saw several disadvantaged children and families. And in the midst of everything, one thought occurred to me: if only Amma was here! Amma has swept through the lives of thousands and thousands of people purely with Her dogged determination to create a change for the better. Amma's single minded pursuit to generate happiness in our lives has seen Her give up everything material and concentrate selflessly on our happiness. Amma's charities are so many. She has reached out to tsunami victims, orphans, people suffering and at the last stage of their lives, single women, widows, disadvantaged children etc. A 3 day service trip and I am too tired to sit. Imagine how Amma works and manages every charity of Hers. All this, while ensuring that around 6 to 10,000 people are hugged every day!

Amma's dedication to Her children is so wonderful. May no force ever take that away from us. May no one in the world even attempt to destroy it.

Om Amriteswariye namah!