Amma's Birthday Celebration!

[Guest guest]

Dear Divine Siblings,

 

Thank you a million times, dear Kenna and Nancy for your extraordinary

account of celebrations. Isn't it so sweet and strange that each one of

us has worshipped Amma in his/her own speacial way?

In the Boston area, we are celebrating three times - 23rd. in NH, 24th.

in Boston and 27th. again at the meditation center. So I decided to have

a mini celebration for just Amma and me on the 18th. evening when the

actual celebrations would be going on in Amritapuri (East Coast is 10

hours behind Indian Standard time)! It was five in the evening as I sat

down to puja. I realized that since it was 2 am. in Amritapuri, I would

give Amma an oil bath, feed Her and put Her to sleep before the rush of

the day began! So, I began the following manasic (mental visualization)

puja -

At first, I uncoiled Her lovely, raven black tresses. Taking a little

sesame oil, I poured it on the head, where the parting is, and gently

massaged the head. Then I took some more oil and massaged the sides of

Her head, above the earlobes. As I applied more oil and massaged the

back of the neck (mmmmm!) Amma seemed to glide in with the rhythm and

feel the throbbing pain (of constant hunching over to hug people)

subside. Next, I took coconut oil and gently applied them on Her

eye-lids, nose, cheekbones, forehead and with circular motion massaged

each section. As I took the conch-like ears in my hand, they felt so

soft. She giggled a little as She felt ticklish. Next, I focused on the

back of the shoulder, especially the right side, which is subjected to

constant strain of pulling anf cradeling Her children's heads. As I

worked down to Her right arm, I took the middle and ring finger and

focused mainly on gently pulling and massaging them. If you notice

closely, as Amma hugs an individual, She pulls these two fingers with

her left hand to tightly clasp the person. The left hand received

similar treatment. Next I concentrated on Her thighs, calves and the

supremely divine feet. As I massaged Her feet, tears coursed down my

cheeks. To hold these hallowed feet (which only my husband Narayan has

been fortunate to hold, between the two of us!) and to softly massage

the contours of the instep, heels, the toes, the ankle .... I felt I

could go on holding these feet forever. I did not want this experience

to end, but how could I leave Amma smothered in oil and not give Her a

bath?

So, I filled a bucket with hot and cold water, tested it with my elbows

(as one does before bathing children!) and poured jugfuls on the top of

the head. As the water, cascaded down, I felt that verliy Ganga was

sprouting from the matted hair of Shiva and flowing down the Himalayas!

This water, having touched Her Holy Self, was more pure than the Ganges.

I took a paste of Shikakai powder (a fragrant, soap-nut powder,

available in India), and massaged Her head and long tresses. Next I took

a mixture of besan (chick-pea flour and turmuric) and applied it all

over Her body. Dear brothers and sisters, imagine Amma as a little

child! She just sat there, without moving a muscle. After massaging with

the paste, I washed Her entire head and body with water.

Next, I took a soft Malayali towel, covered Her head and wrapping the

long hair in it, wound it around on top. Then I took a soft Turking

towel and gently dried Her body. I had already a loose-fitting cotton

garment ready on a chair. Next I put on Her clothes, wrapped this

garment and tied the sash at the waist. With all this massage and

warm-water bath, Amma's eye-lids were drooping with heavy sleep, like a

tiny infant. She could barely walk. Her long eye-lashes touched her

swoft-pink cheeks.

As I led Her downstairs, my friend Nisha was waiting with hot food. I

quickly baked two rotis and fed Amma tiny mouthfuls. After She had

eaten, I led Her back to the bedroom. I unwrapped the towel from Her

head. A plate of live, hot coal was ready, waiting. I poured some

fragrant powder (sambrani). As the perfumed smoke wafted in the air, I

gently brought it under from behind and let Her hair dry in that heat.

(This is an Indian way of drying your hair, so that it smells very

beautiful as it dries.) As I laid Her gently down on the bed, covering

Her with a thin, cotton sheet, running my fingers through Her to remove

tangles, I gently sang "Gopabalaka Gokuleshwara". Next I sang many songs

and towards the end just burst into tears. This, then was the birthday

celebration I had for Mother.

(I later read in e-amritavani that Amma was to give darshan to 50,000

people! I hope the bath and massage helped a tiny, tiny bit.)

Jai Ma!

Chandrika