Guest guest Posted December 23, 2001 Report Share Posted December 23, 2001 After viewing the Amma doll pages that have recently been added on the amritapuri.org site, I feel like sharing my Amma doll experience. I had wanted an Amma doll for a long time, but always came up with some excuse for not buying one: they cost too much, boys aren't supposed to play with dolls (though I had seen some male devotees with them), even fears about having to declare the doll on my return to Canada. When I saw a devotee with a doll, I would always ask if I could hold his/her doll for a little bit. I felt like a smoker bumming cigarettes, not that I have that nasty nicotine addiction I decided before going to Ann Arbor last month, that this would be the year to get a doll of my own and stop bumming other devotees' dolls. The $90 price for a medium size 8" doll was no longer a deterrent. I usually spend much more than that at Amma's programs for books, tapes, etc. There was such a large selection of dolls on display in Ann Arbor, that it took me several minutes just to pick one out. Usually they only have a few for sale, but they must have been working overtime at the Amritapuri doll factory to meet the Christmas demand. Doll in hand, I awaited Amma's darshan. Amma might not see too many grown men bringing dolls for blessing, but without having to ask "your doll?" she knew it was a special gift for myself. She tilak'ed the doll - and me too! I don't recall Amma ever sticking kumkum paste on my forehead before. Since the doll received Amma's blessings, It's not easy to let go of her. She is sitting on my lap as I work at my computer. I sleep with her, and reach for her when I wake up. I talk to her and hug her as if this doll is Amma herself. The doll is not only soft and nurturing to cuddle, but fills the longing for Amma's darshan during the long wait between her tours. It's like a murti of the Divine Mother. But while most murtis are made of hard metal or stone, this is very warm, fuzzy, huggable, snuggable murti. And now, other devotees ask me if they could hold my doll. Nothwithstanding the cultural taboo against boys playing with dolls (G.I. Joe is not a doll but an "action figure") I think every little boy should have an Amma doll. And big boys too! The devi bhava sari could be on next year's shopping list. Just like Barbie dolls, "clothing and accessories sold separately"! Jai Ma! Keval Send your FREE holiday greetings online! http://greetings. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 23, 2001 Report Share Posted December 23, 2001 Namah Shivaya dear Keval, What a sweet, sweet story. Thank you so much for sharing it with us. My son and his girlfriend got a doll together in Ann Arbor, and he has been enjoying it so much, perhaps healing the part of himself that was trapped by the taboo against boys playing with dolls. Jai Ma for making space for boys to play with dolls. At Her Divine Feet, premarupa Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 3, 2002 Report Share Posted January 3, 2002 Ammachi, Mike Brooker <patria1818> wrote: > After viewing the Amma doll pages that have recently > been added on the amritapuri.org site, I feel like > sharing my Amma doll experience. > >Om Amrtesvaryai Namah! Namaste!! thanks so much for your Amma doll story...it reminded me of my Amma doll too...Who has reigned as sovereign of my own life since 1996...and Who has been adorned with Sandalwood paste, and indeed played with even, by Amma many times in the past years....it got so that i was known as that tall guy with the beard and the Amma doll...and when i ceased to bring Her out with me all the time at the retreats...(She is still THERE...just up in the room...)people would ask me where the Amma doll is...however, i had been getting the subtle and not so subtle cues from Mother that i needn't bring Amma doll along all the time now...that i should really be looking for Amma within my own self...and indeed She has been allowing me to experience the vastness, the bliss, of Her presence in many new and different milieus...some sacred, others seemingly less so...thus it feels like Her lessons proceed naturally from love and worship of the Saguna...to the formless, the Love, the Light of the Nirguna....still i have my Amma doll with me...and if i have a particualarly bad nightmare, it may be only She, who can comfort me....somehow that cuddly little stuffed Amma doll seems to radiate an amazing amount of Love and compassion...and fills a fearful, unhappy heart with bliss...and in Devi Bhava She is awe inspiring...yes even that Amma doll is aweinspiring in Devi Bhava...so Noble, so regal...so Divinely beautiful....i thank the day that She appeared in my life, just as i thank the day that Amma Herself appeared in my life this time... in Amma's Divine Love, and in Her Service, as ever, your own self, visvanathan Om Amrtesvaryai Namah!. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 4, 2002 Report Share Posted January 4, 2002 > > thanks so much for your Amma doll story...it > reminded me of my Amma > doll too... Since posting my Amma doll story, I have heard two other male devotees tell of their experiences. Way to go guys!!! The rest of you -- stop borrowing the Amma doll from your sister, daughter, wife, girlfriend, POSSLQ (person of opposite sex sharing living quarters), and get one of your own! Jai Ma! Keval Send your FREE holiday greetings online! http://greetings. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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