San Ramon: 1st Devi Bhava

[Guest guest]

Dear Ones,

 

I finally attended my first full Devi Bhava. Since I was not feeling

very well through the day, I was not confident I'd "make it" but I

did.

 

Starting at 6:30-ish PM, the Devi Bhava went until 9:30 AM the next

morning. The last posted darshan number was 3,450. At the end, Amma

blessed three or four people in wheelchairs, Jason who is

quadriplegic, served 7 babies their first solid food, and married 3

couples. One baby was Jewish. His parents dressed entirely in white

including the father's yamulke.

 

One of the brides was seeing Ammachi for the first time that

evening!!! She and I sat next to each other for a time and got to

talking to each other. At the time I had no idea she was geting

married that evening. Her husband obviously loves her very much. He

looked so happy!

 

Amma wore a purplish blue silk sari with heavy gold embroidery

throughout. She maintained even energy from beginning to end, not

showing even a slight sign of fatigue, unlike the rest of us. The

took her time with each person. I got TWO hugs and two packets of

prasad when my turn came around 3 AM. This left me wondering who the

other person was to whom I was to give the second prasad or if both

were for me so I could give Amma away to other unsuspecting persons

like the "stealth Amma representative" that I am.

 

My attempts to say the Lalitasahasranama stotram, which I love to say

when Amma is actually there in the room with me, was continually

interrupted by my favorite bhajans. As I would work on the stotram,

I'd tell myself that I need to do this more often at home, you know,

that it causes me to remember the Sanskrit I studied, etc. etc. Then

another favorite bhajan would rise and fill the room.

 

Well, she is, after all, lalita or playful, right?

 

Blessings!

 

Aikya