Amma dances with Parippally children

[Guest guest]

NEW on Amritapuri.org site, with video (not working yet on my browser)

http://www.amritapuri.org/amma/2004/409dance.htm

 

She Had Become One with Them

 

Amritapuri -- Tuesday, 24 August 2004

 

When you visit Amma's orphanage at Parippally and speak about Amma with

the children who live there, they never fail to mention one thing: Amma's

dancing. On holidays, such as Onam and Amma's birthday, all 500 or so

Parippally children come to Amritapuri -- to listen to Amma's bhajans, to

have Her darshan and, on two occasion in the past, to dance with Her.

 

The last time Amma danced with the Parippally orphans was in 1999. It was

the day after Amma's birthday, and despite just having given darshan to

25,000 people, Amma called all the children up to the roof of the flats to

talk, sing and joke around. Many of the children who stay at Parippally

come from the tribal regions of North Kerala and have grown up doing

traditional group dances. Out of the blue Amma asked some of the girls to

dance for Her but it wasn't long before Amma Herself joined in.

 

To this day, the Parippally orphans talk of that night up on the

rooftopeven the ones who weren't there. Among them, it's become like a

legend. For some a beautiful memory, for others a dream of what one day

could be.

 

This Tuesday, Amma looked out at the couple of thousand people assembled

for the evening bhajans. The small faces of the Parippally children dotted

the mass of devotees seated before Her. This is festival time in

KeralaOnam time, when everybody spends time with their families. The

children had come Amma as they thought of Her as their mother. Amma's

heart went out to them, and She spoke over the microphone, asking everyone

in the front to get up and make space for the children.

 

As the people seated in front moved to the sides, from all over the bhajan

hall groups of children began to slowly rise. With smiles mixed with

excitement and shyness, they made their way to the front and sat before

Amma. Throughout the rest of the bhajans, their voice rang out so strong

and clear.

When the bhajans ended, Amma walked back to Her room followed by all the

children, and there, by the stairs, She fed bananas and payasam to the

ashram elephant as usual. But when She finished She suddenly turned to the

Parippally kids and asked, "What song are you going to sing?"

 

Of course, they all knew what this meant, and a group of girls immediately

began singing the energetic call and response of one of their tribal songs

and demonstrating the corresponding dance for Amma. Amma learned the moves

in a matter of seconds. Soon She was stepping in the circle to the rhythm

and clapping Her hands high and low in synch with the young girls. To

anyone watching, it was obvious: She had become one with them. After the

girls had finished, it was the boys' turn. Amma asked them to show a

different dance and, once again, it took Her no time at all to fall in

step. It went on like this for three or four songs, all with different

moves and tunes.

 

If Amma hadn't been wearing a white sari, you would have thought Her to be

just another one of the tribal kids, someone that had known the dances Her

whole life. Her movements were so graceful, so full of beauty. But more

than that was Her enthusiasm -- Her smile, Her laugh. They were just like

those of the children.

 

Later, when asked about the dance, Amma said, "I did it just for them."

 

--Sakshi

 

 

Rachel Barrett Martin ("R.B.M.") Gallop

Ph.D. Candidate, Department of History

University of Minnesota, Twin Cities

[Guest guest]

What a beautiful story -- thank you for sending it

along. I especially loved the end quote:

 

<Later, when asked about the dance, Amma said, "I did

it just for them.">

 

True for every single moment of our precious Mother's

life, isn't it?

 

Namah Shivaya,

Amala

 

--- Rachel Barrett Gallop <mart0167 wrote:

 

> NEW on Amritapuri.org site, with video (not working

> yet on my browser)

> http://www.amritapuri.org/amma/2004/409dance.htm

>

> She Had Become One with Them

>

> Amritapuri -- Tuesday, 24 August 2004

>

> When you visit Amma's orphanage at Parippally and

> speak about Amma with

> the children who live there, they never fail to

> mention one thing: Amma's

> dancing. On holidays, such as Onam and Amma's

> birthday, all 500 or so

> Parippally children come to Amritapuri -- to listen

> to Amma's bhajans, to

> have Her darshan and, on two occasion in the past,

> to dance with Her.

>

> The last time Amma danced with the Parippally

> orphans was in 1999. It was

> the day after Amma's birthday, and despite just

> having given darshan to

> 25,000 people, Amma called all the children up to

> the roof of the flats to

> talk, sing and joke around. Many of the children who

> stay at Parippally

> come from the tribal regions of North Kerala and

> have grown up doing

> traditional group dances. Out of the blue Amma asked

> some of the girls to

> dance for Her but it wasn't long before Amma Herself

> joined in.

>

> To this day, the Parippally orphans talk of that

> night up on the

> rooftopeven the ones who weren't there. Among them,

> it's become like a

> legend. For some a beautiful memory, for others a

> dream of what one day

> could be.

>

> This Tuesday, Amma looked out at the couple of

> thousand people assembled

> for the evening bhajans. The small faces of the

> Parippally children dotted

> the mass of devotees seated before Her. This is

> festival time in

> KeralaOnam time, when everybody spends time with

> their families. The

> children had come Amma as they thought of Her as

> their mother. Amma's

> heart went out to them, and She spoke over the

> microphone, asking everyone

> in the front to get up and make space for the

> children.

>

> As the people seated in front moved to the sides,

> from all over the bhajan

> hall groups of children began to slowly rise. With

> smiles mixed with

> excitement and shyness, they made their way to the

> front and sat before

> Amma. Throughout the rest of the bhajans, their

> voice rang out so strong

> and clear.

> When the bhajans ended, Amma walked back to Her room

> followed by all the

> children, and there, by the stairs, She fed bananas

> and payasam to the

> ashram elephant as usual. But when She finished She

> suddenly turned to the

> Parippally kids and asked, "What song are you going

> to sing?"

>

> Of course, they all knew what this meant, and a

> group of girls immediately

> began singing the energetic call and response of one

> of their tribal songs

> and demonstrating the corresponding dance for Amma.

> Amma learned the moves

> in a matter of seconds. Soon She was stepping in the

> circle to the rhythm

> and clapping Her hands high and low in synch with

> the young girls. To

> anyone watching, it was obvious: She had become one

> with them. After the

> girls had finished, it was the boys' turn. Amma

> asked them to show a

> different dance and, once again, it took Her no time

> at all to fall in

> step. It went on like this for three or four songs,

> all with different

> moves and tunes.

>

> If Amma hadn't been wearing a white sari, you would

> have thought Her to be

> just another one of the tribal kids, someone that

> had known the dances Her

> whole life. Her movements were so graceful, so full

> of beauty. But more

> than that was Her enthusiasm -- Her smile, Her

> laugh. They were just like

> those of the children.

>

> Later, when asked about the dance, Amma said, "I did

> it just for them."

>

> --Sakshi

>

>

> Rachel Barrett Martin ("R.B.M.") Gallop

> Ph.D. Candidate, Department of History

> University of Minnesota, Twin Cities

>

>