Fwd: Amritavani # 164 ~ English ~ the eVoice of Amma

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Note: forwarded message attached.

 

 

 

 

 

Ôm

Amriteswaryai Namah

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

eVoice:-

nº 164

Mata

Amritanandamayi Math,

Amritapuri, India

15th January 2007

 

 

 

 

 

 

In this Amritavani

Ø- Around Amma: Government has Stepped Back Amma has

stepped in

Ø- Around Amma: Open your mouth

Ø- Mothersite: Amritapuri Updates

Ø- Mahayatra - Itinerary

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Around Amma

Government has Stepped Back Amma has stepped in

 

 

 

 

Where the Government has Stepped Back Amma has stepped in

6 Jan 2007 — Kozhikode

 

 

Amma's first visit to Kozhikode was at a

devotee's house back in 1984. Since then, Amma's public programmes

have drawn huge crowds. In 1993, the Brahmasthanam Temple was

inaugurated and successive programmes have been held there. Kozhikode is

Amma's Vrindavan {news} – home to thousands of fervent and

passionate devotees. During the Brahmasthanam festivals, thousands

of people would stand in line in the hot sun and cold nights with family

members of all ages for hours to receive her trademark embrace.

 

 

 

 

At least 1,70,000 people filled the Corporation

Stadium this evening for Amma's visit to Kozhikode. The

outdoor sport stadium setting and huge crowd immediately reminds one of

Amritavarsham50 {news}. " Lokah Samastah Sukhino Bhavantu " and

Bhakti Ta Jagadambei " were playing over the sound system just before

Amma's arrival. Dancers and performers in Kavadi and Mohini

Attam costumes entertained the crowd. By 5 p.m., the stadium field

was packed with people and the upper level seats were starting to fill up.

 

At approximately 6:00 p.m., Amma entered at the far

side of the stadium. As she walked across the field, dozens of

devotees threw flower petals on the path. One thousand

colourful helium-filled balloons were released into the skies.

Renowned Cultural Icon Soorya Krishnamurty gave the

Welcoming Speech and introduced Amma to the crowd: " Amma has shown

through her life that concern for others is real culture, not music or

dance or art. "

UC Raman MLA, assisted by ex-Minister Sujanapal

and Managing Editor of Mathrubhumi daily PV Chandran,helped distribute

pensions to the needy. A total of 500 new recipients will receive

pensions as a part of Amrita Nidhi.

 

 

 

A.K. Balan, Minister for Electricity, helped

distribute sewing machines to the unemployed. A total of 50 new

people will receive the machines. Speaking on the occasion, Mr.

Balan said, " Amma directed religion and faith in God to the

field of service. Without encouraging blind superstition, Amma is

teaching us to love one another. During the time of the tsunami,

Amma gave a perfect example of service. In areas where the

government has stepped back from the field of service, Amma has stepped

in and brought solace to the people. "

 

 

Sitting with Amma on stage were dignitaries from a

cornucopia of fields representing politics, academics, and the

arts. They included: Kerala Forest Minister Binoy Viswam,

Minister for Electricity A.K. Balan, Samutiri Sri PKS Raja,

U.C. Raman local MLA, Advocate Sujanapal,

Justice V.K. Eradi,

Dr. Madhavan Kutty,

M.G.S. Narayan – Historian,

Sri Soorya Krishnamurty, Film star Actress Kaviyoor Ponnamma,

and Film star Sri Balachandra Menon,

Kerala Forest Minister Binoy Viswam addressed the

gathered crowd: " I am an atheist. Here is this

woman who is not making any claims about herself. But I have

seen this woman in action during the tsunami – how courageous and

organized she was while serving the people. Amritanandamayi Devi is able

to love everyone without distinguishing between those who ‘have' and

those who ‘have-not'. She is teaching the world service to humanity.

Therefore I accept Amma. "

Renowned Malayalam Actress Kaviyoor Ponnamma paid her

tributes to Amma: " Trying to say something about a Mother who

showers goodness upon the world would be incomplete. I am not

worthy to speak about her compassion and greatness. " Ms.

Ponnamma helped distribute certificates of recognition to the 10 best

employees of Amrita Sree (Amrita Self Reliance Employment and Empowerment)

- a service project which manufactures and sells essential household

items. The group was inspired by Amma and provides a means of

livelihood for the unemployed.

Film star Balachandra Menon also spoke: " I first

met Amma in 1988 and I have been reading Matruvani magazine regularly. The

words reflect Amma's simplicity. They become a guru and guide in

times of difficulty. " He also advised everyone to read Matruvani.

After the ceremonies, Amma began giving

darshan. Students from the three Amrita vidyalayam schools in

Kozhikode then presented a multi-act play about Kerala – " God's

Own Country " - depicting scenes from the many religious

festivals held in Kerala throughout the year.

Amma;s Darshan finished just after 3pm the next day.

Amma had been sitting from 6pm to 3pm - 21 hours. 1,70,000 people had

stayed through the windy cold night, and hot day sun. Smiling, she got up

from the stage and into her van for the trip to Kodungallur.

—Kannadi

 

 

 

 

 

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Around Amma

Open

your mouth

 

 

Back in 1993, in Australia, it was the rage to run after

Mother's car when she left a program. There was one boy, age 10 or 11,

very devoted to Mother. He would continue to run after Mother even when

all the others had stopped. Sometimes Mother would say to stop the car

and she would pop a cashew into his mouth.

One year, we were at a retreat in Somers, just outside

Melbourne. I was driving Mother in those days. We left the hall after

the morning program - heading to a house nearby where Mother was staying. The usual group ran after the car for about a hundred meters or so. The

boy was actually ahead of us, running. We passed him, and in the rear

view mirror, I saw Amma smile. He was really pumping. Mother didn't

indicate to stop as she usually did, so I kept on driving - out of the

retreat site to the road. I could see him in the rear view mirror still

flying along. I sped up on the road, but after 600 or 700 meters, there

was a sweeping bend to the left. I lost site of him then. After about

another half a kilometer, Mother looked back. She indicated for me to

pull over and come to a stop. Then I saw him way back. We waited as he

came running to the car. Mother wound down the window. He was huffing

and puffing, but with an ecstatic smile spread across his face. Mother

was radiating pure love. The car was filled with it. Just as she reached

for a cashew, I turned to look. She held the cashew back a little, making

him open his mouth wide. When he did that, I saw the whole universe in

his opened mouth. I swear - just for a second, it was all there. The

whole universe.

She popped the cashew in and waived at me to drive on.

I told that story once or twice since then, but though, I

have seen that boy many times over the years, I never told him...

A few weeks ago in Amritapuri, just before New Years, I

found myself standing next to him at the rear of the stage while Mother

was giving darshan. He is 25 years old now and has recently completed a

medical degree. He was about to start a month of practical observation

at AIMS.

I asked him if he remembered running after the car all

those years. He looked a little perplexed. " Sure, " he said.

" I remember! "

I told him the story of seeing the whole universe in his

mouth.

He looked at me in awe. He said, " I've never told

anyone this. I'll never forget that day. I knew she would eventually pull

over. As She went to put the cashew in my mouth, she held it back. She

smiled and opened Her own mouth really wide. When She did that, I saw

the whole universe in Her mouth! "

We just looked at each other and then turned to watch

Her.

What can you say? She is the Divine Mother of the whole

universe and that universe is reflected in each and every one of us.

James, Australia

 

 

 

 

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Mothersite

 

 

Amritapuri.org

Updates

 

 

 

 

" I'll Be a Good Boy "

A Pilgrimage Across

the Land Revelling in Light

Innocence of a

Village

Kozhikode programme 32 photos

Kodungallur programme 38 photos

Open your

mouth

Put forth

the effort, Leave the rest

Tele-Fisheries and

Tsunami Alert System for Alappad

Ashram photo

updates

Videos from

Kozhikode

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Mahayatra

Itinerary of Amma

 

 

Coimbatore Brahmasthanam

Festival

Jan. 21-23 (Sunday – Tuesday)

Trichy (Tiruchi) Public Program

Jan. 25 (Thursday)

Chennai Public Program

Jan. 27 (Saturday)

Chennai Brahmasthanam Festival

Jan. 29-30 (Monday – Tuesday)

Nagapattanam Public Program

Feb. 1 (Thursday)

Madurai Public Program

Feb. 3 (Saturday)

Madurai Brahmasthanam Festival

Feb. 5 (Monday)

Ramanathapuram Public Program

Feb. 6 (Tuesday)

Kanyakumari Public Program

Feb. 8 (Thursday)

Tiruvananthapuram Public Program

Feb. 10 (Saturday)

For details of all other programmes, please visit Mahayatra

 

 

 

 

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Ôm Namah

Shivaya

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

eDharma

Mothersite

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