Shivarathri

Namasthe………
Message from Bharat-Heritage on 05.03.2005
Shivaratri

Introduction
The Story of King Chitrabhanu
Spiritual Significance of the Ritual
Lord Shiva's Assuarance


Introduction

This falls on the 13th (or 14th) day of the dark half of Phalgun (February-March). The name means "the night of Shiva". The ceremonies take place chiefly at night. This is a festival observed in honour of Lord Shiva. Shiva was married to Parvati on this day.
People observe a strict fast on this day. Some devotees do not even take a drop of water. They keep vigil all night. The Shiva Lingam is worshipped throughout the night by washing it every three hours with milk, curd, honey, rose water, etc., whilst the chanting of the Mantra Om Namah Shivaya continues. Offerings of bael leaves are made to the Lingam. Bael leaves are very sacred as, it is said, Lakshmi resides in them.

Hymns in praise of Lord Shiva, such as the Shiva Mahimna Stotra of Pushpadanta or Ravana's Shiva Tandava Stotra are sung with great fervour and devotion. People repeat the Panchakshara Mantra, Om Namah Shivaya. He who utters the Names of Shiva during Shivaratri, with perfect devotion and concentration, is freed from all sins. He reaches the abode of Shiva and lives there happily. He is liberated from the wheel of births and deaths.
Many pilgrims flock to the places where there are Shiva temples.

The Story of King Chitrabhanu

In the Shanti Parva of the Mahabharata, Bhishma, whilst resting on the bed of arrows and discoursing on Dharma, refers to the observance of Maha Shivaratri by King Chitrabhanu. The story goes as follows.
Once upon a time King Chitrabhanu of the Ikshvaku dynasty, who ruled over the whole of Jambudvipa, was observing a fast with his wife, it being the day of Maha Shivaratri. The sage Ashtavakra came on a visit to the court of the king.

The sage asked, "O king! why are you observing a fast today?"

King Chitrabhanu explained why. He had the gift of remembering the incidents of his previous birth. The king said to the sage: "In my past birth I was a hunter in Varanasi. My name was Suswara. My livelihood was to kill and sell birds and animals. One day I was roaming the forests in search of animals. I was overtaken by the darkness of night. Unable to return home, I climbed a tree for shelter. It happened to be a bael tree. I had shot a deer that day but I had no time to take it home. I bundled it up and tied it to a branch on the tree. As I was tormented by hunger and thirst, I kept awake throughout the night. I shed profuse tears when I thought of my poor wife and children who were starving and anxiously awaiting my return. To pass away the time that night I engaged
myself in plucking the bael leaves and dropping them down onto the ground.

"The day dawned. I returned home and sold the deer. I bought some food for myself and for my family. I was about to break my fast when a stranger came to me, begging for food. I served him first and then took my food.

"At the time of death, I saw two messengers of Lord Shiva. They were sent down to conduct my soul to the abode of Lord Shiva. I learnt then for the first time of the great merit I had earned by the unconscious worship of Lord Shiva during the night of Shivaratri. They told me that there was a Lingam at the bottom of the tree. The leaves I dropped fell on the Lingam.

My tears which I had shed out of pure sorrow for my family fell onto the Lingam and washed it. And I had fasted all day and all night. Thus did I unconsciously worship the Lord.

"I lived in the abode of the Lord and enjoyed divine bliss for long ages. I am now reborn as Chitrabhanu."

Spiritual Significance of the Ritual

The Scriptures record the following dialogue between Sastri and Atmanathan, giving the inner meaning of the above story.

Sastri: It is an allegory. The wild animals that the hunter fought with are lust, anger, greed, infatuation, jealousy and hatred. The jungle is the fourfold mind, consisting of the subconscious mind, the intellect, the ego and the conscious mind. It is in the mind that these "wild animals" roam about freely. They must be killed. Our hunter was pursuing them because he was a Yogi. If you want to be a real Yogi you have to conquer these evil
tendencies. Do you remember the name of the hunter in the story?

Atmanathan: Yes, he was called Suswara.

Sastri: That's right. It means "melodious". The hunter had a pleasant melodious voice. If a person practices Yama and Niyama and is ever conquering his evil tendencies, he will develop certain external marks of a Yogi. The first marks are lightness of the body, health, steadiness, clearness of countenance and a pleasant voice. This stage has been spoken of in detail in the Swetaswatara Upanishad. The hunter or the Yogi had for many
years practised Yoga and had reached the first stage. So he is given the name Suswara. Do you remember where he was born?

Atmanathan: Yes, his birthplace is Varanasi.

Sastri: Now, the Yogis call the Ajna Chakra by the name Varanasi. This is the point midway between the eyebrows. It is regarded as the meeting place of the three nerve currents (Nadis), namely, the Ida, Pingala and the Sushumna. An aspirant is instructed to concentrate on that point. That helps him to conquer his desires and evil qualities like anger and so on. It is there that he gets a vision of the Divine Light within.

Atmanathan: Very interesting! But how do you explain his climbing up the bael tree and all the other details of the worship?

Sastri: Have you ever seen a bael leaf?

Atmanathan: It has three leaves on one stalk.

Sastri: True. The tree represents the spinal column. The leaves are threefold. They represent the Ida, Pingala and Sushumna Nadis, which are the regions for the activity of the moon, the sun and fire respectively, or which may be thought of as the three eyes of Shiva. The climbing of the tree is meant to represent the ascension of the Kundalini Shakti, the serpentine power, from the lowest nerve centre called the Muladhara to the Ajna Chakra. That is the work of the Yogi.

Atmanathan: Yes, I have heard of the Kundalini and the various psychic centres in the body. Please go on further; I am very interested to know more.

Sastri: Good. The Yogi was in the waking state when he began his meditation. He bundled up the birds and the animals he had slain and, tying them on a branch of the tree, he rested there. That means he had fully conquered his thoughts and rendered them inactive. He had gone through the steps of Yama, Niyama, Pratyahara, etc. On the tree he was practising concentration and meditation. When he felt sleepy, it means that he was about to lose consciousness and go into deep sleep. So he determined to keep awake.

Atmanathan: That is now clear to me; you certainly do explain it very well. But why did he weep for his wife and children?

Sastri: His wife and children are none other than the world. One who seeks the Grace of God must become an embodiment of love. He must have an all-embracing sympathy. His shedding of tears is symbolical of his universal love. In Yoga also, one cannot have illumination without Divine Grace.

Without practising universal love, one cannot win that Grace. One must perceive one's own Self everywhere. The preliminary stage is to identify one's own mind with the minds of all created beings. That is fellow-feeling or sympathy. Then one must rise above the limitations of the mind and merge it in the Self. That happens only in the stage of Samadhi, not earlier.

Atmanathan: Why did he pluck and drop the bael leaves?

Sastri: That is mentioned in the story only to show that he had no extraneous thoughts. He was not even conscious of what he was doing. All his activity was confined to the three Nadis. The leaves, I have said before, represent the three Nadis. He was in fact in the second state, namely, the dream state, before he passed into the deep sleep state.

Atmanathan: He kept vigil the whole night, it is said.

Sastri: Yes, that means that he passed through the deep sleep state successfully. The dawning of day symbolises the entrance into the Fourth state called Turiya or superconsciousness.

Atmanathan: It is said that he came down and saw the Lingam. What does that mean?

Sastri: That means that in the Turiya state he saw the Shiva Lingam or the mark of Shiva in the form of the inner lights. In other words, he had the vision of the Lord. That was an indication to him that he would realise the supreme, eternal abode of Lord Shiva in course of time.

Atmanathan: So it appears from what you say that the sight of the lights is not the final stage?

Sastri: Oh no! That is only one step, albeit a difficult one. Now think of how the story continues. He goes home and feeds a stranger. A stranger is one whom you have not seen before. The stranger is no other than the hunter himself, transformed into a new person. The food was the likes and dislikes which he had killed the previous night. But he did not consume the whole of it. A little still remained. That was why he had to be reborn as King Chitrabhanu. Going to the world of Shiva (Salokya) is not enough to prevent this. There are other stages besides Salokya. These are Samipya, Sarupya and finally Sayujya. Have you not heard of Jaya and Vijaya returning from Vaikunta?

Atmanathan: Yes, I have understood now.

Lord Shiva's Assuarance

When creation had been completed, Shiva and Parvati went out to live on the top of Mount Kailas. Parvati asked, "O venerable Lord! which of the many rituals observed in Thy honour doth please Thee most?" The Lord replied, "The 14th night of the new moon, in the dark fortnight during the month of Phalgun, is my most favourite day. It is known as Shivaratri. My devotees give me greater happiness by mere fasting than by
ceremonial baths and offerings of flowers, sweets and incense.

"The devotee observes strict spiritual discipline in the day and worships Me in four different forms during each of the four successive three-hour periods of the night. The offering of a few bael leaves is more precious to Me than the precious jewels and flowers. My devotee should bathe Me in milk at the first period, in curd at the second, in clarified butter at the third, and in honey at the fourth and last. Next morning, he should feed the
Brahmins first and, after performing the prescribed ceremonies, he can break his fast.
O Parvati! there is no ritual which can compare with this simple routine in sanctity."

Parvati was deeply impressed by the speech of Loid Shiva. She repeated it to Her friends who in their turn passed it on to the ruling princes on earth. Thus was the sanctity of Shivaratri broadcast all over the world.

The two great natural forces that afflict man are Rajas (the quality of passionate activity) and Tamas (that of inertia). The Shivaratri Vrata aims at the perfect control of these two. The entire day is spent at the Feet of the Lord. Continuous worship of the Lord necessitates the devotee's constant presence in the place of worship. Motion is controlled. Evils like lust, anger, and jealousy, born of Rajas are ignored and subdued. The devotee
observes vigil throughout the night and thus conquers Tamas also. Constant vigilance is imposed on the mind. Every three hours a round of worship of the Shiva Lingam is conducted. Shivaratri is a perfect Vrata.

The formal worship consists of bathing the Lord. Lord Shiva is considered to be the Form of Light (which the Shiva Lingam represents). He is burning with the fire of austerity. He is therefore best propitiated with cool bathing.

While bathing the Lingam the devotee prays: "O Lord! I will bathe Thee with water, milk, etc. Do Thou kindly bathe me with the milk of wisdom. Do Thou kindly wash me of all my sins, so that the fire of worldliness which is scorching me may be put out once for all, so that I may be one with Thee-the One alone without a second."

At the Sivananda Ashram, Rishikesh, the Shivaratri festival is celebrated in the following manner.

1. All spiritual aspirants fast the whole day, many of them without taking even a single drop of water.

2. A grand havan is performed for the peace and welfare of all.

3. The whole day is spent in doing the Japa of Om Namah Shivaya and in meditation upon the Lord.

4. At night all assemble in the temple and chant Om Namah Shivaya the whole night.

5. During the four quarters of the night the Shiva Lingam is worshipped with intense devotion.

6. Sannyas Diksha is also given on this day to sincere seekers on the path.

Offer this inner worship to Lord Shiva daily: "I worship the jewel of my Self, the Shiva residing in the Lotus of my heart. I bathe Him with the water of my pure mind brought from the river of faith and devotion. I worship Him with the fragrant flowers of Samadhi-all this so that I may not be born again in this world."

Here is another formula for the supreme worship of the Lord: "O Shiva! You are my Self. My mind is Parvati. My Pranas are your servants. My body is your house. My actions in this world are your worship. My sleep is Samadhi. My walk is circumambulation of you. My speech is your prayer. Thus do I offer all that I am to you.

By Sri Swami Sivananda

Amma's Relief Plan

Quoted from www.msn.co.in
Amritanandamayi's tsunami relief plan
Source: IANS.
Chennai, Feb 6: The Mata Amritanandamayi Math has announced a $22 million 'livelihood rehabilitation programme' for tsunami affected fishermen of Tamil Nadu, the Andaman and Nicobar islands and Sri Lanka.

"Our work in Tamil Nadu has made the Sri Lankan authorities invite us to assist in that country, which was one of most devastated regions in the Dec 26 tsunami," said an official of the math.

"For the time being, the math has offered financial assistance of (Rs.60 million) to Sri Lanka for rebuilding destroyed houses," says Abhayamritananda Swami, who is in charge of the math's relief and rehabilitation programme.

The math had sent a proposal to the Tamil Nadu government for rehabilitation work in Chennai, Kanchipuram, Cuddalore, Nagapattinam and Kanyakumari districts, besides Karaikal and Pondicherry, the neighbouring union territory.

"The Tamil Nadu government responded rapidly to our rehabilitation plans. It will take us about nine months to one year to complete all the work," Abhayamirtananda told IANS.

The math has already spent about Rs.120 million in immediate relief operations.

Entering the second phase, that of rehabilitation, its programme has five components.

The 'Amrita Nidhi' scheme provides a monthly pension of Rs.450 (about $10) to all the tsunami widows in all the geographical areas the math is working in.

Already, 100 such widows have been identified. "The math plans to employ women who have lost their children as foster mothers to children who have lost their parents," Abhayamritananda said.

The children's homes will be set up in the villages from where the orphans come. The foster mothers will also be locals. Women educated up to Class 10 will be trained and provided employment as nursing assistants under a third scheme.

In the first phase, about 300 girls have been selected from the tsunami-hit districts to serve as nursing assistants. The assistants will be employed at the Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Centre at Kochi in Kerala.

The math has selected a second set of another 150 trainee nurses from Tamil Nadu. It will support students, affected by the Dec 26 disaster, in various schools and colleges.

Another 24 students have already been selected for the aid. The institution is in the process of selecting 100 more for tuition fee relief. In what is seen as a unique move, the math is promoting self-help groups (SHGs) among men.

It will provide destitute fishermen with engine-fitted fibre boats and fishing nets in all the villages selected for permanent rehabilitation.

The women are to be trained in vocational skills like embroidery, sewing, candle making and toy making, again through SHGs, "which we have found a very effective instrument for implementing rehabilitation programmes", the math official said.

At Nagapattinam, the worst hit district in India, the Tamil Nadu government has asked the math to rebuild two villages: Pattinacherry and Samanthampettai.

"We also plan to take up another village, Akkarapettai, jointly with the Tata relief committee," Abhayamritananda said. "As many as 1,300 houses are to be constructed under our rehabilitation programme."

Each house will cost Rs.110,000. The 300 sq ft space will have two rooms, a kitchen and a toilet along with outdoor space.

The math will also take up rehabilitation work in three villages of Kanyakumari district. One village in Chennai and three villages at Pondicherry and Karaikal will also be assisted.

The math will build 2,000 houses in Kerala's tsunami hit areas. Three hundred houses will be constructed in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

Amma's Tour Cancelled

Aum Amriteswaryai Namah

Dear Divine Brothers & Sisters,

I think you are already aware that Amma's Indian Tour, beyond
Bangalore, stands cancelled. It is unfortunate, but in the current
situation, a necessity. The people who are physically, psychological
and financially devastated by the recent tsunami waves are looking up
to Amma for solace and succour.

The Ashram has built nine shelters thus far and has many families
staying in the Engineering College Campus -- altogether providing
accommodation for 1,321 families altogether in them, as well as is
providing food to about 12,000 people daily. In addition to this Amma
has decided to give jobs to over 400 young men and women in our
institutions. This is in Kerala alone. There are large-scale
activities in Tamil Nadu as well, where the Ashram has adopted three
villages where all the destroyed houses--numbering about 2,000--shall
be rebuilt, the children provided education, about 350 orphans adopted
and an orphanage started. Of course, as in Kerala, the Ashram is
providing food and has set up temporary shelters for the people. In
Andaman & Nicobar Islands too, the Ashram has adopted villages.

On the invitation of the Sri Lankan Government, Amma is considering
visiting Sri Lanka in the near future, to console and give solace to
the suffering. The Ashram intends to build houses there too, as there
has been an official request along these lines.

Although Amma and the Mata Amritanandamayi Math is able and willing to
provide whatever services that may be required by the tsunami
affected, major decisions like the types and number of houses, the
plans, the beneficiaries, etc have not been taken by the government so
far. On January 3, Amma made Her momentous announcement, pledging 100
crores for the relief and rehabilitation work. Throughout the world,
this announcement was wholeheartedly welcomed with enthusiasm and joy.
But as the month of January draws to an end, there are still many
unsettled and unresolved issues.

In the meantime, the suffering villagers wait... the past full of
sorrow and the future uncertain.

As you are aware, Amma Herself is the inspiration and guiding force
behind all of our activities. The villagers feel that, as a decision
has not been reached, Amma's absence from Amritapuri will slow down or
even stop the rehabilitation activities. Another factor is that about
350 people travel with Amma on the Indian Tour. They are the hands
through which Amma works. If such a large number of people were to
leave the Ashram at this time, it would have a detrimental effect on
the relief activities.

Keeping all these factors in mind and not wanting to add to the worry
or sorrows of the people who still have yet to recover from the fell
blow of nature, Amma has decided to return to Amritapuri after the
Bangalore programme and guide the tsunami relief activities. Of
course, though Amma will not be able to come to you, Her blessings and
love are ever with you. I am sure that you will understand the
situation and keep praying for the peace of the suffering people.

With love & prayers.

At Amma's Lotus Feet,

Swami Amritaswarupananda Puri

From Madhavankutty menon

"My Hands Have Been Tied"
26 January 2005 — Amritapuri

Today marks one month. One month since the tsunami came. One month
since everything changed for millions in South East Asia.

250,000—this is the death toll. But what about the number of people
sent into mourning? What about the number of people rendered homeless?
What about the number who lost their source of income? Their ability
to sleep through the night? For them—the survivors—one month ago
everything changed. And for one month now they've been waiting for it
to change back.

Each day many come to Amma and their eyes say it all.

Death does not negotiate; it forces you to accept. And this is what is
happening—slowly, with each passing week, the villagers are coming
more and more to terms with the empty spaces left in their lives.

Now, it's the other things—the things that are actually possible to
fight—about which they are coming to Amma.

"Amme! What should I do?" one woman asked Amma a few days back. "My
daughter just had a baby. She is staying at my sister's house now, but
I am not sure how long her husband will allow it. There is no proper
place for her at the shelters. There is no privacy."

"I can't sleep," another told Amma. "It is just one big room there
with everyone sleeping together—the men, the women, the children.
We've never lived like this before. My daughter is all grown up; it
makes me uncomfortable. How many more days will we have to stay like
this? With the turning of each day, our hopes are dying. Our house is
still standing, but to sleep there is terrifying; its structure is no
longer sound. Everything inside was washed away. The government is not
interested. Amma, you have to look after us. You have to help us. If
Amma even thinks it, I know it will happen."

Amma says that when She hears such things, it pains her.

"It's as if someone is lying in front of me who has been in an
accident and I want to rush them to the hospital, but my hands are
tied behind my back," Amma told one of the ladies. "We are ready to
build any number of houses, but the government won't give us the plan
or any guidance. There is no support corresponding with the level of
the Ashram's inspiration. We just need the government to give us the
plan. They are not moving fast enough according to the pain and
suffering of the people."

Since the tsunami, the Ashram has built temporary shelters for some
250 families in the Alappad Panchayat alone—and for another 250
families in Nagapattinam, Tamil Nadu. It has also lent five acres of
land to the Kerala government for it to build temporary shelters on as
well, and is accommodating 2,000 villagers at the Amrita University
engineering college—despite the fact that Christmas vacation has long
since ended. Amma says She was happy that the Ashram was able to get
the shelters up so quickly, but that now She is saddened to hear the
sorrows of the villagers. She is impatient to get the construction of
the new houses started.

The villagers' hardships are seemingly unending. With their fishing
nets and boats lost or damaged beyond repair, the fishermen have no
way to work. And even the ones who have the means to fish are not
going out to sea. They say the fish are not where they are supposed to
be, that the sea has strange undercurrents now, and even when they
make a sizeable catch they are not able to sell it at a decent price.

Others villagers are finding themselves in awkward social
situations—such as parents who had arranged the marriage of their
children but now the groom or bride-to-be is dead. In some cases, all
the money and jewellery for the wedding has been lost in the flood—or
even their entire home. "How can my daughter get married now?" they
ask Amma. "What can we do?"

Some women are in the final stage of pregnancy but have no proper
place to rest. The sick have no chairs to sit on, no cots to lie down
upon at the camps.

At the shelters, many of the men have begun sleeping in the open air,
out of consideration for the women. "They are trying to be strong,"
Amma says, "but many are suffering from depression." They have no
work, and they don't see any light at the end of the tunnel.

If it wasn't for the food and the roof put over the head by the
Ashram, who knows what they would be doing. In fact, on January 10th,
when Amma walked from the Ashram to the Azhikkal in order to offer Her
prayers for the dead, She was approached by a group of strong young
men who were boiling with anger at how little help they were being
offered by the government. They boldly declared, "If not for what You
have done, Amma, we would have simply taken to terrorism!"

The Ashram has not stopped serving food since the day the tsunami
struck—first at the 12 relief camps, then at the temporary shelters
and at 22 food counters up and down the Beach Road.

But it has not been easy.

There is no way to calculate how many people will come to take food on
any given day. Seemingly at random, one day it's more, one day it's
less. According to the brahmachari in charge, one of the problems is
the phenomenon of what have come to be known as "tsunami tourists,"
people who take drives down Beach Road to view the damage and
then—having no other place to get food—eat at the Ashram counters.

The brahmacharis preparing and transporting the food are under a lot
of pressure. Amma has told them to make sure that not one serving
spoon of food is wasted. So they have to be very careful not to make
too much. At the same time, if they make too little and run out, the
villagers may have to wait for them to cook more—this is also
unacceptable.

The solution is a delicate dance: they prepare a set amount of rice
and then keep the water to cook more on the cusp of a boil. The
brahmachari in charge of transporting the food out to the Beach Road
counters carries a mobile phone, and as soon as he is sure they need
more rice, he puts in the call to the kitchen. The same thing is done
with the curry. After the first batch is made, a base is prepared to
which the final ingredients are added only if they get the call. If
more is not needed, that base can be used for the next meal's curry.

There are other pressures too. Amma has repeatedly told the
brahmacharis doing this work that they must make sure that no
strangers come into the kitchen, behind the serving counters or into
the vehicles transporting the food. She is worried that some malicious
person may try to contaminate the food. She has also told the
brahmacharis that they should not eat until all of the villagers have
been served.

The other day, the brahmachari in charge of the kitchen was conveying
some of these problems to Amma during darshan. Amma agreed with him
that the situation was difficult. "It's only by grace that we've been
able to do what we are doing," She told him. Indeed, serving all these
people—every day, three times a day, for one month now—would be
impossible by human effort alone.

Amma explained to him that She feels the pain of the villagers.
"They've been put into a position where all they can do is take what
is offered," She told the brahmachari. "They are unsatisfied in so
many ways. Nothing anyone is offering them in this current situation
is enough—work, money, shelter… At least we can fill their stomachs.
Let them at least be able to say the word 'enough' three times a day."

On the medical front, the Ashram doctors continue to work around the
clock. Talking with the villagers these days, it is clear that the
doctors have really created awareness amongst them regarding the
possibility of epidemics breaking out and the methods to safeguard
themselves against them. Again, Amma says, "It is only due to grace
that no diseases have broken out in the village."

The Ashram doctors have also been sending women in the final stages of
pregnancy to AIMS for antar-natal checkups and deliveries. They've
even arranged for seven women who lost all their children in the
tsunami to go to AIMS to see if doctors there can reverse their
contraceptive tubal-ligation surgeries. It is the hope of the couples
and of Amma that they once again will be able to know the joys of
parenthood.

And it's not only the villagers of Alappad who've been coming to
Amritapuri seeking Amma's help. On three different occasions, people
from various villages in Nagappattinam, the hardest-hit district in
Tamil Nadu, have also made the pilgrimage to the Ashram. Some of those
villagers said they were told specifically by M. J. Radhakrishanan,
the District Collector of Nagappattinam, to go to Amma and ask for Her
help. In their district, many big companies have started constructing
houses, but the villagers are insisting that Amma also should build
some. She has agreed—adopting two villages and promising to build
2,000 homes in three villages altogether.

People have even flown all the way from Sri Lanka to supplicate to
Amma for Her grace and financial assistance. The other day, one such
man came for Amma's darshan with folded hands: "So many have died in
our country, and now many of the survivors are committing suicide
because of the intensity of their grief," he said. "They need peace of
mind and consolation."

Amma has even received a letter of invitation to come to Sri Lanka
from Sri. K.N. Douglas Devananda, a minister holding four offices in
the country. "The devastation is unparalleled in our known history,"
he wrote. "The victims need spiritual healing, solace, succour and
blessing."

Amma has said that She would love to build 3,000 houses in the island
country—stressing that all are Her children, not just the people of
India. But it is difficult to arrange the work, as according to Indian
law the Ashram cannot expend funds in another country. For the time
being, She has sent Swami Ramakrishnananda, Brahmachari Vinayamrita
Chaitanya and a few other brahmacharis to look into the potential for
Ashram assistance in the country.

As for Amma, one has never seen Her more busy. Even as She gives
darshan, She is constantly dealing with various aspects of the relief
work. And when darshan is finished, She continues all night long in
Her room—meeting with people in person and on the phone—government
officials, village leaders, brahmacharis in charge of construction…
Anyone who walks by can see that Her light is on all night. She takes
no rest at all.

Amma is impatient. Her prayers are the same as the villagers': She
wants their houses up, She wants the men working again, She wants
everyone's life to be back on track. If everyone had this intensity…

—Sakshi

Monthly Bhajan February 2005

Message to All...

Monthly Satsang on
4th of FEB. 2005

Friday 10 AM
At Smt & Sri.N.K.Malhothraji's residence
Mishref.
All are Invited.


Lokaha Samasthaha Sukhino Bhavanthu!!!

Manasi about Ashram

Quoting a mail message sent by Manasi to her parents Sri Menonji and Manjuji.
" Om Amriteshwaryai Namah!
Dearest pappa and amma,
As i told you earlier it was a real miracle that
i could go to meet Amma on new year. The conference i
was supposed to attend got cancelled due to the
tsunami alert and our principal issued a notice asking
no body to leave for kerala...as i had taken written
permission one week earlier i left the place without
giong to ask again knowing that i wont be allowed....
When i reached vallikavu on 1st jan all the ashramites
had already gone back to the ashram from AICT.I heard
many stories about what happened there on the
26th...the day the tsunami hit the ashram...
It was a Devi bhava day and there were about 20000
to 25000 people in the ashram that day for Amma's
darshan. It seems Amma asked one of the Bhramhachraris
to go and have a look at the sea at about 12:15pm
while she was giving darshan.... he went and came back
running telling Amma that the sea had gone back
several meters....hearing this Amma told all the
devotees to go upstairs....Even before this Amma
warned one of the devotees to move her car from where
they had parked it ...ie near the back gate of the
ashram....suddenly water started flowing in through
the back side of the ashram...by then it had already
washed out many of the small houses on the beach and
the local people were also running into the ashram
having lost everything... the first 2 waves pulled
down the wall behind the western cafe .... just as
everybody thought it was over a third wave
which was
much bigger than the first 2 came gushing in.... it
really caused a lot of panic....Meantime Amma asked
the temple doors to be opened completely so that all
the locals who were running for their lives could come
in....they came crying to Amma having lost
everything...many lost their houses...many lost their
family....many didn’t even know whether their near and
dear ones were alive or not....
The way i heard it was so touching...Amma, seeing the
plight of these people raised both her arms and told
them to come running to her and that she would save
all of them...."makkale odi vaa.... makkale Amma
rakshikyam... jackal endue kondum veshamikyanda..."
they all ran to her shedding pools of tears...
By this time the water in the ashram was 3 ft high and
was still rising.... many devotees over there
witnessed a very miraculous incident
there.... seeing
the rising water Amma got very angry... in that mood
Amma took off her veil and threw it in the water..
everybody who saw it were amazed to see that the water
never came up after that...
Amma had told all the devotees to pray and loudly
perform archana.... it was the most touching sight to
see... all the people over there were chanting with
tears filled in their eyes... many out of grief. Many
out of gratitude towards Amma for saving their life...
it was a once in a life time chance for many to see a
miracle happening before their own eyes.... as they
were all chanting loudly and were in Amma's presence
no body panicked... Amma send people in groups to the
boats... first the locals ..then the foreigners and at
last the ashramites..... Amma then shifted the cows
and the elephants to the temple hall.....
after
sending everyone... only Amma and senior swamis
stayed back.... it is after everybody pleaded to Amma
that she at last obliged to leave the ashram.....
then Amma immediately started relief work for the
people who lost everything.... she set up about 9
relief camps...she went around consoling people and
shed a lot of tears along with them... it was an
extremely touching sight.....rest of the story i guess
you all must be knowing.....

its Amma's infinite grace that nothing happened to
the 25000 people in the ashram that day.....its truly
a miracle......that’s all for now.... I’ll write to u
later......

with lots of love and prayers....
maanasi
"

Amma 

Gayathi's experiences at Nagapattanam

Quoting below Gayathri's Experinces at Nagapattanm-serving the Tsunamivictims.This mail was sent to her parents.Narayanji and Nirmalaji. Andwe forward the mail along withthe spirit and feeling of ecstasywhich derives from real seva as experienced by our dear Gayathri to
all Amma's makkal in Kuwait.
***************************

"Yesterday I had come back from Nagapattanam. it was really a different experience, I would like to tell u everything but I will wait till I see u face to face. those children there... they are so innocent and so much in want of love. when we entered the camp, they swarmed all over us. they were really very nice children.. there were about 400 of them roughly between the age of 3 and 14. Some of them lost both father and mother, some only mother and some lost their father. I taught them ringa ringa roses, ran and played with them and gave them food, sang and danced with them. I taught them " dhyayamo. "They asked me seeing my AMMA’S locket who this AMMA is? I told everything about AMMA. One boy wanted to see AMMA immediately. All of them were really grateful to AMMA. Then I told them that they should pray always and also specially before eating food. Some chechi’s and amma’s were sitting totally lost and depressed. I talked to them, consoled them and told them that “AMMA” is always with them. I sang “AMBA BHAVANI” for them and they joined me forgetting everything for a moment. They were shedding tears, me too. In that one day I really felt as if there was some meaning in my living. I really felt so peaceful. my mind was really at rest and I got a special joy and satisfaction that I was able to make those orphaned children feel loved and happy. when it was time for us to go, they were pleading with us not to go and said “AKKA POGAKUDATHU”. Even I dint feel like leaving them... because they had no one.. I am really thankful to our AMMA that she gave me this opportunity to see what the real world outside is like....

With love and prayers
Gayathri"