Guest guest Posted February 7, 2003 Report Share Posted February 7, 2003 26 Dec. Attended Archana and then had tea. Had the thought to come to the 7th floor of the "luxury condos" to watch the sunrise. It's a great idea, as I am all alone! The flatness of the terrain makes the sunrise here splendorous! The perfect full moon is on my right above the Arabian sea. I watch as the bright, florescent orange sun rises above the horizon, which is higher than the tops of the trees. Now I can see both the sun and moon in perfect opposition. It is Thursday, Devi Bhava day, and already (6:50 a.m.) the villagers are lining up. All around me there is the cacaphony of modern India--amplified music (different songs, of course) on all sides and the never-ending cawing of crows and crowing of roosters. Somehow the noise doesn't offend me. I can see the waterway between here and Vallikavu, as well as an apparent canal in Vallikavu. Boats and boatmen pole through the waters. Ancient Chinese-style fishing nets line the waterway at regular intervals. Alread the sun's warmth is making itself felt, and the color has changed from orange to gold. There are also several boats and fishermen out on the Arabian Sea side, one with 12-15 men in it. The sun is getting bright in my eyes now, and I start inside to write more. As I get to a better vantage point, I see boatloads of religious pilgrims coming this way from the village. One boatload is half-way across and another is filling on the opposite shore. Somehow in many ways this feels like my home. I belong here. 12:30 a.m. Y and I are standing outside in the western darshan line listening to a gentle Carnatic chant with the soft Indian night around us. There's no hurry, for Amma, the eternal Mother, will embrace all Her children. This is Y's last darshan as she leaves tomorrow. We'll all miss her. She's so straight with us, absolutely well-balanced and sure of herself. (As head nurse in a psychiatric hospital, she's necessarily very sane and unafraid of anything.) I teasingly called her "Nurse Ratchett." Mail Plus - Powerful. Affordable. Sign up now. http://mailplus. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 7, 2003 Report Share Posted February 7, 2003 Dear Jyotsna, thank you for posting your diary entry. You write so well that I can really feel, and in my mind's eye, see and hear what you are describing at Amritapuri. I did not know that there is a separate darshan line for westerners. How does that go on, and what is it like? How many different darshan lines are there at darshan in Amritapuri? Thank you again. In Amma´s Love, Sara Ammachi, Ellen Lamb <jyotsna2> wrote: > 26 Dec. > > Attended Archana and then had tea. Had the thought > to come to the 7th floor of the "luxury condos" to > watch the sunrise. It's a great idea, as I am all > alone! > > The flatness of the terrain makes the sunrise here > splendorous! The perfect full moon is on my right > above the Arabian sea. I watch as the bright, > florescent orange sun rises above the horizon, which > is higher than the tops of the trees. Now I can > see both the sun and moon in perfect opposition. > > It is Thursday, Devi Bhava day, and already (6:50 > a.m.) > the villagers are lining up. All around me there > is the cacaphony of modern India--amplified music > (different songs, of course) on all sides and the > never-ending cawing of crows and crowing of roosters. > Somehow the noise doesn't offend me. > > I can see the waterway between here and Vallikavu, > as well as an apparent canal in Vallikavu. Boats > and boatmen pole through the waters. Ancient > Chinese-style fishing nets line the waterway at > regular intervals. Alread the sun's warmth is > making itself felt, and the color has changed from > orange to gold. There are also several boats and > fishermen out on the Arabian Sea side, one with > 12-15 men in it. The sun is getting bright in my > eyes now, and I start inside to write more. As > I get to a better vantage point, I see boatloads > of religious pilgrims coming this way from the > village. One boatload is half-way across and > another is filling on the opposite shore. Somehow > in many ways this feels like my home. I belong > here. > > 12:30 a.m. > > Y and I are standing outside in the western darshan > line listening to a gentle Carnatic chant with the > soft Indian night around us. There's no hurry, for > Amma, the eternal Mother, will embrace all Her > children. This is Y's last darshan as she leaves > tomorrow. We'll all miss her. She's so straight > with us, absolutely well-balanced and sure of > herself. (As head nurse in a psychiatric hospital, > she's necessarily very sane and unafraid of anything.) > I teasingly called her "Nurse Ratchett." > > > > > Mail Plus - Powerful. Affordable. Sign up now. > http://mailplus. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 8, 2003 Report Share Posted February 8, 2003 --- "saramj33 <saramj" <saramj wrote: > Dear Jyotsna, > > thank you for posting your diary entry. Dear Sara, Many thanks for your kind comments. As you know, things are always changing around Amma, but at that time there were "rear" entrances on either side of the area where Amma gave darshan. One ascended one of the spiral staircases located at the rear corners of the temple to get there. The women entered on Amma's left side and the men on Amma's right. At least on the women's side, the western women formed a queue (that often extended beyond the door of the temple) and were gradually inserted into the main line of Indian women coming onto the "stage" area from the front part of the temple. Sometimes this was done fairly quickly and sometimes the wait was interminable. Sometimes line monitors seemed kind and understanding and sometimes not. Once I was rudely told by a brahmacharini that I had already had darshan that day and couldn't have it again! I protested my innocence and stayed where I was. About 5 or 10 minutes later she made the same assertion. So I just pointed to Amma and said, "Ask Her!" The br. seemed to lose interest in the conversation at that point. I think there are just two lines, the men and the women, coming from different sides, but approaching Amma from the front. There are always helpers and interpreters up around Amma, too. In Amma's love, Jyotsna > > I did not know that there is a separate darshan line > for westerners. > How does that go on, and what is it like? > How many different darshan lines are there at > darshan in Amritapuri? > > Thank you again. > > In Amma´s Love, > Sara > > > > > > > > > > > > > Mail Plus - Powerful. Affordable. Sign up > now. > > http://mailplus. > > Mail Plus - Powerful. Affordable. Sign up now. http://mailplus. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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