Guest guest Posted July 20, 2004 Report Share Posted July 20, 2004 On Monday afternoon, July 19, 2004, I went to see the Devi Bhava (Goddess Assumption) of the South Indian Guru, Ammachi. I've been attending these for over eight years at this point (although I missed last year). As Amma's following grows larger, they find bigger and bigger auditoriums to house her followers -- and they tend to get farther from me. I live in Northernmost Manhattan (Inwood), and being handicapped, cannot use public transportation. The first few years Amma appeared at the Unitarian Church on Central Park West, near W. 78th Street -- not too bad a trip for me. The last few years she began appearing on the campus of Columbia University, Broadway near W. 116th Street -- actually closer to me than before! But last year, and this, she was booked in the Manhattan Center on W. 34th Street near Eighth Avenue -- and a car service or taxi cost me about $25 dollars each way! (Thankfully, Amma's functions are given for free, though donations are accepted.) As I hobbled Eastward along W. 34th Street with my cane, I began to notice lines of people, many in Indian garb -- sarees or kurta-pyjamas, lots of white with the occasional ocher robe. Although I was wearing a T-shirt with the image of the Goddess's three eyes printed on it, and a rudraksha seed rosary, I was virtually invisible to most of the devotees. (Wanted to shout, "Hey, I'm one, too!" -- but I didn't.) I stopped one of the volunteers, explained that I was there to take <darshan> of Amma, and was handicapped. Several small Indian ladies helped me up the steps, removed my shoes, and escorted me into the huge auditorium. I was seated, and moved, and seated, and moved, as I slowly made my way to "Special Needs" where handicapped and other problem children of Amma's were seated. Scores of devotees had formed a huge circle, and were chanting "Om Amriteshvaryai Namaha" (I bow to the Lady of Immortality). In the earlier days, the Puja ceremony included a ghee-lamp, a camphor spoon to light and wave, flower petals to drop onto a condiment cup containing holy water -- but as the crowds grew less manageable (and maybe fire hazard restrictionss were invoked) the paraphernalia was reduced to the holy water cup and an envelope requesting a donation. Amma arrived, ushered in by some Swamis and devotees, and we were asked to remain seated. She sat on the dais, blessed the huge brass cauldrons of holy water, and the cups were distributed. She gave a pleasant talk, translated by Swami Amritsvarupananda, and we chanted the 108 names of the Goddess. Then Amma disappeared behind curtains. There was a meal available, but down long flights of stairs that I couldn't negotiate. I could see I'd be fasting for most of the evening. I was found by a couple of friends who had promised to help me get around, but the volunteers said they couldn't sit near me in Special Needs. Meanwhile, the Special Needs area was also filling up with families with children (who also, in theory, get ushered up to Amma earlier than most). There were three or four South Asian boys, about eight years old, seated all around me, getting into trouble and being obstreporous. They all seemed to have the newest electronic Game-Boy video toys, and were blowing up images of ghosts and demons. I tried to imagine them as young Krishna and his Gopala playmates... (but I'm a cranky old man, and sometimes lose patience with kids). The curtain opened, and Amma appeared dressed as the Goddess -- but I couldn't see her from where I was seated! When the kids and their parents rose to go to Amma, I did too, but a volunteer stopped me, "No, no, sir -- this will take too long for you to stand. Sit over here," There was plenty of music and kirtan singing, but none of it raised the energy to the sort of fever pitch I'm used to. As hour after hour passed, with no sign of my getting any closer to Amma, I began to consider leaving without getting her darshan. A woman sitting behind me was loudly expressing her determination to get mantra initiation this evening, even if she had to stay until dawn! My friend Carole came over, and began to complain loudly for me (decrepit old arthritic guys seem to have trouble attracting the volunteers' attention). Eventually a young woman asked if she could be of help. I said, "I'm diabetic and haven't eaten for many hours. If I can't go up soon, I may have to leave." She said she'd see what she could do. A handicapped woman sitting beside me, who also had trouble walking, was also grumbling until a young person in a wheelchair, apparently quadriplegic, was wheeled past us, and my neighbor collapsed in a torrent of sympathetic tears. Well, eventually I was lead onto the dais. Amma was dressed in a saree of reds and pinks, her aura extending for yards in every direction. As I approached I said, "Jai, Amma!" and she looked at me as if I was a close relative she hadn't seen in many years. She looked at my arthritic hands, with their swollen knuckles, and flashed an angry glance that seemed to say, "Who did this to you?" And she hugged me for what seemed like many minutes, chanting "My son, my son," and "Ma, ma, ma, ma, ma." I was given an apple, a chocolate kiss, and several packets of holy ash. Then a volunteer helped me down the stairs from the dais, and kindly went to get me a cup of water. Already woozy from low blood sugar (the chocolate helped), being in Amma's arms left me totally confused, but happy. My friend Alexei rushed me out past the "bookstore" without letting me browse, and we spent about half an hour searching for my shoes (they were moved quite a distance from where I had originally placed them). Another kind volunteer helped me down the stairs out of the Manhattan Center, and I found a cab for an expensive return trip to Inwood and home. It was 1:30 AM. Had some rice-stuffed grape leaves for a very late dinner, and fell asleep with troubling dreams of being threatened by theives and mobsters. But I woke feeling relieved that I wasn't in any danger, and remembering Amma's looks of love and concern. -- Len/ Kalipadma ______________ The best thing to hit the Internet in years - Juno SpeedBand! Surf the Web up to FIVE TIMES FASTER! Only $14.95/ month - visit www.juno.com to sign up today! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 21, 2004 Report Share Posted July 21, 2004 thank you for the post , really nice description of your experience , I have seen Amma hand out the vibhuti and I got one two, what are they for ? or what is the customary way of handling vibuti ? Joanna SP > > > On Monday afternoon, July 19, 2004, I went to see > the Devi Bhava (Goddess > Assumption) of the South Indian Guru, Ammachi. > > I've been attending these for over eight years at > this point (although I > missed last year). As Amma's following grows > larger, they find bigger > and bigger auditoriums to house her followers -- and > they tend to get > farther from me. I live in Northernmost Manhattan > (Inwood), and being > handicapped, cannot use public transportation. The > first few years Amma > appeared at the Unitarian Church on Central Park > West, near W. 78th > Street -- not too bad a trip for me. The last few > years she began > appearing on the campus of Columbia University, > Broadway near W. 116th > Street -- actually closer to me than before! But > last year, and this, > she was booked in the Manhattan Center on W. 34th > Street near Eighth > Avenue -- and a car service or taxi cost me about > $25 dollars each way! > (Thankfully, Amma's functions are given for free, > though donations are > accepted.) > > As I hobbled Eastward along W. 34th Street with my > cane, I began to > notice lines of people, many in Indian garb -- > sarees or kurta-pyjamas, > lots of white with the occasional ocher robe. > Although I was wearing a > T-shirt with the image of the Goddess's three eyes > printed on it, and a > rudraksha seed rosary, I was virtually invisible to > most of the devotees. > (Wanted to shout, "Hey, I'm one, too!" -- but I > didn't.) I stopped one > of the volunteers, explained that I was there to > take <darshan> of Amma, > and was handicapped. Several small Indian ladies > helped me up the steps, > removed my shoes, and escorted me into the huge > auditorium. > > I was seated, and moved, and seated, and moved, as I > slowly made my way > to "Special Needs" where handicapped and other > problem children of Amma's > were seated. Scores of devotees had formed a huge > circle, and were > chanting "Om Amriteshvaryai Namaha" (I bow to the > Lady of Immortality). > In the earlier days, the Puja ceremony included a > ghee-lamp, a camphor > spoon to light and wave, flower petals to drop onto > a condiment cup > containing holy water -- but as the crowds grew less > manageable (and > maybe fire hazard restrictionss were invoked) the > paraphernalia was > reduced to the holy water cup and an envelope > requesting a donation. > > Amma arrived, ushered in by some Swamis and > devotees, and we were asked > to remain seated. She sat on the dais, blessed the > huge brass cauldrons > of holy water, and the cups were distributed. She > gave a pleasant talk, > translated by Swami Amritsvarupananda, and we > chanted the 108 names of > the Goddess. Then Amma disappeared behind curtains. > > There was a meal available, but down long flights of > stairs that I > couldn't negotiate. I could see I'd be fasting for > most of the evening. > > I was found by a couple of friends who had promised > to help me get > around, but the volunteers said they couldn't sit > near me in Special > Needs. Meanwhile, the Special Needs area was also > filling up with > families with children (who also, in theory, get > ushered up to Amma > earlier than most). There were three or four South > Asian boys, about > eight years old, seated all around me, getting into > trouble and being > obstreporous. They all seemed to have the newest > electronic Game-Boy > video toys, and were blowing up images of ghosts and > demons. I tried to > imagine them as young Krishna and his Gopala > playmates... (but I'm a > cranky old man, and sometimes lose patience with > kids). > > The curtain opened, and Amma appeared dressed as the > Goddess -- but I > couldn't see her from where I was seated! When the > kids and their > parents rose to go to Amma, I did too, but a > volunteer stopped me, "No, > no, sir -- this will take too long for you to stand. > Sit over here," > > There was plenty of music and kirtan singing, but > none of it raised the > energy to the sort of fever pitch I'm used to. As > hour after hour > passed, with no sign of my getting any closer to > Amma, I began to > consider leaving without getting her darshan. A > woman sitting behind me > was loudly expressing her determination to get > mantra initiation this > evening, even if she had to stay until dawn! > > My friend Carole came over, and began to complain > loudly for me (decrepit > old arthritic guys seem to have trouble attracting > the volunteers' > attention). Eventually a young woman asked if she > could be of help. I > said, "I'm diabetic and haven't eaten for many > hours. If I can't go up > soon, I may have to leave." She said she'd see what > she could do. A > handicapped woman sitting beside me, who also had > trouble walking, was > also grumbling until a young person in a wheelchair, > apparently > quadriplegic, was wheeled past us, and my neighbor > collapsed in a torrent > of sympathetic tears. > > Well, eventually I was lead onto the dais. Amma was > dressed in a saree > of reds and pinks, her aura extending for yards in > every direction. As I > approached I said, "Jai, Amma!" and she looked at me > as if I was a close > relative she hadn't seen in many years. She looked > at my arthritic > hands, with their swollen knuckles, and flashed an > angry glance that > seemed to say, "Who did this to you?" And she > hugged me for what seemed > like many minutes, chanting "My son, my son," and > "Ma, ma, ma, ma, ma." > I was given an apple, a chocolate kiss, and several > packets of holy ash. > Then a volunteer helped me down the stairs from the > dais, and kindly went > to get me a cup of water. Already woozy from low > blood sugar (the > chocolate helped), being in Amma's arms left me > totally confused, but > happy. > > My friend Alexei rushed me out past the "bookstore" > without letting me > browse, and we spent about half an hour searching > for my shoes (they were > moved quite a distance from where I had originally > placed them). Another > kind volunteer helped me down the stairs out of the > Manhattan Center, and > I found a cab for an expensive return trip to Inwood > and home. It was > 1:30 AM. > > Had some rice-stuffed grape leaves for a very late > dinner, and fell > asleep with troubling dreams of being threatened by > theives and mobsters. > But I woke feeling relieved that I wasn't in any > danger, and remembering > Amma's looks of love and concern. > > -- Len/ Kalipadma > > > ______________ > The best thing to hit the Internet in years - Juno > SpeedBand! > Surf the Web up to FIVE TIMES FASTER! > Only $14.95/ month - visit www.juno.com to sign up > today! > New and Improved Mail - Send 10MB messages! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 21, 2004 Report Share Posted July 21, 2004 Vibhuti ashes are used for marking your forehead while meditating. They represent the "burning up" of negative samskaras. Combined with the wearing of rudraksha beads, they are especially pleasing to Lord Shiva. The vibhuti also allegedly has healing properties. You can put some on parts of your body that are painful, swollen, etc. It is slightly styptic (i.e., will stop superficial bleeding, or oozing conditions). Some people take a small amount (lightly covering a fingertip) and dissolve it on the tongue once a day. Did you save your holy water? I transfer it to a dropper bottle when I get home. A few drops in a glass of spring water will convert the glass's contents to "Ganges water," which can be sprinkled to purify items. You can chant the following mantra to convert the water as well: <Om gange cha jamune chaiva godavari sarasvati/ narmade sindhu kaveri jalesmin sannidhim kuru//> (Om! O Ganges, and Jamuna, and also Godavari, Sarasvati, Narmada, Sindhu, Kaveri -- do convert this water to the seven great Rivers!) The holy water also has reputed healing powers, whether drunk or applied topically. I'm told there is a small amount of camphor essence in the holy water, so be careful if you are on homeopathic remedies -- camphor can negate homeopathic effects. -- Len/ Kalipadma On Wed, 21 Jul 2004 02:10:04 -0700 (PDT) joanna pollner <joannapollner writes: > thank you for the post , really nice description of > your experience , > I have seen Amma hand out the vibhuti and I got one > two, > what are they for ? or what is the customary way of > handling vibuti ? > > > Joanna SP > ______________ The best thing to hit the Internet in years - Juno SpeedBand! Surf the Web up to FIVE TIMES FASTER! Only $14.95/ month - visit www.juno.com to sign up today! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 21, 2004 Report Share Posted July 21, 2004 Ammachi, kalipadma@j... wrote: > > > In the earlier days, the Puja ceremony included a ghee-lamp, a camphor > spoon to light and wave, flower petals to drop onto a condiment cup > containing holy water -- but as the crowds grew less manageable (and > maybe fire hazard restrictionss were invoked) the paraphernalia was > reduced to the holy water cup and an envelope requesting a donation. > Len: The reason given for not doing this anymore was that there was some issue with fire regulations/safety esp. with so many people coming to Amma programs ; but Amma still does this with the water she blesses. This ritual is a classic example of the very powerful Bhutashuddhi ritual(propitiating and balancing the five elements) usually done before meditation). Seems like you had a good time inspite of all the difficulties. -yogaman Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 21, 2004 Report Share Posted July 21, 2004 Dear Len Thank You so much for the tips , that is truly an answer to the thoughts that I was pondering over . Initialy I really wanted to ask Amma for mantra during Devi Bhava but I dont know why I did not , and then I felt really sorry for not asking , so the only thing that cheered me up was the two hershey kisses and packet of Vibhutti and ofcourse the thoughts of Amma Namaste , Joanna S.P > > Vibhuti ashes are used for marking your forehead > while meditating. They > represent the "burning up" of negative samskaras. > Combined with the > wearing of rudraksha beads, they are especially > pleasing to Lord Shiva. > > The vibhuti also allegedly has healing properties. > You can put some on > parts of your body that are painful, swollen, etc. > It is slightly > styptic (i.e., will stop superficial bleeding, or > oozing conditions). > Some people take a small amount (lightly covering a > fingertip) and > dissolve it on the tongue once a day. > > Did you save your holy water? I transfer it to a > dropper bottle when I > get home. A few drops in a glass of spring water > will convert the > glass's contents to "Ganges water," which can be > sprinkled to purify > items. You can chant the following mantra to > convert the water as well: > > <Om gange cha jamune chaiva godavari sarasvati/ > narmade sindhu kaveri jalesmin sannidhim kuru//> > > (Om! O Ganges, and Jamuna, and also Godavari, > Sarasvati, Narmada, > Sindhu, Kaveri -- do convert this water to the seven > great Rivers!) > > The holy water also has reputed healing powers, > whether drunk or applied > topically. I'm told there is a small amount of > camphor essence in the > holy water, so be careful if you are on homeopathic > remedies -- camphor > can negate homeopathic effects. > > -- Len/ Kalipadma > > > On Wed, 21 Jul 2004 02:10:04 -0700 (PDT) joanna > pollner > <joannapollner writes: > > thank you for the post , really nice description > of > > your experience , > > I have seen Amma hand out the vibhuti and I got > one > > two, > > what are they for ? or what is the customary way > of > > handling vibuti ? > > > > > > > Joanna SP > > > > > ______________ > The best thing to hit the Internet in years - Juno > SpeedBand! > Surf the Web up to FIVE TIMES FASTER! > Only $14.95/ month - visit www.juno.com to sign up > today! > Vote for the stars of 's next ad campaign! http://advision.webevents.//votelifeengine/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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