How prescient that I got a pedicure yesterday!
Lovely day. I was second in the line of people waiting for individual blessings this morning from Sri Karunamayi, or Amma, so the drudgery of arising so early paid off. And I enjoyed the journey, during which I listened to Prodigal Summer on CD and was very much entertained.
Amma entered the church in radiance, coming slowly down the center aisle, smiling, murmuring words of love, shimmering in saffron. She seated herself cross-legged on a white dais in the center of the stage.
She spoke to us, in English, of selflessness, of service, of unity & compassion. We chanted with her, following Sanskrit words projected onto a huge screen at the side of the stage. She directed us to hold our arms up as we chanted, to feel the energy in the room. It was palpable, powerful.
Amma is involved in many charitable enterprises in India ... hospitals & housing, for example ... and she giggled like a girl as she shared stories with us of the transformations enabled by these projects.
Amma then performed the Abhishekam ritual, a sacred bath (in this case, of milk) honoring a deity. Then we were directed to approach the stage for our individual blessings. Time became skewed. I was second in line, so before I knew it, I was pressed up against the stage in the namaste mudra before this lovely & loving creature. But then, as soon as she put her hand on my head, time slowed way down.
She took the card on which I'd written my blessing requests, read it, smeared a bit of sacred ash on my third eye and placed her hand on my head. I'm sure she only rested it there for a few seconds, but it felt like a lovely long time. Amma's hand was warm. I felt trembly. Tears started to gather behind my closed eyes. She smelled of roses. I felt such love, from her and for her. I could have remained in that position for a long, long time.
Jai Karunamayi!
Amma entered the church in radiance, coming slowly down the center aisle, smiling, murmuring words of love, shimmering in saffron. She seated herself cross-legged on a white dais in the center of the stage.
She spoke to us, in English, of selflessness, of service, of unity & compassion. We chanted with her, following Sanskrit words projected onto a huge screen at the side of the stage. She directed us to hold our arms up as we chanted, to feel the energy in the room. It was palpable, powerful.
Amma is involved in many charitable enterprises in India ... hospitals & housing, for example ... and she giggled like a girl as she shared stories with us of the transformations enabled by these projects.
Amma then performed the Abhishekam ritual, a sacred bath (in this case, of milk) honoring a deity. Then we were directed to approach the stage for our individual blessings. Time became skewed. I was second in line, so before I knew it, I was pressed up against the stage in the namaste mudra before this lovely & loving creature. But then, as soon as she put her hand on my head, time slowed way down.
She took the card on which I'd written my blessing requests, read it, smeared a bit of sacred ash on my third eye and placed her hand on my head. I'm sure she only rested it there for a few seconds, but it felt like a lovely long time. Amma's hand was warm. I felt trembly. Tears started to gather behind my closed eyes. She smelled of roses. I felt such love, from her and for her. I could have remained in that position for a long, long time.
Jai Karunamayi!
2 comments:
wonderful, wonderful! Jai Maa!
LOVELY!!
Lovely for you to have time with Mama....and lovely pic!
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