Amma’s visit to Atlanta
10
to 12 May 2005
Amma's
Atlanta children were eagerly awaiting Amma's arrival in Atlanta
on Monday, May 9 th . Amma's expected arrival got delayed by
5 hours due to thunderstorms and rain en route from New Orleans
to Atlanta. Her children's hearts were concerned when they thought
about the amount of strain Amma is going through to visit and
bless her children in the U.S.
Amma's
Atlanta and Florida children were thrilled to see Amma the next
morning when they welcomed her. Of course, Amma was fresh as
a lily the next morning ready for the first Atlanta program
- Lalita Sahasranama archana puja which was performed by about
100 devotees in the presence of our beloved Amma, who is the
incarnation of Divine Mother Lalitambika herself. Divine peace
prevailed in everybody's heart after the puja which was followed
by Amma's blessings. Amma mentioned that from now until September
27 th, it is not a very good time for people on Earth because
of the transition of Saturn to its next location. This rough
period for us has its peak in the months of June and July when
we should all be in silence and in prayer as much as possible.
All spiritual practices should be intensified now, to mitigate
the ill-effects of the cosmic disturbance.
Peace
March
Amma
led us in a peace march just before the evening program. This
raised our awareness that the prime need of the hour in our
world is world peace and that all efforts should be made towards
achieving it. With every step, Amma asked us to chant “Om Namah
Sivaya” to spread auspicious vibrations around the world and
good thoughts in every human mind.
Gayatri
Mantra and Ganesha
In
the evening program, Amma stressed the importance of worshipping
Sri Ganesha and the significance of the Gayatri Mantra. Amma
said, “Children, the 24 seed letters in the Gayatri Mantra produce
very powerful vibrations. Chanting the mantra will
help remove all the 24 tattvas in our body which act
as a wall from attaining the Truth. The purpose of your birth
is to realize your true self – not the little self made of your
mind, body and intellect. The 24 tattvas in our body
determine our nature, our personality and our qualities that
influence the mind. Chanting the 24-syllabled Gayatri Mantra
will help one overcome the effects of the tattvas
on one's mind and let the divine Self take control of the mind.
Divine Mother resides in the hearts of people in the form of
their divine qualities like kindness, compassion, love, peace,
forgiveness and many more.
Ya
Devi sarva bhuteshu daya rupena samstitha
Namastasyai
namastasyai namastasyai namo namah
I
bow again and again to the Divine Mother
who
dwells in all beings in the form of mercy.
“Children,
praying to Ganesha will remove all the obstacles in your path
automatically and you will be blessed with success. Ganesha
is in the muladhara or root chakra . Unless
we invoke him and get his blessings, the kundalini shakti
in the root chakra cannot start its rise to
the sahasrara . Ganesha is the remover of all obstacles.”
Amma elaborately discussed the important place Ganapati
Atharva shishya holds in our Vedas . The essence
of several Upanishads are contained in it, she said.
Amma added that Ganesha is actually formless and his trunk,
ears etc. are all symbolic.
“I
am going to check your progress report”
Amma said, “Children, do all your spiritual practices before
6 a.m. everyday. It is good to start the morning by worshipping
Ganesha and then chanting the Gayatri Mantra and Saraswati Mantra
at least 27 times and also the Mrutyunjaya Mantra. Mantra
chanting calms down a mind filled with commotion. All
the disturbances subside and the problems get solved themselves.”
Amma
advised that we chant the Samputita Sri Suktam and Sri Devi
Khadga Mala Stotram in the morning and evening everyday. The
powerful vibrations generated by chanting the seed letters in
them can even prevent natural disasters and calm down any disturbance.
Chanting them in front of a Sri Chakra is even more beneficial.
It removes our six enemies dwelling within us – desire, anger,
delusion, greed, pride and jealousy.
Amma
explained that the Sri Chakra is the representation
of cosmic Consciousness and the cosmic Energies denoted by different
goddesses surrounding the bindu . Two sides of the
triangle are made up of light ( Srim bijakshara or
seed letter) and sound ( Aim bijakshara ). The base
of the triangle contains the vibration of the Hrim bijakshara
denoting energy. The bindu is Omkara
– the origin - cosmic Consciousness. Chanting the Khadga Mala
gives you protection like wearing a diamond armor around you,”
Amma said.
Amma
also lovingly and gently warned, "I am going to check your progress
report, children.”
Individual
Blessing Day
Hundreds
of people talked individually to Amma and sought her blessings
for a variety of things. One devotee said that Amma read her
mind even before she asked her question. Amma answered her by
saying that the reason she drives around the country instead
of flying is so that she can save the airfare and use that to
help the poor.
Homa
for World Peace
A
very powerful and purifying homa was performed by
Swamiji and Amma. Several powerful mantras were chanted
and the significance and efficacy of performing a homa
was very well explained. The pollution in the atmosphere and
the pollution in human minds could be taken care of at the same
time.
Amma
said that in this day and age, “if Respect is 4, disrespect
is 6. So forgive and forget others' mistakes – if you are spiritual
seekers you should forget and forgive. Forgiveness is a charity.
Be in Supreme Consciousness, not in the ‘I' and ‘You' body consciousness,
which is lower level consciousness. Be like a lotus. Live in
this world but be detached in your mind. A beautiful lotus blooms
even if the water is dirty.”
“I
have not come to you as a Guru. I have come to you as your own
Mother …. Amma loves you with all your mistakes.”
Jai
Mata!
Om lokah samastah sukhino bhavantu
Om
shanti shanti shantihi
Jai
Karunamayi!
Submitted
by : Atlanta devotees
