Amma Visits Isukapalli, a Small Fishing Village
in Nellore District, A.P., India
December 17, 2006
Jai Karunamayi!
Recently, Amma visited a small fishing village called Isukapalli, for the sake of speaking with the people there and inspiring them towards dharma. Isukapalli is situated on the edge of the Bay of Bengal, and the three thousand villagers there make their living entirely from the sea by selling whatever fish they catch. Recognizing their complete dependence on Mother Earth, the villagers have great respect and reverence for the ocean, which they call Ganga Sagara, as it is the ocean into which the sacred river Gangaji pours.
For these hard-working and innocent villagers, life is not easy. Both men and women must work long hours each day in order to make ends meet. Historically, education has not been available, and illiteracy and poverty is the norm. In the past, these difficult conditions have led to communal strife and various problems like alcoholism and depression. In 1982, an organization known as the “Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh,” or the RSS, came to the area in order to help the community.
The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh: An Association of Selfless Volunteers
The RSS, founded in 1925, is an association of some 100,000 volunteers who selflessly serve their country by helping the poor through vital service projects, increasing access to education, and encouraging moral values. The RSS is dedicated to serving all the people of India, without concern for caste, creed or religion. Their goals include communal unity, cultural integrity, and reverence for Sanatana Dharma, the ancient spiritual values of India.
One of the RSS volunteers speaks to Amma about
the work being done in the village
Through the efforts of the RSS, the villagers of Isukapalli have seen great improvements in their lives. Alcoholism is no longer a problem, the children are being educated, and the villagers have been organized into service units. These wonderful results are due to the selfless service of the RSS sevakas, many of whom have dedicated their entire lives for the sake of serving their country. Amma commented how she feels a certain kind of joy and bliss when she visits sacred temples, but that the joy she feels in the presence of those who dedicate their lives to the poor is a completely different kind of joy. Amma feels extremely happy to see that kind of selflessness, dedication, and compassion.
Amma Visits Isukapalli to Share Her Love and Inspiration with the People
At the invitation of the RSS, Amma visited Isukapalli in order to share her love and wisdom with the villagers. On arriving, Amma was welcomed with a wonderful demonstration by the villagers, including martial arts, hatha yoga, mantra chanting, and the singing of songs in honor of Bharata Mata, Mother India. The RSS teaches martial arts as self-defense in order to instill self-confidence and self-sufficiency in the people. Hatha yoga and mantra chanting helps to educate the people about their vast cultural heritage and also helps them to maintain their physical and mental health in natural ways.
During her visit, Amma visited the villagers’ humble huts, seeing the people’s lives firsthand. Before Amma’s discourse, the ladies and young children of the village sang many sweet bhajans full of devotion to God. Later, Amma commented that simple folk songs often contain deep philosophical truths, so that even uneducated people can learn about spiritual truth through the songs.
The children of Isukapalli were delighted by the festive atmosphere of Amma's visit
During her discourse, Amma encouraged all the villagers to maintain positivity in their lives, to see each other as members of one family, and to help each other at all times. She said that if they saw anyone crying, whether a boy or girl, young or old, they should not just leave that person alone. They should comfort them, ask them what was wrong, and do something to help them. She reassured the people that each and every one of them was Divine Mother’s beloved son or daughter, and that Mother will always help and protect her children. Amma urged everyone to lead a life of dharma, to hold tightly onto their culture, and to respect all people regardless of faith or social class.
Amma Performs Puja to the Ocean
After receiving prasadam, or blessed food, from Amma’s own hand, all the villagers accompanied Amma to the seashore, where a beautiful and touching puja was performed to Mother Ganga, who has blessed all the interconnected oceans of the Earth with her sacred water. Amma stood in the ocean with everyone gathered around her, and offered various sacred substances like kumkum, turmeric, and flowers into the rushing ocean water. Finally, she performed harati to the ocean with a camphor flame. How beautiful it was to see the pure ocean water colored bright red and gold from the kumkum and turmeric, as the offered flowers floated out to sea, carrying Amma’s auspicious blessings for all the Earth’s waters.
The scene was very joyous and enthusiastic, with the villagers happily singing bhajans throughout the puja. As the villagers depend on the ocean for their livelihood and also for their very lives, they felt greatly blessed to see Amma worshipping and praying to Mother Ocean for the safety and welfare of all the people.
Some young girls pose in front of their beloved Ganga Sagara
How touching it was to see Amma, herself an infinite ocean of truth, love and compassion, offering a sacred flame to the beautiful ocean. Standing in the rushing current, it seemed as if the ocean was the perfect embodiment of the vast sea of cosmic consciousness which surrounds us at all times. It felt as if divine consciousness, in the form of Amma, was itself worshipping divine consciousness, embodied by the ocean.
Later, Amma commented that the Earth is like a kalasa, the metal vessel which is filled with auspicious items and then worshipped as God, and that all the oceans are like the jalam, the sacred water which is kept in the kalasam and which holds the divine vibrations of any puja or homa. When the villagers worship the ocean, they are in fact performing a kalasa puja and worshipping Divine Mother in the form of Mother Earth.
Lokah Samastah Sukhino Bhavantu
May All Beings Be Happy
Om Shantih Shantih Shantihi
May All Be in Peace
