2007 Guru Purnima Celebration ~ A Devotee's Account
This year’s Guru Purnima Celebration was held in the sunny City of Angels—Los Angeles. Looking around the hall just hours before the auspicious ceremony began, it did seem as though hundreds of hard-working hands were strung out in the room like so many shining crystals on a single mala. Sitting on the floor, stepping back for a long-shot, or conferring with Swamiji, there was a whirlwind of activity. Here, one group was setting up the silver pillars. There, another group was stringing and arranging flowers. And still another group was placing the banners and setting up the sound system. A loving family feeling pervaded the hotel, turning it into a little piece of heaven. And all of Amma’s barefooted little angels were focused in unity. One love, one thought: Amma! Amma!
For many of us, this would be our last opportunity to be with Amma until the next Tour. And no one wanted the day to end, because Guru Purnima is always so divine and incredibly uplifting. But Amma lavished so much love and comfort on her children at the beginning and end of the lengthy lines that evening (to say nothing of her wisdom and direction on the Tour!) that she remains indelible on our hearts and in our minds.
At 7 PM, entering from the back of the hall, Sri Karunamayi slowly wended her way down a long aisle lined by hundreds of devotees. Amma was shaded by a golden diaphanous canopy with Sri Saraswati Mantra embroidered on top, held up by four tall devotees. All along the way, Amma stopped, graciously held people's hands and waved to those in the back to come forward. She spoke a few words to many as she glided slowly to the dais, smiling radiantly.
The hall was beautifully and elegantly bedecked in colors pink, red, sky blue, white and silver. Front and center was a beautiful tableau: A four-columned silver mantap was flanked with tall red roses behind a gold and white throne placed in the middle of huge pink and rose-tipped lotus petals, crafted by a group of Amma’s children. On this pitham, Amma sat regally enthroned in a bright red silk sari, very much the Queen of the Universe. To Amma’s right, high on the wall, the lotus motif was again repeated on a banner which spelled out, in splendiferous bright paper kamalas, or lotuses, “We love You, Amma!” Another silk banner with our cosmic Mother standing in deep blue space on planet Earth said, “Jai Karunamayi! Welcome to Guru Purnima. Los Angeles 2007.”
The program began with three short introductions given by Dr. David Doner, Alan Madry, the new SMVA President, and Swami Vijayeswarananda. Then there were five cultural offerings: First, Sharma Prabhakar, a research physician from Lubbock, TX, sang acapella excerpts, accompanied only by devotion, from the Syamala Dandakam, a hymn of praise to Mother Kali. Next, a group of about 20 American devotees—mostly from Tuscon, AZ—sang one simple but heartfelt English song:
You are my Amma, You are my Mama
You are my everything, You are my dearest friend
The song was repeated, each time with more gusto, until at the final chorus the whole hall resounded as one voice—the singers on stage blending with all the assembled enthusiasts. The next item was two fabulous dance numbers by the Shakti Dance Company of LA. The first dance featured many weaving and wave-like patterns made by a circle of whirling women, and the second was a dance to Mother Kali, performed by two women, a young man and what seemed like a myriad of hands. The music was very strong, very bass, and very powerful. At the end of their performance, when they went in front of Amma to be blessed, their teacher and choreographer garlanded Mother with a beautiful mala of tulasi leaves. The fourth cultural contribution was made by local musician, composer and long-time devotee, Zoran, who accompanied himself on guitar while he masterfully sang in Telugu a favorite Karunamayi bhajan, “Amma, Amma, Amma.” Finally, Maria Cristina, a professional singer and composer from LA, sang a deeply heartfelt love song to Amma, in an angelic, hushed voice.
Finally, Amma delivered her manifold words of blessing. Among other heart-openers, Amma reiterated what had been said at the retreat that weekend, that Guru Purnima is the most auspicious day of the year. It is the time when all the gurus gather in the ether just to bless the devotees. She also complimented the performers, and said that her mission is a simple one—love, service, and peace. She went on to say that we need not discriminate about what is good and what is bad. We ought to always speak only kind and tender words. She added that if we really love Divine Mother, we need to be compassionate and quiet inside. "Amma is expecting today that you will become one with God. Then, your strength will be unbelievable. Amma is expecting patience and tolerance with your devotion. Amma is expecting elevation and love, cosmic love in your hearts. There is no power in selfishness. There is no selfishness in Power.... No matter what language, foods, or lifestyles we follow, we are all together in the one Atma bhava.... Today all the gurus are blessing you. The seat of the gurus is the sahasrara. Pray for your elevation. Meditate every day with high thinking. Speak less. Measure your words. If anyone asks for your seva, your help, don't say 'No,' even at midnight." She ended with, “and here we are going to sing just one song, 'Ananta koti tejase.'" This powerful song has the refrain "Durge saranam mama," which means "O Mother Durga, you are my only refuge, my strength, my protection!"
Following the rousing bhajan, at the heart of the evening, Swamiji recited the auspicious and time-out-of-mind divine mantras, beginning the incredibly moving ritual of bathing Amma’s lotus feet with various offerings like water, milk, curd, honey, and fruits, to name a few. Behind his sonorous voice, the assembled devotees joined Swamiji in chanting the Sri Karunamayi Ashtottara Sata Namavali, Amma’s 108 Sacred Names. Sri Karunamayi seemed absorbed in her blissful Self, while at the same time fully present and blessing those assembled, those children around the world who weren’t in the room, and all the creatures on this beautiful Earth and beyond. So special to the children at her feet was the knowledge Mother had imparted over the years—that the cosmic energy and the blessings showered on the devotees at Guru Purnima flow from the guru's feet in enhanced abundance on this special day when both the sun and the moon are at their peak power. 
At the conclusion of the pada puja, one flower garland after another was gently placed on Amma's shoulders, each mala more exquisite than the last, until finally, only her beatific full-moon face could be seen, along with the raised right hand she somehow manifested in abhaya mudra. Then Swamiji crowned our beautiful Divine Mother with an elegant filigree diamond tiara. Suddenly, to everyone's delight, Swamiji began to shower Mother with flower petals in the joyous finale to the puja. They brightly colored petals fell on Amma like a gentle rain of heavenly love.
After a minute or two, Amma rose from her pitham. Standing and casting smiles in every direction at all her gathered children, Amma blessed each with a heartful and forever look. Later, many devotees reported a similar experience—they felt that Amma had looked at them for a long, long time. As if she were seeing their deepest essence. Most sensed a gentle, yet powerful wave of sakti, or divine energy, enfolding them.
As the program concluded, a short arati was performed and then each child had his or her final audience with their beloved Mother. The crowd was a huge one, but Amma took her time, making each feel he or she was her special child. Finally, as Amma never stops giving, incredibly she gave a “second session” in which she reminded us all that she was always with us—especially when we meditate.
As Amma exited the hall a little before midnight, the large group of remaining devotees formed a long line out to the hotel elevators. Everyone seemed so happy, yet reluctant to see this blessed evening end.
Five hundred boxed dinners of maha prasadam, or blessed food, were cooked and served by a single devotee family—lovingly prepared, bountiful, nourishing and plentiful, much like the day itself.
The heart and planning for Guru Purnima really began months earlier with all the loving details and preparations occurring in the midst of concern and sadness over the illness and ultimate passing of the long-time devoted and dynamic LA City Coordinator, Lita Shepard. Lita never lost her faith—and Amma never let go of her hand. In fact, the day after Guru Purnima, Mother revealed that Lita’s picture, which she had kept on her puja table, had tumbled from its perch and landed at Mother’s feet on the very day of Guru Purnima. May we all have such faith! May we all be graced by the loving guidance of Mother as we move through both the song and the shadows of life.
Jai Karunamayi!
Om Shantih Shantih Shantihi
May All Be Peaceful
Lokah Samastah Sukhino Bhavantu
May All Be Happy
