Amma’s first tour in South India since 2020 came to a uniting close with its celebration of love and life. For February 22 and 23, thousands of people gathered in Kovai, Tamil Nadu at the Brahmasthanam Temple, honouring its 24th anniversary. Nearby is the head campus of Amrita University in Coimbatore, making for a vibrant gathering.
“Amma is overjoyed to see all my children together here after the COVID pandemic. This is not just a physical reunion. Amma can palpably see and feel the union of hearts here, with the love of my children spilling over and merging into a flowing river,” she said in her official address on the first day.
“Every calamity—be it a pandemic, natural disaster, or climate change—urges humankind to cultivate three things: cooperation, companionship, and communion. That is, we need to live in cooperation with our fellow human beings, in companionship with Nature, and in communion with God. Failure to do so—at least a little bit—will negatively impact all aspects of our lives.”
On the second day, Amma further expressed how as a universal family joined in compassion for each other, we can overcome the tragedies and conflict our world is facing.
“People have given life many different meanings and interpretations. ‘Life is like an ocean,’ ‘Life is like a poem,’ ‘Life is like a flowing river,’ ‘Life is a long journey,’ ‘Life is like a dream.’ Like this, we compare life to so many things.
“Yet, we rarely hear people say, ‘Life is humility,’ ‘Life is patience,’ ‘Life is tolerance,’ ‘Life is open-mindedness,’ ‘Life is renunciation.’ Anyway, one thing is clear. Life is a mystery too deep to be measured by our small intellect. Our tiny body, arms, and legs are just not enough to swim across the great ocean of life.”
Amma explained that in actual fact, life is infinite, and it becomes fulfilled when we tune in to that infinity. Be it spiritual or material, this is the only way to truly attain any level of peace and happiness.
“Lamenting over our losses in life, we forget the greatest gain of all that we need to attain in this birth—that is love. To make as much profit as possible is the goal of a businessperson. Thus, the biggest loss one can face in business is to lose all one’s capital and become a pauper.
“In a similar manner, the greatest gain that one can achieve in life is true love. And the biggest loss that can happen to anyone is the absence of love. One’s real life savings is love. If that is lost, one will become a pauper in the truest sense. Therefore, we should try to fill the treasure chest of our hearts with more and more love, reaping the real wealth from this life.”
To inspire hearts with this vision of the true purpose of life, many ancient rites were performed over the two days, including puja (traditional worship) and archana (chanting divine names). Swami Ajamritananda Puri led one of the most powerful—a mass Rahu Puja with hundreds of devotees taking part.
As a shadow planet in Vedic astrology, Rahu represents materialism, mischief, fear, dissatisfaction, obsession, and confusion. Conducting prayers in this form can bring protection from enemies and lead to victory in the form of peace.
More significantly, it was happiness that shone throughout the days in Kovai instead of fear. As the people gathered with Amma during her darshan, many devotees took great joy in cultural performances—from classical dance to folk traditions to modern-day song. The stage was cast in a rainbow of sparkling colours and captivating tunes. But most enthralling of all were the people’s smiles—performers and audiences alike.
While Amma embraced the remaining people in the early hours of Monday morning, a group dance by the Baduga tribe from the Nilgiri Mountains invited everyone to join in. Their culture is based upon a deep connection with Mother Nature that has honoured Her for thousands of years. Watching the pattern of their interlinking circles of gratitude and joy, people from all over the world could not resist its ancient attraction.
Perhaps it was the reflection of a prayer Amma shared many times throughout the tour, “When love fills the heart and overflows, flowers of peace will blossom all around us. The way of equal vision and unity is the royal path to a beautiful and inclusive world where all differences vanish.
“As this equal vision increases in society, the lost harmony of the world can be regained. Amma offers a prayer to the Paramātmān that this vision of unity may shine in all her children!”
During the official ceremonies in Kovai, clothing and financial assistance were again distributed to women with Amrita SREE SHGs in and around the district. As well, Amma was greeted by many distinguished guests.
On day one, they included Justice K Arunachalam, Judge, Kudal District Court; Swami Panchalingeshwara, Kamatchipuram Aadheenam; Vanathi Srinivasan, MLA, Coimbatore South Constituency; Arul Selvam, MLA, Coimbatore West Constituency; and Venthammarai Balu, Former Councillor.
Taking part on the second day were BRG Arunkumar, MLA, Kavundampalayam; Amman K Arjunan, MLA, Coimbatore North; Dr Senthilkumar, IRS, Income Tax Commissioner; Vijaya Akka, Ooty Baduga Sangam Representative; Sundari Venkataraman, Former Director, Amrita Vidyalayam schools; Mr. Srinivasan, Commercial Tax Officer; Maruthu Raja, Former Member of Parliament, Perambalur; and Velumani, Former Minister, Govt of Tamil Nadu.
