The
last half of this year has been a jolly good ride.
Chandrabadni is
where your silence is loud and your soul will find a sound. It was here that it
echoed: "Gar Firdaus rōy-e zamin ast, hamin ast-o hamin ast-o
hamin ast."
After
a pilgrimage to Haridwar, Hrishikesh, Chandrabadni, Triyuginarayan, Kedarnath,
Badrinath, Hemkunt Sahib, Joshimatt, and Vaishno Devi, it was time for a pilgrimage from Devbhoomi to God’s Own Country.
Visiting
the ever crowded Guruvayur temple to the serene Triprayar to the magnificent
Koodalmanickam to the imposing Padmanabha temple was a blessing. Near
the Padmanabha temple, we also visited an ancient temple home to the trinity:
Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva.
This temple reminded me of Kailashnatha temple,
Kancheepuram. Yes, for a moment, I did miss her. But then, I smiled at His leela.
Well,
the highlight of this pilgrimage was meeting my 50-year-old cousin from
Singapore who had joined us for this pilgrimage along with her mother. Before I
forget, her mother has an amazing sense of humour!
We
were meeting each other for the first time. So after the usual pleasantries, we
started opening our flood gates. We talked, debated, discussed, and read… Osho,
Matruvani, Ramana… et al. Day in and day out, we were exchanging notes, observations,
and animatedly pointing to statues and carvings on some temple walls.
Finally,
we decided to be ‘inmates’ at AMMA’s Ashram, Vallikavu, Kollam. Also, known as
Amritapuri. This ashram is an experience by itself. For me, it’s just different
from any other ashram I had ever been to or stayed at. You
must visit this ashram at least once before you die. Better to visit the place
when AMMA is not around because it is quieter and more peaceful. Plus, from
what I observed, people are more open to talk to you. They are less busy.
Both
of us talked to a lot of ashram inmates serving out life sentences completely
out of love, utter devotion, and maybe in blind faith! ;-) They had a lot to
say about AMMA and her leela. Her mysterious
ways and her projects. It was nice meeting Sindhu, Srija, the French-bearded man
in the garment store, and the beautiful coffee-makers in the Western cafe. What
a way to begin your day… sipping smoking, hot coffee.
We
witnessed a sunrise, a sunset, and a quite walk to the beach, and a guided tour
through Amritapuri campus. Well, including the ‘Where is the beach and where is
the kayal?’ joke, it was a good
communion between souls.
AMMA,
thanks for the three days spent there; I guess, we needed it and you being in
Europe was like icing on the cake. J And frankly,
la… the sharjah shake served at your ashram is awesome too.
Om Puurnnam-Adah
Puurnnam-Idam Puurnnaat-Purnnam-Udacyate
Puurnnashya
Puurnnam-Aadaaya Puurnnam-Eva-Avashissyate ||
Om Shaantih
Shaantih Shaantih ||
