Unparalleled selflessness

After giving darshan all day and even holding a question and answer session for a batch of students Amma came directly for bhajans at 6.30 pm. She walked on to the stage her sari stained with the make up, sweat and tears of the devotees, but still looking vibrant as always. Again we were blessed with bhajans that lasted longer than usual. With anybody else you would imagine that after such a day, one would at least sing a few songs less and take some rest instead. But with Mother it is never like that. Sometimes, at least for me, Mother’s selflessness is almost scary. My own self-centeredness stands revealed with no excuse to hide behind. Then again, that’s the beauty of life around Mother – you can never pretend to be anything you are not, at least not for long. Mother’s presence and actions make you see and once you’ve seen there is no turning back. Just the fact that Mother never, ever takes even a moment for herself is something absolutely astounding and never heard of before. Who can do such a thing? Ponder that.
The songs tonight were:

Shyama Sundara Madana Mohana
Karuna Nir Katale Nin
Omkara Swararupini
Rote Jag Me (Hindi)
Gange Ginta Pavitralu (Kannada)
Om Namah Shivaya
Aldbhuta Charitre Amara Vandite
Bandamuntu Sontamuntu (Tamil)
Kannindallade (Telugu version)
Everyone In The World
O Meri Pyari Mayya


Aldbhuta Charitre Amara Vandite still always sends shivers down my spine. It is among the first songs I ever heard Amma sing. It is one of her old songs. The power behind it is immense and really sweeps your mind away. The lyrics are in the form of a prayer:

O Thou to whom the celestials bow, Whose tale is wonderful,
Grant us strength to be devoted to Thy Feet.
We offer Thee all our actions done in the darkness of ignorance,
O Protector of the distressed.
Forgive us for all our impatient utterances, Ruler of the Universe.

O Mother, Please shine in my heart like the rising sun at dawn and give me a mind having equal vision devoid of the differentiating intellect.

O Great Goddess, the Cause of all actions both sinful and virtuous, the liberator from all bondage, give me the protecting sandals of basic virtues on the path of release, the essence of all principles.

Vishwanath
20 sep 2006