UK News & Events

All's well that ends well:
An Antipodean adventure

Our daughter, Gayatri, received an internet message on her mobile: Amma’s Tour to Australia via Singapore and Malaysia was cancelled. Too late! - we were boarding the plane in Heathrow! We had confirmed all international, internal flights and accommodation in various venues. Our family of seven, including baby Raman, aged just ten months, had looked forward to be with Amma on the Australian Tour 2010, and had asked for Her blessings while we were in Her Ashram in India, in December.

Singapore was an unexpected bonus, and we had booked a hotel close to SunTec Conference Centre, where Amma was holding her programme. Now, as we arrived, we received the sad news that Amma’s father had passed away and She was tending to the last rites and had cancelled her visit there.

We met a few other devotees from the Ashram by chance, and managed to visit Amma’s Centre in Hindu Road.  We also managed to meet relatives, who had travelled from Kuala Lumpur to their home in Singapore to see Amma. We enjoyed the reunion, exchanging stories of how our paths from different, distant lands had led us to the same source - Amma.

We then heard that Amma was starting the Tour on the 28th March in Malaysia, before proceeding to Australia. What joy! We travelled on the same day to Sydney to my Amma, and my brother and family. It was Minakshi’s eighth birthday, and although she was deeply disappointed at not getting a birthday darshan, she had a surprise birthday greeting from the airport staff, and on board. Shivani, her four-year younger sister, was also included.

We recuperated in my Amma’s place, before proceeding to Brisbane on the 31st.

We saw Amma, on the 1st April, at the day programme in the familiar Walter Burnett Building, RNA Exhibition Grounds, Brisbane. It was a delight to be with our family of Amma friends in Australia again. The stage was decorated in rows of silk jasmines and kadamba flowers, with traditional oil-lamps enhancing a warm homely Indian atmosphere. People from all walks and creeds gathered in this festive atmosphere to get their darshan. 

The next morning we boarded the pre-booked coach to the Tallebudgera Outdoor Recreation Centre, Gold Coast, where we had a retreat 2nd - 4th and Devi Bhava. I enjoyed my seva to make garlands, as everyone else did to have an opportunity to serve in any way.

The next day, during Pada Puja, Mina and Shivani came in with Amma’s arms around them quite by chance! It was their turn to bask in Her grace!

On the second night Amma concluded the night with a resounding impromptu Matarani-ki-jai, which swept everyone off their feet. Some quite literally too, as they jumped for joy!

Amma gave darshan, distributed dinner prashad individually and gave a special discourse outdoors, in this idyllic setting with the cool of the night setting after a warm day, and the sea in the background.  I thought I saw Amma look lovingly up to the sky at the stars, as if to relish one of those rare moments, as Shritiyum and Shrita as one, in Her busy schedule! Maybe She was just giving the stars their Darshan!

Amma answered pertinent questions, from which we all benefited. However, She was particularly pleased with a young girl, who looked about ten, when she asked, ‘I have been wondering about this since I was young (general laughter) as to who made God? Amma chuckled and looked at the girl with a lot of love before answering, translated by Big Swami, ‘No one! God was already there! ’

We were also treated to a special children’s programme, where all the children participated in singing to Amma.

Amma in Devi Bhava went through the night blessing everyone with darshans, before special blessing of a child, an engagement, and weddings. It seemed to some of us that Amma stood lovingly for an exceptionally long time, pouring her love to all present!

We made our way back quite energised despite keeping awake all night, by taxi and train to Brisbane to catch a flight to Melbourne, where there were two days of public programmes, starting on the 6th April at the multi-purpose room, Sandown Racecourse, Springvale. This was followed by a three-day retreat and Devi Bhava. This was another lovely venue, with monitors in a constant display of Amma. One could not turn without seeing Amma here, there and everywhere!

Despite further physical setbacks, I had managed to paint originals and hand-finish cards and prints. This proved to be popular, and we felt blessed for being able to contribute in this seva.

There was a performance of aboriginal dancing and a memorable performance on a cello. There was also a tribute to Amma’s father, Sugunanandan Acchan, on the 16th day as is customary. Everyone watched the film in silence, which showed people going round the body laid out to rest, after which Amma gave darshan to all who had come to pay their respects.

Here in Melbourne, Amma gave darshan, and treated us by dancing, keeping time with Her cymbals. There is a symbolic picture of Amma going up the escalator followed by devotees to give lunch prashad to everyone in the dining hall. Another night, just as the programme drew to a close, Amma practised and launched a new song to Kali, as we ‘floated’ back to catch a few hours of sleep. After the very special Devi Bhava, we headed back to Sydney, again completely wide awake without having had any sleep.

In Sydney, Amma was welcomed by Amid Dasgupta, Consul General of India and Ms Lee Rhianon of the Green Party MP Upper House Parliament, who warmly welcomed Amma, and included everyone in presenting Her with a special award on behalf of the Green Party, for Her “outstanding contributions to further humanitarian and environmental issues”..

Throughout the tour Amma had conducted pujas for world peace and harmony in all the cities.  Amma held a two-day programme 12th - 13th at Sydney Boys School, New South Wales with Satsang, Meditation, Bhajan and a Devi Bhava Darshan.

It was sad for many in Australia, to bid Amma farewell to Her physical form for another two years, though She promised everyone She will always be with them in their hearts and spirit. She threw Her arms out gathering all into Her own heart, as She left for the Singapore programme, rearranged for the 15-17th April.

Sarada Thompson - Wales