60th birthday celebration of Amma
T Satisan
BJP’s Prime Ministerial candidate Narendra Modi visited Mata Amrithanandamayi Devi in connection with her 60th birthday celebrations held at Amrithapuri near Kollam, on September 26.
Amma blessed Modi before both shared the dais with galaxy of luminaries like Swami Prakashananda (chief of the Shivagiri Math founded by Sree Narayana Guru), RSS Sarkarya-vah Shri Bhaiyaji Joshi, Shri P Parameshwaran (director of Bharatheeya Vichara Kendram and president of Vivekananda Kendra, Kanyakumari), Sri Vellappalli Nateshan (general secretary of Sree Narayana Dharma Paripalana Yogam), Shri Philippose Mar Christom Metroplitan, Shri S Gurumurthy of Swadeshi Jagaran Manch, Mohammed Masthan Khaleefa (Nagoor Dargah chief), Nobel laureate Dr Leland Hartwell, Film maker Shekhar Kapoor, UN Preparatory Committee Director Frank Sui, Bishnupada Ray (MP), Akali Dal leader Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa, Krishnendu Narayan Choudhury (West Bengal tourism Minister), Califormia University Executive Vice Chancellor Suresh Subramoni, Kuldeep Bishnoy (MP from Haryana), Nivedida Deedi (Vivekananda Kendra vice president), former Union Ministers O Rajagopal and Bandaru Dattatreya, Ajitkumar Doval (Vivekananda Kendra International president and former director of Intelligence Bureau), Ramalal, V Satish and PK Krishnadas (BJP national organising secretary, joint organising secretary and national secretary respectively) and Kerala BJP chief V Muraleedharan.
Addressing the gathering of about four lakh devotees of Amma and general public Narendra Modi said Amma is the perennial flow of amruta dhara of the divine message –Manava Seva Madhava Seva. He added that Amma is the embodiment of the noble mission of Bharat. Amma represents the fulfillment of the wishes and needs of crores of Indians. He stated that he does not participate in Amma’s birthday celebrations as Gujarat CM or the leader of a party, but as a humble devotee and he is fortunate enough for it. Those who are Amma’s contemporaries and those who lucky enough to get her blessings are blessed lots. Our scriptures teach that mother is the most divine guru. Here what we witness is a scenario where mother and Guru finds rendezvous in a single personality. There is no nobler devata than mother. Nothing is greater than mother. He expressed his wish to be invited to participate in Amma’s 100th birthday as well; and it is his ‘selfishness’! Usually people celebrate birthday and other auspicious days in their life. All are personal; not social. But, Amma’s birthday is not personal, but for the whole samaj. This is not a mere birthday, but the noble laying of the foundation stone for the creation of a great and wonderful Bharat. Our great rishis have taught us to see nara (man) as Narayan (God). But, Amma shows us, on this birthday, how to see Narayan in Nara with the help of modern science. Amma shows how to achieve development through modern means, but simultaneously sticking on to the spirituality. This is a novel development of spirituality. Spirituality melts selfishness. Real spirituality aims at the happiness and welfare of the humanity. Even though several doctrines are coming up these days, they all are no better than Sarvepi sukhina santu, sarve santu niramaya preached by our great seers of the past. They have taught us what the kings are expected to do. King Ranti Deva said that he did not want moksha and swarga, but opportunity to wipe the tears of the destitute.
Shri Modi said he is not disappointed about the country’s present plight. If our 125 crores people live complying with our ancient spiritual tenets, Bharat will once again be the Jagadguru. Swami Vivekananda had said that Bharat will once again be crowned as the guru of the whole world. Maharshi Aurobindo said that the whole world is going to scale glorious heights through our country. Now, since I see Amma and Swami Prakashananda on this dais, I am sure, the words of Vivekananda and Aurobindo will not go futile.
This week, innocent people including children were killed in Nairobi. In Pakistan people who gathered to pray Christ were massacred. In Jammu & Kashmir terrorists killed our soldiers. But, here flows the Ganges of love. Amma calls NRIs to Bharat for utilising their wisdom, might and talents for the country; Amma arranges facilities also. That is Amma’s greatness. Due to the Macaulay legacy we neglect our tradition and temple-oriented culture. The history of our freedom struggle from 1857 to 1947 speaks out that the background prepared by Vivekananda and Shradha-nanda did inspire it. This history will go ahead. When we celebrate the centenary of our freedom we will learn that the foundation of our great nation was built by great souls like Amma and others.
Modi unveiled a number of new scientific inventions and prototypes developed by Amrita University and dedicated to the society. They include a wireless ECG-monitoring system called “Amrita Spandanam” and a personal safety alert system for women in distress. The second one has more than 15 features.
Narendra Modi reached Thiruvananthapuram from Bhopal by the dusk of September 25. He was accorded a grand reception at the airport by BJP leaders and representatives of Amrithanandamayi Math. Hundreds of workers got together for the reception. That night he met the leaders of different Hindu caste organisations. Thereafter, he met the state leaders of BJP and discussed the strategies to be adopted for the coming parliamentary elections. When he drove to Amrithapuri from Thiruvananthapuram thousands people lined up on either sides of the road to have a glimpse of BJP’s prime ministerial candidate.
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