5 Oct 2024, Amritapuri Ashram
Amma meets thousands of people daily—hugging, listening, consoling them, answering their doubts, and offering them comfort and relief. While the actions may seem the same, each person has a unique experience with Amma. Her interactions are deeply personal, filled with love and attention to even the smallest details.
Govinda, who works at Amrita College in Nagarcoil, assisting the Swami in-charge there, came for darshan today. He hadn’t visited the ashram in a few years. As soon as he approached Amma, she noticed something amiss—he hadn’t bathed properly, nor had he brushed his teeth neatly. Without hesitation, Amma asked a brahmachari standing nearby to give him a fresh set of clothes, oil, soap, a brush, and toothpaste, and asked him to take a bath and return.
After some time, Amma noticed that Govinda hadn’t come back. She sent a few brahmacharis to find him, but he was nowhere to be seen. Finally, Amma took the microphone stopped the live bhajan session and called out, “Govinda, Govinda… Nagarcoil Govinda!” Her voice echoed through the hall, full of care and love. Moments later, Govinda returned to Amma.
Amma checked on him, ensuring that he had bathed properly and applied oil and shampoo to his hair. She noticed, however, that his mouth still had an odor. With her loving attention to detail, Amma demonstrated how to rinse the mouth thoroughly after eating by taking some water, rinsing her own mouth, and swallowing it. She gently explained, “This is how you should do it.”
Even amidst her busy schedule of meeting thousands of people, Amma finds the time to offer love, guidance, and practical lessons on life. Her care for cleanliness was more than just about physical hygiene—it was a reminder of an important value. Cleanliness is a divine quality that Lord Krishna speaks of in the Gita.
For someone like Govinda, a simple man who may otherwise be rejected by society due to his shabby appearance and lack of cleanliness, Amma’s love and concern were like a beacon of light. She expects nothing from him, physically or economically, but only seeks to uplift him with love. Govinda, who may have been feeling a little depressed, was surely inspired by Amma’s unconditional love and care. Amma’s love is always without expectation, and through her actions, she teaches that true cleanliness and care are acts of devotion and respect for the divine within each of us.
-KaliCharan