Ram and Lakshmi
11 December, 2003 Amritapuri
As bhajans ended this evening and Amma left the stage, there was
a race of eager devotees to Amma's house. Amma almost always feeds
Ram at the base of Her steps after bhajans, and with this morning's
arrival of Lakshmi, tonight's elephant feeding promised to be a
double feature.
Ram was brought in first to the cordoned patio area to receive
his prasad from Amma. As usual he put on a show, periodically bowing
to Amma, playing tug-of-war with the brahmacharis, trumpeting aloud
and spraying devotees with water. Ram has grown to love the limelight!
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But, we all must to learn how to share. Ram was soon led
out, and his new sister Lakshmi brought in. She too received
prasad from Amma, and just as during her morning introduction,
she was as calm and composed as ever - a true lady! Amma again
playfully asked her if she had seen Ram yet, and showered her
with affection. After Lakshmi enjoyed Amma all to herself for
some time, Ram was brought back in, to share the bounty of
Amma's love (and sweets!). |
Together they stood before Amma, trunks reaching and waving, mouths
open in what seems quite like a smile, and appearing perfectly
comfortable with one another.
Amma had fun feeding
Ram, then Lakshmi, and Ram again, and then Lakshmi again,
back and forth, trying to keep up with her two greedy young
elephant children. — right, left, right, left — just
like She was giving darshan. Lakshmi was eating faster than
Ram, and when Ram would become a bit too insistent, Amma,
smiling out of the corner of Her eye, would pay closer attention
to Lakshmi just to make Ram jealous! |
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At one point, this elicited a loud, trumpeted objection from Ram,
to which Lakshmi responded with a louder roar, bringing a surprised
and amused expression to Amma's face and delighting the crowd!
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Amma said to Ram, �Ram, now you can tell
all your stories to Lakshmi. And Lakshmi can do the same
with you.� Then Amma
told Ram to give his �hand� to Lakshmi, at which point he
met her trunk with his and they intertwined, sharing a curious
and friendly sniff. Then, in a display of obvious affection,
Ram and Lakshmi gently touched their foreheads together,
and lingered for a moment that way. Amma was clapping happily.
A little later, Ram went in search of sweets, sneaking his
trunk into Lakshmi's mouth. Lakshmi returned the favour,
and for a moment the two were one. |
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