Amrita Dhara

A poetical rendering of Amma's immortal utterances by Swami Turiyamritananda offered at the lotus feet of Amma on the occasion of Her 41st birthday. The poem was translated into English by professor V. Muraleedhara Menon.

Come quick, my sweet children, You are the very essence of Om, Become adorable, cast off your sorrows, Be one with Om, the Pranava Eternal. Communal frenzy, like a black scorpion, inserts its deadly tail Into the heart of man -- a hellish torture; The blood clots, all nerves are paralysed, The body becomes an inert mass of swollen flesh all darkened.

Beloved children, keep this lethal virus from our body-politic,
Be ever vigilant, you are the sentinels of this country.
Cast off your petty caste-pride, love your beloved Mother-land,
Live and act with dignity born of genuine pride in your heritage.

Give up all spite and vanity begotten by petty loyalties,
Be a lamp burning bright, dispelling darkness around.
We have a culture that defies time and all its ravages,
Let it illumine all, revealing life's richest treasures.

The darkness that envelops the land
Cannot last long, it will go.
The dark clouds will be scattered,
The sun will shine in all splendour.

This ancient Bharat, glorious and immortal,
This land that has lit up the darkened globe again and again,
Will regain its pristine glory,
Scattering pearls of wisdom the world sorely needs.

Listen, my children, never aspire to rise,
Trampling others down in lofty disdain.
Rather, help all rise in genuine fellowship,
Which in return will give ample joy.

(to be continued in august)