March 15, 2010
Amrita School of Engineering, Bengaluru
 

This year, as always, Amrita Viswa Vidyapeetham students were in the forefront, organizing and managing many activities at the Brahmasthanam Festival in Bangalore. The responsibility for coordinating student seva was given to a final year engineering student, who describes his experiences below.
 

There are some things in life which can only be experienced and never described to the fullest extent!
Being in the presence of Amma is one such experience, which has literally left an indelible mark in my life. This is the third straight year that I have had the opportunity to come in close contact with my beloved Amma and learn from her actions and imbibe the gospel of ‘love’ that she preaches in her own inimitable way. Her action of spreading love to tens of thousands every day has not only stupefied me but has also inspired me. ‘If there is a will, there is a way.’
 

The whole atmosphere at the ashram during Amma’s Brahmasthanam program is simply unbelievable; so many devotees waiting tirelessly to get Amma’s darshan, hundreds of volunteers making sure that the whole event goes smoothly. But it all boils down to just one thing, the presence of a power which sets all the cogs in motion, an overseeing power which lends meaning to this exercise.
 

The strangest thing that I have personally noticed is that irrespective of the mood of the person, once Amma hugs him or her, there is an unearthly transformation in that person. He or she is invariably transported into a state of absolute bliss that makes them smile out of contentment. A sense of satisfaction and hope pervades the person and just for a moment, the naivety of a child comes out, breaking the shackles of adulthood.
 

It all happened to me when I was in my first year; I had my first darshan from Amma. Though I had heard a lot about her, this was the first time I was seeing her in person. I have to admit, I was slightly skeptical. I worked the whole day and finally at night, I got Amma’s darshan. I went near the dais and sensed a sort of glow emanating from Amma. This captivated me and I was transfixed, just looking at her pleasant face.
 

And then it happened!! As Amma hugged me, I felt engulfed in a realm of true love. I knew then and there that this was an experience which could not be had, every other day. I felt like a child reborn. All my fatigue vanished and I was left numb with joy. I became a devotee in that moment. Since then, I have been fortunate enough to have had darshan three times.
 

This is my third year now. This year the responsibility of co-ordinating the volunteer activities of the entire student community was given to me. But what made me do the work was not some sort of compulsion but a sense of devotion and the bond of love that Amma shares with humanity.
 

Amma never ceases to surprise me with her limitless oodles of energy and her disarming smile which rejuvenates everyone at once. I feel fortunate to be part of this wonderful Amrita community and to be blessed every day of my life by my beloved Amma !!!
 

– Navneeth, VI SEM
 

See Also A Hug from Amma