Samatana dharma' has divided life into four stages known as ashramas. The life of a student is called brahmacharyashrama (brahmacharya' for short). During the householder stage of life known as grihasthashrama ('grihastha'), a person acquires wealth and fulfills desires while leading a virtuous life. Once the children are grown, the husband-and-wife hand over their worldly responsibilities and concentrate on propagating dharma and performing spiritual practices. This is called the vanaprasthashrama ('vanaprastha') or retirement stage. Sannyasashrama ('sannyasa') is the final stage of life. It is marked by total renunciation and detachment from all worldly ties. The sannyasi focuses on moksha (liberation) and leads a solitary life.
There are three paths one can take to arrive at the final stage of sannyāsa: upon fulfilling one's duties and responsibilities as a grihastha, a person can directly enter sannyāsa; or else one can take up sannyasa after the vanaprastha stage.
The third way is if one gains total detachment early on, one can take sannyasa without ever having entered into the life of a grihastha. The brahmacharis and brahmacharinis who reside in Amritapuri have no desire for householder life. Therefore, Amma initiates them directly into sannyasa, bypassing the grihastha and vanaprastha stages.
After many years Amritapuri witnessed a grand yajna - a mahayaj]na a great sacred ceremony on Friday, March 13, 2020. More than fifty brahmacharis and brahmacharinis were initiated into sannyasa. On that same day, over 200 ashram residents took brahmacharya diksha (initiation) as well. Amma had given strict instructions that all the renunciates living in the various branch ashrams and institutions should immediately come to Amritapuri to participate in the diksha ceremony. At the time, only Amma knew her reasons for issuing such strict directions. However, Amma's foreknowledge concerning what was about to happen on a global scale soon became clear, and her urgent instructions were then understood.
A few days after the sannyasa initiation ceremony, the Covid-19 pandemic forced the entire country into lockdown.
People were confined to their homes, and travel became impossible. The gates of the ashram that were usually open twenty-four hours a day, all year round were suddenly closed in compliance with orders from the government. Amma's devotees were devastated. How could Amma not listen to their call?
Since Amma could no longer travel, the ashram residents once again performed their spiritual practices in Amma's physical presence, like in the early days of the ashram. Meditation, satsangs (spiritual discourses), and bhajans (devotional songs) were streamed online in webcasts. Using this modern technology, Amma entered the homes of her children worldwide, while they were in lockdown due to Covid-19. The inner strength and relief they gained due to these webcasts cannot be expressed in words.
During this time, Amma instructed the ashram residents to start giving half-hour long satsangs every day at the evening programs, after meditation. The resultant satsang series started on March 30, 2020, and continues to this day. Once the Covid-19 travel restrictions were lifted, Amma's grihasthashrami children also started participating.
Vedas (1182)
Upanishads (493)
Puranas (624)
Ramayana (741)
Mahabharata (354)
Dharmasastras (165)
Goddess (496)
Bhakti (242)
Saints (1503)
Gods (1290)
Shiva (370)
Journal (187)
Fiction (60)
Vedanta (362)
Send as free online greeting card
Email a Friend
Manage Wishlist