Yogini Amma the Compassionate One
I am associated with the family from 1993.Both yogini Amma and shivaram they took care of me as though I am their son.Yogini Amma used to tell others that I am her third son and used to care for me as my mother.Yogini Amma never used to hurt anyone and wish well even to those who may create problem for her. She was a devotee of Mata Amritanandamayi Devi and she used to remember Mata all the time.Yogini Amma used to always talk about spirituality and how to lead a virtuous life. I am influenced by her way of life and I would like to live the life the way she has guided. She was very much concerned about the suffering people and used to donate and serve them whenever the opportunity was there.
One day I told yogini amma about a girl in our house who was possessed, by name Prema.When she is possessed she used to be totally different and her voice used to change. She was undergoing lot of suffering. Yogini Amma felt very bad and she wanted to meet her and console her, hence she asked me to take her to that possessed girl. I took Yogini Amma to my house. Yogini Amma as soon as she saw that girl smiled and sat next to her and gave her Mata Amritanandamayi Devi’s Prasadam which she had brought it from home. The following conversation went on between them;
Yogini Amma (YA):What is your name?
The Posessed Girl (PG): What is your Name?
YA: smiled and told - “Yogini” and asked the PG where you were? Why do you possess this Girl Prema and what had she done to you? You seem to be nice Please leave her alone.
PG: No, I like this Girl that’s why I have possessed her and I will take her along with me.
YA:What you are doing is wrong and you should not do this. She is still a small girl don’t spoil her leave her alone I will give you what you want really. Come have lunch.
PG:You should also have lunch with me.
Yogini Amma agreed and we were very happy that she will be taking lunch in our house.
YA: What would you like to have?
PG: I want Ragi Mudde and Kadle Kalu Saru and you should also eat
Yogini Amma sat with that Girl and ate lunch. Everyone was happy.
After lunch Yogini Amma asked the PG to come to her house and she accepted. We came to Yogini Amma’s house at about 3pm.
YA: Come in and come to puja room
PG: I will not come inside I will stay outside, you only come here
Yoginia Amma took Mata Amritanandamayi Devi’s Paduka and kept it on the head of the PG and started chanting “Amriteshwari Padam Vande” After some time she asked PG “what is happening?”
PG: I am having some strange happy feeling and also I feel afraid
YA: You are very nice and please leave now join Mata’s pada, thats why I kept Mata’s Paduka on your head.
PG: You are so nice and for my sake you are taking so much of trouble and I will promise that I will leave this Girl and go.
Saying so she prostrated at the feet of Yogini Amma and started weeping. She also said that she will not give trouble to any one in future.
Now prema the Girl is perfectly alright and she is a teacher in Anganavadi.
This instance depicts the purity of Yogini Amma in her thought and deed and her non-discriminating attitude towards cast, creed, rich or poor. This also depicts her unstinted faith in her Guru.
Yogini Amma’s faith in her Guru never diminished even during her most difficult period when Prof.Shivaram was in the hospital with Kidney failure. She used to say that he will be cured with the grace of Amma.I was with her during that period in Bangalore. She was very pleased that I was taking care and used to say that “you should take care of me if anything happens to me”. As ordained I was there during the time when she was hospitalised and I had the opportunity to serve her. During that time also she used to pray that no one should go through the difficult period that she went through. I am sure such a pure soul must have merged with the divinity. I will always be indebted to Yogini Amma and I pray God that her whole hearted blessings are with me always.
Puttaswamy
Jai Guru Jai Amma
A Tribute to a Great Soul
Unforgettable Memories of Smt Yogini Shivaram
(Yoginiamma as we lovingly addressed)
It all appears like a dream when we tread back in the corridor of time, it was in the early 1990’s that we came to know of Smt Yogini. It was through the monthly satsanga programs which we were organising at our ‘Hall of Spirituality’ in Saraswathipuram, a suburb of the city of Mysore.All these Satsang programs were by the Sanyasis of different orders and missions. We maintained an address book to dispatch invitations to the spiritually thirsty souls to directly hear from those who have renounced the world to experience God.
Smt.Yogini Shivaram was one of the devotees who had given her name for receiving invitations. Every time we wrote her invitation post card, we used to wonder about her name and thought that this was the first time in our lives that we heard such a rare name but superbly significant. She used to sit like a school ,girl and focus on the discourses. Many times we wondered how such a young lady was so much interested in spirituality. These programs brought our family and Pro.Shivaram’s family together and it became closer and intimate when Sri Sri Mata Amritanandamayi Devi’s video programs and satsangs by the ashram monks were held in the Hall of Spirituality, before the advent of Mata Amritanandamayi Ashram in Mysore.
In 1996 we attended Sree Krishna Janmastami Celebrations in the ISKCON temple of St.Louis, Usa. In 1997 in Mysore on the morning of Janmastami Day when we were remembering our visit to ISKCON at St.Lousi, there came a phone call from Prof.Shivaram inviting us to accompany them by car to Bangalore for participating in the first Sree Krishna Janmastami Celebration at the New ISKCON temple at Hare Krishna Hill, Bangalore. We were amazed at the way Lord Sree Krishna put the idea into them to invite us and to bring Yogini Amma and Prof.Shivaramji still closer to our hearts thus strengthening our spiritual bonds. Then followed many joint spiritual adventures with yogini amma and Prof.Shivaram to the Golden Temple at Bylakuppa, Nagaloka, and Mysore ISKCON etc.etc.
Smt Yoginiji used to bring our attention by phone periodically for some of the very important spiritual programs in the TV Channels and would request us to positively witness them.
Our Spiritual bond became so intimate that she used to share the miracles she personally experienced such as the flowers offered getting stuck securely at the lotus feet of the divine mother AMMA in the portrait, getting the fragrance of AMMA’s VIBHUTI while performing Archanas and in her meditations etc.
Now and then, Prof.Shivaram used to invite us for satsang of our two families exclusively and we used to reciprocate the same. On these occasions Yoginiji would steal the show by rendering her newly composed songs on Lord Sree Krishna and Divine Mother Mata Amritanandamayi Devi. Her Voice would be so spiritually uplifting and compositions so deep with meaning and devotion we used to appeal to her to sing them again and again and also to bring out her composition in the form of CDs for the benefit of other devotees. Once we were fortunate to record one of her composition in an audio tape. Now all these have become really a dream. Her cheerful face and her candid presentation of spiritual ideas are ever green in our memory. She was a great Spiritual humorist.
She used to worship AMMACHI identifying her with Lord Sree Krishna and Goddess Bala Tripurasundary. She used to tell us many time in Childlike innocence “Ammachi is my daughter Bala Tripurasundari, I am Her Mother”. So she used to have the same love to AMMACHI as mother Yashoda had for baby Krishna. That was how she used to worship her Guru-Divine Mother Mata Amritanandamayi Devi.
Now the most unexpected thing has happened in her disappearance at such a young age, she has left behind her a treasure trove of spiritual thoughts in her diaries. We hope and pray her dear husband Prof.Shivaram and her beloved sons would bring these treasures to light for posterity and make her spirit live on forever and forever.
In the sacred Lalita Sahasranamam, the 653rd holy name is ‘Om Yoginai Namaha’ true to her name, Yogini Amma has merged in Divine mother AMMA.
Om Namah Shivaya
Prof.K.Prasanna Kumar
Prof.(Mrs) Nagaratna Prasanna Kumar
Mysore
Yogina Amma the Compassionate Mother
By Mr.Shivalingappa (Shivu) and Mrs.Vasantha Shivu
We had come to give a dance programme from Sadhana Nritya Kalpa for Dasara festival. We were searching for accommodation for a week. During that time one Mr. Anandrao Botani had introduced Mr. Yogini and Shivaram.and said that Amma is like a yogi and Shivaram is leading a spiritual life andthey are made fr each other. When I was first introduced I felt that there was a longstanding relationship between both of us. My native place is terakanambi. Whenever I used to come I used to come and stay in Shivaram’s house. Seeing them both I was inspired spiritually and felt as thoug they are my parents. During a ten days Yoga camp I had met Vasantha and fell in love. Immedaitely I rang up and informed Yogini Amma about her and expressed my intention of marrying her. Yogini Amma told me to do Jyothi Pooja which will help in fulfilling our wish. I introduced Yogini Amma to Vasantha and she spoke over the phone. Yogini Amma told that I have selected a very good girl who is on the spiritual path. – Shivalingappa (Shivu)
The word Yogini itself makes us feel the spiritual dimension of the person. When I (Smt.Vasantha Shivu) heard her voice for the first time on the phone, I felt as though there was a long relationship between us for many years. Her voice was very melodious and very sweet. I felt like listening to her voice often and I was feeling very eager to see who this wonderful persons was. Subsequently I met both of them and It was then that I decided that they will be the right people for performing our marriage i.e., Mr and Mrs Yogini Shivaram. Our’s is a love cum arranged marriage. Even though my parents arranged for the marriage none of them attended the marriage. It was during that time Both Yogini Amma and Shivaram took the responsibilities of my parents and got us married at Tirupathi. As I was missing my parents, I was feeling very sad and desperate. Instead the gap which I was missing has been filled by both Yogini and Shivaram. They have given me the love of my parents. I really feel that I am lucky to have them as foster parents fathers I have always enjoyed in being in their company. Both of them were very simple and good at heart. They were made for each other. Whenever I used to go to Mysore to meet them I used to stay in their house . At that time I used to see them and feel proud of myself that I have got such a nice sadhak’s for my marriage so that our life also should continue like that. They used to wake up at exactly 4 a.m. in morning and finish their bath and sit for chanting of Lalitha Sahashranama at 4.30 a.m. I was feeling very happy and I used to follow them. After that Yogini Amma used to sing bhajans of Amma (Mata Amritanandmayi) which would be very melodious and those positive vibrations I could feel just as I went near both of them. Yogini Amma always used to speak about Amma’s life and the troubles she faced. Whoever went to Yogini with their personal problems she always used to give the examples of Mata Amritananadmayi’s life sketch and how she went through the sufferings with a smile and took care of the welfare of others. Yogini Amma always used to remember Mata Aritanandamayi, each and every breath of her life.
Once Yogini Amma and Shivaram had taken both of us to Chamundi Hills and we had the darshan of Devi very closely. They gifted us with a pair of silver lamps. She said both the silver lamps represent both of you. Just as the lamp illumes and gives light to others in the same way you should become like a lamp. Both of you should render your selfless service to the society. These were the words of advice that she gave to both of us. Even though we were staying at Bangalore Yogini amma and Shivaram used to enquire on the phone and would take care of us. When I was pregnant I was feeling scared and I used to call and speak to Yogini Amma. At that moment she used to advise me that Amma is always with you and her divine grace is always with you. With these words she used to make me mentally strong. When my child was born the doctors told that the child was abnormal. They said that the child would either be physically handicapped or mentally retarded. During that time my husband informed Yogini Amma about the child and the problems the child was facing. So Yogini Amma told my husband Not to worry and nothing is going to happen to the child. She said she would pray to Amma. These were the words of consolation given by Yogini Amma. As she predicted, after 15 days the child was back to normal.One of her special and biggest quality that we have noticed is that she never used to speak harshly or hurt anyone even mentally. If somebody hurt her she used to forgive them for their mistakes which was her great quality. Even if the vegetable seller or florist come to their door step, Both Yogini Amma and Shivram never used to distinguish between the higher class and the lower class. They used to treat everyone as equal and treat all as children of god. Yogini Amma used to enquire about their problems and give advice to them and also would help them to come out of their problems. She used to pray for the welfare of the society. For example: When Kanchi Swamiji was facing problems as you have read in newspapers, Yogini Amma would discuss with me and she said that she is lighting, lemon lamp to god for the sake of Kanchi swamiji. She always used to say Lokah Samahastah Sukhinobhavantu and pray for the welfare of the society.
During Amma’s visit to Mysore I used to go to Mysore and stay in Yogini Shivaram’s House. Most of the brahamacharinis used to stay in their house. Yogini Amma used to look after them and take care of their needs rarely went for Ama's Darshan. I asked her “ are you not coming for Amma’s darshan? She said “ Athithi Devobhava and hence my service is to look after the guests which is equal to having Amma’s darshan". These were the words she used to utter. She always used to discuss and speak only about spirituality. She never used to discuss on worldly things and she was not interested in the materialistic world. She had realised that everything in this world is temporary and not permanent except God. When my father Shivaram was sick and he had a kidney failure, Yogini Amma just like Satyavan Savitri she had fought for her husband’s life and saved her husband from death. She never got desperate. She always used to say to me Amma has given me a test and her grace is with me, nothing is going to happen to my husband. She had strong determination and faith in Mata Amritanandamayi. Perhaps, it was that faith which gave strength to Yogini Amma and saved her husband’s life and brought him back to life from death. Whenever she used to introduce us to any of their friends, or relatives she used to say and introduce us as her son and daughter-in-law and Shivaram used to introduce us as his daughter and son-in-law. I have always ever remained happy with both of them and I can never forget those precious moments in my life. Both Yogini and Shivaram were made for each other. Both of them are very very simple,very loving and caring and still more which I cannot describe by mere words. It is only in their presence one could really enjoy. It is very fortunate for us because such people were present during my marriage. Yogini Amma used to compose bhajans on Amma and would sing them.When we had been to their 25 years wedding Anniversary celebration Yogini Amma used to say that "Lord Ganesh and Murga are my brothers". We would feel that she is reaching higher plane of spirituality. As she was progressing on her spiritual path she was giving up all the formalities. She was always in the meditative mood. When I was in Vallikkayu for Mata Amritanandamayi’s birthday I had spoken to Yogini Amma. She said she is going to hospital and she would call me back later. These were the last words spoken by her on the phone. Her voice was different from normal I understood that she is having a serious problem. At that time when I was in Vallikayu I meditated for her health. But I felt in meditation that she will be leaving her body very soon. I thought since I loved her maybe I am getting these thoughts. But after one week I received the message that Yogini Amma had expired. I could never believe and it was a sudden shock and I was not able to digest it. It was like a dream for all of us and the loss was unbearable. But she still lives in our heart forever............................. Smt.Vasantha Shivu - Bengaluru