In every temple, at all pilgrim centers the daily rituals begin with the morning prayers inevitably, with little exception. At Jillellamudi too, the day’s devotional activity commences with the morning ritual, chanting the Sanskrit stanzas, devotional prayers and so on.
During AMMA’S physical form, as also now the morning prayer, suprabhatham is offered in the VATSALYA ALAYAM near AMMA’S former dwelling chamber in HER very abode. Till the 12th of June 1985, these prayers at dawn were rendered very close to AMMA’S presence to the point of being audible to the very physically present AMMA. Same is the practice with the evening prayers, Sandhayavandanam.
Does AMMA, or the presiding deity at other places of worship need a wakeup call? Not very much so. Divinity is beyond the wakeful and the sleeping states. It is the human being that passes through the three physical states of wakefulness, dream, and the deep dreamless slumber. He must wake up every dawn and sleep at every dusk.
This ritual for the individual is to wake up in time, before sunrise, offer his prayers and commence his daily worldly routine and all other dutiful chores obligatory on him. AMMA or for that matter any deity at any place of worship truly does not need this ritualistic, traditional wake up call. It is for the human to begin his day and pass through the three states of his said physical conditioning, invoking grace through these prayers.
At Arkapuri, Jillellamudi these prayers are deemed especially important. Some of the inmates and resident students take part in this morning prayers. AMMA too by her responses expressed at times, evidently listened to these prayers. This is to convey these earnest prayers are heard, and responded, by the divine.
In the early days one of the earnest, steadfast participants in this morning ritual is Sister Suguna (Dr. B.L.Suguna), to the extent that AMMA took notice of her attendance, keen involvement and indicated HER favor and grace. As it can be seen in real life, Sister Suguna has a meteoric rise in her career becoming the Principal, now the Correspondent of the very same Matrusri Oriental College in which she began as the humble student. Her life too has been blessed in a balanced, well rounded manner.
Gopal Annayya is another keen, earnest, regular participant in Suprabhatham, which too attracted AMMA’S attention. AMMA expressed that Suprabhatham without his participation tends to be incomplete. Gopal Annayya rendered yeoman service to AMMA in multiple ways and was blessed in all respects. His life is blooming and blossoming with fruitful, dutiful offspring.
It is proper to recall Gopal Annayya’s experience here. One morning, when he awoke, he found none of the participants in Suprabhatham. Yet he heard the chant and its echo from AMMA’S form, the stomach. He was surprised. Later, it is known that all the girls and boys were attending to some farm work that singular morning. Therefore, they performed the Suprabhatham on the farm not reaching the ‘HOUSE OF ALL’. This confirms beyond doubt that AMMA listens and receives these morning prayers.
Another regular, intensely devout participant in this ritual is Bhaskar Annayya who has risen eminently in the spiritual sphere breathing his last here on this soil of Arkapuri as wished for by him. A person of rare caliber whom AMMA has picked up for dictating HER autobiography MAHODADHI.
This suggests in ample measure that earnest, steadfast attendance, participation in these morning prayers for anyone is beneficial, bestowing grace on such individuals. Further in the present times of struggle and turmoil, beginning of the daily routine offering prayers to the divine is desirable utmost to beget grace and enrich the person’s lifetime.
If for any reason the individual cannot attend or participate in such a conventional morning ritual, he can offer the prayers in the very possible mode for him at his own humble dwelling. The foregoing doubtless suggests that beginning the day with prayer and invoking divine grace augurs well for him. Thus, begets the much wished for auspices in his worldly life.
In the early days, that is from 1971 to 1975 I used to move between Hyderabad and Jillellamudi because of my official posting at Hyderabad. Whenever I was at Jillellamudi, I got up and joined the Suprabhatham. When I started living at Jillellamudi from November 1978, I joined the morning prayers immediately, waking up in VATSALYA AYAM which was my sleeping place often.
One morning while I was participating in Suprabhatham I witnessed a rare glow before me although not known from where it emanated or how it was caused. Later, with hindsight, I realized that it is the trace of luminous consciousness, the prelude to the light of the self within, an eventual steppingstone to the infinite, effulgent consciousness. In its culmination it is the absolute universal light that permeates all and pervades all, the entire existence.
Pray AMMA BLESS us all prompting us towards the infinite-bliss-consciousness, SATCHIDANANDA in our lifetimes.