Amma requests all to forgive

August 21, 2005 - Latest News from Amritapuri

Stranger with a hidden knife rushes to the stage during Amma's bhajans. Devotees stopped him and have handed him over to the police. None of the Devi Bhava programs were interrupted by this incident.

Amma's response to the incident:

A reporter asked Amma, "How should Amma's children respond to this?"

Amma answered with a question of her own. "What is the use in reacting? Forgive. The past is gone."

Amma continued, "Whatever is meant to happen will happen when the time comes. I just want to do what I have to do. Anyway, one day we all have to die. Therefore, it is better to get worn out than to rust away." READ THE FULL MESSAGE BELOW:

Press Conference given by Amma (aired on Amrita TV):

As Amma gave darshan, the leading press agencies from around the world descended on Amritapuri to find out what had really happened earlier in the night. Since the news was already appearing in the media, devotees from around the world began calling the ashram to inquire about Amma's wellbeing. Reporters from the leading news agencies, like Reuters, NDTV, Sahara TV, Aajtak, Star News, ANI etc., were waiting for hours to interview Amma.

As soon as the darshan finished, Amma came straight from the stage and met all the waiting reporters in her hut.

One of the reporters asked, "What is Amma's reaction to this incident?"

Amma smilingly replied, "I don’t have any reaction to this incident. Amma doesn’t have any fear of death. There have never been any security measures taken here in the ashram, and if anyone wants to kill Amma, they can do it anywhere at any time. Amma is not afraid of death at all."

Amma continued by referring to the swamis. "They are afraid that Amma can be harmed. There was a police intelligence report passed on to the ashram officials about 2 weeks back that stated there may be a threat against Amma."

She went on to say, "Amma doesn’t know all the people staying here. Many come just to get darshan and don’t leave the ashram afterwards. They may hang around and sleep on the balcony or on the beach somewhere. Amma doesn't even know where all the residents in the ashram come from. If Amma were really afraid of death, the first thing she would have done is check the background of everyone staying here at the ashram."

The next reporter asked, "How should Amma's children respond to this?"

Amma answered with a question of her own. "What is the use in reacting? Forgive. The past is gone."

Amma was then asked, "Hearing this news, devotees around the world will be very anxious. What is your message for them?"

Amma advised "They need not worry at all. Nothing will happen to Amma. He didn’t attack Amma; he simply came onto the stage with a knife. Amma wants all her children to be patient and calm. They should not create any problems in the name of this incident. That is Amma's only fear. When Amma was informed about what happened, she said, 'No one should worry about this; there is no reason to panic. Even if there were policeman and security here, if someone wants to kill Amma, they can kill me. My path is this (hugging people)… till the end. Amma will continue to give darshan."

The last question was asked, "Would you like to meet the attacker?"

Amma replied, "I don’t have any problem meeting him. Amma will meet everyone. Amma has overcome much worse situations than this in the past. Amma doesn’t give much importance to this incident."

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Stranger wielding a knife apprehended in Amritapuri

The large hall was full as Amma began the program for the first Devi Bhava darshan after the US tour. Over 15,000 tokens were distributed for darshan.

After Amma's satsang, during the 3rd song of the evening bhajans at around 6.15 pm, a man wearing a yellow shawl came onto the men's side of the stage. He was suspiciously holding something under the shawl, and was walking towards Amma. When asked to sit he refused. As he came behind the chorus and within 10 feet from Amma, one of the brahmacharis confronted him and pushed him to the side of the stage. A small skirmish ensued as Amma continued singing and the man was forcibly removed from the stage. At this point he pulled a knife out from under his shawl

Once off the stage several brahmacharis (renunciates) and devotees attempted to take the man into custody. In the process of subduing the man, two ashram residents Jitesh and Ramesh were slightly injured. Arun, a devotee from Kollam received a 4-inch deep stab wound on his back and was taken to the hospital. During the skirmish, before the man was taken into custody, two other men from the crowd assaulted the brahmacharis and fled the scene.

Later the assailant was handed over to the police. His identity remains unknown, as he is giving various alias names such as Pavitran, Joseph and various places of residence as Idukki and Palakkad. He told the police that he was "not able to fulfil his mission."

The ashram is looking into the matter seriously.

During the bhajans, Swami Amritaswarupananda wanted to get up and immediately investigate the matter. But Amma asked him to stay and sing. Later Amma explained that She did not want him to act with anger, but wanted him to act with a calm mind.

Amma continued all her programs as scheduled and is now giving darshan. All the programs are continuing as normal. Amma looks as beautiful as ever in a green sari.

Amma requests all her devotees around the world not to worry and to be patient and calm.