Mata Amritanandamayi
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| Famous as | Spiritual leader |
| Born on | 27 September 1953 |
| Born in | Parayakadavu, Kerala, India |
| Nationality | India |
| Works & Achievements | Mata Amritanandamayi Trust & Spiritual Teaching |
My Dream:- A vision of a world in which women and men progress together, a world in which all men respect the fact that, like the two wings of a bird, women and men are of equal value. – Amma
| Revered as a saint, Mata Amritanandamayi, more popularly called Amma, Ammachi and the Mother, is one of the most widely respected and appreciated women in the world. Also known as the 'Hugging Saint', Amma is known to hug and bestow her unconditional love on people from all walks of life. Starting her spiritual practice from the small district of Parayakadavu (Kerala), Amma has become world-famous today and is known for her humanitarian activities across the globe. It is believed that receiving a hug from Mata Amritanandamayi relieves a person from all the pain, anxiety and tension. Some of the people also believe her to an avatar of the Great Mother. Amma was born on27th September 1953, in the fishing village of Parayakadavu, which falls in the state of Kerala. Born into a low caste family, she was christened as Sudhamani and displayed unusual behavior right from her birth. Much unlike other kids, she did not cry, but smiled when she was born. Her dark blue complexion, at the time of birth, also shocked her parents. While Sudhamani's parents thought her to be unhealthy and unwell, to their amazement, she turned out to be a perfectly healthy child, though her skin turned darker with time. At the age of 5, when children of her age would engage themselves in playing, Sudhamani would spend much of her time singing devotional prayers. Whenever she undertook an activity, her lips always appeared to be moving in a silent prayer. Sudhamani's spiritual inclination was not much appreciated by her parents. They also disliked her generous and munificent nature and scolded her for sharing food with the people of the untouchable class and giving away the belongings of the household. At 9 years of age, Sudhamani stopped going to school and was entrusted with arduous household tasks. However, she did not complain and did them happily. Apart from doing the household chores, she also took care of her younger siblings and performed the family domestic work. Fame & Popularity As Sudhamani grew older, her spiritual experiences also deepened. Watching her in deep spiritual practice, people became mesmerized by her and soon, she began attracting followers. They felt that there was something mystifying in her reflective state of consciousness. For her devotees, Sudhamani reflected the Hindu Avatar Sri Krishna and took the form and characteristics of the God. Some time later, she came to be known as Mata Amritanandamayi and Amma. Mata Amritanandamayi Ashram By the end of 1979, Mata Amritanandamayi had a few followers who wished to remain under her guidance forever. They soon formed an informal ashram to devote themselves to spiritual practice. Located in Kollam (Kerala), about 110 km to the north of Thiruvananthapuram and 120 km to the south of Cochin, the ashram, as well as its location, is today known as Amritapuri.The ashram has developed over the past years and is also known as Mata Amritanandamayi Math. It runs as a parent organization, a trust, under which several spiritual, educational, social and cultural activities are performed. Spiritual Discourses Ever since 1981, Mata Amritananmayi has been teaching spiritual believers all over the world, the ancient traditions of yoga and Vedanta. Her spiritual teachings revolve around renunciation of false sense of ego of man. She also persuades people to concentrate on the Divine, overcoming all barriers, and attain realization. Darshan Known as the 'Hugging Saint', Mata Amritananmayi offers warm hugs to everyone who comes to meet her. She is known to individually hug over 50,000 people in a day, at times, even sitting for as long as 20 hours at a stretch. It is said that she has hugged at least 21 million people in the past 20 years. In 2005, 'Darshan - The Embrace', a film based on the life of Amma, was showcased at the prestigious Cannes Film Festival. Divisions of Mata Amritanandamayi Trust Educational
Medical
Religious
Other Divisions/Programs
Awards & Honors 1993 - 'Hindu Renaissance Award' by Hinduism Today 2002 - Gandhi-King Award for Non-Violence by The World Movement for Nonviolence at the UN General Assembly Hall, Geneva 2006 - 4th Annual James Parks Morton Interfaith Award at the Interfaith Centre, New York 2007 - Award for her humanitarian activities at the Human Rights Film Festival, Cinema Verite, in Paris |
Timeline: |
1953 - Mata Amritanandamayi or Amma was born 1979 - Formation of an informal ashram, today known as Mata Amritanandamayi Trust 1981 - Started teaching spiritual believers all over the world 1993 - Became one of the presidents of the Assembly of Global Religions (Chicago), Represented Hinduism at Parliament of World's Religions (Chicago) 2000 - Gave the keynote address at Millennium Peace Summit, UN General Assembly, New York 2002 - Became keynote speaker at the Global Peace Initiative of Women, at the UN (Geneva, Switzerland) 2008 - Gave keynote address for Global Peace Initiative of Women's international conference, entitled "Making Way For The Feminine for the Benefit of the World Community", in Jaipur (Rajasthan, India) |
My Desire: Everyone in the world should be able to sleep without fear, at least for one night. Everyone should be able to eat to his fill, at least for one day. There should be at least one day when hospitals see no one admitted due to violence. – Amma
Who is Amma?
Sri Mata Amritanandamayi Devi
Many people wonder how a little girl from a simple South Indian village came to be known throughout the world as “Amma, the Mother of All.” Motherhood, in its ultimate sense, has nothing to do with bearing a child, but with love, compassion and selflessness. It lies in totally giving one’s self to others.
If we look at Amma’s life, this is what we see—someone who has offered her every thought, word and deed for the benefit of others. Giving is the essence. It’s just that when the homeless come crying for shelter and Amma gives them a house, we call her a “humanitarian.” And when the sorrowful come crying for emotional solace and she gives them love, we call her a “mother.” And when those thirsty for spiritual knowledge come earnestly seeking and she gives them wisdom, we call her a “guru.” This attitude of selflessly serving all creation, knowing others to be extensions of one’s own self, Amma refers to as vishwa matrutvam—universal motherhood. And it is to this pinnacle of human existence that Amma is trying to awaken the world through her life, teachings and darshan [divine embrace].
If we look at Amma’s life, this is what we see—someone who has offered her every thought, word and deed for the benefit of others. Giving is the essence. It’s just that when the homeless come crying for shelter and Amma gives them a house, we call her a “humanitarian.” And when the sorrowful come crying for emotional solace and she gives them love, we call her a “mother.” And when those thirsty for spiritual knowledge come earnestly seeking and she gives them wisdom, we call her a “guru.” This attitude of selflessly serving all creation, knowing others to be extensions of one’s own self, Amma refers to as vishwa matrutvam—universal motherhood. And it is to this pinnacle of human existence that Amma is trying to awaken the world through her life, teachings and darshan [divine embrace].
Questions about the nature of the soul, the universe and God; about dharma, love and family life; about meditation and other spiritual practices…. Amma has been clearing the doubts of sincere seekers on such subtle subjects since her youth. She never had a guru nor studied the Vedas, yet she speaks on the truths expressed within the scriptures with wisdom, clarity and true insight. Hers is not an academic knowledge, but the knowledge of one who is ever-established in the Ultimate Reality. It is for this reason that Amma’s simple childhood home has become the spiritual home to thousands—an ashram where aspirants from around the world reside in order to imbibe Amma’s wisdom and realize the Truth that is their real nature. The seeker is instructed as per his level—from the child to the sannyasi
Seeing the whole world as an extension of her own self, Amma is ever ready to forego her own body’s needs in order to bring a smile to someone’s face, wipe their tears or to simply listen to their sorrows. The sweet manner in which she laughs and jokes with people, shares in their success and failure has endeared millions to her throughout the world. In fact, many see Amma as their lifelong confidant and friend. Giving darshan in this manner is verily Amma’s life—day after day, week after week, year after year. In fact, Amma has been doing so since she was just 17 years old, and she has been known to sit embracing people continuously for as long as 22 hours. Amma is able to make such a personal sacrifice because in her arms people feel safe, feel comforted, loved, feel that finally they’ve found someone who knows them through and through. And with that feeling they get the strength to move forward in life, and this, Amma feels, is infinitely more important than her physical needs. Be they young or old, sick or healthy, rich or poor—everyone receives the same unconditional love. Amma turns no one away. The atheist has just as much a place with Amma as the devotee.
For Amma, Advaita [non-dualism] is not a mere philosophy, but something to be lived. As such, Amma’s every thought, word and deed resound with that greatest of truths: Everything within and without is divine. Accordingly, Amma oversees a massive matrix of humanitarian activities. Hospitals for the sick, homes for the homeless, disaster relief, orphanages, hospices, free pensions, suicide-prevention, employment programs… the list is endless. Influenced by Amma’s example and experiencing her pure love, thousands upon thousands of people from around the world have been inspired to take up a life of service—giving whatever time or money they can spare in order to help others. It is the seed of love Amma has planted within them beginning to sprout that has brought this about. This has been Amma’s vision from the beginning. Amma says, “In today’s world, people experience two types of poverty: the poverty caused by lack of food, clothing and shelter, and the poverty caused by lack of love and compassion. Of these two, the second type needs to be considered first—because, if we have love and compassion in our hearts, then we will wholeheartedly serve those who suffer from lack of food, clothing and shelter.” This is the secret behind the success of Amma’s charitable mission and how its expansion seems to be constant and without end. And the brilliance of Amma’s grand scheme is that not only are the downtrodden uplifted but also the volunteers, as the selflessness of their actions purifies their minds, helping them to gradually progress along the spiritual path. Amma’s charitable social services cross all barriers of nationality, race, caste and religion, and have drawn the attention of the world community. In 2005, Amma’s organization, the Mata Amritanandamayi Math, was given special consultative status by the United Nations.
It’s better get worn out than rust away. – Amma
Humanitarian, Mother, Friend, Guru, God…people see her differently. Amma has offered herself to the world. In reality, Amma is beyond all such roles, knowing her true nature to be the true nature of us all—the blissful divine consciousness that pervades this universe. But out of her infinite compassion, Amma comes down to the level of whoever is standing before her—the poor, the lonely, the seeker—in order to give what is desired, what is needed. It was for this purpose alone that Amma was born and for this alone that Amma lives today. In fact, Amma has said that she wishes to be lovingly caressing someone, consoling them and wiping their tears even when she breathes her last.
Summary
Amritanandamayi was born Sudhamani in 1953, in Parayakadavu, Kerala India. Her family is of the Arayan caste, a poor Malayali caste of Kerala, India. They lived in the coastal regions making there income mostly from fishing. As a child, she was said to have been unique. Her mother reports she was born with a smile on her face. At six months, she was walking and talking and by the age of five she was composing beautiful hymns to her beloved Krishna, going into meditative states, singing and dancing. Her parents did not understand and scolded her. At nine, Sudhamani had to leave school to help at home as her mother was ill. With seven brothers and sisters to feed and clothe, Sudhamani had to work from dawn to dusk. It was at this time she started to see the suffering all around her. She had such empathy for all that she wanted to reach out and comfort all. Although only a child, this was the beginning of her mission. At night she meditated and prayed to Lord Krishna. In her teens, Sudhamani was sent to the houses of relatives, where she worked for long hours. It was said that during this time, as she worked, she chanted incessantly Krishna’s name, seeing every duty and abuse as his work. At the age of twenty-two, whilst walking home, one night she heard the final verses of Srimad Bhagavatam emanating from a neighbors house. As she listened, suddenly she was overwhelmed by divine bliss and Lord Krishna transformed her features and movements into the Lords. She became one with the Lord. Amma writes that in the early days, “I strongly felt the urge to be absorbed in to the Supreme Being without returning. Then I heard a voice from within saying, 'Thousands and thousands of people in the world are steeped in misery. I have much for you to do, you who are one with me.' ” Thereafter, Sudhamani regularly appeared in Krishna Bhava, during which time, people flocked to see her. A short time later, Sudhamani had an unforgettable vision of the Adi Parashakti (Divine Mother). So moved by the vision, she started to yearn for the Divine Mother. She could not work such was her yearning. Her family cast her out, yet still she prayed to the Divine Mother. She no longer knew the difference between night and day. Eventually, she experienced the union with the Divine Mother. Thereafter, she started to embrace everyone who came to her, experiencing each one as her own child. Amma’s selfless compassion drew people to her and so began her ministry, of “universal motherhood”. Since 1981, she has been teaching spiritual aspirants all over the world. Over the years, she has been involved in many global peace initiatives and received many awards. In 1993, she talked at the Parliament of World Religions. In 1995, she addressed the UN’s Interfaith 50th Celebration. In 2000, she was a keynote speaker at the UN General Assembly. In 2002, she was a speaker at the Global Peace Initiative of Women Religious & Spiritual Leaders. That same year, she also received the Gandhi –King Award for Non-Violence.
Amritanandamayi was born Sudhamani in 1953, in Parayakadavu, Kerala India. Her family is of the Arayan caste, a poor Malayali caste of Kerala, India. They lived in the coastal regions making there income mostly from fishing. As a child, she was said to have been unique. Her mother reports she was born with a smile on her face. At six months, she was walking and talking and by the age of five she was composing beautiful hymns to her beloved Krishna, going into meditative states, singing and dancing. Her parents did not understand and scolded her. At nine, Sudhamani had to leave school to help at home as her mother was ill. With seven brothers and sisters to feed and clothe, Sudhamani had to work from dawn to dusk. It was at this time she started to see the suffering all around her. She had such empathy for all that she wanted to reach out and comfort all. Although only a child, this was the beginning of her mission. At night she meditated and prayed to Lord Krishna. In her teens, Sudhamani was sent to the houses of relatives, where she worked for long hours. It was said that during this time, as she worked, she chanted incessantly Krishna’s name, seeing every duty and abuse as his work. At the age of twenty-two, whilst walking home, one night she heard the final verses of Srimad Bhagavatam emanating from a neighbors house. As she listened, suddenly she was overwhelmed by divine bliss and Lord Krishna transformed her features and movements into the Lords. She became one with the Lord. Amma writes that in the early days, “I strongly felt the urge to be absorbed in to the Supreme Being without returning. Then I heard a voice from within saying, 'Thousands and thousands of people in the world are steeped in misery. I have much for you to do, you who are one with me.' ” Thereafter, Sudhamani regularly appeared in Krishna Bhava, during which time, people flocked to see her. A short time later, Sudhamani had an unforgettable vision of the Adi Parashakti (Divine Mother). So moved by the vision, she started to yearn for the Divine Mother. She could not work such was her yearning. Her family cast her out, yet still she prayed to the Divine Mother. She no longer knew the difference between night and day. Eventually, she experienced the union with the Divine Mother. Thereafter, she started to embrace everyone who came to her, experiencing each one as her own child. Amma’s selfless compassion drew people to her and so began her ministry, of “universal motherhood”. Since 1981, she has been teaching spiritual aspirants all over the world. Over the years, she has been involved in many global peace initiatives and received many awards. In 1993, she talked at the Parliament of World Religions. In 1995, she addressed the UN’s Interfaith 50th Celebration. In 2000, she was a keynote speaker at the UN General Assembly. In 2002, she was a speaker at the Global Peace Initiative of Women Religious & Spiritual Leaders. That same year, she also received the Gandhi –King Award for Non-Violence.
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| saranam..!!! |
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