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Mātā Amṛtānandamayī Devī
Mātā Amṛtānandamayī Devī
Personal life
BornSudhamani Idamannel
(1953-09-27)September 27, 1953 (age 58)
Parayakadavu, Alappad Panchayat, Kollam District, Kerala, India

Mātā Amṛtānandamayī Devī (born as Sudhamani Idamannel on September 27, 1953), primarily known simply as Amma , is a Hindu spiritual leader and guru, who is revered as a saint by her followers. She is widely respected for her humanitarian activities. She has been referred to as "The Hugging Saint".

Biography

Amritanandamayi is an Indian Swamini from Parayakadavu (now partially known as Amritapuri), Alappad Panchayat, Kollam District, Kerala in 1953 in the state of Kerala. Born to a family of fishermen, she was the third child of Sugunanandan and Damayanti. Her education ended at the age of nine, when she began to take care of her younger siblings and the family domestic work full-time.

As part of her chores, Amritanandamayi gathered food scraps from neighbors for her family’s cows and goats, through which she was confronted with the intense poverty and suffering of others. She would bring these people food and clothing from her own home. Her family, which was not wealthy, scolded and punished her. Amritanandamayi also began to spontaneously embrace people to comfort them in their sorrow. It was not permissible for a 14-year-old girl to touch others, especially men. But despite the reaction of her parents, Amritanandamayi continued. Regarding her embracing of others, Amritanandamayi commented, “I don’t see if it is a man or a woman. I don’t see anyone different from my own self. A continuous stream of love flows from me to all of creation. This is my inborn nature. The duty of a doctor is to treat patients. In the same way, my duty is to console those who are suffering.”

Despite numerous attempts by her parents to arrange her marriage, Amritanandamayi rejected their efforts. In 1981, after various seekers had begun residing at her parents' property in Parayakadavu in the hopes of becoming Amritanandamayi's disciples, the Mata Amritanandamayi Math, a worldwide foundation, was founded. Amritanandamayi serves as chairperson of the Math. Today the Mata Amritanandmayi Math is engaged in many spiritual and charitable activities.

In 1987, at the request of devotees, Amritanandamayi began to conduct programs in countries throughout the world. She has done so annually ever since. Countries Amritanandamayi has held programs in include Australia, Austria, Brazil, Canada, Chile, England, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kenya, Kuwait, Malaysia, Mauritius, the Netherlands, Russia, Singapore, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Switzerland, United Arab Emirates and the United States of America.

Darshan

Darshan means “to see” in Sanskrit. In the Hindu ritual tradition, it refers to seeing the sacred. This typically corresponds to seeing the sacred in the image of a deity while at temple. It is believed that, in beholding the image of a deity, onlookers absorb through their eyes the powers of that deity. Darshan hence is believed to have the capacity to bring good fortune, well-being, and grace to those who participate in the act. Members of Amritanandamayi's following use the term specifically in reference to receiving a hug from Amritanandamayi.

Amritanandamayi has been giving darshan in this manner since her late teenage years. As to how this began, Amritanandamayi says, "People used to come and tell their troubles. They would cry and I would wipe their tears. When they fell weeping into my lap, I used to hug them. Then the next person too wanted it… And so the habit picked up." Amritanandamayi's organization, the Mata Amritanandamayi Math, claims Amritanandamayi has embraced more than 32 million people throughout the world for over 30 years.

When asked, in 2002, to what extent she thought her embraces helped the ills of the world, Amritanandamayi replied, "I don’t say I can do it 100 percent. Attempting to change the world is like trying to straighten the curly tail of a dog. But society takes birth from people. So by affecting individuals, you can make changes in the society and, through it, in the world. You cannot change it, but you can make changes. The fight in individual minds is responsible for the wars. So if you can touch people, you can touch the world."

Amritanandamayi's darshan is the centerpiece of her life, as she has received people nearly every day since the late 1970s. With the size of the crowds coming to seek Amritanandamayi's blessings increasing, there are times when she gives darshan continuously for more than 20 hours. In a conversation recorded in the 2004 book From Amma's Heart, Amritanandamayi says: "As long as these hands can move a little bit and reach out to those who come to her, and as long as there is a little strength and energy to place her hands on a crying person’s shoulder and caress and wipe their tears, Amma will continue giving darshan. To lovingly caress people, console and wipe their tears, until the end of this mortal frame is Amma's wish."

Teachings

In the book The Timeless Path, Swami Ramakrishnananda Puri, one of Amritanandamayi's senior disciples, writes: "The path inculcated by Amma is the same as the one presented in the Vedas and recapitulated in subsequent traditional scriptures such as the Bhagavad Gita." Amritanandamayi herself says, “Karma , jñana and bhakti are all essential. If the two wings of a bird are devotion and action, knowledge is its tail. Only with the help of all three can the bird soar into the heights.” She accepts the various spiritual practices and prayers of all religions as but various systems for the single goal of purifying the mind. Along these lines, she stresses the importance of meditation, performing actions as karma yoga, selfless service, and cultivating divine qualities such compassion, patience, forgiveness, self-control, etc. Amritanandamayi says that these practices refine the mind, making it fit for assimilating the ultimate truth: that one is not the limited body and mind but the eternal blissful consciousness that serves as the non-dual substratum of the universe. This understanding itself Amritanandamayi refers to as jivanmukti . Amritanandamayi says, "Jivanmukti is not something to be attained after death, nor is it to be experienced or bestowed upon you in another world. It is a state of perfect awareness and equanimity, which can be experienced here and now in this world, while living in the body. Having come to experience the highest truth of oneness with the Self, such blessed souls do not have to be born again. They merge with the infinite."

Charity

Amritanandamayi's world-wide charitable mission includes a program to house the homeless, build orphanages, and provide relief-and-rehabilitation in the aftermath of disasters such as the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami, free medical care, pensions for widows and disabled people, aid environmental-protection groups, renovate and urbanize slums, build care facilities for the elderly, and offer free food and clothing for the poor. These projects are overseen by various organizations, including the Mata Amritanandamayi Math (India), the Mata Amritanandamayi Center (USA), Amritanandamayi-Europe, Amritanandamayi-Japan, Amritanandamayi-Kenya, Amritanandamayi-Australia, etc. All the organizations collectively are known as Embracing the World.

When asked about how her charitable mission's development in 2004, Amritanandamayi said, "As for the activities, there was no planning. Everything happened spontaneously. One thing led to another on seeing the plight of the poor and the distressed. As Amma meets each and every person, she sees their problems face to face and tries to do something to alleviate their suffering. Om lokah samastah sukhino bhavantu is one of the important mantras of Sanatana Dharma, which means, 'May all the beings in all the worlds be happy and peaceful.' The spirit of this mantra was put into action."

The majority of work is done by volunteers as a form of spiritual practice. "It is Amma's wish that all of her children should dedicate their lives to spreading love and peace throughout the world. Real love and devotion for God is to have compassion for the poor and the suffering," Amritanandamayi says. "My children, feed those who are hungry, help the poor, console the sorrowful, comfort the suffering, be charitable to all.”

Bhajans

Amritanandamayi is well known for her devotional singing. There are more than 200 recordings of her singing bhajans in more than 20 languages. She has also composed dozens of bhajans and set them to traditional ragas. Regarding devotional singing as a spiritual practice, Amritanandamayi says, "If the bhajan is sung with one-pointedness, it is beneficial for the singer, the listeners, and Nature as well. Later when the listeners reflect on the songs, they will try to live in accordance with the lessons enunciated therein." Amritanandamayi says that in today's world, it is often difficult for people to get one-pointed concentration in meditation, but this concentration can be attained much easier through devotional singing.

Books and publications

Amritanandamayi's disciples have transcribed her conversations with devotees and spiritual seekers to create approximately a dozen books of her teachings known as "Awaken Children". The addresses she has delivered at various international forums have also been published in book form. Senior disciples including Swami Ramakrishnananda Puri, Swami Turiyamritananda Puri, Swami Paramatmananda and Swamini Krishnamrita Prana have also written books about their experiences with Amritanandamayi and their understanding of Amritanandamayi's teachings. Swami Amritaswarupananda Puri, the Vice-Chairman of the Mata Amritanandamayi Math, has written a biography about Amritanandamayi. The Mata Amritanandamayi Math also publishes Matruvani, a monthly spiritual magazine, as well as Immortal Bliss, a quarterly. Beginning in April 2011, a bi-weekly message from Amritanandamayi has appeared in the Lifestyle section of the Express Buzz Sunday supplement of the New Indian Express newspaper.

Controversies

Accusations on fraudulence and suspicious deaths

Sreeni Pattathanam, the Kerala-based head of the Indian Rationalist Association, wrote Matha Amritanandamayi: Sacred Stories and Realities, a controversial critique first published in 1985. The author claims that all the miracles of Amritanandamayi are bogus and that there have been many suspicious deaths in and around her ashram that need police investigation. The book contains references to court records, newspaper reports and quotations from literary figures, including statements from devotees, residents of the Math, relatives of Amritanandamayi and an interview with Amritanandamayi herself. The book was published again in 2002.

On August 9, 2002, Deshabhimani, a Malayalam daily newspaper owned by the Communist Party of India (Marxist), published a similar account, demanding investigation into the same deaths Pattathanam found suspicious. On September 24, 2002, Deshabhimani officially apologized for the report, publishing an article titled "Report that Suspicious Deaths at Amritanandamayi Math Are Growing Was Incorrect." The article stated: "We now state with conviction that there was nothing suspicious about deaths that happened in the Math. Some of the deaths mentioned in the article did not even take place at the Math." The article goes on to describe how relatives of the deceased had personally contacted Deshabhimani in order to correct the misinformation conveyed in the article. In several cases, the deaths were of elderly people, and the editors explained how the relatives had contacted Deshabhimani and explained how they were the bedsides of the people who supposedly had died suspiciously during the time of their passing.

In 2004, the Kerala State Government sanctioned criminal prosecution of Patthathanam, the owner of the publishing company and the printer of the book on grounds that religious sentiments had been offended. The order followed directions from the Kerala High Court to the Home Department for considering an application by T.K. Ajan, a resident of the Mata Amritanandamayi Math. The order received was rescinded after it was protested by the Communist Party of India leader, Thengamam Balakrishnan, and others.

Nurses' strike demanding wage hike

In December 2011, nurses at the Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Centre went on strike against the Mata Amritanandamayi Math, demanding a wage hike. This was part of a series of state-wide strikes by nurses throughout Kerala. The strike was called when leaders of the United Nurses' Association claimed that they were beaten by members of the hospital staff. Later, police was summoned to stop the protests, and they resorted to batons to disperse the protestors. Management claimed that the operations would not be affected even if the nurses continued their indefinite strike. Finally a consensus was reached between the Math and the protestors, wherein the charges against the protestors would be withdrawn by the Math and their demand for wage hike would be considered.

Mysterious death of attempted assaulter

On 1 August 2012, a Bihari law student, Swathanam Singh, attempted to barge onto the podium of Amritanandamayi, at her ashram in Kollam. He attacked the security guards and then was overpowered by devotees and was handed over to the police. Once in police custody, he exhibited more violent behaviour and was taken to the Mental Health Centre at Peroorkada. On August 4, he was found to be unconscious and was taken to the Government Medical College, Thiruvananthapuram where he was pronounced dead. Political parties of the State have demanded a detailed probe into this mysterious incident. Sources from his family stated that he was brought to the hospital from the jail in a severely tortured condition, with more than 30 injury marks on his body.

State BJP demanded for CBI probe, stating that his death prevented him from being questioned regarding the motivation for his attacks and, therefore, his death may have been a cover-up for a communal or terrorist attack. In August 2005, a similar attempted attack took place at the ashram.

Positions

  • Founder & Chairperson, Mata Amritanandamayi Math
  • Founder, Embracing the World
  • Chancellor, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham University
  • Founder, Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences (AIMS Hospital)
  • Parliament of the World's Religions, International Advisory Committee Member

Awards and honours

  • 1993, 'President of the Hindu Faith' (Parliament of the World's Religions)
  • 1993, Hindu Renaissance Award (Hinduism Today)
  • 1998, Care & Share International Humanitarian of the Year Award (Chicago)
  • 2002, Karma Yogi of the Year (Yoga Journal)
  • 2002, Gandhi-King Award for Non-Violence by The World Movement for Nonviolence (UN, Geneva) ·
  • 2005, Mahavir Mahatma Award (London)
  • 2005, Centenary Legendary Award of the International Rotarians (Cochin)
  • 2006, James Parks Morton Interfaith Award (New York)
  • 2006, The Philosopher Saint Sri Jnaneswara World Peace Prize (Pune)
  • 2007, Le Prix Cinéma Vérité (Cinéma Vérité, Paris)
  • 2010, The State University of New York awarded Amma an honorary doctorate in humane letters on May 25, 2010 at its Buffalo campus.

Addresses at international forums

  • 1993, 'May Your Hearts Blossom,' the Parliament of the World's Religions 100th Anniversary (Chicago)
  • 1995, 'Unity Is Peace,' Interfaith Celebration of the 50th Anniversary of the United Nations (New York)
  • 2000, 'Living in Harmony,' Millennium World Peace Summit of Religious & Spiritual Leaders (UN, New York)
  • 2002, 'Awakening of Universal Motherhood,' the Global Peace Initiative of Women, (UN, Geneva) ·
  • 2004, 'May Peace & Happiness Prevail,' Parliament of World's Religions (Barcelona) ·
  • 2006, 'Understanding & Collaboration Between Religions,' James Parks Morton Interfaith Awards (New York)
  • 2007, 'Compassion: The Only Way to Peace' (Cinéma Vérité Festival, Paris)
  • 2008, 'The Infinite Potential of Women,' keynote address of the Global Peace Initiative of Women (Jaipur),
  • 2009, 'Cultivating Strength & Vitality,' inauguration of Vivekananda International Foundation (New Delhi)

Documentaries

  • 1999 River of Love: A Documentary Drama on the Life of Ammachi
  • 2000 Louis Theroux's Weird Weekends – "Indian Gurus" (BBC-TV)
  • 2005 Darshan: The Embrace – directed by Jan Kounen
  • 2007 In God's Name – directed by Jules Clément Naudet and Thomas Gédéon Naudet

Video from international conferences

See also

Notes

  1. ^ South Asia | Devotees flock to hug Indian guru. BBC News (2003-09-24). Retrieved on 2011-06-24.
  2. Amma: The hugging saint, Cathy Lynn Grossman (2006). USA Today. Retrieved on February 19, 2008.
  3. Amma Embracing the world 2007 (video). Video.google.fr. Retrieved on 2011-06-24.
  4. Cornell, Judith (2001). Amritanandamayi: Healing the Heart of the World. New York: HarperCollins.
  5. Amritanandamayichi – A Biography of Mata Amritanandamayi by Swami Amritaswarupananda, ISBN 1-879410-60-5
  6. http://www.embracingtheworld.org/amma/
  7. ^ Millions flock to India's hugging guru. Thestar.com.my. Retrieved on 2011-06-24.
  8. "On the 6th of May in the year of 1981, with a view to preserving and propagating the ideals and teachings of the Holy Mother, the Mata Amritanandamayi Math and Mission Trust was founded and registered under the Travancore-Cochin State Literary and Charitable Act of 1955, at Kollam, Kerala, South India." Amritanandamayichi – A Biography of Mata Amritanandamayi by Swami Amritaswarupananda, ISBN 1-879410-60-5
  9. ^ (Amma's Charities). Embracing the World. Retrieved on 2011-06-24.
  10. Babb, Lawrence. 1981. Glancing: Visual Interaction in Hinduism. Journal of Anthropological Research 37 (4):387–401; Eck, Diana. 1981. Darshan: Seeing the Divine Image in India. 2 ed. Chambersburg, PA: Anima.
  11. Fuller, C.J. 1992. The Camphor Flame: Popular Hinduism and Society in India. Princeton: Princeton University Press
  12. ^ rediff.com: The Rediff Interview/Mata Amritanandmayi. Im.rediff.com (2002-08-02). Retrieved on 2011-06-24.
  13. http://www.ammaaustralia.org.au/Humanitarian/ETW-2012.pdf
  14. From Amritanandamayi's Heart: Conversations with Sri Mata Amritanandamayai Devi (2004), page 159
  15. ^ The Timeless Path by Swami Ramakrishnananda, ISBN 978-1-879410-46-6
  16. ^ Lead Us to the Light: A Collection of Mata Amritanandamayi's Teachings Compiled by Swami Jnanamritananda
  17. "The goal of all religions is one—purification of the human mind." ("Living in Harmony" By Mata Amritanandamayi)
  18. Amritanandamayi's Response to the Tsunami 2004 (video). Video.google.fr. Retrieved on 2011-06-24.
  19. Compassion as philosophy of life. The Hindu (2004-01-23). Retrieved on 2011-06-24.
  20. Awaken, Children, Volume 2: Dialogues with Sri Mata Amritanandamayi Devi
  21. For My Children: The Teachings of Her Holiness Sri Mata Amritanandmayai Devi, page 70
  22. Mass Publicationas, Kollam, Kerala, revised edn. (The Malayalam language subtitle is "Divya Kathakalum Yatharthyavum".)
  23. http://www.hindu.com/2010/05/07/stories/2010050750500200.htm
  24. "Report that Suspicious Deaths at Amritanandamayi Math Are Growing," Deshabhimani, August 9, 2002
  25. "Report that Suspicious Deaths at Amritanandamayi Math Are Growing Was Incorrect," Deshabhimani, September 24, 2002, Page 6
  26. http://hindu.com/2004/01/28/stories/2004012805950400.htm
  27. http://www.hindu.com/2004/01/29/stories/2004012902660300.htm
  28. http://www.khaleejtimes.com/displayarticle.asp?xfile=data/international/2012/February/international_February49.xml&section=international&col=
  29. "NATIONAL / KERALA : Nurses at Amrita on strike". The Hindu. 2011-12-07. Retrieved 2012-08-08.
  30. "Cities / Kochi : Nurses return to work at Kolenchery medical college". The Hindu. 2012-02-20. Retrieved 2012-08-08.
  31. "Cities / Thiruvananthapuram : Youth arrested on assault charge dead". The Hindu. 2012-08-01. Retrieved 2012-08-08.
  32. "Man attempted to attack Mata Amritanandamayi found dead under mysterious circumstances : South, News - India Today". Indiatoday.intoday.in. Retrieved 2012-08-08.
  33. "BJP demands high-level probe into Bihari youth's death, IBN Live News". Ibnlive.in.com. Retrieved 2012-08-08.
  34. "Brother suspects police hand in death of Bihari youth". Newstrackindia.com. Retrieved 2012-08-08.
  35. "NATIONAL / KERALA : BJP demands probe". The Hindu. Retrieved 2012-08-08.
  36. "Amritanandamayi unhurt in attack". Rediff.com. Retrieved 2012-08-08.
  37. http://www.embracingtheworld.org/who-we-are/
  38. http://www.amrita.edu/chancellor-amma/amma.php
  39. http://www.aimshospital.org/
  40. http://www.parliamentofreligions.org/index.cfm?n=1&sn=8
  42. Catalfo, Phil. (2001-09-10) The 2002 Karma Yoga Awards. Yoga Journal. Retrieved on 2011-06-24.
  43. The World Council of Religious Leaders. Millenniumpeacesummit.com (2000-04-04). Retrieved on 2011-06-24.
  44. ^ The future of this planet depends on the women (Gandhi-King United Nations 2002) (video). Video.google.fr. Retrieved on 2011-06-24.
  45. Home. Nonduality.com. Retrieved on 2011-06-24.
  47. ^ ICNY. Interfaithcenter.org. Retrieved on 2011-06-24. Cite error: The named reference "Interfaith" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  48. Amma Awarded Sant Jnaneshwara World Peace Prize @ Amritapuri.org. Archives.amritapuri.org (2006-01-31). Retrieved on 2011-06-24.
  49. Entertainment | Film award honours 'hug guru'. BBC News (2007-10-13). Retrieved on 2011-06-24.
  50. International Humanitarian Amma Receives SUNY Honorary Degree at UB – UB NewsCenter. Buffalo.edu (2010-05-26). Retrieved on 2011-06-24.
  51. ^ The World Council of Religious Leaders. Millenniumpeacesummit.com. Retrieved on 2011-06-24.
  52. Parliament of the World's Religions 2004 – Barcelona. Conferencerecording.com. Retrieved on 2011-06-24.
  53. ^ Barcelona 2004 Parliament of World's Religion "May peace and happiness prevail" (video). Fortunet.free.fr. Retrieved on 2011-06-24.
  54. Template:FrDiscours lors de la remise du Prix Cinéma Vérité en 2007 remis par Sharon Stone à Paris (vidéo)
  55. Amma's address at the 2008 Summit : The Infinite Potential of Women ''"Making Way for the feminine for the benefit of the World Community"'' (video). Fortunet.free.fr. Retrieved on 2011-06-24.
  56. GPIW Convenes “Making Way for the Feminine – For the Benefit of the World Community” » barry. Gpiw.org (2008-05-09). Retrieved on 2011-06-24.
  57. Vivekananda Kendra | Spiritually Oriented Service Mission. Vkendra.org. Retrieved on 2011-06-24.

References

External links

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