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You are here: Home1 / Draft – Hinduism-Home Blog Page2 / Avatars & Saints3 / Mata Amritanandamayi (Amma)4 / Amma – Mata Amritanandamayi – Biography – Life Timeline...

Amma – Mata Amritanandamayi – Biography – Life Timeline with Photos

August 2, 2022/3 Comments/in Mata Amritanandamayi (Amma) /by C.V.Rajan

(Digital art Courtesy: Hiral Varun)

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  • She is called Amma (Mother).
  • She hails from a little fishermen’s hamlet in Kerala, India. She is hardly educated up to primary school. She is now a world-renowned Hindu saint and a globally recognized philanthropist. She travels across the length and breadth of India and also across the globe every year to meet people. She is known as the Hugging Saint. She is a ceaseless fountainhead of divine love.
  • She embraces each and every individual who comes to her for her darshan. She spends 10-14 hours a day, at least 4 days a week in meeting and hugging people who come to see her in thousands. She has been doing it ceaselessly since the age of 22/23. (She is now 65 as in 2018). She has hugged more than 33 million people across the world.
  • She is an unconditional giver. All the people in this world are her sons and daughters. She gives pure love to the world suffering in scorching selfishness; she heals people both physically and mentally.
  • She spreads spirituality to earnest seekers as a Sadguru. There are several tens of Sanyasis and hundreds of Brahmachari / Brahmacharinis living in her Ashram at Amritapuri, along with hundreds of household devotees (both Indians and foreigners) who are doing spiritual sadhana (meditation, mantra japa, devotional singing, studying shastras like Bhagavad Gita and Upanishads etc) and also doing selfless service, leading a very frugal and simple life, under her guidance.
  • She serves the poor and the downtrodden. She runs hospitals, orphanages, schools, colleges, and research institutions. She is always there with a helping hand extended, whenever and wherever there is a natural calamity.
  • Here is an attempt to showcase, for the sake of historical records, what she has been doing year after year in her action-packed life ever since her birth. No wonder she is hailed as an Avatar of divine mother Parashakti; the power she radiates is immeasurable; what she has accomplished and what she has been doing is simply beyond the grasp and capacity of not only ordinary human beings but also scientists, rationalists, and agnostics.

1953  – 27th September  

  • Sunday, after 9 AM (in star Karthika) The Holy Avatar of Amma happens – The girl child, later named Sudhamani (Later Mata Amritanandamayi) was born to Dhamayanthi Amma and Sri Sugunanandan as their 3rd child at Parayakadavu, a fishermen’s hamlet in Alappad, Kerala. Her birthplace, in future, acquires the name Amtitapuri.

1957 (Age 4)

  •  ‘Kunju’ (Little) Sudhamani frequently turns inwards, forgetting the outer world and goes to a meditative state.

1958 (Age 5)

  • Sudhamani starts going to elementary school. She is soaked in Krishna bhakti most of the time even at such a tender age.

1960 (Age 7)

  • Sudhamani starts composing devotional songs on Lord Krishna. Most of the time her dress is wet with tears she sheds crying for her beloved Krishna.

1962 (Age 9)

  • Sudhamani discontinues school (in a couple of months after joining 5th standard) and takes charge of doing all domestic chores since her mother falls sick. In all her free time, she is immersed in the devotion of Sri Krishna.

1966 (Age 13)

  • Sudhamani starts going to her Mother’s elder sisters’ house for doing their domestic chores. Sudhamani gives the families’ rice to the poor and gets the wrath of the relatives.

1968 (Age 15)

  • Sudhamani was sent to her uncle’s house in Karunagapally for doing their domestic chores. Here too she starts giving food and provisions from the house to the poor and needy and gets punished for her charity.

1969 (Age 16)

  • Sudhamani returns to her parents’ house and gets fully engaged in doing all domestic chores from 3 AM in the morning till 11 PM and also immerses herself in intense sadhana and Krishna Bhakthi. She also serves the poor people in the village and distributes food and provisions stealthily from her house. Gets punished frequently for this charity.

1970 (Age 17)

  • Sudhamani learns tailoring at a Christian Institution attached to a Church (for about 3 years) in her spare time. She goes into meditation at the graveyard next to the church. The old priest in the Church gets highly impressed by her character and devotion to God.  He predicts she will come up as a great lady in the future.

  • Sudhamani loses sleep crying and singing for her beloved Krishna. Her family members get highly disturbed by her behavior. They think she is mentally deranged.

1975 (Age 22)

  • Sudhamani’s intense prema bhakti on Krishna ends up in a divine experience of Lord Krishna merging in her.

== Oil painting == Lord Krishna appears before Amma and merges in her. Amma realizes her oneness with Krishna.

  • 5th March  1975 – Sudhamani first Krishna Bhava (involuntarily expressing the divine mood of Lord Krishna) at the courtyard of her neighbor  Sri Ratnam’s house where Srimad Bhagavada parayanam was going on.

== Oil painting == Amma reveals her Krishna Bhava to people gathered to listen to Srimad Bhagavatam.

  • On the next Bhagavata Parayanam day, based on demands from people to prove her divine power, Sudhamani does a miracle by converting water to milk and also to panchamritam when she shows Krishna bhava again.
  • Soon regular Krishna Bhava darshan to devotees begins at the cowshed area next to her house.

  • Later a simple temple (Kalari) comes up in the cowshed area where her bhava darshan took place.

  • Soon after, Sudhamani gets Devi Parashakthi in a divine vision for a brief while. She immerses in deep Prema Bhakti to seek Devi’s vision again. Sudhamani’s behavior turns very weird bordering on madness.
  • Her family members could not understand her divine madness and get very disturbed. Her elder brother Subhakan, who could not accept Sudhamani’s bhava darshans and her divine moods, orders her to get out of the house. In order not to trouble the family members, sSudhamani opts to stay outdoors all the time, be rain or shine. She was out of body consciousness most of the time; animals and birds start giving her company with love and they bring food to her too.

== Oil painting == Sudhamani ordered out of the house; Animals and birds give her company in the open.

  • September 1975 – After 6 months of intense longing, she gets the vision of Devi once again and Devi immerses inside her. Amma sang her experience and the divine commandment she received from Devi thus in her song ‘Ananda Veedhi’

. . . . . .
Smiling, She became a Divine Effulgence

And merged in me. My mind blossomed,
Bathed in the many-hued light of divinity
And the events of millions of years gone by
Rose up within me. Thenceforth,
Seeing nothing as separate from my own Self
And merging in the Divine mother
I renounced all sense of enjoyment

Mother told me to ask people
To fulfill their human birth.
Therefore I proclaim to the whole world
The sublime truth that She uttered
‘oh man, merge in your Self!”
. . . . . . . . . 

Sudhamani resolves to dedicate her life totally to mitigate the suffering of the people and serve one and all as embodiments of God.

  • Amma (Sudhamani) begins giving Devi Bhava Darshan too in addition to Krishna Bhava Darshan. She hugs each and everyone who comes to her for darshan, hears their woes and offers solace.

  • Amma starts facing lots of opposition from and harassment from The Rationalists  Movement (‘Committee to remove blind beliefs’) who consider her bhava darshans as fake with an intent to fool people and make money.
  • By 1975 year-end – During one Krishna bhava, Amma predicts that she will be having lots of devotees coming to her from far and wide, including from abroad. She also predicts that she would travel all over the world many times.
  • Prabhakara Siddha Yogi, a famous avadhuta with extremely weird behavior, who was believed to be living across a couple of centuries, comes and visits Amma. He recognizes her as Kali Mata.

Amma with Prabhakara Siddha Yogi

1976  (Age 23)

  • Harassment, public ridicule, attempts of physical attack and attempts of murder happens to Amma from locals and members of the Rationalist movement. Amma’s family members feel highly disturbed about such happenings. Amma faces such opposition for the next couple of years with evenness of mind.
  • Based on Sugunananda’s prayer during Devi bhava to relieve her daughter from Devi’s possession, Amma falls into deep samadhi the next day and could not be revived to life despite all efforts. Conceding to intense prayers and inconsolable crying of her devotees and family, she comes back to life after 3 hours.
  • Unnikrishnan (Amma’s first resident brahmachari of the ashram, later Swami Turiyamritananda Puri) meets Amma and starts staying in the temple.

Swami Turiyamritananda Puri (Br. Unnikrishnan) was the earliest permanent resident of the ashram who came in 1976.

1977 (Age 24)

  • Amma visits Madurai Meenakshi temple with devotees. She goes into deep samadhi for about 1.5 hrs in front of Meenakshi sannadhi.

1978   (Age 25)

  • Dattan the leper starts visiting Amma during Bhava Darshan and his acute and deep wounds of leprosy gets cured over a period of time by Amma’s licking of his wounds.

> Click this picture to see the video clipping showing Amma licking the wounds in Dattan’s body and face

  • June 1978 – Amma’s elder brother Subhakan, who could not understand or accept Amma’s spiritual moods, and seemingly lunatic behavior, was strongly against his sisters’ divine bhavas and was extremely mentally disturbed. He commits suicide. Amma had to face negative propaganda and criticism from the rationalists and the public on account of this happening too.

1979  (Age 26)

  • Amma’s first batch of young and earnest spiritual seekers (who later became resident brahmacharis and Sannyasins) start visiting Amma from their homes frequently. (Balagopal, Ramesh Rao, Sreekumar, Ramakrishnan and Venugopal)
  • November 1979 – Amma’s first western disciple Neal Rosner (Later Swami Paramatmananda Puri) from Thiruvannamalai meets Amma for the first time.
  • A few months later, Neal and Gayathri (Gail Tredwell, Amma’s first western woman devotee and personal assistant) come to  stay permanently with Amma.

== Amma with early ashramites == Standing L to R : Harshan (Amma’s cousin), Gayatri (Gail), Amma, Neal Rosner and Unnikrishnan. Sitting (L to R): Ramesh Rao (behind), Sathish (Amma’sbrother), Venugopal, Harikumar Pai and Balagopal (Balu).

1980 (Age 27)

  • Amma’s sisters get married. A large hut for the permanent stay of Ashramites gets built on a piece of land given by her father Sugunanandan.  Neal, Balu and Gayathri become the first permanent residents.

Amma with Neal Rosner and Amma with Gayathri (Gail Tredwell).

  • Young brahmacharis vied with each other in composing bhajans and set them to music through Amma’s blessings. Amma always sings bhajans emotionally surcharged in divine ecstasy.

Br. Balu composing a Bhajan song with Amma

  • During Krishna bhava and Devi Bhava, brahmacharis keep singing bhajans with accompaniments (Harmonium and Tabla).

Early brahmacharis singing bhajans during bhava darshan times.

  • Madhusudhan from Reunion Islands (Later Swami Premanandapuri) meets Amma for the first time.  Venugopal becomes a permanent resident of the ashram.

Amma with Madhu (Later Swami Premanandapuri)

1981  (Age 28)

  • 6th May 1981 – Amma (Sudhamani) was formally given the name Mata Amritanandamayi Devi. Mata Amritanandamayi Mission (Math) gets formally registered.

Sudhamani, Amma formally named Mata Amritanandamayi Devi as a prelude to registering the Math/ Mission.

  • branches of Mission started at Thiruvannamalai and Reunion Islands.

1982 (Age 29)

  • Small Ashram buildings – Dhyana mandiram with the first floor as Amma’s resting room and Vedanta Vidyalayam constructed, funded by Neal Rosner.

== Early Ashram Buildings == Dhyana Mandiram with first floor at the left, Vedanta Vidyalayam, Kalari and Amma’s ancestral house (Idamannel House)  at the right.

  • September 1982  – Soumya (From Australia, later Swamini Krishnamritaprana) meets Amma and becomes a permanent resident of Ashram.

  • November 1982 – Amma makes her first visit to Thiruvannamalai with Neal and other residents and devotees. Amma sings bhajans in Ramanashramam. Sri Ramana Maharshi’s disciple Kunju Swamy meets Amma and receives her love in abundance. Amma undertakes Giri Valam (Circumambulation of Arunachala Hill) in a divine trance.

1983 (Age 30)

  • Ottur Unni Nambudiripad, a great Bhagavatam exponent and a Sanskrit scholar meets Amma for the first time. He was an ardent devotee of Sri Krishna and Saradadevi/ Ramakrishna Paramahamsa.
  • Ramesh Rao, Ramakrishnan, Sreekumar, Harikumar Pai and Ramakrishnan become permanent residents of the ashram.
  • Amma’s family shifts to a new house and the Idamannel House (Amma’s ancestral house/ birthplace) becomes the ashram.

== Amma’s Family members == Standing L to R: Sajini (younger sister), Sugunamma (younger sister), Sathish Kumar (younger brother) & Sudhir Kumar (youngest brother). Sitting (L to R) Suresh Kumar (younger brother), Damayanthi Amma (Mother), Sugunanandan (Father) and Kasthuriamma (Elder sister).

  • Ashram’s library comes up at Idamannel house with some 3500 books brought by Neal (his personal collections)
  • Amma takes up the role of strict Guru too to the Ashramites and brings in daily schedules for sadhana (spiritual practices) – meditation, archana, bhajan, seva etc.

Ashram brahmacharis engaged in meditation.

  • Mission branch started at Pandalam
  • First publication of Amma’s teachings (Amrita Sutram)
  • Kusuma (Gretchen) from Denmark (the third western lady to come to Amma) joins Ashram.

Kusuma (Gretchen) meditating with Amma.

1984 (Age 31) 

  • Mission branch started at Kollam
  • First publication of Bhajanamritam (Amma and her devotee’s devotional songs)
  • Ashram’s monthly magazine Amritavahini started.
  • April – Amma and ashramites visit Kanyakumari. Amma meets two Avadutas there — Mayi Amma and Nayanar Swami. Nayanar Swami recognizes Amma as divine mother Kali.

Amma with Mayi Amma at Kanyakumari.

  • December 1984- Amma visits Thiruvannamalai again; Yogi Sri Ram Surat Kumar meets Amma; Recognizing her as Devi, he fans her. Amma climbs Arunachala hill with devotees and also visits Skandashramam situated at the mid-level of the hill.

    Yogi Ram Surat Kumar visited Amma at Thiruvannamalai

1985 (Age 32)

  • Monthly Ashram magazine now renamed Matruvani and Malayalam publication continues.

  • (Currently, Matruvani is published in 17 languages, including 9 Indian languages (Malayalam, Tamil, Kannada, Telugu, Hindi, Marathi, Gujarati, Bengali and Odiya) and English, French, German, Spanish, Italian, Finnish, Greek and Japanese.)
  • 14th April 1985 –  Dr. Leela (Later Swamini Atmaprana) joins Ashram.
  • Amma’s 1st biography and teachings in English “The Mother of Sweet Bliss”  (By Br. Balu) published. Also ‘Amrutha MozhikaL-Part 1’ published.
  • Mission branches started at France, Chennai, Kozhicode, Alappuzha, Eranakulam, Kodungallur
  • 1st September 1985 – Ayudh – Amrita Yuva Dharma Dhara founded. It grows to become an international youth movement of Mata Amritanandamayi Math. AYUDH seeks to empower young people to integrate universal values into their daily lives. Ayudh has now branches in the north and south America and Europe.
  • November 1985– Amma stops giving Krishna bhava darshan. (She continues with Devi Bhava only)
  • December 1985 – Amma’s first visit to Chennai

1986 (Age 33)

  • 24th February 1986  – Foundation stone laid for Ashram Kali Temple. In those days, all the disciples helped with the construction doing physical labor, especially the concreting work. Often Amma would work with them,  leading the work shifts. Here is a brief video clip on the construction activity:
https://hinduismwayoflife.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Amma-in-construction-work-from-VTS_01_1.mp4

 

  • 2 short films “A day with Amma” and “Amrita Sagaram” made by Neal for the purpose of introducing Amma to the west.
  • Kusuma (Gretchen) goes to the USA and travels to many places in the USA to show Amma’s videos and create awareness about her as a way of making preparations for Amma’s US tour.

1987 (Age 34)

  • 22nd March 1987 – Neal Rosner (Swami Paramatmanandapuri) and Br Balu depart from Amritapuri to the USA to make prior arrangements for Amma’s US tour; They join with Kusuma and travel thousands of miles across the US by van for fine-tuning the visit programs.

== At US preparing for Amma’s US visit == L to R: Kusuma, Neal Rosner and Br. Balu. Their Van at the background.

  • 15th May 1987 – Amma leaves Amritapuri for the first world tour
  • 18th May 1987– Amma arrives at San Fransisco on her first US  tour (via Singapore). In the USA, Amma’s visit covers San Francisco, Carmel, Seattle, Sasta Hills, Santa Fe, Boulder, Chicago, Madison, Charleston, Boston, New York and Stamford (Connecticut). Amma makes an instant bond with many devotees and spiritual seekers among the west. She gives Devi bhava darshan too.

Amma with her early devotees of USA at San Francisco Airport.

  • 15th July 1987 – Amma arrives in Paris, from the US on her first Europe tour. In Europe, she covers Paris, Zurich, Swiss Alps and Austria.
  • Ottur Unni Nambudiripad becomes a resident of the ashram. He sees Amma as his beloved Krishna and Devi Parashakti.  He composes Ashtothra Sata Namavali (108 divine names) on Amma in Sanskrit. Chanting of this namavali along with Lalitha Sahasranamam becomes a regular practice in Ashram subsequently.
  • Ottur Unni Nambudiripad with Amma. He composed several songs on Lord Krishna. He composed 108 Namavali in Sanskrit on Amma. He spent his final years in the Ashram and breathed his last with his head on Amma’s lap.

To hear Dhyana Slokam and Ashtothra Sata Namavali on Amma (written by Ottur Sri Nambudiripad) , please click the above picture.

  • 10th October 1987 – Amma’s 34th birthday celebrated in the partially done Kali temple hall. More than 1000 people participate in the birth day celebrations.
  • November 1987 – Amma’s first North India Visit (upto Mumbai)
  • 17th December 1987 – Amma departs for second visit Abroad – to Reunion Islands and Mauritius.
  • Amma starts the first school under Mata Amritanandamayi Math– the Amrita Vidyalayam primary school in Kodungallur, Kerala. This paves way for 55 Amrita Vidyalayam (mostly) English medium CBSE schools across the country (as in 2018).

Kodungallur Amrita Vidyalayam School – The first one to be started by MA Math.

  • Recording of Amma’s bhajans in cassettes starts for distribution to devotees.

1988 (Age 35)

  • May 1988 – Amma’s 2nd world tour.
  • 28th April 1988 – First Brahmasthana temple consecrated by Amma at Kodungallur.

Firat Brhmasthanam temple at Kodungallur. Brahmasthanam temple is of unique design conceived and consecrated by Amma. It contains a 4-faced murti (Shiva, Ganesha, Devi and Rahu (Murugan) on each side.

1989(Age 36)

  • Ashram takes over an Orphanage with 400 children at Paripally (which faced a severe financial crunch) and engages in feeding the children, rebuilding the dilapidated buildings, facilities and poor hygienic conditions at considerable cost. Amma diverts the money planned for constructing the Ashram temple for this purpose.

(L) Paripally Orphanage those days (R) Brhmacharinis conducting prayer with orphan children.

  • With the takeover of the orphanage, Amma’s humanitarian activities for the poor and the needy (later christened “Embracing the World” begins). Embracing the World exists to help alleviate the burden of the world’s poor through helping to meet each of their five basic needs — food, shelter, healthcare, education, and livelihood — wherever and whenever possible. ETW is especially focused on helping to meet these needs in the aftermath of major disasters.
  • Amma’s first visit to Delhi and Kolkata.
  • May 1989  – Amma’s 3rd world tour. Amma’s San Ramon’s Ashram (MA Center) at the USA takes shape. (Amma’s world tours now become regular annual affairs).

    Mata Amritanandamayi Center (MA Center) at San Ramon, USA.

  • August 1989 – Ottur Unni Nambudiripad passes away with his head on Amma’s lap.
  • October 1989  – Amma arranges Sanyasa Diksha to Swami Amritaswarupanandapuri (Br. Balu). To keep up with the Sanyasa parampara traditions, Swami Dhruvananda, a Sanyasin from Sri Ramakrishna Tapovanam, did the formalities to initiate the Sanyas (as per Puri tradition).

    Swami Dhruvananda of Sri Ramakrishna Tapovanam with Amma in the preparation for Vraja Homa. (He is now a resident of Amritapuri Ashram since 2018)

Amma gives Sanyasa  to Br. Balu – Swami Amritaswarupanandapuri.

1990 (Age 37) 

  • Amma reveals her vision about starting a Multispeciality Hospital with the most modern medical care for the the benefit of poor.
  • 9th April 1990 – Consecration of Ashram Kali (Bhavatarini) Temple.

Front elevation of Amritapuri Ashram Kali temple. It took almost 5 years to complete the construction. The upper floors have residential quarters and rooms for other ashram activities.    The presiding deity is Bhavatarini Kali (some what similar to Bhavatarini Kali of Dakshineswar Kali temple)

Kali Sannidhi and meditation Hall of the Amritapuri Kali temple.

  • 4th May 1990 – Brahmasthana temple consecrated at Chennai
  • AICT (Amrita Institute of Computer Technology), Amma’s first higher education institution started in Amritapuri.

1991 (Age 38)

  • Amma gives sanyasa Diksha to Br. Madhusudhan (Swami Premananda Puri).
  • 17th August 1991  – Amma’s first visit to Russia. It was one of the most crucial periods in Russian history. When Amma was there, there was an attempted coup to overthrow the communist rule and Gorbachev was kept on house arrest. Fortunately, everything ended peacefully without violence and Amma’s devotees felt that Amma’s divine presence was no coincidence that helped in return of peace in a way incomprehensible to the outer world.

1992 (Age 39)

  • July 1992  – Amma’s 2nd visit to Russia.
  • 16th February 1992 – Brahmasthana temples at Thiruvananthapuram and on 15th April at Pune consecrated.
  • Amrita Sanskrit Higher Secondary school at Paripally started  – it  is one of the largest schools in Kerala to teach Sanskrit as the first language
  • Land for proposed Engineering college at Ettimadai, Coimbatore bought. Br Abhayamrita sets out clearing the thorny bushes in the wildland.

1993 (Age 40)

  • 18th January 1993 – Consecration of Brahmasthana temple at Kozhikode
  • Over the period of time, Lots of youngsters, both males and females get attracted, inspired and motivated by Amma and come forward to lead a life of celibacy, dedicated to serving the society selflessly and seeking spiritual progress under the shade of Amma as a Sadguru and Avatar.  They come from all walks of life — engineers, nurses, businessmen, carpenters, artists, college students —most of them are young, some of them middle-aged. They join as Brahmacharis and Brahmacharinis in the ashram, leaving behind their homes and comforts.  Those who came at earlier times were content to live in newly built huts (as the finances were meager at that time).
  • Huts for Brahmacharis – behind current Kali Temple (in the current big hall area).

  • Hinduism Today magazine selects and honors Amma as the ‘Hindu of the year’
  • September 1993  – Amma invited to The Centenary Celebration and 2nd Parliament of World Religions at Chicago USA. Amma participates and speaks on the occasion. She was appointed one of the 3 presidents to represent Hinduism in the assembly of 25 presidents representing all world religions.

1994 (Age 41) 

  • 23rd May – Foundation stone for AIMS (Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences) Hospital at Edapally, Cochin is laid.

    Entrance to the A-Block of AIMS – Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences, Edappally, Eranakulam.

  • Started Amrita Kripa Sagar Hospice for terminally ill cancer patients, Mumbai

Amrita Kripa Hospice, Mumbai

  • August – Amma arranges Sanyasa diksha to Swamis Amritatmanandapuri (Ramesh Rao),  Ramakrishnananda Puri (Ramakrishnan),  Poornamritanandapuri (Srikumar), Pranavanandapuri (Venu) , Amritagitananda puri (Aneesh) and Swamini Atmaprana (Dr Leela).

Swami Amritatmananda Puri                 Swami Ramakrishnananda Puri

 

Swami Purnanamritananda Puri       Swami Pranavamritananda Puri

 

Swami Amritagitananda Puri                    Swamini Atma Prana

  • Construction in full swing for the first Engineering college campus at Ettimadai, Coimbatore. Amrita School of Engineering begins with 120 students.

1995 (Age 42)

  • August  – Amma gives Sanyasa Diksha to Swami Paramatmananda Puri (Neal Rosner), Swami Turiyanandapuri (Unnikrishnan), Swami Prgnyanananda puri (Dhamu), Swami Jnananandapuri (Unnikrishna das), Swamini Krishnamrita Prana (Soumya).

Neal Rosner (Amma’s first western disciple) receives Sanyas from Amma with a monoistic name Swami Paramatmananda Puri.

Swami Turiyananda Puri and Swamini Krishnamrita prana.

(L) Swami Jnanamritananda Puri and (R) Swami Prgnyanamritananda Puri

  • October  – Amma invited to speak at the Interfaith Celebration in honor of the 50th anniversary of the United Nations, at the Cathedral of St John, New York
  • (12th February) – Consecration of Brahmasthana temples at Mumbai, at Delhi (3rd March) and  at Madurai (5th April)

1996 (Age 43)

  • February  – Amrita Kuteeram scheme – Amma announces plan for constructing 25000 Homes for the poor and the destitute.
  • Amrita Institute of Advaned Computing (AIAC) begins at Ettimadai campus.
  • Amrita Institute of Management founded.
  • Mother’s Kitchen – scheme to provide food to the poor and homeless people in the USA started by devotees of Amma. (Currently, there are more than 50 branches in the US, Canada, etc and Mother’s Kitchen groups in North America prepare, cook and serve 150,000 meals for the homeless and hungry each year)
  • October – Amma gives sanyasa diksha to Swami Amrita Kripananda Puri (Muralidharan) and Swami Vidyamritananda Puri (Sreedhar Bhat)

(L)- Swami Amrita Kripananda Puri and (R) Swami Vidyamritananda Puri

1997 (Age 44)

  • November  – Amma deploys women priests (for the first time)  to do pujas in Kaimanam and Kodungallur Brahmasthana temples.
  • Amrita Speech & Hearing Improvement School (ASHIS) (taken over and run by MA Math)

1998 (Age 45)

  • 17th May – AIMS Hospital at Edappally Eranakulam inaugurated by Prime minister Vajpeyee.

Aerial View of AIMS (Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences, Edapally, Eranakulam.

 

Prime Minister Vajpayee with Amma at the time of the inauguration of AIMS hospital.

  • 2nd April – Consecration of Brahmasthana temple at Mauritius Island
  • Anbu Illam – Care home for the aged started at Sivakasi, Tamil Nadu.
  • Amrita Nidhi, the free pension project for destitute women and widows, begins in Kerala.

1999 (Age 46)

  • 22nd January – Consecration of Brahmasthana temples at Palakkad and on 22nd April at Thalassery.
  • Gayathri (Gail Tredwell) leaves Ashram after being with Amma for 20 years.

2000 (Age 47)

  • 17th February –Consecration of Brahmasthana temple at Mysore and 28th February at Manandavadi.
  • August  – Amma invited to give a speech at “Millennium World Peace Summit” at United Nations. Amma speaks in Malayalam.
  • 6th April – Gopura Sthupika Pratishthana (Kumbhabishekam) of the Kali Temple done.
  • 10th  December – Inauguration of The large Darshan Hall of the Ashram which covers 40,000 square feet and has no supporting pillars in the middle, is the largest of its kind in South India.

The Large Darshan hall at Amritapuri.

Also between 1990 and 2000…

  • As more and more brahmacharis and brahmacharinis join the Ashram, there was constantly a need for more and more buildings. Further as more and more devotees visited the ashram, there was an acute need for providing them temporary accommodation. Since the space is very limited, Amma opts to build multi-storied buildings.

The 5 storied building next to Kali temple was constructed to house Brahmacharinis. The ground floor served as the Ashram Main Kitchen.

  • Attracted by the divinity that Amma radiated, many householder devotees prayed to Amma for providing them permanent accommodation in the Ashram and they contributed money for more and more multistoried constructions. Many highly professionally qualified NRIs wanted to shift to India and live in Amritapuri willing to do jobs /selfless service for Amma’s institutions. They too contributed money for the construction of more living quarters.
  • Several westerners who had met Amma during her visits abroad too started visiting the Ashram on a regular basis. Several of them opted to leave their home and hearth to live a simple life in the Ashram dedicated to seva and sadhana.

A&B Blocks on the right, E- block on the left.

The 5 storied Brahmachari Quarters at the back of Main Darshan hall. The multi-storeyed E-block can be seen at the far end.

Amrita Kripa Hospital at Ashram. It caters to the needs of ashramites, hostel students and local people around the ashram.

2001  (Age 48)

  • 2nd May – Consecration of Brahmasthana temple Coimbatore
  • After the earthquake at Bhuj, Gujarat, Matha Amritanandamayi Math did medical relief work and also adopted 3 villages that were totally devastated and constructed 1200 quake-proof houses,

2002 (Age 49)

  • 24th February –Consecration of Brahmasthana temple at Hyderabad.
  • Construction of 25,000 houses for the poor under Amritakuteeram scheme (1996) completed.
  • 7th October – Amma receives Gandhi-King Award for Non-violence at UN Headquarters Geneva.
  • Amma receiving Gandhi King Award from Dr Jane Goodall.
  • Engineering colleges (Amrita Institute of Technology and Sciences) started at Amritapuri and Bangalore
  • Schools of Medicine and Nursing founded at the AIMS campus in Kochi

2003 (Age 50)

  • 14th February – Consecration ofBrahmasthana temple at Bangalore and on 3rd April at Eranakulam.
  • Amma visits Rashtrapati Bhavan at the invitation of president Dr. Abdul Kalam
  • 24th to 27th September – Amma’s 50th Birthday celebrated on a grand scale as an international congregation for global peace and harmony. Ammas devotees and admirers from 191 nations participated in the celebration at Cochin.
  • 2nd Care Home for the aged run by the MA Math started near Vaikom, Kerala,
  • First free wedding ceremonies for poor families are sponsored by MAM and conducted on Amma’s birthday.
  • Amritakuteeram scheme extended to construct 1,00,000 more houses for the poor, across the country.

Houses built under the Amrita Kuteeram scheme.

  • Amritakripa AIDS Hospice and Care Centre near Trivandrum inaugurated to care for AIDS patients.

Amrita Kripa for AIDS patients care.

  • Amrita’s higher education institutions get deemed University status and Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham (Amrita University) now covers 4 campuses – Coimbatore, Bangalore, Mysore and Eranakulam.
  •  IAM, Integrated Amrita Meditation Technique® is launched worldwide. Trained Yoga teachers from Amritapuri Ashram to teach IAM (Integrated Amrita Meditation) Technique free of cost at various locations to various social groups.

  • School of Dentistry started at AIMS, Eranakulam.

2004 (Age 51)

  • 13th July – Amma addresses The Parliament of the World’s Religions at Barcelona, Spain

Amma addressing at Parliament of world religions at Barcelona 2004.

  • July – Amrita Kripa Hospital for tribal people opens in Wayanad.

  • September 2004– Amrita School of Biotechnology started at Amritapuri Campus.

Amrita School of Biotechnology, Amritapuri Campus.

  • December  – Tsunami strikes several coastal areas and causes large-scale deaths and devastation. Seawater enters into Amritapuri Ashram too. Amma shifts all ashramites to safety and engages in relief operations. Amritapuri Engineering college buildings turns to be a temporary shelter for tsunami-affected families

 

(L)Tsunami – Seawater entering to Amritapuri Ashram (R) – Amma discussing in knee-deep seawater about evacuating ashramites.

Amma consoling neighborhood people who lost their family members in the tsunami.

  • Amrita School of Ayurveda attached with Ayurveda Hospital (currently 250-bed capacity)  inaugurated at Vallikkavu, near Amritapuri.

2005 (Age 52) 

  • Amma initiates and engages MA Math and devotees in large-scale tsunami relief and rehabilitation operations across India and Srilanka. MA Math spent Rs 200 Crores in various relief operations including construction of 6000+ houses and supply of fishing nets, boats, engines and tailoring machines.

MA Math Brahmacharinis engaged in labor work in the construction of free houses for Tsunami-affected people in Kerala.

(L) New houses built for Tsunami affected people at Nagapattinam, Tamil Nadu (R) Flats constructed at Srilanka by MA Math for the affected people.

  • 10th April– Consecration of Brahmasthana temple at Thrissur
  • Amma initiates the construction of a bridge across backwaters near Ashram (TS Canal) to facilitate quick evacuation of Alapad island people to mainland in case of any future disaster like a tsunami. Ashram residents including westerners and Amma’s devotees contribute considerably in doing the physical labor in line with Amma’s emphasis on selfless service.

Amma’s ashramites and devotees enthusiastically offer kar seva for construction of the bridge across backwaters.

  • December 2005 – Mata Amritanandamayi Center in the USA donates One million dollars for Katrina Hurricane relief operations to Bush-Clinton Katrina Fund, USA.

Swami Ramkrishnananda Puri (R) and Br. Dayamrita Chaitanya (L) handing over the donation for Katrina Hurricane relief fund to Former US President Bill Clinton.

  • Teachers’ Training (B.Ed) College in Mysore is inaugurated.
  • Two Care Homes for the elderly are established in Karnataka.
  • United Nations grants Special Consultative Status to Mata Amritanandamayi Math, with its Economic and Social Council.
  • The Indo-USA Inter-University Initiative is established with 25 universities by Amrita University.

2006 (Age 53)

  • December– Amrita Sethu footbridge constructed by MA Math to connect Alappad Panchayat to Mainland is inaugurated by President Abdul Kalam.

  • Amrita Nidhi pension project expands to benefit 1,00,000 including the physically and mentally challenged.
  • Amrita SREE: the Amrita Self-Reliance, Employment and Empowerment Program is inaugurated, providing equal economic opportunity to women.

2007 (Age 54)

  • For giving succor to the families of farmers who commit suicide due to debt burden in states like Maharashtra, Andhra etc., Amma initiates Vidyamritam scholarship scheme for farmer’s children to cover 25,000 school-going children.
  • 22nd April: Amma’s last Devi Bhava Darshan in Amritapuri (done after a long gap). She continues to give Devi Bhava during her visits abroad only.
  • Amrita Yoga, a selected set of Yoga practices, mostly simple to do and at the same time very effective for the body and mind (amidst the multifarious yoga postures available in Hatha Yoga) get formalized by Amma for systematic teaching to all age groups free of cost.

    Amrita Yoga essentially is based on Surya Namaskar, with a few other simple Yoga postures added to it for best results, at the same time with simplicity, which can be done within about 20 minutes.

2008 (Age 55)

  • 18th February – Consecration of Brahmasthana temple at Mangalapuram and on 19th March at Kolcotta.

2009 (Age 56)

  • The MBA program extended to four campuses of Amrita University — Amritapuri, Bangalore, Coimbatore, Kochi
  • Flood relief in Andhra and Karnataka – 1000 houses for the displaced families constructed,

2010 (Age 57)

  • 20th Jan 2010 – Sankaracharya of Kanchi Math head Sri Jeyendra Saraswathi visits Amritapuri and meets Amma.

Sitting aside Amma and addressing the ashram residents, Sri Jeyendra Saraswathi said, “Kerala is a holy land. It was in this land that pious Adi Shankaracharya took birth. Likewise many mahatmas have incarnated in this land. Sri Narayana Guru and Chattambi Swamigal incarnated in this land of Kerala. In this Kali Yuga, Mata Amritanandamayi is amongst us….For many years now, I have been eagerly waiting to visit this sacred place,” he said. “Today I got the chance.”

  • March –Amma’s father Sri Sugunanandan passes away.
  • 25th May – The State University of New York, North Buffalo, USA confers Honorary Doctorate in Humane Letters in great appreciation of Amma’s extraordinary humanitarian service and commitment to expanding educational opportunities and international cooperation throughout the world.

  • 27th September 2010 – Amma launches Amala Bharatam Cleaning scheme (ABC) aimed at keeping public places and highways clean. Amma offers support from MA Math for constructing toilets and installing trash cans in government schools and along roads all over India if it has the support and co-operation of state governments and other organizations.

2011 (Age 58)

  • 8th March 2012– Consecration of Brahmasthana temple at Kannur
  • April 2011 – Amrita Watoto Boma, Children care home for 108 children run by MA Math inaugurated at Nairobi

Amma with children of Amrita Watoto Boma Child care home in Kenya.

  • Haiti Earthquake & Tsunami relief at Japan -MA Math provides medical supplies, shelter materials and offers $1 million scholarships to the education of children of affected families.

  • 11th November 2011 – Based on the request of the Kerala Government, MA Math undertakes a massive cleaning drive at Sabarimala temple premises and at the Pampa river base, under the Amala Bharatam Cleaning program initiated by the math. Some 3500 volunteers (Amma’s devotees) comprising of residents of the Ashram, Amma’s western disciples, devotees from other places in Kerala and Tamil Nadu and some 1000 students and staff from Amritapuri Campus participated in the massive task of removing tons and tons of waste and garbage accumulated at Sabarimala over the past 20 or more years.

Sabarimala Cleaning by MA Math volunteers…

The amount of garbage that had been accumulated at Sabarimala across past few decades is to be seen to be believed. Thousands and thousands of bags of garbage were cleared and removed. Tons and tons of wastage were incinerated. Tens of thousands of plastic bottles were collected and removed.

2012 (Age 59)

  • 29-30th November 2012 – Amma visits China for the first time to address the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations meet at Shangai to address 150 delegates from various countries. She was the only spiritual personality invited to the meeting.

  • Over the period of time, Amma’s more than 1000 bhajans in 35 languages cassettes get recorded.
  • As part of a housing project for flood-affected people undertaken by the Math in Karnataka and Andhra, 475 more houses were constructed and completed at Raichur Karnataka.

Construction completed and keys handed over – for 475 more houses at the flood-affected people of Raichur, Karnataka.

2013 (Age 60)

  • Amritavarsham-60 (Amma’s 60th Birthday) celebrated on a grand scale at Amritapuri. (Would be Prime Minister) Chief Minister of Gujarat Sri Narendra Modi attends the birthday celebration at Amritapuri.

Gujarat Chief Minister (now Prime Minister) Sri Narendra Modi with Amma on Amma’s 60th birthday. Amma’s translator Br. Subhamrita at the back.

  • MA Math initiates (as part of Amma’s 60th birthday celebrations) the most massive humanitarian program ever undertaken by the Math: the adoption of 101 villages throughout India with the aim of helping them become self-reliant and thriving (Amrita SeRVE project)

Amrita SERVE – It is a mega project to re-write the history of 101 backward villages to move to a new era of development. Click the above picture to go to the Amrita SERVE website to know more…

  • Amma offers Rs 50 Cr0re relief package to construct 500 houses destroyed in the Uttarakhand floods and landslide in 42 selected villages in the districts of Rudraprayag and Uttarkashi. It will also cover educational scholarships, pension to widows and women empowerment activities.
  • Mata Amritanandamayi Center, USA donates 1 million dollar aid for people affected in the Philippines by Typhoon Haiyan

  • October  2013– Gayathri’s (Gail Treadwell) book Holy Hell making lots of abominable accusations about Amma, Math, and her close disciples gets published.

2014 (Age 61) 

  • Lots of media hype gets generated against Amma and Ashram on account of Gayathri’s book Holy Hell.  Accusations get effectively countered by Ashram residents, devotees of Amma, supportive organizations and media by exposing the falsehood propagated by vested interests.
  • 2nd December 2014 – Amma visits the Vatican at the invitation of Pope Francis to attend the conclave of 10 world religious leaders, addresses the gathering and signs a joint declaration against human trafficking and slavery.

Amma with Pope Francis at the Vatican

  • Rs 25 Crore relief and rehabilitation package offered for Jammu Kashmir affected by floods.

2015 (Age 62) 

  • 23rd April 2015 – Consecration of Brahmasthana temple at Manjeri.

  • 8th July 2015 – Amma addresses United Nations Academic Impact at the UN in New York.

  • 28th March 2015 – Amma visits Prime Minister Narendra Modi at his house and offers help in Namami Gange project.

Amma with PM Narendra Modi at his residence at Delhi.

  • 11th September 2015 – Amma donates Rs.100 Crores for constructing toilets in the poorest villages surrounding the Ganges River as part of the Swachh Bharat and Namami Gange project.

Amma donates Rs 100 Cr for Swachh Bharat & Namami Gange projects for toilet construction, to Finance Minister Sri Arun Jaitley

  • Another 100 Crore project for constructing toilets in the houses of the poor in Kerala announced.

Kerala CM Mr. Oomen Chandy receives MA Math pledge for constructing Rs 100 crore worth of toilets to the poor in Kerala, from Amma at Amritavarsham 62 birthday celebration.

  • MA Math donates Rs 5 Crore for Chennai Flood relief in addition to lots of flood relief operations and supplying of free food and medical care to affected people.
  • == Chennai Flood relief == Br. Abhayamrita Chaitanya distributing food packets to affected localities. Swami Ramakrishnananda Puri handing over a cheque for Rs.5 Crores to TN Chief Minister Jayalalitha.

 

  • Nepal earthquake relief – MA Math supplies lots of vaccines, food provisions, blankets and shelters.

2016 (Age 63)

  • Vidyamritam scholarship scheme to benefit farmers’ children (started in 2007) extended to cover 51,000 students.
  • 9th May 2016  –  Foundation stone laid for a state-of-the-art 2000-bed multispeciality hospital under Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences (AIMS) at Greater Faridabad, near Delhi. Once in full swing, this Super Speciality Hospital will offer advanced medicare with the latest technology in  Mother & Child care, heart care, treatment of cancer, epilepsy, diabetes, and so on.

Architect’s 3D View of the proposed AIMS Hospital Complex at Greater Faridabad.

2017 (Age 64)

  • 6th June 2017 – Mata Amritanandamayi Center at San Ramon, USA celebrates the 30th Anniversary of Amma’s visit to Bay Area, USA.

== 30th Anniversary of Amma’s visit to San Ramon USA == Amma with Kusuma Gretchen (who planned and organized Amma’s first USA visit), Ron Gottsegen (who donated land for San Ramon Ashram and also later served as Administrative Executive of AIMS Hospital at Eranakulam during the formative years), Br. Dayamrita Chaitanya and swami Amritaswarupananda Puri.

  • MA Math initiates Jivamritam scheme – Rs.200 Crore project of providing filtered and clean drinking water to 5000 villages in India, to benefit 10 million people in rural areas.

A typical filtering package set up in each village for providing clean, filtered water under Amrita’s Jivamritam scheme.

  • 20th September 2017 – The world-renowned Yoga Guru Baba Ramdev visited Amritapuri and had darshan of Amma for the first time. Later he addressed the ashramites and also did a demo of Yogasanas.

Baba Ramdev said, “Amma is my greatest inspiration and ultimate ideal. Mother is not a person but she is the embodiment – Moortha roop of Jagadamba – of the Divine Mother…Nowadays, a lot of complaints are being raised against saints.  But the true Rishis of Bharat and our parampara (lineage) are like Amma.  This Rishi Sanskriti , crores of years old, will never perish. Whatever I am doing and Amma is doing is for raising the dignity of the Guru Parampara. There is no question of losing this culture..“

2018 (Age 65)

  • May 2018 –AIMS (Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences) Hospital, Edappally, Cochin completes 20 years of dedicated advanced healthcare services to people, including free treatments to countless poor people. Currently, it is a 1,300-bed tertiary referral and teaching hospital, serving more than 10 lakh outpatients and more than 70,000 inpatients annually. The massive healthcare infrastructure with over 3.33 million sq.ft. of built-up area, spread over 125 acres of land, supports a daily patient volume of approximately 3500 outpatients with 95 percent inpatient occupancy. There are 12 super speciality departments, 45 other departments, 4500 support staff and 670 faculty members. The hospital’s extensive infrastructure offers facilities comprising 28 modern operating theatres, 275 equipped intensive-care beds, a fully computerized and networked Hospital Information System (HIS), a fully digital radiology department, 17 NABL accredited clinical laboratories and 24/7 telemedicine service. More than 2.6 million people have received completely free treatment since 1998 (worth Rs 536 crores).

AIMS, Edapally, Cochin — 20 years of massive growth and advanced medical care and service for all sections of society. CLICK THE ABOVE PICTURE FOR A VIDEO ON AIMS.

  • 16th August 2018 –  Kerala state gets affected by unprecedented floods. Amma donates Rs.10 Crores to Kerala State Flood relief funds.
  • AYUDH Amritapuri sets up a 24 hr Live Helpline to receive distress calls from affected people and then coordinate with Government and other flood relief agencies to send necessary help from these agencies to attend to the callers. About 400 Amrita students and staff volunteered for this activity, received some 25,000 calls (in the first 5 days), connecting more than 100,000 flood victims across the state with appropriate relief services. AYUDH also collected relief materials from volunteers and arranged to distribute them to various needy places.

AYUDH (Amritapuri Campus) Helpline Center in action 24 hrs a day to attend to flood victims’ calls.

  • Amrita Hospitals, college campuses and Amrita Vidyalayam schools set up shelters to receive flood-affected people and offer them food, essential supplies, temporary accommodation and medical relief. 18 medical camps were conducted at various panchayats for treating flood-affected patients.
  • 15th September 2018 – MA Math extends full cooperation and support to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Swachhata Hi Seva program (relaunch of Swachh Bharat Cleaning drive).In nationwide teleconferencing with PM Modi, Amma explained how MA Math has been actively involved in the nationwide cleanliness drive that the Math started as Amala Bharatam Cleaning (ABC) scheme in 2010. On this day, thousands of Amma’s volunteers, personally lead by Amma undertook cleaning of a six Km long coastal stretch adjacent to the Ashram. Tons of wastes collected from there were brought to the ashram and sorted for disposal by volunteers.PM Modi profusely thanked Amma for her continued blessings, encouragement and active participation in the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan programs including Namami Gange program and in the construction of toilets for poor people across the country. Volunteers from Amma’s ashram branches, schools, colleges and other institutions got actively involved in a week-long cleaning program across the country.

 

Swachhata hi Sewa – Amma explains to PM Modi about MA MAth’s involvement and contribution in the Nationwide cleaning drive.

In his talk, Shri Narendra Modi expressed his special thanks to Amma, saying “She took on the project and shouldered it as Her own when this project was announced and from then till now has made tremendous contributions.”

  • 2nd October 2018: Amma was a special invitee at Rashtrapati Bhavan (on the day of Gandhi Jayanthi) on the concluding day of Mahatma Gandhi International Sanitation Convention and awards function for Swachhata Hi Sewa 2018.

Amma was honored by PM Narendra Modi for her largest monetary contribution for Swachh Bharat Abhiyan.

 

  • 20th November 2018: Amma was invited by the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi Sheikh Mohammad Bin Zayed Al Nahyan to Abu Dhabi Interfaith Summit to Protect Child Dignity in the Digital World. Amma delivered the opening address as part of a Call to Action by Faith Leaders; She also participated in the Faith Leaders Summit on the same day wherein she and five senior faith leaders pledged their support for the Abu Dhabi Interfaith Declaration for Child Protection. In her speech, Amma highlighted the importance of parents inculcating spiritual values in their children in order to help them grow into healthy adults that have the self-control and compassion to always treat others with love and respect.  She appealed to parents to be both vigilant about their children’s online and offline lives.

    Amma addressing the gathering for Call of Action in Interfaith Summit at Abu Dhabi

2019 (Age 66)

  • 23rd  March 2019 –   The Century-old Mysore University, on its 99th convocation year, offers Honorary Doctorate to Amma, in recognition of her contribution to her multifarious spiritual, educational and philanthropic activities across the globe across 4 decades. 

In his speech, Prof. G Hemantha Kumar, Vice-Chancellor of Mysore University (in the picture) said: “Amma, during the past four decades, has contributed so much goodness to the world—everything from spiritual education to massive charitable humanitarian efforts, showing society that these two are like two sides of the same coin. We may not be able to see God with our eyes, but we see all the divine qualities of God in Amma, who has tirelessly dedicated her entire life to uplifting the poor and suffering.”

  • 26th  September 2019 –   On the eve of Amma’s 66th birthday, Amrita Australia launched the Galupa Homeland  Project in Australia, in collaboration with the Non-profit organization ‘Traditional Cultural Practices’. This Project will connect young Indigenous women with local Yolngu elders. These elders will teach the young women traditional arts and inspire them to maintain their connection with their land and culture. Amrita Australia has just purchased a comfortable accommodation unit for these Indigenous women to work and reside in. 
  • 27th  September 2019 –  (Amma’s 66th Birthday): Amma, in the aftermath of the Pulwama attack at Kashmir in February, had announced that MA Math will donate Rs. 5 Lakhs to each of the 40 families of our soldiers who were killed in the attack. The cheques for this amount were handed over by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh (who had come to Amritapuri for taking part in Amma’s birthday celebration) to the families of the deceased soldiers. (See picture below)

 

  • 12th  December 2019 – Amma, as the Chancellor of Amrita University, signed a Letter of Intent (LoI) with Dr. Lisel Folks, Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs, the University of Arizona embarking on a multidisciplinary partnership in education and research between the two Universities. An 11-member delegation from the University of Arizona was at Amritapuri to be present on this special occasion. This collaboration seeks to initiate dual-degree programs at the bachelor’s and master’s levels in Engineering, Biotechnology, Nanotechnology, Social Sciences, Medicine, Public Health, and Agriculture. The program will enhance Amrita as the study-abroad site for the University of Arizona students and vice versa. This will engage more than 200 students annually for a minimum of one semester at the two-partner university.

    Amma signed a Letter of Intent (LoI) with Dr. Lisel Folks, Provost, the University of Arizona for inter-University collaboration.

2020 (Age 67)

  • 13th  March 2020 – On a very auspicious occasion at Amritapuri Ashram, after the passage of some 22 years, Amma gave Sanyasa Diksha to more than 50 of her Senior Brahmacharis and Brahmacharinis .  She also formally initiated more than 200 of her celibate disciples (males and females) into formal Brahmacharya.  While most Sanyasa Ashrams give Sanyasa to formally initiated Brahmacharis after about 12 years of Brahmacharya life (or even earlier for deserving cases), Amma however has waited for 20 to 32 years of Brahmacharya service to the Ashram and its institutions rendered by her Brahmacharis and Brahmacharinis, before giving this elevation. The initiation procedures were conducted across 3 days as per traditional Hindu practice with relevant Vedic traditions and homams.

  • 13th April 2020 – M A Math announces donating Rs 13 Crores (1.7 Million US Dollars) as its contribution to Government for fighting against Corona Virus and providing relief operations to people affected by its onslaught. Out of this amount Rs. 10 Crores goes to PM CARES fund (Central Government) and Rs 3 Crores to the State Government (Kerala State Relief fund).MA Math also announces a few other initiatives  — like offering free treatment to Corona patients at AIMS Hospital Kochi, setting up a 24-Hour helpline to give psychological counseling to people who have been emotionally disturbed on account of Corona Virus attack, engaging its educational and research institutions in creating low-cost facilities and equipment needed for attending to Corona Virus affected patients in hospitals and so on.
  • 27th  September 2020 –  (Amma’s 67th Birthday):  Due to Covid-19 restrictions, this was the first time in the last many years that Amma’s birthday was celebrated in an extremely low-key, with just Ashram inmates alone taking part in the Ashram main Hall.  There was no pada puja, but only a paduka pooja done by Swami Amritaswarupanandapuri, followed by a meditation session and singing of bhajans. Amma distributed prasad to inmates. 
  • The whole of the year 2020, which has been gripped by the onslaught of the Covid-19 pandemic,  had in a way turned out to be an extremely memorable and cherishable period for Amritapuri Ashram inmates, because Amma remained confined to the Ashram throughout the year.  Every evening, Amma came for meditation, Satsang and bhajans in the Ashram Main hall, with inmates following necessary Covid-19 safety protocols.  Daily satsangs, offered by Amma’s Sanyasi, Brahmachari, and Grihastashrama children turned out to be the most eagerly awaited program.  The lecture sessions, in addition to expounding spiritual knowledge from shastras,  were studded with exhilarating personal, real-life experiences of the speakers on how they came to Amma’s fold and the way She had showered her love, care, protection, assistance, and guidance in their worldly and spiritual journey in numerous miraculous ways.
  • Throughout the year, Amma encouraged her children to write Bhajans and tune them on their own. She encouraged even little children to come out with their bhajans. Amma sang all these new bhajans and recorded them all.  Every day, she made it a point to sing such a new bhajan along with the person who wrote and tuned it.  Amma’s international children too participated enthusiastically and Amma sang their songs in numerous languages like German, French, Russian, Urdu, Spanish, and so on in addition to languages like Hindi, Marathi, Telugu, Kannada, Bengali, Thulu, Gujarathi, Tamil,  and so on.   Amma’s bhajan collections now included songs from about 50 languages.

2021 (Age 68)

  • As the onslaught of the Covid-19 pandemic continued unabated almost right through this year too, there was no scope of Amma undertaking any tours either in India or abroad, and consequently, Amritapuri Ashram inmates were blessed to remain in the company of Amma on a daily basis. Apart from spending time with her children every evening through daily meditation, satsang and bhajan sessions, Amma goaded everyone to dig deeper into sadhana and also in scriptural study and discussions. Amma posed specific questions from quotes off Upanishads and Bhagavad Gita and asked Ashramites to study and come up with their explanations.
  • Amma also made it a point to focus considerably on Ashram’s little children and encouraged them to study Ramayana, Mahabharata, and Bhagavad Gita. She also posed questions related to the Itihasas and encouraged them to give brief talks.  She gave a big boost to little children practicing and playing Tabla daily during Bhajan sessions. Several children also learned Harmonium, keyboard, etc., and participated in daily bhajans.
  • Amma continued to encourage Ashramites to learn Sanskrit and gave the opportunity to those who studied it to give weekly satsangs in Sanskrit. It included her young children too.
  • Amma had her unique ways of keeping her numerous old-age children enthused, active and energetic.  She suggested all her inmates to practice Thiruvadira Kali (A typical Kerala’s traditional dance); all elder ladies in the ashram sprang up with childlike enthusiasm and started practicing shoulder to shoulder with little children, youthful girls,  and middle-aged women for a planned dance program on Onam day!
  • 9th April 2021 – Amma’s  Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham announced a grant of ₹100 crores to set up 50 state-of-the-art New Discovery and Innovation Labs at its campuses across India. These research labs will have cutting-edge discoveries in fields such as engineering, medical sciences, computer sciences, material sciences, nanobiosciences, biotechnology, biomedical engineering, and sustainable development.

    On this occasion, Amma said: “Research should benefit the common people. At the same time, we should be careful to safeguard the serenity, beauty, and culture of our rural villages. Only then will the nation’s progress become complete. Only a value-based research program can pave the way for such balanced progress. We have to move forward keeping this goal in mind.”

 

 

  • 14th August 2021 – The Kalinga University, Bhubaneswar today conferred an Honorary Doctorate (D.Litt Honoris Causa) to Amma in its 17th Annual Convocation Ceremony of the Deemed University. It was done through teleconferencing mode and Amma received the Award from Amritapuri.

    The doctorate has been awarded in recognition of Amma’s “great contributions in the field of spirituality, education, environmental issues, humanitarian efforts, love and compassion.” The citation specifically mentioned Amma’s spiritual stature, saying “This journey of yours, walking the path proclaimed by the Vedas and recapitulated in subsequent scriptures like Bhagavad-Gita, has no parallel. Setting aside the attainment of a nirvāṇa or mokṣa from life, you advocate jīvanmukti—the state of perfect awareness and equanimity experienced here in this world while living itself. “
  • 18th August 2021 –Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham has been accredited (Cycle-3) with an A++ the highest grade by the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC), an autonomous body of the University Grants Commission (UGC) of India to assess and accredit institutions of higher education in the country.  It is the third time in its 18-years history to be rated as a grade A institution by the NAAC.

    This puts Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham under Category 1 Autonomy Higher Education Institution in India.  By virtue of this status, Amrita University is now  free to start new courses and departments, enter into academic collaborations with foreign educational institutions, undertake curricular reforms and introduce academic innovations in tune with the global best practices. They can also start their own new campuses and centres. 
  • 27th September 2021 (Amma’s 68th Birthday) –             

Due to Covid-19 restrictions, this was the second time in the last many years that Amma’s birthday was celebrated in an extremely low-key, with just Ashram inmates alone taking part in the Ashram main Hall.  There was no pada puja, but only a paduka pooja done by Swami Amritaswarupanandapuri, followed by Amma’s satsang, a meditation session and singing of bhajans. Amma distributed prasad to inmates. Ganapathi homam and Maha Mrithyunjaya homam were done by Ashram Brahmacharis and and Brahmacharinis on 25th, 26th and 27th praying for global peace and welfare in the mornings and Sudarshana homam in the evenings.

  • 17th November 2021
    Shri Shankra Bharathi Swamigal, the Pontiff of Yadathore Sri Mutt, Krishnarajanagara, Karnataka visited Amma’s Amritapuri Ashram as part of his tour in Kerala to propogate Sri Sankara’s Soundarya Lahari Sthothra. The ashram warmly welcomed him and provided him with accommodation and other facilites.  Sri Swamigal had a meeting with Amma along with his disciples and associates. Later he addressed Ashram inmates in the Main Hall and delivered a lecture on Guru Bhakti in Sanskrit, in the presence of Amma on the dais.
  • 18th December  2021
    On the 16th Anniversary of Amritashree program (a program to develop, finance and assist Women Self-help groups for the upliftment of families of peasants and fishermen affected by natural calamities), Amma today initiated distribution of free Assistance Kits for about 3 lakh families. In this humanitarian initiative, costing about Rs 35 Crores for the MA Math, Amma is giving the kits each consisting of 5 kgs. of rice, 3 kgs. of wheat, 3 coconuts, plus pulses, chillis, raw sugar, and a saree to each of the Amritashree family across Kerala — from Kasaragod, to Kanyakumari.This program was inaugurated formally by Kerala Governor Mr Arif Mohammad Khan through tele-conferencing mode, in the presence of several other dignitaries. In the unloading, preparation and packing of all the bags consisting of the grains and other items, all the inmates of Amritapuri Ashram including Amma and her senior Sanyasis have been working for the past couple of weeks, considering the massive quantities involved in the task.
  • 2022 (Age 69)

  • 12th January 2022
    Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham (Amrita University), recognized as the fifth-best university in India as per the 2021 NIRF rankings, has conferred its first Honorary Doctorates on Jeffrey D. Sachs, Global Economist for Sustainable Development, and Kailash Satyarthi, Nobel Peace Prize recipient during a virtual ceremony that was graced by Amma.

 

  • 28th July 2022
    Amma arrived at Faridabad today with an entourage of about 700+ ashram inmates travelling all the way by road from Amritapuri. She has come for the inauguration of the new Amrita Hospitals Complex, which will be Asia’s largest multispeciality hospital once fully commissioned.  (The construction work for the hospital complex started on 9th May 2016 as already mentioned in the timeline). The Inauguration program is scheduled next month. This is Amma’s very first visit to the hospital complex.
  • This trip is also special because, due Covid-19 onslaught and related restrictions, Amma could not move out from Amritapuri for the last two years. Amma’s devotees in and around Delhi were too eager and enthusiastic to get Amma’s darshan after such a long period of separation.
  • 19th August 2022
    At the behest of Amma, at the premises of Amrita Hospital inauguration function site (at Faridabad), Ashram  Brahmacharis and Brahmacharinis conducted a  grand Homa in 108 Homakundas covering Ganapathi Homa, Navagraha Homa and Maha mrityunjaya homa in the traditional way, amid chanting of Vedic mantras. This yagnya was done praying for the welfare of the world and as a prelude to the inauguration of the hospital complex.

  • 23th August 2022
  • As a prelude to the formal opening ceremony of Amrita Hospital in the following day, Amma unveiled the statue of Rishi Shushruta, who was one of the pioneers of our ancient Ayurveda medical system;  he was also a forerunner in doing sastra-kriya (operations). His Shushruta Samhita is still a valuable reference book in Ayurveda treatment methodologies.

  • 24th August 2022
    Amrita Hospital at Faridabad was formally inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi today.

  • This Hospital complex, when fully completed,  will be the largest in Asia, the most modern, multi-speciality hospital with additional focus on research. This hospital is another mammoth gift to the mankind by Amma, which will offer affordable healthcare to all sections of the society. 

Amrita Hospital, will be the biggest private sector hospital in India spread across 133 acres of land in Faridabad.

Salient features of Amrita Hospital, Faridabad (when fully completed):

  • total built-up area of 1,00,00,000 sq. ft.
  • 2400 beds,  534 critical care beds
  •  64 Modular operation theaters
  • most advanced imaging services, fully automated robotic laboratory, high-precision radiation oncology, most updated nuclear medicine
  • state-of-the-art 9 cardiac and interventional cath lab for clinical services
  •  1,50,000 sq ft dedicated to mother and childcare, fetal and reproductive care and high-risk obstetrics
  • comprehensive transplant program to conduct hand transplants,  transplants of liver, kidney, trachea, vocal cords, intestine, heart, lung, pancreas, skin, bone, face and bone marrow
  • state-of-the-art robotics, haptic, surgical-medical simulation centre spread across 4 floors and 1,50,000 sq. ft area
  •  India’s largest green-building healthcare project with a low carbon footprint.
  • end-to-end paperless facility, with zero waste discharge.
  • a helipad on the campus for swift transport of patients.
  • 498-room guest house where attendants accompanying the patients can stay
  • to be fully solar powered
  • Medial College, Nurse training college

19th September 2022

Amma’s mother Damayanti Amma passed away at the ripe old age of 97.

Damayanti Amma was an ardent devotee of Lord Krishna and Devi, who followed several austerities as part of her day to day life. She was a very strict mother and a bundle of values. Amma in fact used to mention that her mother was a guru for her who taught by example, loving and worshiping nature as God, protecting and preserving nature, the importance of hard work, loving and serving others, giving first priority to others’ needs  before self-interest, intolerance towards wasting anything, frugal living,  worshiping everything as a form of God, lovingly feeding guests and strangers, loving and taking care of cattle, obedience and respecting elders,  concern and care for others in the society etc.

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2017 – Aerial View of Amritapuri Ashram, head quarters of Mata Amritanandamayi Math. The Arabian sea on the right, the TS Canal at the left and the middle strip of land is Alappad. Amritapuri Ashram is studded with multi-storeyed buildings.  The Amrita Sethu bridge can be seen at the left.

Embracing the World is a global network of regional humanitarian organizations inspired by the  Amma and coordinated by Mata Amritanandamayi Math. Embracing the World exists to help alleviate the burden of the world’s poor through helping to meet each of their five basic needs — food,  shelter, healthcare, education, and livelihood — wherever and whenever possible.

 

To watch Video on Amma’s global activities:

EMBRACING THE WORLD WITH HER ABUNDANT LOVE AND HUMANITARIAN ACTIVITIES

 

Tags: 101 villages project, Amma gives Sanyasa Diksha - 2020, Amma meets Abdul Kalam, Amma meets Baba Ramdev, Amma meets Kanchi Sankaracharya Jayendra Saraswathi, Amma meets Narendra Modi, Amma meets Pope Francis, Amma visits United Nations, Amma's biography, Amma's institutions, Amma's mother Damayantti Amma, Amma's time line, Amrita Hospital Faridabad, Amrita Serve, Amrita University, Ayudh, Biography, Biography of saints and sages of India, Embracing the world, Gayathri Gail Tredwell controversial book, Kerala Flood relief 2018, major events in Amma's life, Mata Amritanandamayi Biography, Mata Amritanandamayi Math activities, Namami Gange, Swachh Bharat, Swachhata Hi Sewa, Swami Amritaswarupananda Puri, Swami Paramatmananda Puri, United Nations and Amma, University of Arizona
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3 replies
  1. Lynne
    Lynne says:
    September 7, 2022 at 4:27 am

    Please inform me of any upcoming US visits by Mata Amritanandamayi

    Reply
    • Lynne
      Lynne says:
      September 7, 2022 at 4:28 am

      Thank you

      Reply
    • C.V.Rajan
      C.V.Rajan says:
      September 11, 2022 at 2:03 pm

      I have no news about any immediate plans of Amma visiting abroad.

      Reply

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About the Author ...

 

This website has been conceived and being developed by C.V.Rajan. He is a retired Engineer and an ex-design consultant, now living with his wife in Ashram at Amritapuri, Kerala, spending his retired life in quest of spirituality under the holy feet of Amma, Satguru Mata Amritanandamayi.

He is an avid reader and a writer. Writing as a hobby started in him at the age of 20. As his interest turned to spirituality in his late thirties, he became an avid reader on the lives and teachings of great Mahatmas like Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa, Bhagwan Ramana Maharshi and his satguru Mata Amritanandamayi (Amma).

In his early fifties, he wrote at various blog sites on variety of subjects like Hinduism, spirituality, life & living, healthy living, Indian culture and so on. Now through this website (Hinduism Way Of Life), C.V.Rajan is consolidating and sharing all his writings on Hinduism under a single umbrella.