New Delhi:
The world renowned Indian saint, Mata Amritanandamayi, often called 'Amma' by her devotees, arrived in Delhi on March 29 on a two-day visit where she is delivering discourses and giving darshan to the people at her Math at D3 Shanti Kunj in Vasant Kunj in the Capital.
She is a saint who has helped needy poor people with food, housing and medicare and has millions of devotees and followers all over the
world. She has accomplished much more than any Government has ever
done for the welfare of the people - building hospitals, houses for the
poor, schools and colleges, orphanages, rehabilitating victims of natural
calamities and many more. Amma's contribution is enormous. She is as
much a humanitarian as she is a spiritual guru.
Compassion incarnate, Mata Amritanandamayi has built up an immense network of service projects all over the world. Over 55,000 houses have been built and handed over to the homeless in many parts
of the country. The Maths established all over the world provide free medical aid, food, clothing and education to the needy. Widows receive
pension from the ashram. In providing succour to the suffering, there is
no ideology or hidden motive, it goes on just uniquely need-based. An unbelievable manifestation of an ocean of compassion and humanity! No
hidden agenda! A celebration of love and life, as Amma herself describes
the phenomenon that she is.
Amma meets personally whoever comes to her, and that is usually in multitudes. Amma's darshan is a speciality. She hugs people one by
one. There may be tens of thousands of people every day, no matter, Amma meets them personally, takes you into her motherly embrace, day and night.
According to literature about her, to a question by the BBC once, 'Why do you hug people?' Amma's reply was, 'That's like asking a river
Why do you flow. It simply flows because that is its nature. In the same way, this is Amma's nature - a mother expressing her love to her
children.'
Amma's selfless service of love and compassion going on uninterrupted for the last 40 years is growing into a global, all consuming humanitarian movement.
Mata Amritanandamayi was born in a coastal village known as Parayakadavu or Vallikkavu in Kollam district in Kerala, South India, on September 27, 1953. As a small child Sudhamani, as she was named, used to slip into meditation sitting on the seashore near her hut. She
also composed devotional songs and could often be seen singing. When
she was nine years old, her mother died. She had to shoulder the
responsibility of looking after her siblings. She was also deeply
affected by the profound sufferings of poverty around, and followed the
inner calling. The Mata Amritanandmayi Math was established there in
1981. The Math has built up a huge network of charitable and
educational institutions all over the world. Fully devoted to spiritual and
charitable activities, every year she goes round the world meeting her
devotees.
(Delhi Ashram Ph: 011-26893622; 09599319127)
- RM Nair