HOW SHE BEGAN?
Amma
(Sri Mata Amritanandamayi Devi)
Founder, Embracing the World
All Amma programmes have been postponed during this time 2020 – 2021 let us hope and pray that Amma will be able to resume giving her public programmes around the world again soon.
Spiritual leader, humanitarian and visionary Sri Mata Amritanandamayi Devi, known throughout the world simply as ‘Amma,’ has served the world-community for decades, imparting wisdom, strength and inspiration. Through her extraordinary acts of love, inner strength and self-sacrifice, Amma has endeared herself to millions and inspired thousands to follow in her path of selfless service.
Amma was born in a remote coastal village in Kerala, South India in 1953. Even as a small girl, she drew attention with the many hours she spent in deep meditation on the seashore. She also composed devotional songs and could often be seen singing to the divine with heartfelt emotion. Despite her tender age, her compositions revealed remarkable depth and wisdom.
When Amma was nine years old, her mother became ill, and Amma was withdrawn from school in order to help with household tasks and the care of her seven siblings. As she went door-to-door gathering food scraps from neighbours for her family’s cows, she was confronted with the intense poverty and suffering that existed in her community, and in the world beyond it.
Where Amma encountered people in need, she brought them food and clothing from her own home. She was undeterred by the scolding and punishment she received from her family for doing so. Amma also began to spontaneously embrace people to comfort them in their sorrow. Responding to her affectionate care, they began to call her Amma (Mother).
To this day, Amma conducts her programmes by embracing each person attending the event. These personal, one-on-one meetings take up the vast majority of Amma’s time. Amma has given this motherly embrace, known as her darshan, to more than 39 million people throughout the world. She has been known to give darshan for more than 22 hours at a time, without interruption.
Amma holds free public programmes throughout India, Europe, the United States and Australia, as well as Japan, Sri Lanka, Singapore, Malaysia, Canada, Africa and South America. In her talks, she offers words of wisdom and guidance on both personal fulfillment as well as the most pressing matters of our time. From environmental issues to cross-cultural tensions, poverty or women’s rights, Amma’s observations invite each of us to get involved in the process of rebuilding a concerned and caring society.
Receiving Amma’s embrace, many feel inspired to offer selfless service to those in need. In this way, this simple yet powerful motherly embrace – has become both catalyst and symbol for the growing international network of humanitarian initiatives that is Embracing the World®.
WHAT PEOPLE SAY?
” My Father and Amma are kindred spirits.”
Ms. Yolanda King, Daughter of Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.
“Amma is the embodiment of pure love, her presence heals”
Deepak Chopra, MD.
“Amma has done a huge amount of work in empowering women and building an inclusive society. Amma shows us there is no limit to human endeavor and what we can do to change the world, and I think everyone here tonight wants to follow Amma’s example in doing that.”
Ms. Frances Fitzgerald, former Minister for Business, Enterprise & Innovation, 13th Oct, Dublin 2018
“Amma has devoted her life to easing the suffering of humanity. And I would like to thank you, Amma, for being such a committed, passionate matriarch of humanity.”
Senator Lynn Ruane, 14th Oct, Dublin 2016
“You bring peace, tranquility and happiness everywhere you go, and I am sure you will bring it here.”
Sean Crowe TD, 14th Oct Dublin 2016
“Amma has directly touched the lives of 39 million people around the world, passing on a message of love, respect and positive energy to each and every one of those people. If each of those 39 million people could pass on the same message in their daily lives, just by doing the simple things, making time for each other, and sharing compassion, I think we could effect a real change in the world.”
Mr. Thomas Pringle TD, 31 Oct Dublin 2014
“Amma is the embodiment of pure love. Her presence heals.”
Dr. Deepak Chopra, M.D.
“I was feeling down about life ‘n’ love. Then I met a woman named Ammachi and she gave me back my smile. Darkness cannot compete with her.”
Jim Carrey, June 2013
“Amma has done more work than many governments have ever done for their people…her contribution is enormous”
Prof. Muhammed Yunus, 2006 Nobel Peace Prize Winner and founder of Grameen Bank
“I was very struck by how much of what is generated, how much of the money that is mobilised actually goes and benefits directly those in need. This is remarkable. It was very striking for me how she managed to get that formula right. International NGOs and UN agencies have something to learn from the work of Amma and what she has been able to build.”
Olara A. Otunnu – Former Under-Secretary General of the United Nations
“They say the best things come in small packages. For me this was certainly true. One brief encounter with Amma changed my life and is still inspiring me 20 years later to be a better person.”
Marc Benioff, Salesforce CEO
“I’ve never met anyone like Amma—someone who has such a great impact on people’s lives for the good and for humanity. I am hard-pressed to think of someone who is doing more for mankind and the environment.”
Jim Lauderdale, Grammy Award-winning Country and Bluegrass artist, 30 June 2008 — Addison, Texas, USA
“I believe she stands here in front of us, God’s love in a human body.”
Dr. Jane Goodall, world-renowned British primatologist and recipient of the Gandhi-King Award for Non-Violence
“What I cherish about Amma is that she not only ‘talks the talk’ and is the embodiment of unconditional love, but she expresses love in action. She ‘walks the talk.’ Mahatma Gandhi urged us to ‘be the change we wish to see in the world,’ Amma is that change that she wants to see in our world. She is a profound living example for all of us.”
Yolanda King Daughter of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Former Director MLK Jr. Centre for Non-Violent Social Change
AWARDS AND HONOURS
Amma is often invited to speak at international conferences and summits and many awards have been conferred upon her.
New York, September 28th, 2015
Amma awarded the “Medal of Honour” by Ms. Evie Evangelou founder of Fashion 4 Development (F4D) for more than 25 years of humanitarian work in the fields of human rights, health and well-being, including food, access to water and power, housing, medical care, and the right to education and skill-training.
Paris, July 21st, 2015
Amma was invited for the day-long function by the Special Envoy for the Protection of the Planet in the Summit of Conscience for the Climate in Paris, organised by the French President Francois Hollande.
https://www.facebook.com/jaimaamma/videos/852338331510390/
New York, July 8th, 2015
Delivers the keynote address at the United Nation’s first Academic Impact conference on technology and sustainable development.]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0SNsHbI4_xc
Los Angeles, June 14th, 2015
Honoured with a Golden Goody Award (Oscar for Social Good) for her Worldwide Humanitarian Charities.
Vatican, December 5th, 2014
With Pope Francis, Participates in Interfaith Declaration to End Modern Slavery organized by Global Freedom Network at the Vatican.
https://www.facebook.com/jaimaamma/videos/932720823472140/
The Huffington Post, New York, March 8th, 2014
Chosen as one among the 50 most powerful women religious leaders by The Huffington Post.
New Delhi, January 11th, 2013
Inaugurated the Swami Vivekananda Sarda Shati Samaroh, the 150th Birth Anniversary of Swami Vivekananda at Siri Fort Auditorium, New Delhi, India.
Watkins’ London, February 2012
Amma featured in the Watkins’ list of the top 100 most spiritually influential living people in the world.
Shanghai, November 29-30th, 2012
Amma addresses the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations in Shanghai on “Coexistence of Engagement between cultures”. Amma was the only spiritual/religious leader invited to the conference.
New York, May 25th, 2010
Amma receives an honorary Doctorate in Humane Letters from the State University of New York at Buffalo.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=unpuAnKeicw
New Delhi, December 1st, 2009
Amma inaugurates the Vivekananda International Foundation.
London, October 27th, 2008
Amma receives the Mahavir Mahatma Award.
Jaipur, March 7th, 2008
Amma is a keynote speaker at the Summit of the Global Peace Initiative of Women at Jaipur, India.
Paris, October 12th, 2007
Amma is awarded the Prix Cinéma Vérité for her humanitarian activities and work for peace at the Cinema Verite Film Festival.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0G8PuBHfehU
New York, May 2nd, 2006
Amma receives the James Parks Morton Interfaith Award in New York.
Los Angeles, USA, June 21st, 2005
Los Angeles County presents award to Amma for her outstanding humanitarian contributions, efforts and compassionate love that she has shared and continues to share with the tsunami victims in India & Sri Lanka.
Kochi, India, February 23rd, 2005
Amma receives Centenary Legendary Award of the Rotary Club International at Kochi, India.
Barcelona, July 13th, 2004
Amma delivers a keynote address at the 2004 Parliament of the World’s Religions.
Geneva, October 7th, 2002
The World Movement for Nonviolence confers upon Amma the Gandhi-King Award for Non-violence at the UN in Geneva.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i_rPLFdT30w
Geneva, October 7th, 2002
Amma is the keynote speaker at the Global Peace Initiative of Women Religious & Spiritual Leaders at the UN, Geneva.
https://www.amritapuri.org/1957/02-motherhood.aum
New York, August 29th, 2000
Amma is a keynote speaker at the Millennium World Peace Summit, UN General Assembly.
https://www.amritapuri.org/international/2000un
Chicago, 1998
Amma receives the Care & Share International. Humanitarian of the Year Award.
New York, October 21st, 1995
Amma addresses the Interfaith Celebrations at the 50th anniversary of the UN.
Chicago, September 3rd, 1993
Amma addresses the Parliament of the World’s Religions’ 100th Anniversary, where she is named President of the Hindu Faith.
Chicago, September 3rd, 1993
Amma receives the “Hindu of the year award – Hindu Renaissance Award” from Hinduism Today.
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