Mata Amritanandamayi

Mata Amritanandamayi Biography

Mata Amritanandamayi is a Hindu spiritual leader and guru, who has been revered as a saint by her followers. She is fondly called as ‘Amma’ by her followers. She is famous for hugging, unique way to comfort distressed people and for that, she is also known as "The Hugging Saint". She is one among the most influential persons of Kerala and in many homes, she is also worshipped along with other idols, in their pooja rooms. Her followers include both people of weak sections as well as high profile people and they are willing to stand in long queues in seek of her blessings. Her ashram situated at Kollam district is known as Amritapuri and she has followers all over south India as well as abroad.

Mata Amritanandamayi was born as Sudhamani Idamannel on 27 September 1953, Parayakadavu, Alappad Panchayat, Kollam District, Kerala. She was born in a fisherman family as the third child of Sugunanandan and Damayanti. She was a great devotee of Krishna from her younger age and show generosity to pure and needy from that time itself. She composed and sang several devotional songs on Lord Krishna right from childhood. Her family was not wealthy. Yet she used to help the needy in whatever way she could and for her kind helps, she used to get scoldings from parents also.

Amritanandamayi began to embrace people to comfort them in their sorrow at the age of 14 for which she got bad reaction from parents. Amritanandamayi commented, “I don’t see if it is a man or a woman. I don’t see anyone different from my own self. My duty is to console those who are suffering.” Parents tried to bring many proposals to get her married. But it didn’t happen and in 1981, Amritanandamayi Math (MAM), a worldwide foundation was founded, which is engaged in many spiritual and charitable activities. From 1987, apart from regional visits, she conducts annual foreign tours. Apart from Indian disciples, many foreigners are attracted to her principles and hundreds of such disciples stay in her ashram as well as accompany her in tours.

Now her foundation runs a television channel, Amrita TV and many charitable institutions, including hospitals and schools giving aid to poor and needy.   

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Updated: October 01, 2017