Compassion as philosophy of life
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To millions of her devotees spread worldwide, she is just Amma. Mata Amritanandamayi's appeal stems from her persona, which radiates love. SUDHAKSHINA RANGASWAMI writes.
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With devotees who thronged the Brahmasthanam in Chennai during Amma's recent visit ... — Pics. by K. Pichumani
FROM THE backwaters of Kerala to the centre-stage of international adulation, she has literally come a long way. The transformation of Sudhamani from "God's own country" into Sri Mata Amritanandamayi — one of the most venerated women spiritual leaders today — is no fairytale of a messiah come to uplift the suffering humanity but a saga of uphill struggle and the courage of a woman from a nondescript background to defy societal norms and chalk out a path for herself as her heart dictated.
No wonder then, to millions of her devotees spread worldwide, she is just Amma, the very embodiment of the unconditional love of a mother. She is indeed a phenomenon for her achievements in the five decades of her life are mind-boggling to have been humanly possible for any individual to accomplish in a lifetime.
Amma's appeal stems from her persona, which radiates love, compassion and empathy towards everyone she draws into her embrace. This endearing act has earned her the sobriquet "hugging saint" especially in the West and perhaps best sums up her religion and philosophy of life. Amma teaches that the Divine exists in everything and that becoming aware of this unity is the essence of spirituality and the means to end all suffering. She has physically embraced more than 21 million people and her arms have extended to embrace the entire world through the nearly 300 small centres of the Mata Amritanandamayi Math dotted all over Kerala and over 25 large centres set up all over the world with headquarters at Amritapuri.
The scale of the celebration of Amma's fiftieth birthday, Amritavarsham 50, in September 2003 by her followers and admirers reinforced her stature as a spiritual leader who transcends all barriers of caste, religion and status. The dignitaries and celebrities who attended the four-day celebrations in which over 10,000 delegates and lakhs of devotees participated, reads like a "who's who" list— President A.P.J.Kalam, Vice-President Bhairon Singh Shekawat, Deputy Prime Minister L. K. Advani, several Chief Ministers and Union Ministers, former U.S. Senator Larry Pressler, Mauritius Minister Alan Ganoo, Fench film director Jan Kounen, Martin Luther King Jr.'s daughter Yolanda King and chairman of the World Youth Peace Summit Bawa Jain.
The honours that have come her way are in recognition of the magnitude of social projects undertaken with her vision by the Amritanandamayi Math which include free housing projects for the homeless and slum-dwellers, village reconstruction, pension for destitute women, free food, care home for the aged, project for development of tribal people, super-speciality hospitals to cater to the poor, hospice care to terminally ill patients, educational institutions, orphanages and environmental projects.
The World Movement for Non-violence conferred on Amma the Gandhi-King Award for Non-violence at the U.N. headquarters in Geneva in 2002, earlier awarded to Mr. Kofi Annan (in 1999), Mr. Nelson Mandela (in 2000) and Dr. Jane Goodall (in 2001).
She was the keynote speaker at the Global Peace Initiative for Women Religious and Spiritual Leaders at the U.N., Geneva in 2002 and also at the Millennium Peace Summit held at the U.N. General Assembly, New York in 2000. Another milestone in her spiritual ministry was her speech at the Parliament of the World Religions' 100th Anniversary in Chicago in 1993. It was at the same venue that Swami Vivekananda initiated the Western audience into Vedanta a century ago.
In 1995 Amma addressed the interfaith celebrations at the 50th anniversary of the U.N. The international journal, Hinduism Today, conferred upon Amma the Hindu Renaissance Award in 1993 and the Yoga Journal honoured her with the Karma Yogi Award in 2002.
Amma visits Chennai regularly ever since a Math was established here by her 14 years ago.
The anniversary of the Brahmasthanam Temple in the Math was celebrated recently in her presence with Pujas, Satsangh, Bhajan and meditation, the highlight being her darshan when every one in the milling crowd patiently waited to be hugged by her. Time stood still in her presence and she did not retire till she had embraced everyone.
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`They are pretending to be asleep'
DURING HER recent visit to the city, Mata Amritanandamayi spoke to this Correspondent at length on issues of concern and her mission. Excerpts from the conversation:
Can Amma speak about herself and the service activities initiated by her?
Amma does not like to speak about herself. Amma just flows like a river. It would just be an expression of the ego if Amma talks about herself and claims that she has accomplished this or that as she is guiding many spiritual seekers. She has to set an example of humility in word and deed. 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.
Why is there so much conflict in the name of religion today?
There is no division for one who has realised the truth. When there is true experience there is only oneness. Where there are divisions, there is no real experience. Many of those who fight in the name of religion are like people pretending to be asleep. They are knowledgeable, but have no awareness. Those who are really sleeping can be woken up. But, nothing can be done about those who are pretending to be asleep.
How are your teachings received in the West?
People there are broad-minded and receptive. Amma does not ask people to embrace other religions. She, in fact, encourages those who come to her to go deeper into their own faiths and practise their teachings. Amma mostly speaks on how spirituality can solve the day-to-day problems of life and thereby find greater happiness and contentment. The governments of the nations that Amma visited have also been very cooperative.
With devotees who thronged the Brahmasthanam in Chennai during Amma's recent visit ... — Pics. by K. Pichumani
What is special about the Brahmasthanam temples you have consecrated?
In the Brahmasthanam temples, the devotees also get an opportunity to take part in the worship. One goes to a temple to lessen one's Prarabdha Karma. But for this to happen there needs to be some effort from the devotee as well. Amma devised this mode of worship so that devotees can also participate and attain greater benefit. The image in the temple is four-faced and carved out of a single stone. It represents Siva Kutumbam (Siva's family). It also signifies unity in diversity.
You have appointed women priests in some of the Ashram temples?
There was criticism when Amma trained women to do temple worship. Amma replied that we were worshipping God, who is beyond all differences, a God who does not discriminate between men and women. As for Amma, both men and women are equal.
Amma is not a feminist. She is only pointing to the unrighteousness that has been directed towards women.
Your spiritual message?
There are two types of education: education for living and education for life. The first is for livelihood and the second requires spiritual understanding for which it is necessary to study the nature of the world and the human mind as there is always an interaction between these two. In Sanatana Dharma there is no difference between the Creator and His creation.
For Amma, God is not somebody sitting on a golden throne high up in the skies. For her everything is God. All of you are God for her.
S.R.
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