Mata Amritanandamayi Math, is situated at Amritapuri in Vallickavu, a
small fishing village near Quilon (Kollam), South Kerala. The ashram which
houses more than 2,500 disciples and householders as full-time residents
is located at the site of the birth place and childhood home of Mata Amrithanandamayi
or Amma or Ammichi as she is popularly known. Thousands of people around
the world come to experience her unique 'darshan', in which she holds
each devotee in her arms like a mother embracing a child. |
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Mata Amrithanadamayi's principal teaching is not her words, but the experience
of being with her. She has a special earthy aura a sense of peace about
her, a special healing touch, experienced by people who come to see her
or receive her 'darshan'. Amma gives darshan on Wednesdays, Thursdays
and Saturdays. She personally receives every person who comes to her with
a radiant smile, talking to them, consoling and blessing them finally
giving them a divine motherly hug. She is been known to embrace over 15,000
devotees in one night. On Sundays Amma gives a special 'Devi Bhava' darshan,
a ritual in which she dresses in a spectacular costume and a crown, enters
a trance and assumes the form of the Divine mother. This special
darshan lasts the whole night past sunrise the next morning. Her devotees
believe her to be an incarnation of the Hindu Goddess Kali. Some of them
even worship her picture or small Ammachi dolls. Tuesdays and Fridays
are set aside for ashram residents when Amma comes to the temple to give
them 'Satsang'.
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