We come across innumerable people in our life, many endowed with their special qualities, talents and charm. Among such giants, I wish to talk here about the life of someone who has touched upon, and continues to touch the life of millions everyday through her indefatigable energy, compassionate heart, and an indescribable urge to hug whosoever comes to her: Mata Amritanandamayi, fondly known as Amma, meaning the Mother.
Born in 1953 (currently 63 years old) in a poor fisherman family in a seaside village of Kollam, she was named Sudhamani in her childhood. Starting with helping her family and siblings to make a living and do household work, she set upon doing different spiritual disciplines by herself in her spare time. Further, a natural urge came to her to embrace people to comfort them in their suffering, and she did so without any distinction of age or gender barriers. Naturally, she faced a lot of scolding and reprimands from the society and parents for this, but she was like a free flowing river and no obstruction could stall her path. Gradually, more and more people started to come to her, and some among them recognized her as their spiritual guru. They started to practice their own spiritual sadhna under her guidance, and gradually established a Math in 1981 at her village. By and by, her name continued to spread, and due to the request of her devotees, she conducted her first tour away from India in 1987, and these tours have continued annually since then. Her annual tours comprise of South India, some parts of North India, South East Asia, America and some European countries. The Mata Amritanandamayi Math has become a very widespread organization which runs many schools and technical universities, and undertakes innumerable social service work in many parts of India, Africa and other countries. The scale of the social service continues to expand due to the valuable and generous help received by a large number of devotees.
But while there are multiple organizations which do invaluable social service, what makes Amma special is her personal appeal and indescribable energy. For two to three days a week, her schedule consists of hugging people who have come to meet her. The procedure is quite simple to decribe: she will be sitting at a podium, people will come in a queue, get her hug, a small prasad and her blessings, and they will move on. But Amma herself would be continuing this as long as the last person has not been hugged. Quite often, this process goes on for more than 14-16 hours at a stretch, and sometimes it even crosses 24 hours on some special occasions! During this process, Amma herself continues to talk to people around her, listening to their problems, offering advise and suggestions, giving instructions and ideas, and distributing love to endless number of people. And during all this, she seldom eats or drinks something, and nobody has seen any iota of tiredness on her face! Even after such long hours of intense activity, she is the most fresh and smiling person after any program. I am sure that lacs of other people too wonder how this is humanely possible.
Though lot of social work happens through her organization, and she primarily seems to be hugging one and all, her actual persona is above both these realm. Such flow of energy without any semblance of tiredness of not humanly possible without being connected to an inward source. Due to her intense spiritual practice, she has been able to realize the higher realms of consciousness, and guides her select group of monks and spiritual seekers in their own quest. While I have no idea about how to get to know or even compare people on lofty heights, all I can say is to me, she seems to be perched on the highest planes.
Her programs are not only a place for hugs, but also are decked with a variety of deliciously cooked dishes by her devotees, and soulful songs or bhajans. The place gets converted to a mart of joy where people feel the cool breeze of love and compassion emanating from all directions. Amma herself is never a dull person for a moment. Along with hugging, she is busy either laughing, making jokes, and feeding her numerous sons different delicacies. She is as cheerful and unpretentious meeting with the Prime Minister of India as she is with anyone who comes to meet her.
The impressions gathered above have been based on my personal observations rather than any second hand information. There is much to be learned about life from someone who lives it in such a free and joyful flow.
