AMMA Singapore 3.61

WHO IS AMMA?

Sri Mata Amritanandamayi Devi, lovingly known as Amma was born in 1953 to an extremely poor but pious family in the lush state of Kerala on India's Arabian Sea. From the tender age of two, Amma began composing songs of deep mystical significance. Her enchanting, soulful singing became well known throughout her village.

"From childhood I had an intense love of the Divine Name. I would repeat the Lord's Name incessantly with every breath and a constant flow of divine thoughts was kept up in my mind no matter the place where I was or the work I was doing."

CHILDHOOD AND GROWING UP YEARS:

All through her childhood, Amma did whatever she could to ease the suffering of those around her. She would often bring food and clothes from her own home to help the needy in Her village. Amma would be punished by Her family for taking items out of their home but nothing would deter Her from displaying unconditional love to all those in need.

Till today, Amma's inspiring message of compassion and selfless love continues to be expressed throughout the world. For over thirty years, most of Amma's waking hours have been spent receiving, embracing and drying the tears of each of her 'children' as only a mother could.

CHARITABLE ACTIVITES:

She has inspired millions of people all over the world to change their lives by offering their time and love to their families, communities as well as to Amma's many charitable activities.

Examples of Amma's many charitable activities include the building of orphanages, clinics, schools, technical institutes, universities, homes for the aged, housing for the poor, conducting employment programs, vocational training, providing free kitchens for the homeless, widow pensions, disaster relief, the birth of a major global hospital and many many more.

GLOBAL AWARDS AND RECOGNITION:

Due to her goal of revitalizing the highest spiritual ideals throughout her native land, Amma was chosen as one of three presidents to represent the Hindu faith at the Parliament of the World's Religions in Chicago in 1993. Amma was again invited to speak at the same platform in Barcelona in 2004. In October of 1995, she was invited to address the United Nations Interfaith Celebration in New York. In August of 2000, she addressed the United Nations General Assembly at the 'Millennium World Peace Summit of Religious and Spiritual Leaders'. In 2002, Amma received the Gandhi-King Award for Non-Violence at the United Nations General Assembly Hall in Geneva in recognition of her lifelong work in furthering the principles of non-violence, where she had been invited to give the keynote speech for the Global Peace Initiative of Women Religious and Spiritual Leaders. In 2006, Amma was presented with the James Park Morton Interfaith Award in New York City. On 25th May 2010, the State University of New York awarded Amma an honorary doctorate in humane letters at their Buffalo campus and in 2014, Amma was chosen as one among the 50 most powerful women religious leaders by the Huffington Post.

Most recently, on December 2nd 2014 for the first time in history, major Anglican, Catholic, Orthodox Christian leaders as well as Jewish, Muslim, Hindu and Buddhist leaders came together to sign a declaration against human trafficking and slavery. Amma joined Pope Francis and 10 other world religious leaders at this ceremonial event and together signed this shared commitment. On December 5th 2014, Amma delivered an extremely powerful Speech on Human Trafficking & Modern Slavery
at the Pontifical Academy of Sciences, Vatican City.

AN EMBRACE FROM AMMA:

It is estimated that Amma has hugged over 33 million people worldwide. Amma's hug is sought in India to the point where she has been known to hug over 50,000 in one day, sitting sometimes for over 20 hours.

Since 1987, Amma has been travelling all over the world to receive and bless her children starting with our very own Lion City, Singapore. Amma has been visiting her Singapore children almost every year for the past 28 years and has hugged over hundreds of thousands of people at Her programmes conducted here. She is a shining example of true unconditional love and selfless service to all mankind.

AMMA'S DESIRE:

"Everyone in the world should be able to sleep without fear, at least for one night. Everyone should be able to eat to his fill, at least for one day. There should be at least one day when hospitals see no one admitted due to violence." – Amma