In the Media
Amma has inspired innumerable humanitarian activities all over the world. Some of them are free food and clothing programs, charitable hospitals, hospices, disaster relief programs, free homes for the poor and the needy, medical camps, orphanage, schools, educational institutions, widows' pension scheme, free legal advice, preservation of nature and so on. The list is long and growing everyday. Amma says, " Compassion to the poor and the needy is our duty to God." Through the example of her own life Amma has inspired people from all over the world to walk in the path of selfless-service and compassion towards all beings. Amma has been well known for her humanitarian outreach over the course of 30 years. The world media has taken notice of her efforts, with stories in prestige media, including TV, print, and radio. This section represents a small cross section of some recent print treatment.
If you would like to learn more about Amma in the media, please
contact us at press@ammachi.org.
Recent news
Excerpts from Publications
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The modest mystic and philanthropist from Kerala, India a daughter of a lower-caste fisherman, says she has been driven from early childhood to .make an offering of myself. to the poor, the abandoned, the sick and the sick at heart
- USA TODAY, July 19th 2006
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In addition to the hugging sessions (which can last for hours, full day, or overnight, depending on the number of people), she has spurred a host of humanitarian activities in India and elsewhere. They include charitable hospitals and hospices, free housing for the poor, a widows pension program, orphanages and schools for destitute children.
- Christian Science Monitor, July 27th, 2006
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"Thousands seek the warm embrace of Amma"
- The Washington Post, July 15th 2005
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Using simple parables, her talks focused on elevating love over negativity, peace over anger. "Serving others should not be viewed as a tireless endeavor, but rather as an opportunity given to us by God" She said
- The New York Times, September 29th 2003
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"Amma demands no personal obedience, does not preach the exclusivity of any one religious creed and does not ask people to renounce their lives, possessions or relationships. Rather she seems mainly interested in spreading happiness by turning out the hugs."
- International Herald Tribune, July 5th, 2003
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"Those receiving Amma's blessing refused to fit any one
group. The elderly, the handicapped, mothers, babies, and in
some cases whole families knelt before her. Amma does not preach
but hopes that people find renewed faith in their own path.
Amma encourages women to take a more defining role in society
and men should try to awaken the compassionate feelings in themselves."
- The Hawk Eye Newspaper, 2003
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"To say the Math's tsunami-relief programme is impressive would be an understatement. The programme is covering every facet of life for the tsunami-affected people who have been fortunate enough to fall under its protective umbrella.from food, clothing and shelter to medicine, education and employment."
- India Today, February 2006
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Amma's communion and identification is not just with God but with the common man in the street
- India Today, September 29th 2003
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Amma is looked upon with great hope by victims of any natural calamity regardless of their religious identity. She has set up an orphanage in Nagapattinam, taking care of about 350 children who lost their parents during Tsunami, which killed thousands of people and left many more homeless on December 26, 2004. Her Ashram has already constructed and handed over 1,500 tsunami and earthquake resistant houses in Azheekkal
village in Kerala and over 1,000 in Nagapattinam district of Tamil Nadu, besides providing some 550 new boats and fishing nets and repairing an equal number of boats. Her help reaches beyond geographical boundaries of nations. Recently, Amritanandamayi's Ashram donated one million dollars to Clinton Foundation for relief to the victims of the recent Katrina hurricane in the United States.
- webindia123.com, December 30th, 2005
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When one reads the long list of charitable activities that Amma is involved with, it seems that she has superhuman powers. She not only is an example of compassion and selfless service but also awakens people from all around the world to dedicate their time and sources to charitable activities as a key to a happy and meaningful life.
- Chaim Acherim, An Israeli New Age magazine: reporter visits Amma in Amritapuri, 2002
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"Known worldwide simply as Amma or Ammachi, the spiritual
leader and humanitarian from southern India hugs for hours and
hours, cradling adults like babies, whispering comforting words
and showering them with rose petals and, as a sweet offering,
Hershey's Kisses. For 25 years, Amma's spiritual hugs and charitable
works, including orphanages, women's shelters, hospices and
vocational education programs for the poor, have helped her
to become what many Hindus and non-Hindus consider a living
saint. "
- Los Angeles Times, 2000
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"She greeted each with a warm smile and outstretched arms. Each darshan resembled an embrace between two old friends who hadn't seen each other in years. She began her spiritual endeavors as a young woman, encouraging others to social service and to express love for others. Later she started a program in which people could go to her and receive her blessing -- a hug, or darshan. "I can't explain....It's an uplifting feeling." said Zack Kurland, 28, of New York. "
- NY Times, 2001
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