Who is Amma?

The holy Mother Mata Amritanandamayi, affectionately known as Amma(Mother), has endeared herself to tens of millions all over the world through her extraordinary acts of love and self-sacrifice in the midst of these troubled times. She dedicates virtually every day of her life to consoling suffering people all over the world, in the form of a motherly hug. Furthermore, her charitable organizations are actively conducting vast activities throughout India and abroad, ranging from orphanages, educational institutions, charitable hospitals and 100,000 free homes for the needy. In response to the 2004 Asian Tsunami, Amma immediately pledged US$23 million in Tsunami Relief, but by the end of 2006, after two years of relied effort, the amount of aid pledged had doubled, reaching US$46 million. As a symbol of the recognition that she has received from the global community, Amma was a key speaker at the United Nations Millennium Peace Summit held in 2000, and in 2005 the UN conferred Special Consultative Status on her charitable organization. She received the Gandhi-King Award for Non-Violence, presented at the United Nations General Assembly in Geneva in 2002, and the 2006 Interfaith Award from ICNY in New York. Today Amma continues to spread her message of love and peace throughout the world.