Mata Amritanandamayi Devi Age, Husband, Family, Biography & More
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Hometown: Karunagappally, Kerala Age: 69 Years Religion: Hinduism
| Bio/Wiki | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Sudhamani Idamannel |
| Other name | • Amma • Mata |
| Profession | • Spiritual leader • Humanitarian |
| Famous for | “The Hugging Saint” |
| Physical Stats & More | |
| Height (approx.) | in centimeters– 162 cm in meters– 1.62 m in feet & inches– 5’ 4” |
| Weight (approx.) | in kilograms– kg in pounds– lbs |
| Eye Colour | Brown |
| Hair Colour | Salt & Pepper |
| Career | |
| Awards, Honours, Achievements | Awards 1993: Hindu Renaissance Award for ‘Hindu of the Year’ 1998: Care & Share International Humanitarian of the Year Award in Chicago, USA 2002: Karma Yogi of the Year 2002: Gandhi-King Award for Non-Violence by The World Movement for Nonviolence in UN, Geneva 2005: Mahavir Mahatma Award in London, UK 2005: Centenary Legendary Award of the International Rotarians in Cochin, Kerala 2006: The Philosopher Saint Sri Jnaneswara World Peace Prize 2007: Le Prix Cinéma Vérité Award by Cinéma Vérité in Paris, France 2013: First Vishwaretna Purskar by Hindu Parliament in Tiruvananthapuram, India 2018: Felicitated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the largest contribution to the Government of India’s Clean India Campaign Swachh Bharat Mission Honors 2021: An honorary degree in D.Litt.(Honoris causa) from the Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT) in Bhubaneswar
Achievements |
| Personal Life | |
| Date of Birth | 27 September 1953 (Sunday) |
| Age (as of 2022) | Years |
| Birthplace | Alappad Panchayat in Karunagappally, Kollam District, State of Travancore-Cochin (now in Kerala), India |
| Zodiac sign | Libra |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Hometown | Karunagappally, Kerala |
| Religion | She follows Hinduism. Since the age of 4, she has been preaching to Lord Krishna. |
| Food Habit | Vegetarian |
| The Mata Amritanandamayi Math Address | Amritapuri in Karunagappally, Kollam, Kerala (India) |
| Controversies | • In 1985, Sreeni Pattathanam, the Indian Rationalist Association’s head, published a controversial review titled Matha Amritanandamayi: Sacred Stories and Realities. The book claimed that Amritanandamayi’s miracles were all faked by Mata Amma and her students. He also wrote about the mysterious deaths that had occurred near her ashram and demanded a police investigation. A similar article was published in the Malayalam publication Deshabhimani on August 9, 2002, calling for an investigation into the same deaths that Pattathanam had deemed suspicious.
• Former Mata Amma follower Gail Tredwell spent ten years living at the ashram (from 1989 to 1999). In 2013, she wrote a book in which she indicted Mata Amma with beating her physically. Gail claimed that she suffered sexual abuse in the ashram, where older prisoners were engaged in physical contact; however, the accusations were denied by Mata Amma and the ashram representatives. [1]India Today |
| Relationships & More | |
| Marital Status | Unmarried |
| Family | |
| Husband/Spouse | N/A |
| Parents | Father– Sri Sugunanandan Idamannel (Fishmonger)
Mother– Damayanti Amma |
| Siblings | Elder Brother: Subhakan Younger Brother(s): Sathish Kumar, Sudhir Kumar, and Suresh Kumar Elder Sister: Kasturi Aamma Younger Sister(s): Sajini and Sugunamma |
| Money Factor | |
| Net Worth (approx.) | Rs. 1000 crores (as of 2011) [2]India Today |
Some Lesser Known Facts About Mata Amritanandamayi Devi
- Mata Amritanandamayi Devi is an Indian spiritual leader and humanitarian who is known among her devotees as “the hugging saint.” She is the founder of The Mata Amritanandamayi Math, a global nonprofit based in Amritapuri, Kerala (India). In 1993, she served as President of the Centenary Parliament of World Religions in Chicago, USA.
- When Sudhamani was five years old, she volunteered to aid the less fortunate on her way to school, which is why she was constantly late for school. When her mother became ill in 1962, the 9-year-old was pulled out of school to help with domestic duties and take care of her siblings. At the age of 15, Sudhamani began
helping out with the household chores at her mother’s older sister’s home before being
sent to live with her uncle in Karunagapally.
- Young Sudhamani used to go door-to-door collecting leftover food from neighbours for her family’s cattle during this time. At the age of 9, she decided to devote her time to charitable work. She used to search her
home for food and clothing to give to those in need. She frequently received reprimands and punishment for doing so from her family, who were not wealthy either.
- Amritanandamayi has been hugging people to soothe them since she was 22 years old, earning her the title “hugging saint” among her followers. She spends about 10 to 14 hours a day greeting and cuddling visitors. She has welcomed more than 34 million individuals worldwide for more than 30 years, according to her official website.
Amma hugging and blessing her devotees
- The spiritual and material betterment of humanity is the primary goal of the Mata Amritanandamayi Math (MAM), which was established on 6 May 1981. Together with its sister organisation, the Mata Amritanandamayi Mission Trust, MAM manages charitable projects like providing healthcare for the needy, helping with natural disasters, promoting environmental initiatives, battling hunger, and providing educational scholarships for children from low-income families. The MAM also manages the 90 Amrita Vidyalayam chains of English medium CBSE schools, seven-campus Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham University, and yoga, meditation, and Sanskrit classes.
Mata Amritanandamayi Math in Amritapuri
- A 47-year-old man named Pavithran, a native of Kerala’s Northern Palakkad area, attacked Amma in August 2005. He was participating in the prayer and bhajan gathering at the Mata’s Vallikkav Ashram in Kerala’s Kollam district by sitting among the devotees and singing and praying in front of Amma. He then charged her with a knife but was stopped by some of Amma’s followers. Pavithran was described as having an “unstable mind” by Swami Amritaswarupananda Puri, one of Amma’s followers. Later, it was revealed that the attacker was an RSS supporter. [3]YouTube – asianetnews
- A 23-year-old student named Satnam Singh Maan from Lucknow’s National Law University attacked Mata Amritanandamayi on 1 August 2012. When he shouted “Bismillah ar-Rahman ar-Raheem,” he was in a line waiting for Amma’s hugs. Unarmed Satnam attempted to attack Amma’s bodyguards but was defeated by the followers. After the attack, he was admitted to a psychiatric hospital, where he was later pronounced
dead. [4]The Times of India
References/Sources:[+]
| ↑1 | India Today |
|---|---|
| ↑2 | India Today |
| ↑3 | YouTube – asianetnews |
| ↑4 | The Times of India |