The gathering for Amma’s 71st birthday was held at Amritapuri Asham with smaller, simpler ceremonies this year. Amma arrived at 9 am with a graceful smile upon her face, greeting the thousands of devotees who had gathered to both express their devotion and seek her help.
Amma began by leading prayers for the departed souls in the recent landslides in Kerala’s Wayanad district, as well as all affected by the increasing natural calamities and wars that are happening worldwide.
With the event scaled back, Amma explained the funds that would usually go towards Amritavarsham, as her birthday is known, could then be redirected to the Ashram’s recovery efforts in Wayanad. Amma has pledged an aid package of ₹15 crores ($1.8 million) to support the survivors and strengthen disaster resilience in the region.
“Rather than war and endless conflict, may patience, love and compromise guide our attitudes and actions. Instead of the dark climate of religious wars and genocides, let us hear the call for expansiveness and compassion ringing from all quarters,” Amma said in her address.
“May we all be vigilant in abandoning the desire to exploit nature, as it leads to the tragedies that affect our lives, our loved ones, our wealth, and all that we hold dear. May each of us extend our hands to comfort those who are suffering and in pain. And, thus, may everyone find peace and happiness.”
Swami Amritaswarupananda Puri, Amma’s most senior disciple, guided the Guru Paduka Puja, an ancient ritual in which disciples express love, reverence, and gratitude to the Guru and the entire Guru Parampara, the lineage of teachers.
Though small in scale with a solemn backdrop, Amritavarsham 71 honoured Amma with its annual traditions—traditions filled with the hope and optimism that heartfelt prayers can bring. The day began at 5 am with a Maha Ganapati Homam, a puja with prayers for the removal of obstacles.
This was followed by chanting of the Lalitha Sahasranama, 1000 names to the Divine Mother in the form of Tripura Sundari. As the ultimate power of the universe, this sacred text offers a detailed portrayal of Her divine attributes and qualities.
Swami Amritaswarupananda then delivered a satsang, expressing his deep devotion to the undivided consciousness and pure bliss that incarnated on this Earth in Amma’s form 71 years ago. After embracing more than 40 million people, even a body made of the most powerful steel would have worn out long back.
“Amma says she flows like a river. There is no effort. From Amma’s level of consciousness, it means giving. Giving and giving and giving and never taking back. There is no doership. Amma remains as she is, and this is love in the highest form,” said Swamiji.
“Love is both tangible and a presence. And when it is transformed to a presence, it becomes all-pervasive. Amma’s beautiful form is our form of meditation. Only Amma can take care of her body, can protect her body. However, Amma will definitely listen to the prayers of her children. The loving prayers, sincere prayers, wholehearted prayers of her children.”
Another of Amritavarsham’s traditions is the Amritakeerti Puraskaram which since 2001 has honoured eminent personalities for their significant and inspiring contributions to Indian literature, culture, and Vedic knowledge. This year, Amma awarded Professor V. Madhusoodanan Nair, a distinguished Malayali scholar and poet. With a joyful face, he sincerely expressed his gratitude to Amma.
Amma next led Mangalyasudha, the Ashram’s annual mass marriages for families too poor to afford a wedding. Amma began the tradition in 2003, especially expressing her concern that it is often the parents of the bride who sink into debt.
Amma takes care of everything, including the Ashram sponsoring gold necklaces, earrings, bangles, wedding rings, and clothing for the couples. One of the stipulations is that the bride’s family pay no dowry to the groom’s. Amma herself conducts the ceremonies.
The happiness that emanated from the couples and their families this year cannot even be captured in words. The door to a completely new life opens with financial constraints no longer an obstacle as they begin their lives together.
One of the final traditions has been happening for more than 30 years, this one initiated by the fishing villages that surround Amma’s birthplace. The Parayakadav Amrita Seva Sangham and all the Karayogams (social groups) of Alappad Panchayat offer their respects to her in a sacred procession.
It begins at the Pariyakkadav Sree Ponnabhagavathy Temple and reaches its blessed moment with an offering of Purnakumbhan to Amma, a pot filled with water and decorated with mango leaves, a coconut, turmeric, and kumkum to represent abundant prosperity.
As is her way, Amma then began embracing the thousands who arrived in Amritapuri to celebrate her life and experience her love and compassion. Darshan continued until the next day’s early morning hours.
Among the most endearing were the people who came from tribal communities adorned in their simple yet unique dress, as well as the many sadhus (travelling mendicants) who expressed both reverence and happiness to be in the arms of a spiritual master such as Amma.
