Amrita movement explained

Amrita is a Hindu movement named after Mata Amritanandamayi.

Founder

Mata Amritanandamayi is often described as the hugging saint. She has hugged countless people. A hug from her is said to have brought peace to the devotees. Ammachi, as she is popularly called, advocates the Advaitic principle of seeing everybody as oneself.

Year & place of founding

Amritapuri, Kollam, Kerala, India.

Monastic / Non-monastic

Monastic

General philosophical outlook

Advaita philosophy is followed. The movement is non-sectarian.

Spiritual disciplines generally advocated

Integrated Amrita Meditation Technique. Service of fellow human-beings.

Present chief of the movement

Mata Amritanandamayi

Activities

Religion & spirituality

Brahmasthanams are the temples built by Amritanandamayi. Here pooja is offered to reduce the negative effect of planets on devotees.

Social field

Mother's kitchen for feeding the poor, Building the houses for poor, Orphanages, monthly pension scheme for old age people, Old care homes, legal assistance to poor and needy are some of the services described on the organization's website.
Amrita Institute of Medical sciences is a medical college with facility for 800 beds. Medical treatment is rendered to the poor at free or at subsidised price.
Amrita Kripasagar is a hospice for terminally ill people with accommodation facility for up to 50 people.
Amritakripa hospital at Amritapuri for the poor and needy
Several Mobile centres for giving medical assistance.

Education field

Amrita School of Engineering
Amrita School of Business
Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences
Schools for software training, Industrial training, Pharmaceutical etc.
Several primary and secondary education institutes throughout India

Relief activities

Rendered service during the Gujarat earthquakes
Tsunami disaster relief operation
Relief Services provided after Bihar floods in Bihar, India.
Haiti Relief in 2010 Haiti Earthquake

Province of its influence

Chiefly Keralan and Malayali communities all over the globe. But has devotees and admirers throughout India.

Major publications

Amma – Healing the Heart of the World
Awaken Children – Vol 1 to 9
Racing along the Razor's edge
Lead us to light – compiled by Swami Jnanamritananda Puri
From Amma's heart
Amrita e-newsletter