Sri Mata Amritanandamayi Devi, affectionately known as Amma, is a revered spiritual leader and humanitarian recognized for her boundless compassion and service. She is famous for her hugs, embracing over 40 million people globally and offering solace and inspiration. Her NGO, the Mata Amritanandamayi Math (MAM), addresses basic human needs—food, shelter, healthcare, education, and livelihood—particularly after disasters, investing over ₹573 crore in relief since 2001.
MAM's response to the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami included immediate aid and long-term support like housing and education. During the COVID-19 pandemic, MAM contributed ₹85 crore towards medical care, economic relief, and vaccinations. The organization also provided aid during the 2022 Russia-Ukraine conflict.
In healthcare, MAM has delivered free medical services worth ₹816 crore to 5.9 million people, including through its significant hospitals. It launched a ₹100 crore initiative for clean water and has built over 47,000 homes for people experiencing homelessness. The organization also supports education with scholarships, tutoring, and vocational training and runs orphanages in India and Kenya.
MAM is actively involved in environmental conservation, planting over 1 million trees and supporting public sanitation projects, including a ₹100 crore contribution to India's Namami Gange Project.
Internationally recognized, Amma has addressed the United Nations and was appointed Chair of the Civil 20 Engagement Group for India's G20 Presidency in 2022. She has received multiple awards and honors for her interfaith and humanitarian efforts.
Amma also serves as the chancellor of Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, a top-ranked university known for emphasizing education and service. Under her guidance, the institution focuses on research that benefits the underprivileged.
Amma's ashram in Kerala is the hub of her spiritual and humanitarian operations, where residents engage in spiritual practices and contribute to her projects. Amma attributes her capacity for extensive humanitarian work to the power of true love, which she says makes all endeavors effortless.
Programs Conducted in:
Australia, Austria, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Denmark, Dubai, England, Finland, France, Germany, Holland, India, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kenya, Kuwait, Malaysia, Mauritius, Reunion, Russia, Singapore, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Switzerland, UAE, USA
Awards & Honours:
- 2023: Chair, Civil 20 Engagement Group, India’s G20 Presidency
- 2023: World Leader for Peace and Security Award, Boston Global Forum, and the Michael Dukakis Institute for Leadership and Innovation
- 2021: Honorary Doctorate, Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology, Odisha
- 2019: Honorary Doctorate, University of Mysore, Mysuru, Karnataka
- 2018: Award by PM of India for Biggest Clean India Campaign Contribution
- 2017: Soldiers of Peace International Association’s Commemorative Gold Medal for Peace, Toulon, France
- 2017: Medal of the Provence-Alpes-Côtes d’Azur Region, Toulon, France
- 2017: Hindu Ratna Award, Kochi, Kerala
- 2015: Fashion4Development Medal of Honor, New York
- 2014: Kavithilakam Pandit Karuppan Award, Kerala
- 2010: Honorary Doctorate, State University of New York, Buffalo, NY
- 2017: Prix Cinéma Vérité, Paris, France
- 2006: James Parks Morton Interfaith Award, New York
- 2006: Philosopher Saint Sri Jnaneswara World Peace Prize, Pune, India
- 2006: Mahavir Mahatma Award, London
- 2005: Centenary Legendary Award of the Int. Rotarians, Kochi, Kerala
- 2002: Gandhi-King Award for Non-Violence, Geneva
- 2002: Karma Yogi of the Year, Yoga Journal
- 1998: Care & Share Int. Humanitarian of the Year Award, Chicago
- 1993: Hindu Renaissance Award, Hinduism Today
International Addresses:
- 2023: World Hindu Congress (Bangkok, Thailand)
- 2023: Inaugural Address, Civil 20 Summit, G20 India (Jaipur, Rajasthan)
- 2020: Inaugural Address, Hindu Spiritual and Service Fair (Chennai, Tamil Nadu)
- 2018: Interfaith Alliance for Safer Communities - Child Dignity in the Digital World (Abu Dhabi, UAE)
- 2015: Summit of Conscience for the Climate (Paris, France via video message)
- 2015: UNAI Conference on Tech. For Sustainable Development (New York, NY)
- 2014: Joint Declaration of Religious Leaders Against Modern Slavery (The Vatican)
- 2014: Conversations on Compassion (Stanford University, California)
- 2013: 100th Birth Anniversary Celebrations of Swami Vivekananda (New Delhi)
- 2012: United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (Shanghai, China)
- 2009: Inauguration of Vivekananda Int. Foundation (New Delhi)
- 2008: Summit of the Global Peace Initiative of Women (Jaipur, Rajasthan)
- 2007: Cinéma Vérité Film Festival (Paris, France)
- 2006: James Park Morton Interfaith Awards (New York, New York)
- 2005: Rotary International, India (Cochin, Kerala)
- 2004: Parliament of the World’s Religions (Barcelona, Spain)
- 2002: Global Peace Initiative of Women Religious & Spiritual Leaders,
- United Nations (Geneva, Switzerland)
- 2000: Millennium Peace Summit, UN (New York, NY)
- 1995: International Celebrations at the 50th Anniversary of the United Nations (New York, NY)
- 1993: Parliament of the World’s Religions 100th Anniversary (Chicago, Illinois)
Charitable medical care:
Completely free treatment to 5.9M patients—a total of $105M in charitable medical care since 1998
- Women assisted in self-help groups: More than 300,000 across India in more than 13,000 SHGs
- Homes constructed: More than 47,000 in 75 locations throughout India
- Disaster relief support: $85M since 2001, including $10M in health and economic support during the COVID-19 pandemic
- Scholarships for people with low incomes: More than 50,000 per year worldwide
- Yoga & Meditation Prog: Amrita Yoga & Integrated Integrated Amrita Meditation Technique to more than 7.3M people across the globe, including schools, universities, businesses, corporations, and prisons.
- Trees planted: More than 1M (part of UN’s Billion Tree Campaign)
- Poor fed annually: 10M in India, 150,000 in the Americas and Australia
- Pensions for people with low incomes: 100,000 throughout India
- Children cared for : 500 in orphanages (India) & 160 in children’s homes (Kenya)
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