In all my life I have not met a warmer personality than Her [Amma]. Even an agnostic like me had great difficulty in holding back my tears.
— Sri. Khushwant Singh, Author and journalist Amritapuri Visitor’s Diary, Amritapuri, 1993
Amma presents the kind of leadership we need for our planet to survive. This is the most heroic person I’ve probably ever met. Because she is sitting there hugging people. This is the most heroic thing that any of us could do now. Because shooting each other is not heroic. The most heroic is caring, and she does that.
– Alice Walker, Winner of the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction
When I think of Amma and her life of devotion and service, I see a shining example for all of us of the spirit of reverence, compassion and care.
– Dr Steven C. Rockefeller
Amma is truly such an enormous fountain of energy and love and compassion. I think if all of us were to get even a fraction of it within our own beings, there would be only joy in the whole world… Whatever little I can do with her inspiration, I will strive my best to accomplish it. –
– Dr. Rajendra K. Pachauri Chairman, Intergovernmental
Panel on Climate Change (IPCC was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2007 while Dr. Pachauri served as IPCC Chairman).
For me Amma is the ideal. She is the yardstick. She is the measurement to which all of us [must hold ourselves], whether we are beginners on the spiritual path or matured seekers. She always shows that you can give more love, show more compassion. Amma is the greatest living saint on this planet. I met many Masters, but in Amma I see a combination of unconditional love and ferocious determination and an indomitable spirit. Her example is peerless. – Barcelona, 13 July 2004 For me Amma is the ideal. She is the yardstick. She is the measurement to which all of us [must hold ourselves], whether we are beginners on the spiritual path or matured seekers. She always shows that you can give more love, show more compassion. Amma is the greatest living saint on this planet. I met many Masters, but in Amma I see a combination of unconditional love and ferocious determination and an indomitable spirit. Her example is peerless. – Barcelona, 13 July 2004
– Andrew Cohen, spiritual teacher and founder of the magazine What is Enlightenment? Barcelona, 13 July 2004
Amma is playing a transformative and inspirational role to help people cross a lot of barriers of religion and caste so they can be spiritually uplifted. – Kochi, 25 September 2003
—Sri. Sanjay Gupta, Managing Director, Dainik Jagran, a leading Hindi daily newspaper, during Amritavarsham50, Kochi, 25 September 2003
What I have seen Amma doing is way beyond what most are able to achieve in such a short time. She is actually touching the heart of the people. She is able to make everyone realise that it is one’s duty to work for humanity.
– Sri. N.V.R. Nathan Director, IILM Institute for Higher Education during Amritavarsham50, Kochi, 26 September 2003
She [Amma] is one of the most glorious lights to appear in the history of religion. Just her stamina—embracing these millions of people one by one, day after day, without a break, all over the world—is some kind of divine gift. No mere human resources could accomplish this.
—Dr. Timothy Conway, Ph.D., author of Women of Power & Grace
When we go to Amma for darshan, we forget what is happening around us. When Amma hugs us, we feel it to be something special that we have never got from anyone else. Her love, smile, kiss and the way She talks to us are things I cannot describe. Her love is forever.”
—Dr. K.S. Fathima Beevi , Lecturer, Government College, Tripunithura, Kerala Syndicate Member, Mahatma Gandhi University, Kottayam, Kerala, during Amritavarsham50, Kochi, 25 September 2003
Amma symbolises the truth and beauty of life.
—Dr. Padma Subrahmanyam, Indian classical dancer, during Amritavarsham50 Kochi, Kerala, 24 September 2003
A society having only the government system, no matter how powerful and sincere, cannot survive for long without the solid base provided by spirituality. One plausible solution is to evolve a new universal religion. Now, only a vague outline can be speculated. Fortunately to have a glimpse of a sage of that universal religion, we have not to wait for some distant future. Sri Mata Amritanandamayi’s life and work is a living example of universal love and service.
— Dr. D.N. Srivastava, Senior Scientist Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Mumbai
A type of force emanates from Her. I think it cannot be defined by our analysis. A type of force emanates from Her. I think it cannot be defined by our analysis.
—Dr. Madhavan Nair, Chairman of ISRO (Indian Space Research Organisation), at Amma’s Bangalore Ashram, 21 February 2004
Amma is the embodiment of pure love. Her presence heals.
— Dr. Deepak Chopra, M.D. author of Ageless Body, Timeless Mind: The Quantum Alternative to Growing Old 2004 Barcelona
I believe that She [Amma] stands here in front of us, God’s love in a human body.
— Dr. Jane Goodall, world-renowned primatologist while giving Gandhi-King Award for Non-violence to Amma, Geneva, 7 October 2002
Her energy is just incredible. I picked up youthful, bright, exciting energy. She is endlessly just giving, giving, giving. I think a lot of people need to feel her energy because it will make a difference in their life.
— Doug E Fresh Hip-hop American legend New York, July 2009
Amma has been a leader in expanding educational opportunity in India, particularly through the establishment of Amrita University, which in its first 15 years has become one of the most distinguished private universities in India. – May 2010
— Dr. Stephen Dunnett. PhD Professor and provost for international education State University of New York, Buffalo. May 2010
I’ve never met anyone like Amma—someone who has such a great impact on people’s lives for the good and for humanity. I am hard-pressed to think of someone who is doing more for mankind and the environment.
— Jim Lauderdale Grammy Award-winning Country and Bluegrass artist 30 June 2008 — Addison, Texas, USA
| Amma has embraced 26 million people. But she has done this as an action not only of giving but as an action of example. I welcome this saint, this angel, this person of active goodness. —Sharon Stone World-renowned actress, Paris, 12 October 2007 |
I feel rejuvenated after meeting Amma. She gives me tremendous energy through her darshan, which helps me remain focused and also adds value to my work and life
—Jan Kounen renowned French Filmmaker Paris – 25 Oct 2008