Dr. Kapila Vatsyayan, former secretary of the Department of Arts, Ministry of Human Resources of India

Mata Amritanandamayi represents a long line of women seers, saints, social reformers who have transformed the collective psyche of India by their sheer presence. Their experience of the inner life of reflection and introspection, of tapas [austerities] and sadhana [spiritual practice], has, as it had to, manifest itself in diverse ways of public action for the good of humanity.