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Goddess Among Us

Mata Amritanandamayi Devi

By Matooka MoonBear

Amma, Ammachi, Mother , Hugging Saint, Holy woman, Sat Guru, avatar, mahatma, and Goddess are some of the identities She is known as. To me, She is Great Divine Mother Goddess of all Ages who did us the kindness of incarnating in this life time in order to help the world through difficult times. This work is dedicated to that realization.

Mata Amritanandamayi meaning Mother of Immortal Bliss, is most often referred to as Amma or Ammachi. She has an ashram in Kerela, India known as Amritapuri which is the home base of many residents such as devotees, swamis and Amma Herself. There are more ashrams set up all over the world as well and Amma visits them all giving Her darshan accross the globe. Amma has come to us to teach, love and bless. She is an example to us all of humility and divinity. Her greatest desire is to help everyone reach enlightenment therefore liberating humanity from the imbalances we have created which leave us unhappy and lacking wholeness.

All around the world, people gather together in satsangs to worship this Goddess by singing bhajans, preforming rituals and chanting archana. But that’s not all. They also do sava of all kinds for their communities and support Amma’s many charities.

For more information on Amma, please check out this website. www.amma.org
Also I suggest another devotee’s site. www.ananthasree.com

Matooka’s Amma Journey

Kali

I met Amma for the first time in 2002 at the Boston public program where She gives darshan to hundreds of people at a time by hugging them and handing out chocolate kisses with flower petals. I was amazed how this woman could sit for hours on end receiving people without stopping for food, drink , bathroom or rest. I saw many people walking around smiling and wearing white. Walking up to one woman, I asked how Amma does this with out rest. She told me that is because Amma is much more than human and pointed to a book about Her life and suggested I read it. I may not have been ready in that moment to embrace the idea of Goddess incarnate, but, something for sure was going on that was beyond my ability to comprehend. Something very powerful.

I moved to Albuquerque, NM that fall. There is an ashram to Amma in Santa Fe and many devotees live within an hour of it’s location. A friend of mine went to a retreat with Amma and Her swamis. She called me excited from her cell phone one day while at retreat. Told me that she wanted to take Amma to be her Sat Guru and receive a mantra initiation. After hearing this something began stirring in me. At first I was very judgmental about someone giving their power away to one person like a sheep. I became angry not understanding the divinity of what was happening. I believe in doing your life work and being responsible for your own path. The word Guru left a bad taste in my mouth! Within a few days, I became haunted by Mata Amritanandamayi Devi. She was everywhere I looked. She was calling me to Herself. My heart began to long for Her and I soon began to regret not having gone to this retreat myself. What was happening to me?!! Was I love sick? Seemed like that is what the experience was most like and I did not understand it one bit. I decided to attend a satsang and learn about what Amma is. They sang bhajans, chanted and shared stories and food. I shared what happened to me and was met with validation and understanding though I did not yet understand myself.

Time went by and I had heard another retreat was to happen in November. I decided to go and figure out what was happening to me. This experience changed my life for ever as only Goddess can do, for She changes everything She touches and everything She touches changes. I received my mantra initiation on 11-22-03. She also gave me a spiritual name Teja, meaning radiant divine light. This was the beginning of forever for me. I found Goddess in a whole new way. My awareness began to grow. My karma began burning and Kali was in my face! The next few years were difficult until I began to surface again in January 2006. This is when I signed on to SOTBB, but, that is another story.

My Amma Altar

Definitions as I understand them

Amritapuri-Amma’s Ashram
Arati-ritual annihilating ego done at end of puja
Archana is108 names of the Divine Mother
Avatar-incarnation of God
Bhajans-devotional chants/songs
Darshan-blessing in form of hugs
Devi Bhava-when Mother drops one of Her veils showing Goddess incarnate
Guru-Spiritual Teacher
Puja-worship
Mahatma-great soul
Mantra-sets of sacred syllables or spiritual formulas for calling God.
Sadhana-spiritual practices
Sat Guru-spiritual master who quickens the enlightenment process.
Satsang-spiritual group/community
Sava-sacred service

Some traditional prayers used by devotees of Mata Amritanandamayi

Grace before meals

My Kitchen Altar

Om Brahmarpanam Brama havir
Brahmagnau Brahmana hutam
Brahmaiva tena gantavyam
Brahma karma samadhina
Om Shanti shanti shantihi
Om Shri Gurubyo namaha harihi Om

This offering is Brahman, an oblation to Brahman made by none other than Brahman.
One who sees Brahman in all things attains, verily nothing but Brahman.

Prayer for world peace

Om lokaha samastaha sukino Bhavantu
Lakaha samastah sukino Bhavantou
Lokaha samastaha sukino Bhavantu
Om Shanti shanti shanti

May all beings in the universe be peaceful.
Om peace, peace, peace.

My Own Worship and Magick with Amma

I pray with my own intentions addressing Amma, Mother of all ages and many faces. I offer my efforts to Her as well as my sorrows. I acknowledge that She is Queen of Heaven and Earth. She is the balancer of chaos and brings order to my elements! When I cast a circle, She is the Spirit that binds. She is my Lady and my Lord.
Blessed be!

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