Amma Australia

 

MENUMENU
  • Amma
    • About Amma

      Meeting Amma is a unique experience. For over thirty years now, Amma has been embracing all who come to her, all around the world.
      More ..

    • Early Years

      Born in a remote coastal village in southern India, Amma first began to embrace the people in her village as a way to ease their suffering. More..

    • International Forum

      Best known for her embrace, Amma also oversees a global network of international charities. More..

    • What People Say

      What religious & spiritual leaders, politicians, business people, cultural & social leaders, scientists and journalists say about Amma. More..

    • Where is Amma?

      Visit the Amritapuri.org website for Amma’s program dates and her visits to cities around the world. Visit Site

  • Humanitarian
    • Donate Online

      Donate online to help support Amma’s global charities (“Embracing the World”), Amma’s Australian activities and more… Donate Online

    • Embracing the World

      Amma’s humanitarian work has inspired the creation of an International Network of Charities called Embracing the World®. Visit Site

    • Watch the Video

  • Centres & Groups
    • Amritapuri India

      Amritapuri is the headquarters of Amma’s worldwide mission & spiritual home for Amma’s monastic disciples & devotees.
      Visit Site

    • Amma Melbourne Centre

      The Amma Melbourne Centre (known as Amma’s Melbourne Ashram), is located at Carrum Downs on the outskirts of the city. More..

    • Amma Sydney Centre

      The Amma Sydney Centre is currently in the development stage and we are looking for help with this worthy project! More..

    • Amma Australia Groups

      Adelaide
      Brisbane
      Byron Bay
      Canberra
      Hobart
      Melbourne
      Perth
      Sunshine Coast
      Sydney
  • Activities
    • AAAS

      The Amrita Academy of Arts and Spirituality (AAAS) promotes a spirit-based education drawing from Amma’s teachings. More..

    • Mother’s Kitchen

      “Mother’s Kitchen” is a community service run by volunteers.
      Mother’s Kitchen
      Kid’s Breakfast Club

    • Amrita Pantry

      Amrita Pantry is an initiative to help people in need across Australia through food boxes and support services. More..

    • IAM® Meditation

      IAM® Meditation Technique is a powerful meditation practice developed by Amma. More..

    • GreenFriends

      GreenFriends is a volunteer-led nature care organisation to preserve & protect the environment. More..

    • Spiritual Activities

      Spiritual practices and education that help us live a harmonious life of connection with ourselves, others and the world. More..

  • News & Tours
    • Australian News


      News from Amma groups and centres around Australia. More..

    • News Around Amma


      News around Amma, Amritapuri and humanitarian activities around the world. More..

    • Australian Tours


      Find out the latest news and updates about Australian tours. More..

    • Stay Connected


      Watch footage of Amma, talks by senior disciples, join a local virtual satsang or take an online class. More..

  • Donate

AMMA The Early Years

Mata Amritanandamayi was born in a remote coastal village in Kerala, South India in 1953.

Even as a small girl, she drew attention with the many hours she spent in deep meditation on the seashore. She also composed devotional songs and could often be seen singing to the divine with heartfelt emotion. Despite her tender age, her compositions revealed remarkable depth and wisdom.

When she was nine years old, her mother became ill, and Mata Amritanadamayi was withdrawn from school in order to help with household tasks and the care of her seven siblings. As she went door-to-door gathering food scraps from neighbours for her family’s cows, she was confronted with the intense poverty and suffering that existed in her community, and in the world beyond it.

Where Mata Amritanandamayi encountered people in need, she brought them food and clothing from her own home. She was undeterred by the scolding and punishment she received from her family for doing so. She also began to spontaneously embrace people to comfort them in their sorrow. Responding to her affectionate care, they began to call her Amma (Mother).


Amma was deeply affected by the profound suffering she witnessed. According to Hinduism, the suffering of the individual is due to his or her own karma — the results of actions performed in the past. Amma accepted this concept, but she refused to accept it as a justification for inaction. Amma contemplated the principle of karma until she revealed an even more profound truth, asking a question she continues to ask each of us today. “If it is one man’s karma to suffer, isn’t it our dharma (duty) to help ease his suffering and pain?”

With this simple yet profound conviction — that each of us has a responsibility to lend a helping hand to those less fortunate — Amma moved forward with confidence in her life of service and compassionate care for all beings, uniquely expressed by the motherly embrace she offers to all who seek solace in her arms.

In Amma’s community, however, it was not permissible for a 14-year-old girl to touch others, especially men. Amma explains, “In India, women are expected to remain in the background. It is said that ‘Even the walls should not hear them.’ My family could not understand my way of reaching out to people; they had no idea of the spiritual principles.”

But despite adverse reactions, Amma followed her heart, later explaining, “A continuous stream of love flows from me to all of creation. This is my inborn nature. The duty of a doctor is to treat patients. In the same way, my duty is to console those who are suffering.”

Amma says that love expressed is compassion, and compassion means accepting the needs and sorrows of others as one’s own.

Learn more about Amma at EmbracingTheWorld.org ›

Amma’s Facebook

AMMA’s Facebbok

Amma’s Twitter

Donate Online

  • Help support Amma’s global charities (“Embracing the World”), Amma’s Australian activities and more...
    Donate Online
  • Help Support
  • GreenFriends Australia
  • Meditation
  • Mother's Kitchen in Australia
  • AYUDH Youth
  • Kids Breakfast Club

USEFUL LINKS

About Amma
Australian Tours
Australian News
Centres & Groups
Donate Online
Amritapuri.org

Amma Centres & Groups

Adelaide
Brisbane
Byron Bay
Canberra
Hobart
Melbourne
Perth
Sydney
Sunshine Coast

Get Involved

Galupa Homeland Project
Mother’s Kitchen
Kid’s Breakfast Club
IAM® Meditation
GreenFriends
AYUDH Youth

Copyright © 2025 · MA Centre (Aust) Foundation · All Rights Reserved. Registered Charity ABN 39 099 443 619.
842 Frankston-Dandenong Road, Carrum Downs, VIC 3201 | Phone (03) 9782 9398 | Fax (03) 9782 9032 | Email: [email protected]
The use of this site indicates you accept the Terms of Use | Privacy | Complaints Procedure | AmmaAustralia.org.au
Get the AMMA Mobile App