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Amma
There are very few who did not hear of Matrusri Anasuya Devi popularly
known as ‘Jillellamudi Amma' in Andhra Pradesh. Countless persons
received her darshan and blessings and partook of Amma's Prasadam in
'Annapurnalayam'. Hundreds of thousands of persons are following
Amma's teachings and continue to experience the grace of her loving
care though she left her physical form two decades ago.
Amma and Annapurnalayam
Jillellamudi sanctified by Amma's presence is one of the most important
pilgrimage centers in India drawing spiritual seekers from various parts "To feed you and look after you is my work, " Amma asserted, and her life was a
of the country and the world. living commentary on this singular ideal though she ate almost nothing herself right
from child hood.
Amma the Universal Mother Young Amma was in the habit of feeding with her own hands poor people and stray
th
Amma was born on 28 March 1923 in Mannava village in Guntur district animals. When food was not available, she would give away what ever she had on
to the devout couple Sri Sitapati Sarma and Smt Rangamma. Before hand-- money, jewelry, in one instance even the clothes she was wearing. If even an
and at the time of her birth, several mystical indications announced the ordinary mother loses her appetite when she sees the suffering of one of her
advent of the Divine. children, how much more so the Mother of All, when she witnesses the wholesale
suffering found everywhere in the world. It is perhaps due to the millions going
The bhava that she is the Universal Mother was with Amma from the hungry and young ones starving for proper nourishment that Amma felt no hunger.
time of her childhood. When she was less than five years old, Amma
tells her mother. "I will be the Mother when you are no more".(Amma's It is estimated that after the establishment of Annapurnalayam by Amma at
mother Rangamma passed away when Amma was very young). Jillellamudi in 1958, about 12 million people would have partaken of food as prasadam
of Amma which is known to cure many an illness. In the Annapurnalayam, all the
" You are all my children whether you sit here by my side or stay devotee children and visitors partake of food sitting together irrespective of caste,
elsewhere, whatever your age and whoever you are." creed or religion. It is the experience of many persons that the food in Annapurnalayam
apart from being nourishment for the physical frame is charged with spiritual blessings.
"You were all born of me, and I gave you to your mothers to bring up."
"Eat what you have with contentment and share what you have with love and regard.
" I am not God and you are not the devotees; I am not the guru and And have faith that you are doing every thing at His bidding" is the essential message
you are not the disciples. I am the Mother and you are the children" of Amma.
Creation is, when the formless takes form 1 You become weak if you don't eat and I become weak if I don't feed 2
This world itself is the Kingdom of God
Amma explained in simple words intricate philosophic truths. What she said is
out of her own experience. Many learned persons concluded that what Amma
said may not be found in the shastras but what Amma said is by itself
the shastra. Amma said that experience gives the shastra and not vice versa.
Many entertain the view that marital life is a hindrance for spiritual progress.
Amma the architect of the 'House of All' Marriage is the threshold for samsaram. A person who would like to reach
spiritual heights is averse to marriage.
Amma named her house as 'The House of All' which provides restful Amma gave an altogether new perspective for the institution of marriage. Her
accommodation to several permanent residents and visitors. This elucidation that the husband is God to his consort and wife is a Goddess to him
ashram complex at Jillellamudi is an open home for Amma's all is a fresh perspective and gives equal rights and responsibilities to the partners
pervading universal family. Any one who came to visit Jillellamudi in the marriage.” You enjoy everything and also renounce everything in marital
immediately felt like brother and sister who belonged there. life “..is a new angle unveiled by Amma. In one context Amma said,
"Not feeling that the samsara is bondage is liberation ". With these fresh
The moment one lands in Jillellamudi, it is like being transported into interpretations, Amma threw new light on the institution of marriage and gave
a new world. Mind is lost in the enjoyment of peace and contentment immense hope to the aspirants.
in the tranquil and serene atmosphere. If any one finds life difficult
and tension ridden, even a casual visit to Jillellamudi can do a world Amma gave a unique definition for worldly life (samsaram). She explained that
of good. Nothing is charged for any thing; food, stay, worship, sankalpa (volition) is samsaram. Is it possible for ordinary persons to have a
education, medicine . By the same reckoning, maintaining it also state of mind with out thought waves which create anxiety, distress and lead to
is the responsibility of all her children. many psychosomatic disorders?.. To realize that the thoughts that emanate
are not one's own but come from a primal source (Shakthi or God) is the state
of not having the sankalpas according to Amma. When one internalizes and
lives this concept, the pleasure or pain associated with the success or failure
of such sankalpas will not affect such a person.
Pining for what you do not have is misery; satisfaction with what you have is happiness 3 While the form is Purusha, the implicit energy is Prakruti 4
Your dharma is to be principled and honest in your vocation. If you follow this properly, 5 Feeling 'I am doing' is human; feeling that He does everything is jnana; being All is divine 6
there is no need for anything else
Amma the personified Primordial Energy
Amma is an avatar. Avatar is the manifestation of infinite power in finite form.
Unveiling and interpreting eternal truths and dharma in his/her deeds and
words to suit contemporary times is what an Avatar does.
"Mother is not just the one sitting on a cot at Jillellamudi: Mother means the
One without a beginning and without an end, the one who is the Beginning
and the End—That which has become everything and which cannot be
comprehended -the limitless, resistless basis of all."
"Mother is like the Earth itself, which assimilates filth as well as good things.
Whether a thing is good or bad is your concern- the Earth and Mother make
no such distinction"
"The child is never at fault in the mother's eyes. It is in spite of his faults and
perhaps because of them, that she loves and corrects him"
The above are a few of Amma's pithy and enigmatic sayings on herself. As the
almighty Lord Vishnu came in the form of puny Vamana, Amma concealed her
enormous prowess and became accessible to every one and showered
her grace.
A manifestation (Avatar) has no need of miracles 7 Protection, wherever exists represents mother-hood 8
Anasuyeswaralayam
Amma remarked before taking Mahasamadhi that after her physical form was no
longer with us, she would be even more available and helpful to her children
than before. Her devotee children clearly know that Amma's real nature, Hymalayam
Divine Love, has not gone anywhere but is always changelessly HERE, in
all Her glory and power. Amma herself has stated, “ Even without the body, Hyma, Amma's daughter who was an embodiment of compassion consumed
my work continues.” herself physically, emotionally and spiritually. She realized Amma's divinity
and her constant prayer to Amma was 'take me back into you'. During 1968,
In this new phase, her disembodied grace and force are at work moulding and after Hyma's death when she was twenty five years of age, Amma entombed
remoulding, chastening and transforming the human nature into the divine her infusing spiritual life into the body of Hyma. Amma made a prophetic
nature. She is there ever present to those who seek with a sincere heart. declaration that this will become a place for penance where many engage in
‘tapas' and gain fulfillment. Seen in the picture is Hymavati Devi's white
marble statue in the sanctorum.
It is not believing in God but what you believe is God 9 As long as you see divinity in others , you become divine 10
Nava Naga Nageswaralayam
The exquisitely sculpted awe-inspiring image of the Serpent God
Nageswara with nine hoods with Sivalingam at the base in the
Nageswaralayam at once inculcates bhakti and a sense of surrender.
The temple came up at the same place where Amma and her consort
Sri Nageswara Rao stayed for several years. There was a small
earthen mound adjoining one of the walls of their house and radiant
effulgence used to come out of it as if there were glowing precious
stones inside. Many early visitors saw a divine serpent and Amma's
interaction with it in that place. Amma was occasionally picking up a Vatsalyalayam
small portion of the earth around the mound and offered it as prasad
to the visitors. The visitors found the fragrance emanating from the Other places to see at Jillellamudi are 'Vatsalyalayam', the abode of Amma
prasad irresistible. in the second floor of 'House of All' where photos of Amma and the articles
used by her are kept. Amma stayed for several years in this building.
Varasiddhi Vinayaka Temple
The beautiful temple of Varasiddhi Vinayaka was consecrated during
2006. As Amma is considered as Jaganmatha, it is appropriate that Dhyanamandiram
her beloved son and remover of obstacles Lord Vinayaka's temple
too came up in the temple complex at Jillellamudi. A big hall adjoining Vatsalyalayam where one can meditate in the peaceful
atmosphere. At the exact place where Amma used to sit on a cot in the
evenings, now Amma's life-size marble image radiating blissful vibrations
Yagasala aids the sadhakas in their contemplation.
In the yagasala, nitya homams and frequently visesha homas like
Chandi homam, Sudarsana homam, Soura homam, 'Srisukta homam',
'Sankatahara Ganesha homam', 'varuna homam' are performed. It is
unique that any one irrespective of caste, creed, gender or religion
may personally participate in the homams
Amma gives what is needed; not necessarily what is desired 11 It is only God who shall be with you all the time 12
13
She is a mother only if she understands the child’s problems and gives even without being asked 13 The great teachings remain as mere words unless they are experienced 14
Important functions Aadaranalayam (Home for the Aged)
at Jillellamudi
Amma was very compassionate towards the ailing and the infirm.
1st January New Year Day She served personally several bed-ridden patients and old persons with extreme
17th February Abhishekam with Paddy and Rice care and unbounded love right from her childhood. With Amma's loving ministrations,
many destitute and forlorn persons neglected and outcast by the society have
Chaithra Suddha Ekadasi Amma Birthday
received new lease of life.
5th May Amma Kalyana Dinotsavam
12th June Amma Alaya Pravesam (worship with cooked rice) Amma laid the foundation stone at Jillellamudi ashram complex a 'Home for the Aged'
15th August Annapurnalayam Anniversary christening it is 'Aadaranalayam' (temple of compassion) with an aim to provide
October Navarathri Festival loving care to the elderly and the infirm in the evening of their lives. If financial
Karthika Bahula Shashti Sri Hyma Birthday (Recital of Lailitha Sahasranamams support from service organizations and philanthropic individuals is forthcoming,
ten million times) this project would be implemented by 2008.
25th December Christmas
Amma Temple at Hyderabad
How to reach Jillellamudi ? After the Anasuyeswaralayam came into existence, temples/mandirs for Amma
came up at different places. Amma's image has been installed in a temple at
Cherumavilangar (Pondicherry) along with those of Vinayaka and Kumaraswamy.
Jillellamudi is situated at a distance of 14 kms from Bapatla, At Mannava (Guntur Dt) where Amma was born, a temple was constructed.
in Guntur District (AP) on the Vijayawada-Chennai railway line Amma Mandir was built at Pedawaltair, Visakhapatnam. Amma's temple came up
and on the bus route from Guntur to Chirala. Taxies and at Sirudavur on old Mahabalipuram road near Chennai.
Tempos are available from Bapatla Railway station and Bus
stand to reach Jillellamudi. Efforts are being made to construct Amma temple at Hyderabad too. A site
measuring 800 sq. yards has been purchased by 'Jillellamudi Amma Seva
Samithi', Hyderabad (a Regd Society) in the layout of Sreemitra Estates at
For further details, contact the Resident Secretary, Torrur village, Hayatnagar mandal about 20 kms from the city on the way to
Sri Viswajanani Parishat, Jillellamudi-522113. Sanghi temple complex. A vast residential colony is expected to come up in
Tel: +91 08643 227324, 227492 this area.
Email: jillellamudiamma@yahoo.com
Websites: www.viswajanani.org A conceptual drawing of the proposed temple
www.motherofall.org (Donations to Sree Viswajanani Parishat are exempt from Income tax
under section 80 G vide FNO 1 (7)/ R-1/CIT-GNT 06207)
I can see even if one is in another place; no boundaries can limit my knowledge. 15 Mother Earth feeds equally the grass and the banyan tree according to their needs 16
You must come here to see me, but I am always looking at you