Social activities

"We can never close our eyes to the world in the name of spirituality.

Self-realization is the ability to see ourselves in all beings. This is the third eye through which you see, even while your two eyes are wide open. We should be able to love and serve others, seeing ourselves in them. This is the fulfillment of spiritual practice." - Amma

Amma's empathy was such that the pain of others was unbearable to her. As Jane Goodall, the award winning primatologist, in her introductory speech before presenting the Gandhi-King award to Amma said, "Though just a child, she began to contemplate the question of suffering. And so powerfully did she feel the presence of God within her that she wanted to reach out and comfort and uplift those who were less fortunate than she."

In many ways, it was then that Amma's mission began. She would share her food with the starving, and she would bathe and clothe the elderly who had no one to look after them. She was often punished for giving away her own family's food and belongings to the poor, but her compassion was such that nothing could deter her.

Today, Amma's Humanitarian activities have grown into a huge network branching out into all areas like social, medical, educational, environmental and spiritual. The list

Amrita Kitchen - It's birth in Africa
As of today, Amrita’s Kitchen serves 2400 free meals every year
(This statistics is updated on April 2008).

Children, love the poor wholeheartedly. Go to their level. Believe that it is your dharma, your God-given duty to love and serve the poor. No matter how rich we are, as long as we are not prepared to be compassionate towards the poor, we are truly living in utter poverty. Such people are the true destitutes in the eyes of God. It is no use lighting a lamp before God and making offerings in the temple if you do not care to provide some light to the unlit hovels of the poor. We should love them and we should serve them. Without this, no amount of meditation we may do will bestow on us the bliss of meditation. It is kindness and service to others that imparts the sweetness of meditation.
---Amma

How it began
Mother emphasized the importance of having the devotees prepare the food themselves and serve the needy directly. One of the servers noticed that those who came for food, even the most hardened face would soften. A new light would glimmer in their eyes as they felt the warmth and compassion that provided them with a much needed meal. It was evident that the souls needed nourishment as much if not more than their bodies.

Helping the Poor and Needy
When the M.A Math was first established in the early eighties, the primary charitable activity was feeding the poor at Amritapuri center.

M.A Math continues until today, feeding over 2 million poor people through various centers each year, and has also expanded into other areas of need.

Hundreds of children, women and other deserving persons receive free clothes, educational aids, scholarships and uniforms every year.

Other fields in which M.A Math regularly participates include blood donation campaigns, natural healing classes, visiting patients at hospitals, asylums, and jails, anti-drug, tobacco and intoxicants campaigns, providing tuition and moral education for children, free legal consultation etc.

In response to the earthquake that devastated the Lathur District in Maharashtra, M.A Math contributed a sum of Rs. 5 lakhs (~US $12,500) towards reconstruction of houses and other relief work. Every year, food and clothing are given to the tribal colonies that are affected by monsoon floods and landslides. Helping the poor and needy continues to be the cornerstone for M.A Math's selfless service ideals.

Housing for the Poor (Amrita Kuteeram) and Slum improvement program

AMRITAKUTEERAM PROJECT - Free homes for the thousands of poor and needy.
As an expression of her infinite compassion, Amma has been providing homes to the homeless and the destitute in Kerala since 1987. Moved by the plight of the homeless all over the country, Amma, later, launched the unique, and massive Amritakuteeram project in 1996 for building 25,000 houses for the homeless. Putting the project in place and identifying the beneficiaries, took almost 18 months. The Prime Minister of India, Shri. Atal Behari Vajpayee, handed over the keys for the first 5000 houses in 1998. Since then, 30,000 houses have been built all over India. This was possible only with the support of various State Governments, active and selfless participation of the disciples, devotees, students of Amrita Institutions, and well wishers. The contribution from the International community, particularly the students
from Japan has been significant.

Talking about the first phase of the Amritakuteeram project, Jayashankar, a project co-odinator reports, "The local people didn't have faith in Amma. But the devotees there were very enthusiastic. They were mostly local ladies. Imagine 30-40 women labouring hard to lay bricks! They wanted to prove sceptics wrong. Their actions seemed to proclaim 'This is our Amma. This is what she does.' Many elderly women also wanted to help, so we asked them to come and chop vegetables and make kanji (rice gruel), and serve food to the people who were working."

In 2002, after successfully reaching the goal of building 25,000 homes, Amma announced the expansion of this outreach program. She announced the new goal to build 100,000 homes within the next 10 years.

As of January 2007, the M.A.Math has successfully completed 30,000 homes and has further expanded the new goal to 125,000 homes.

The Amritakuteeram project has expanded and encompassed cities not only in Kerala but several other Indian states. Residents from Hyderdabad, Chennai, Bangalore, Mysore, Panagudi, Rameswaram, Ghaziabad are just some amongst the many that have been benefited from Amma's free housing project.

SLUM IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM:

Thousands of slum dwellers who live below poverty line, without proper shelter and sanitation have been given a life and home through this program of the M.A.Math

So far, this program has successfully provided newly built apartments to 1600 slum dwellers.

Orphanage and Youth Hostel (Amrita Niketanam and Amrita Balamandiram)

The Amrita Niketanam (Orphanage) and the Amrita Balamandiram (Hostel for Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribal Children) in Parippally, in the Kollam district of Kerala, serve more than 500 children from the most disadvantaged sections of society. They are provided with free food, accommodations, schooling, and vocational and cultural training.

The Parippally Orphanage is a particularly poignant example of Amma's compassion for the needy and suffering. In 1989, when Amma directed the M.A.Math to take over this orphanage, it was operating under extreme dilapidated conditions. There were inadequate facilities for sanitation, a definite lack of sufficient food and nutrition for the children, not enough clothing, and dark, dirty and cramped housing. These children were neglected physically and emotionally. Volunteer renunciates from the math helped renovate the orphanage. Old buildings were replaced or upgraded. Old latrines were torn down to create an open space, the ground was leveled to install a huge underground septic tank and new drains. Special wide metal-framed bunk beds were hand made at the Amrita Math workshop for two new dormitories for the older girls. Sources of hygienic drinking water were provided and smokeless ovens installed in the kitchen.

Today the orphanage is home to 570 boys and girls of which about 500 are from tribal and scheduled caste families. Many of the tribal children have families, however, the parents are too poor to take care of the children. They come to the orphanage to receive hope, wholesome meals, loving care and the education that is not available in their home regions. The orphanage children receive academic training as well as lessons in basic health, yoga, art and culture. They are provided three nutritious meals a day and adequate clothing and medical attention. All of these improvements have greatly contributed to the basic material needs of these children; however, what is most remarkable is the non-material help related to their educational, cultural and spiritual needs. Above all, the children have found in Amma a loving mother who gives them love and compassion. Through their loving relationship with her and the many Ashram residents who are dedicating most of their working hours to their education and general well-being, a sense of security and belonging has been instilled in the children's hearts.

Paripally Educational Center
The orphanage children have won several prizes for their commendable performances in academics as well as in state and district level sports competitions. Both boys and girls are taught the ancient temple art of Kerala Panchavadyam. Those who have received training from the Amrita Arts and Cultural Center at Parippally have already presented several performances in various parts of the state.
The healthy, happy environment that now exists at the orphanage has helped them to better concentrate on their studies, and they now get good grades both in class work and on examinations.

Amrita Sanskrit Higher Secondary School (ASHSS)
Amrita Sanskrit Higher Secondary School (ASHSS) at Parippally in Kerala has the unique distinction of offering both Sanskrit and Malayalam language classes.

Malayalam is the native language of Kerala and Sanskrit is an ancient Hindu language, the original language of the Hindu scriptures. In 1992 when the Government first introduced higher secondary courses in the private sector, ASHSS was the only school offering Sanskrit as one of the optional languages for the XI and XII standards (grades). The school is unique in several ways. It is one of the few of its caliber in India where many of the students are from the poorest part of society- over 450 are from the scheduled castes and tribes. It is noteworthy that they have the opportunity to learn the language associated with India's priceless heritage. The percentage of those passing the S.S.L.C. (Secondary School Leaving Certificate) in the first batch of higher secondary students was 82%. In 1997, the percentage who passed was 92%, making ASHSS the second best school in the Kollam district. This was a remarkable achievement for a school where the majority of the students come from the most socially and economically disadvantaged areas.

Of the 650 students currently studying at ASHSS, about 100 needy students at the school are receiving free tuition for Sanskrit learning. To enable gifted children from the poor levels of society to receive a higher education, the M.A.Math has instituted the Amrita Scholarships program.

Amrita Arts and Cultural Research Center
Amrita Arts and Cultural Research Center is the M.A.Math's organizational wing for the promotion of traditional folk art and instrumental music, primarily among children between the ages of ten to eighteen. This program was inaugurated at Parippally in 1990.
The major project undertaken by the Center is a three year condensed course in "Panchavadyam." Panchavadyam is a temple orchestra consisting of five instruments, some of which are unique to Kerala, and traditionally taught only to male members of a particular sub-caste of Brahmins. The traditional course took over 12 years of rigorous training under a master in the Gurukula style of schooling. The M.A.Math took a revolutionary step in condensing the course and opening the learning of this divine art form to girls and to tribal children. The students who have taken the course have enjoyed immense improvement in their social behavior, moral and ethical values and general performance in academics. This was an added bonus to the original intention of achieving professional excellence in the field of performing arts. The center has consecutively won the second and third prize in state level interschool competitions, competing against traditionally trained teams. The children also perform many public programs. The Amrita Arts and Cultural Research Center was officially recognized by the Kerala Sangeeta Nataka Academy in 1992-93.

Amrita Bhavanam Hostel
The tribal people are among the poorest and most exploited sector of society. To provide hope and the opportunity for a better life for the younger generation, Amrita Bhavanam, a hostel for tribal children, was founded in 1993. Children from various tribal groups in Kerala and Tamil Nadu are accommodated in the hostel. They are provided with housing, food and exceptional educational facilities, including training in computers.

Monthly Pension (Amrita Nidhi)
At a time, when people are forgetting their responsibilities to their aged parents, and even denying them the basic necessities such as food and shelter, Amma's compassion has come as a welcome and much needed respite.

A monthly pension program has been instituted by the M.A.Math providing monthly pension for more than 100,000 poor, destitute women and the physically and the mentally challenged.

The beneficiaries are among the thousands of women, who are either widowed, or married to sick or handicapped man, or those who have to survive on the small amount they scrape from occasional work. The pension amount is a little more than what the local government's program provides and is given for life, whereas, the government program stops when the recipient's children are eighteen years old.

During the last three days of December 1999, 5000 women from the villages surrounding the ashram poured into the auditorium at Amritapuri to collect their first pension. Br. Premamrita explains, "Seven thousand women in the Kollam district are receiving the first pension. Five thousand of these are being given in the three sub districts closest to the ashram. Alappad panchayat, Amma's birthplace is receiving most of the allocation. Since then, distribution of pension has started at various branch ashrams. Pension is distributed once in three months. It is Amma's wish that the poor people keep a connection with their local ashram directly or through their nearest satsang center. In this way those people who have health problems can receive free food and medicine too. By joining in with the larger Amma's family, they can feel assured that someone knows of their problems and they can seek help. Through a connection with the ashram branches, the children of these poor people will grow-up with a good character, learn to serve others and look after their parents.

Kathyani is a grandmother. She is bent heavily with a spine disease and comes from a very poor family. She says that she uses most of her pension to buy things for her grandchildren. She keeps only one third for herself. This she wraps in newspaper and every night she sleeps, holding onto what she feels to be her gift from Amma. Every morning she offers the gift to Amma's picture. She says it's all she has in the world to rely on.

As Kathyani told us her story, she clung to Sharada, the pension co-ordinator, in tearful gratitude.

Satsanga Samitis

Selfless service is a key element found within all of Amma's charitable projects. As a way for individuals to practice this philosophy in their daily lives, a Satsanga Samiti organization was created. This is a voluntary organization comprised of people who want to apply Amma's teachings in their day-to-day lives, and serve their communities in meaningful ways. Members of the organization participate in projects for the spiritual, social and cultural advancement of society and assist in the various charitable projects and institutes run by the Order. Currently, over a thousand Satsanga Samiti groups are actively functioning in different parts of the country. Amrita Yuva Dharmadhara (AYUDH), the youth wing of the Satsanga Samiti, and Amrita Bala Kendra (AMBA), the children's wing, are organizations aimed at the healthy development of the younger generation

Elderly Care Home (Anbu Illam)

Amma wanted to provide a caring environment along with adequate food and shelter for the elderly and the uncared members of many families.

In the olden times, in the Indian setup, elderly parents and grandparents were higly revered and lovingly cared for by the children of the family. As the system has degenerated today with increasing materialism and decline of social values, the condition of these aged parents in some families is quiet bad. To offer relief and support to these people and others who need help, the 'Anbu Illam' for the aged and the weak, came into being.

The new twelve room facility has a combination meeting, prayer and entertainment hall, dining hall, kitchen, library room, office, store room and garden. A unique quality of this project is the opportunity for these residents to actively give of their rich and varied experience toward the betterment of the local community. This idea is particularly relevant in India where the elderly are respected and traditionally looked to for guidance. It is anticipated that this concept will be duplicated in other locations as well.

During the Amritavarsham event in 2004, two more such facilities were built for the elderly in Kerala and Bangalore, India.

As of September 2007, there are four such care homes established in southern India by the M.A.Math.

A garden and park is also under construction. Medical facilities also would be made available for both the residents and the local population. Similar homes for the aged and care homes for the invalid are envisaged in other places also.

M.A. Math is hoping to create more loving homes for the elderly like Anbu Illam -- not only in India but also in the West.

Amrita Speech and Hearing Improvement School
The Amrita Speech and Hearing Improvement School (ASHIS) is one of only a few schools in Kerala that scientifically teaches partially deaf and mute children to develop their capacity of speech. Instruction is intended to enable them to interact with other children and lead a normal, full and productive life. Class sizes are small, typically 6-8 students, to enable many repetitions of the study material. Given proper instruction, attention, care and love, up to 70% of these hearing-related disabilities can be cured in such children, provided the training is given from an early age.
The M.A.Math took over the school in 1996 and since that time has constructed new facilities and specially trained the teachers for this type of curriculum. The M.A.Math intends to develop a speech therapy center and a diagnostic center in Mysore in the near future in accordance with the All India Institute of Speech and Hearing.

Amrita Legal Cell

One of Amma's new charitable projects is the Amrita Kripa Neeti Pratishtan, a project that aims to provide free legal aid to the poor and disadvantaged in India. The legal cell currently has 1,008 lawyers registered to engage in this work.

A further 500 applications await Amma's approval, according to Adv. K Srikumar who is organizing the project. Although comprised mostly of practicing lawyers, the group includes retired judges and law professors as well. The lawyers present at *Amritavarsham50 took the following pledge in the Divine Presence of Amma:

We the members of Amrita Kripa Neeti Pratishtan solemnly take pledge that we shall strive our best towards the uplift of the weaker sections of society in their struggle towards social and economic justice, and we shall, through the selfless sharing of our talents, knowledge and wisdom, render justice to suffering humanity and devote ourselves to the fulfillment of the objects of the Pratishtan, as envisioned by Amma.

Shri. P.C. Thomas, the Union Minister of State for Law and Justice, announced that the Government of India's Law Department has taken serious note of the project, and is going to assist in its implementation.
The Neeti Pratishtan will focus on providing alternative dispute resolution mechanisms of mediation and conciliation procedures, as well as ?Neeti Mela? for resolving disputes and for counseling people in their basic legal rights. The lawyers will take up the causes of individuals and agencies involved in environmental, tribal and human rights violations, as well as represent the physically and mentally handicapped. The Neeti Pratishtan will also attempt to infuse the legal system with spiritual principles and, in general, to help people view their legal, social and other related problems from a spiritual perspective, thereby helping to find solutions.

Through Amrita Kripa Neeti Pratishtan, Amma is providing the legal fraternity of India an opportunity to use its talents and passion for justice to help suffering humanity. Participation is open to lawyers of all castes and creeds. The Amrita Kripa Neeti Pratishtan project is nothing less than divinely inspired vision. Amma's foresight has insured that, for a change, the scales of justice will be kept truly in balance for all. For more information you may email:-neeti@amritapuri.org * Amritavarsham50 was a historic event, a spiritual gathering for peace and harmony of the world, attended by representatives of about 190 countries from around the world. This event was celebrated on the auspicious occasion of Amma's 50th Birthday in Cochin, Kerala, India in the year 2003.