Moves are underway to bring Mata Amritanandamayi Devi (also known as the Hugging Saint, and Amma) to New Zealand.
Mata Amritanandamayi Devi travels around the world spreading her unconditional love, touching people’s lives, wiping their tears, sharing their joys, giving them strength and courage, and most importantly letting them know that they are not alone. It is indeed a time of unity and divinity when Amma comes for a visit.
The Mata Amritanandamayi Satsang Group Inc is currently working towards bringing Amma over to New Zealand and to provide you with an extraordinary divine and soulful experience. We have launched the "Invite Amma to New Zealand" initiative to realise this long awaiting goal.
Please show us your support by filling up a simple form placed on the homepage our website http://www.amma.org.nz . Also, help us to spread the word by sharing this information with your family, relatives and friends.
Mata Amritanandamayi Satsang Group celebrated Diwali on October 29, keeping in mind the message it gives us. Diwali, the festival of lights, reminds us to get rid of the darkness within and bring forth the inner light that is the manifestation of the universal light of consciousness.
Amma Says – “the luminous inner light of the Self is ever shining steadily in the chambers of our heart. And our goal is to seek that very light of inner Self.”
The programme started with Amma’s Paduka Puja. After this Gopalan Aravamutha Ji (Thatha) performed Mahalakshmi Pooja. Ram and Devi bhajans were sung after the Lakshmi Ashtotram. The Bhajans were sung with great devotion by all.
After the melodious Bhajans sung by Adeel and group, everyone felt the presence of Amma and meditated on it. Then a brief message about the significance of the diyas of Diwali was read out by Varima.
She explained how the light of the diya, that is always turned upwards, reminds us to be always focused on the Atman, the inner light. The light of diyas which is the same as the light of sun or moon also reminds us to recognise the one light that is manifested in and through all the creation, the light of conciousness.
Thus recognizing all of creation to be an expression of your true Self; spread the light of love and compassion. Then Jaspaljeet explained about the ‘Invite Amma initiative’.
This was followed by the “Resolve to remove negativity and bring light into our lives” program. For this, everyone made a pledge to remove one negative trait and/or adopt a positive quality in their daily life.
They then lit a diya and placed it on the altar for Amma’s blessings to fulfil the pledge. Everyone ardently participated in the program and we are sure that Amma will bless all to accomplish their goal.
After this, the Aarti for Lakshmi Ji and Amma were performed and the Maha Prasad was served. The celebrations were concluded with fireworks.