Thousands gathered in Amritapuri to celebrate, alongside thousands more via global webcast.
Amma shared ways on how to unite and build better lives for all people as we exit the pandemic.
Amma advised that people around the world could drop seed balls and plant saplings for each of their birthdays to support local ecosystems.
Thousands of people from across India and around the world gathered in Amritapuri to celebrate Amma’s 69th birthday, and thousands more joined via a global webcast.
From her ashram in Kollam, Kerala, Mata Amritanandamayi Devi shared how the world faces a choice to transition to a better life for all after the COVID-19 pandemic.
Amma advised that people can support their local environments by dropping seed balls and planting saplings on their own birthdays.
In this way, hundreds of trees and plants will be sown every day, restoring balance to ecosystems on a global scale.
“The strong concrete pillars on the two opposed banks secure a bridge over a river.” There are two banks on the bridge of life: birth and death. “Both of these are really important occasions in terms of human existence,”
Amma stated as she addressed the crowd.
“Unfortunately, during each of these situations, individuals are not aware. During these events, they are completely unconscious. However, even while crossing the bridge of life—in the middle—man acts in a dreamy condition. Humanity would not be facing the severe obstacles and risks it is now if he simply acted with a bit more vigilance and knowledge.”
Slowly as the world recovers from the health and economic impact of the pandemic, the celebrations for Amma’s birth meant people could gather to rejoice in their unity to achieve Amma’s vision to love and serve all of humanity—people of all socio-economic strata.
“When we live in this world and experience Nature’s charms and bounty, there is one mistake that people, whether consciously or unconsciously, make. They forget that all they have is a gift from the highest authority, God. “They have forgotten the truth of Nature, the reflection of God,”
Amma added.
“We overlook Nature’s invincible might.” Above all, we lose the cornerstone of existence, which is the truth of love. In the hurry and bustle of daily life, we often lose sight of God and Nature. But we must never lose sight of love. Because God and Nature would only shower us with blessings if we have sincere love.”
Amma finished.
The celebrations started with a Karthika Puja at 9pm the previous evening and continued on Thursday morning at 5am with various rituals and vedic chanting.
Amma arrived in the main hall at 10am and Swami Amritaswarupananda Puri, Amma’s most senior disciple, conducted Guru Paduka Puja.
Amma then delivered her address and lead meditation and prayers for world peace. She then began giving her darshan of embracing the thousands arrived for the day.
“Love is life’s real capital. The greatest wealth that we can gain in life is also love,”
Amma concluded.
The Mata Amritanandamayi Math
