Housing Colony at Rameswaram

The Amritapuram Housing Colony on the island of Rameswaram off the southern coast of India comprises 108 homes for needy families. The colony has a beautiful view of a Shiva temple said to have been consecrated by Sri Rama.

In fact, the legendary island of Rameswaram is home to many artefacts from Sri Rama’s life according the great epic Valmiki Ramayana, including the hill from which he surveyed Lanka before rescuing his beloved Sita from the rakshasa (demon) Ravana.

It is said that in order to reach Lanka, Sri Hanuman (a monkey, and the greatest devotee of Sri Rama) led a group of monkeys in carrying large stones into the sea to form a bridge across the water. Many of these stones can still be seen extending into the sea.

This beautiful colony was constructed in less than 60 days. On the day of the inauguration, the programme site bustled with activity as ashramites, visitors and local volunteers all pitched in to put the finishing touches on the village. They formed long chains to pass stones into a small pond that had filled in a construction ditch, recalling the devotion and vigour of Sri Rama’s monkey army as they built the bridge to Lanka.

"Amma’s institution is the only one to ensure that the money reaches the lowest strata of the society completely."

10 January 2003, Rameswaram

Amma’s programme at this legendary island off the eastern coast of India is being held at Her newly constructed housing colony here. Part of Amma’s Amrita Kuteeram project, keys to 108 new homes were given to homeless families this evening in a special ceremony. Sri Vidya Sagar Rao, The Honorable Minister of State for Home Affairs, was on hand to give an inaugural address and to share with Amma in the presentation of the keys. In his speech, he noted that while 45 billion rupees of foreign fund comes through his office for various religious organizations charitable projects in India, Amma’s institution is the only one to ensure that the money reaches the lowest strata of the society completely. Mata Amritanandamayi Math takes the credit for utilising their foreign funds for the sake of the poor to the fullest effect.