29 July 2026, Amritapuri – Guru Purnima
Amritapuri celebrated Guru Purnima with devotion and gratitude, as devotees from across India and abroad gathered to honour Amma, their spiritual Mother and Guru.
Along both sides of the hall, homa kundas had been prepared for the Guru Purnima Maha Homam and Puja. In reverence to Amma’s revolutionary initiatives for women, 150 pujarinis, women priests, brahmacharis and senior monastics performed the Homa.
Swamiji spoke with great depth about the unique relationship each person has with Amma as their spiritual Mother and Guru. “Even when dark clouds surround the full moon on all sides, the Guru’s brilliance, radiance, and perfection remain completely unaffected and continue in their full glory.”
Swamiji performed Pada Puja, the worship of the Guru’s feet, followed by the chanting of the Guru’s 108 names. There were Vedic chantings througout the ceremony by the ashram children. Senior monastic disciples then offered garlands to Amma and sought her blessings.
Amma led everyone in Manasa Puja, followed by prayers and meditation for world peace and harmony.
The spiritual observances were followed by a musical offering of Nadopasana by the musicians of Amritapuri, from young children and householders to monastics. Swamiji led familiar bhajans with a classical flair, accompanied beautifully by violin, mridangam, tabla and other instruments. It was a moving sight as the entire hall sang for Amma, while she watched from the stage.
After the musical offering, women and men disciples came beside Amma on the ramp leading to the stage and blew their conches, adding to the auspicious atmosphere.
“The Full Moon of the Guru”
Speaking on the occasion, Amma explained the deeper significance of Guru Purnima and the attitude that should live in the heart of a disciple:
“Guru Pūrṇimā is the expression of a disciple’s heart overflowing with gratitude and indebtedness towards the guru. Therefore, Guru Pūrṇimā is not something confined to rituals or ceremonies. Rather, every moment, the disciple’s heart should remain filled with humility, gratitude, reverence, devotion and complete self-surrender. Even so, Guru Pūrṇimā is a special day set aside to awaken and deepen that attitude within us.
The guru is the pūrṇimā—the full moon that dispels the darkness of our ignorance and spreads the light of wisdom. Ordinarily, we speak of the guru as jñāna-sūrya—the Sun of knowledge. But here, the guru is compared to the full moon to highlight the guru’s completeness and otherworldly beauty.
Along with the light of wisdom, the guru also embodies the soothing grace of the full moon, showering the world with goodness and joy. It is for this reason that the guru is likened to the full moon, and this sacred day is celebrated as Guru Pūrṇimā—‘the Full Moon of the Guru.’
God is the very embodiment of bliss. Through the guru, the disciple realises the truth that the source of that divine power is within oneself. However, to attain this knowledge, surrender is essential. Surrender is the culmination of complete faith and devotion towards the guru. It is the gateway that opens us to the infinite powers of the divine.”
“What can I do?”
Amma then spoke about maturity in relationships and in life, reminding devotees that spiritual growth is expressed through one’s attitude and actions.
“Relationships are a part of life. However, no one truly belongs to anyone. Maturity lies in engaging with the joys of worldly life in the right measure, while not imitating the actions or responsibilities of others.
Maturity is in not having expectations regarding others, but instead asking, ‘What can I do?’ and acting accordingly.
Maturity is not in trying to advise and change others, but in striving to transform one’s own attitude. It is the understanding that happiness does not increase in proportion to material possessions.”
Amma concluded with a prayer for her children: “May all my children cultivate the awareness and surrender needed to reach that state. May divine grace bless all my children to achieve this.”
Then Amma lead all in few joyous bhajan and blessed one and all individully who came for darshan.
