Timeline of Amma’s life events & achievements

⇪ 2023

August 21st 2023 – Former Indian President Shri Ramnath Kovind Revisits Amritapuri

Amma with Former President of India, Shri Ramnath Kovind

⇪ 2023

July 29th-31st 2023 – The C20 Summit in Jaipur, chaired by Amma, has concluded after many months of collaborative efforts involving 200,000 people from 74 nations. Amma shared her personal insights and teachings on this special occasion.


⇪ 2023

March 20th-21st 2023 – Amma inaugurated the Civil 20 India Inception Conference in Nagpur in her capacity as the official Chair person of Civil 20 India.


⇪ 2023

March 17th 2023 – Indian President Droupadi Murmu visits Amma. Following the private meeting with Amma, the President visits the Bhavatarini Temple.

Amma with the President of India, Droupadi Murmu

⇪ 2022

December 1st 2022 – The Government of India has appointed Amma as the Chair of the country’s Civil 20 (C20), an official engagement group of the Group of 20 (G20), over which India will preside from December 1, 2022 to November 30, 2023.

Amma inaugurating C20

⇪ 2022

September 19th 2022 – Damayanti Amma — Amma’s mother — merged with the Divine at her residence this afternoon at 2.50 pm. She was 97.

Damayanthi Amma, Amma's mother

⇪ 2022

August 24th 2022 – The new 2,600-bed Amrita Hospital in Faridabad, spread across 130 acres, was inaugurated by the Honorable Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi in the divine presence of Amma. Once fully operational, it will be India’s largest private hospital.

Amma with Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi

⇪ 2022

January 12th 2022 – Amrita University has conferred its first Honorary Doctorates on Dr. Jeffrey Sachs, and Mr. Kailash Satyarthi, during a virtual ceremony that was graced by Amma.

Amrita University honorary doctorate

⇪ 2020

August 14th 2020 – Amma was conferred with an honorary degree—D.Litt from the Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology in recognition of Amma’s great contributions in the field of spirituality, education, environmental issues, humanitarian efforts, love and compassion.

Honorary Degree from Kalinga Institute

⇪ 2020

May 9th 2020 – Amma delivers a series of messages during the Covid-19 pandemic, in the first of which she says that “Happiness is a decision“.

Amma speaks

⇪ 2020

13th April – Amma donates ₹13 crores to help combat and contain COVID-19 as well as to provide relief to those physically, mentally and economically affected.

Amma praying

⇪ 2020

March 13th 2020 – Amma initiates 58 new sannyasins and more than 200 new brahmacharins in a large ceremony held at Amritapuri. The last time Amma had given initiations was in 1997.

Amma with Sannyasins

⇪ 2020

January 26th 2020 – Amma holds a program in Tiruvanamalai.

Amma in Tiruvannamalai, Tamil Nadu

⇪ 2020

January 28th 2020 – Amma inaugurates the 11th edition of the Hindu Spiritual and Service Fair in Chennai.

Vande maataram

⇪ 2019

March 23rd 2019 – The Mysore University offers an Honorary Doctorate to Amma.


⇪ 2019

December 12th 2019 – Amma, as the Chancellor of Amrita University, signs a Letter of Intent with the University of Arizona embarking on a multidisciplinary partnership in education and research between the two Universities.

Amma and Dr. Lisl Folks of University of Arizona

⇪ 2018

November 20th 2018 – Amma is invited by the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi Sheikh Mohammad Bin Zayed Al Nahyan to The Abu Dhabi Interfaith Summit to Protect Child Dignity in the Digital World. Amma delivers the opening address and participates in the Faith Leaders’ Summit.


⇪ 2018

October 2nd 2018 – Amma receives an award from the PM of India for Biggest “Clean India Campaign” Contribution.


⇪ 2018

MAM donates Rs.10 Crores to the Kerala State Flood relief funds.


⇪ 2018

Amma extends support to the Swachhata Hi Seva program, thanked by India PM Modi for her blessings and active participation.


⇪ 2018

Amma is a special invitee at Rashtrapati Bhavan on the concluding day of the Mahatma Gandhi International Sanitation convention and awards function.


⇪ 2017

November 6th-8th 2017 – Amma receives the Commemorative Gold Medal for Peace from the “Soldiers of Peace International Association” (Toulon, France).


⇪ 2017

November 6th-8th 2017 – Amma receives the Medal of the Provence-Alpes at the Côte d’Azur region (Toulon, France).


⇪ 2017

April 26th-27th 2017 – Amma receives the Hindu Ratna Award (Kochi).


⇪ 2017

October 8th 2017 – President of India Shri Ram Nath Kovind initiates MAM’s Jivamritam scheme – Rs.200 Crore project of providing filtered and clean drinking water to 5000 villages in India, benefiting 10 million people in rural areas.


⇪ 2016

May 9th 2016 – The foundation stone is laid for a state-of-the-art 2000-bed multi-specialty Amrita Hospital in Greater Faridabad, near Delhi.


⇪ 2015

July 21st 2015 – Swami Amritaswarupananda represents Amma at the international Summit of Conscience for the Climate, in Paris, and sends her video message to the Summit.


⇪ 2015

July 8th 2015 – Amma is a speaker at the UNAI Conference on Technology for Sustainable Development, in New York.


⇪ 2015

September 28th 2015 – Amma receives the Fashion4Development “Medal of Honor” (New York).


⇪ 2015

September 11th 2015 – Amma donates Rs.100 Crores for the constructing of toilets in the poorest villages surrounding the Ganges River as part of the Swachh Bharat and Namami Gange project.


⇪ 2015

Another Rs. 100 Crore project for the constructing toilets in poor houses in Kerala is announced.


⇪ 2015

December 8th 2015 – MAM donates Rs 5 Crore for the Chennai Flood relief, in addition to a variety of flood relief operations and the supplying of free food and medical care to affected people.


⇪ 2015

May 2015 – Nepal earthquake relief – MAM supplies lots of vaccines, food provisions, blankets and shelters.


⇪ 2015

April 23rd-24th 2015 – Installation of a Brahmasthanam temple in Manjeri (Kerala). This is the 21st temple installed by Amma, and the last one as of 2020.


⇪ 2014

December 2nd 2014 – Invited by Pope Francis, Amma is a speaker at the Joint Declaration of Religious Leaders Against Modern Slavery, at the Vatican, where she is a guest for 3 days.


⇪ 2014

June 2nd 2014 – Amma is a speaker at the Conversations on Compassion (Stanford University, USA).


⇪ 2014

April 26th 2014 – Amma received the Kavithilakam Pandit Karuppan Award at Kochi.


⇪ 2014

MAM offers Rs 25 Crore relief and rehabilitation package for the Jammu Kashmir floods affected areas.


⇪ 2013

AMRITAVARSHAM-60, Amma’s 60th Birthday, is celebrated on a grand scale at Amritapuri, and is attended by Chief Minister of Gujarat Sri Narendra Modi.


⇪ 2013

Amma is a speaker at the 100th Birth Anniversary Celebrations of Swami Vivekananda (New Delhi).


⇪ 2013

MAM initiates the adoption of 101 villages throughout India with the aim of helping them become self-reliant and thriving (Amrita SeRVE project)


⇪ 2013

Amma offers Rs 50 Crore relief package to construct 500 houses destroyed in the Uttarakhand floods and landslide in 42 selected villages in the districts of Rudraprayag and Uttarkashi.


⇪ 2013

Amma visits the 2013 Maha Kumbh Mela in Allahabad.
https://www.amritapuri.org/16158/13kumbh.aum


⇪ 2013


⇪ 2013

Amma meets 100 scientists from International Conference on Biotechnology for Innovative Applications hosted by the Amrita University’s School of Biotechnology. 


⇪ 2013

The MA Center, USA, donates a 1-million-dollar aid for people affected by the Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines.


⇪ 2012

Amma visits China for the first time, and is a speaker at the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations in Shanghai.


⇪ 2011

The Amrita Watoto Boma, Children care home for 108 children, run by MAM, is inaugurated at Nairobi, Kenya.


⇪ 2011

MAM provides medical supplies, shelter materials and offers $1 million scholarships children of affected families from The Haiti Earthquake & the Tsunami in Japan.


⇪ 2011

MAM undertakes a massive cleaning drive at the Sabarimala temple premises and at the Pampa river, under the Amala Bharatam Cleaning program. Tons of waste and garbage are removed.


⇪ 2011

Installation of a Brahmasthanam temple in Kannur. 


⇪ 2010

Amma’s father Sri Sugunanandan passes away.


⇪ 2010

Sankaracharya of Kanchi Math visits Amritapuri and meets Amma.


⇪ 2010

25 May 2010 – The State University of New York (SUNY) presented Amma with an honorary doctorate, Buffalo, New York


⇪ 2010

Launching of the Amala Bharatam Cleaning scheme (ABC), aimed at keeping public places and highways clean.


⇪ 2010

MAM pledges Rs 50 crores in aid for flood victims in Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka (within six months, 242 completed houses were handed over to the Government).


⇪ 2010

MAM adds insurance coverage to 100,000 members of AmritaSREE.


⇪ 2010

MAM offers support to the Indian Government for constructing toilets and installing trash cans in government schools and along roads all over India.


⇪ 2010

MAM initiates and extends support to keeping the highways clean and building free toilets in schools and public places, starting with Kerala.


⇪ 2009

Vidyamritam scholarship project is expanded to benefit children affected by AIDS in Kenya and India.


⇪ 2009

The Amrita Watoto Boma, a care home for 108 children is inaugurated in Nairobi (Kenya).


⇪ 2009

Amma is a speaker at the Inauguration of Vivekananda International Foundation (New Delhi).


⇪ 2009

Cyclone Relief project is implemented in West Bengal.


⇪ 2009

Flood relief in Andhra and Karnataka – 1000 houses for the displaced families are constructed.


⇪ 2009

Amma receives an Honorary Doctorate of Letters from the University of Mysore.


⇪ 2009

The Institute for Differently Abled (AIDA) children is inaugurated in Kozhikode, Kerala.


⇪ 2008

Amma is a speaker at the Summit of the Global Peace Initiative of Women (Jaipur).


⇪ 2008

The Bihar Flood Relief Project is implemented with Rs 2 crores in aid.


⇪ 2008

Flood relief support in Orissa.


⇪ 2008

Installation of Brahmasthanam temples in Mangalore and Kolkata 


⇪ 2007

Amma receives the Prix Cinéma Vérité award (Paris).


⇪ 2007

Amrita Kripa Hospital is inaugurated in Mysore.


⇪ 2007

Amrita Yoga gets formalized by Amma for classes worldwide.


⇪ 2007

Vidyamritam education stipend project is launched to end suicide among farmers.


⇪ 2007

Amrita Nilayam (Working Women’s Hostel) is established in Trissur.


⇪ 2006

The Amrita Sethu foot bridge is inaugurated by President of India Abdul Kalam. Built by MAM, it connects the peninsula where Amritapuri stands to the Vallickavu village and the main land across the backwaters.


⇪ 2006

Amrita SREE (Amrita Self-Reliance, Employment and Empowerment Program) is inaugurated, providing economic opportunity to women.


⇪ 2006

Amma receives the James Parks Morton Interfaith Award in New York.


⇪ 2006

Amma receives the Philosopher Saint Sri Jnaneswara World Peace Prize, in Pune.


⇪ 2006

Amrita Nidhi pension project expands to benefit 100,000 recipient.


⇪ 2005

A Disaster Aid Fund of Rs 200 crore, is announced for the 2004 Asian Tsunami in various relief operations including the construction of 6000+ houses and the supply of fishing nets, boats, engines and tailoring machines.


⇪ 2005

The United Nations grants the Special Consultative Status to MAM with its Economic and Social Council.


⇪ 2005

Amma receives the Mahavir Mahatma Award (London).


⇪ 2005

Amma is a speaker at the Rotary International, India (Cochin), and receives the Centenary Legendary Award of the International Rotarians.


⇪ 2005

The Disaster Aid of $1 million US is presented by MA Center to the Bush-Clinton Katrina Fund, USA.


⇪ 2005

The Teachers’ Training (B.Ed) College in Mysore is inaugurated.


⇪ 2005

Two Care Homes for the elderly are established in Karnataka.


⇪ 2005

The Tsunami Housing Project for 6,200 houses gets underway.


⇪ 2005

The Indo-USA Inter-University Initiative is established by the Amrita University with 25 universities.


⇪ 2005

Flood relief works take place in Mumbai.


⇪ 2005

An earthquake disaster relief is sent to Kashmir/Pakistan border areas.


⇪ 2005

Installation of a Brahmasthanam temple in Trissur.


⇪ 2004

Tsunami aftermath Relief work starts at a very high and efficient scale. Amritapuri Engineering college buildings turns to be a temporary shelter for tsunami affected families.


⇪ 2004

Amma is a speaker at the Parliament of the World’s Religions (Barcelona).


⇪ 2004

The Amrita Ayurvedic Medical College, Hospital & Research Centre is inaugurated.


⇪ 2004

The Amrita Research Labs are set up at three campuses of the Amrita University.


⇪ 2004

The Amrita Kripa Hospital for tribal people opens in Wayanad, Kerala.


⇪ 2004

The Biomedical Research Centre is established at the Amritapuri campus.


⇪ 2003

AMRITAVARSHAM50 (Amma’s 50th birthday celebrations) is an international congregation for global Peace and Harmony held over 3 days in Kochi, and attended by the President, Vice-President and Deputy Prime Minister of India, along with dignitaries from around the world.


⇪ 2003

The Government of India confers ‘Deemed-to-be-University’ status on the Amrita institutions of higher learning.


⇪ 2003

The School of Medicine and Nursing opens at the AMRITA Hospital, Kochi.
The Schools of Engineering open at the Bangalore and the Amritapuri campuses.
The School of Dentistry is started at the AMRITA Hospital, Kochi.
The School of Science & Management is inaugurated at Mysore.
The School of Journalism opens at the Coimbatore campus, Tamil Nadu.


⇪ 2003

The Amrita Kripa AIDS care home is inaugurated in Trivandrum.


⇪ 2003

The first Free Wedding ceremonies for poor families sponsored by MAM are held.
Centers for adult vocational training in Kerala and Tamil Nadu start.
The 2nd Care Home for the Elderly is inaugurated in Kerala.


⇪ 2003

The IAM (Integrated Amrita Meditation Technique®) is launched worldwide.


⇪ 2003

Amrita’s higher education institutions get deemed University status, and the Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham (Amrita University) now covers 4 campuses: Coimbatore, Bangalore, Mysore and Eranakulam.


⇪ 2003

Installation of a Brahmasthanam temples in Bangalore and Kochi.


⇪ 2002

Amma is a speaker at the Global Peace Initiative of Women Religious & Spiritual Leaders, at the United Nations, Geneva.


⇪ 2002

Amma receives the Gandhi-King Award for Non-Violence at the United Nations, Geneva.


⇪ 2002

Amma receives the Karma Yogi of the Year award by theYoga Journal.


⇪ 2002

The Amrita Kuteeram Free Homes Project completes 25,000 houses and initiates a second phase to build 100,000 more homes.


⇪ 2002

Installation of a Brahmasthanam temple in Hyderabad.


⇪ 2002

Engineering colleges start at Amritapuri and Bangalore.
Schools of Medicine and Nursing start at the AMRITA Hospital campus in Kochi.


⇪ 2001

The Gujarat Earthquake Disaster Relief operation adopts 3 villages and builds 1,200 quake-proof houses in Bhuj.


⇪ 2001

The Tribal Peoples’ project is inaugurated in Kerala for poor rural communities.


⇪ 2001

Installation of a Brahmasthanam temple in Mananthavady.


⇪ 2000

Amma is a speaker at the Millennium Peace Summit organized by the United Nations in New York.


⇪ 2000

Installation of a Brahmasthanam temple in Mysore.


⇪ 1999

Installation of Brahmasthanam temples in Palakkad and Thalassery.


⇪ 1998

The AMRITA Hospital (Amrita Institute for Medical Sciences) is inaugurated by the Prime Minister of India and Amma, in Ernakulam.


⇪ 1998

The Care Home for the Elderly, Anbu Illam, opens in Sivakasi, Tamil Nadu.
The Amrita Nidhi, free pension project for destitute women and widows, starts in Kerala.


⇪ 1998

Amma receives the Care & Share International Humanitarian of the Year Award (Chicago).


⇪ 1998

Installation of Brahmasthanam temples in Palakkad and in the Mauritius Island (Only Temple outside of India).


⇪ 1997

Amrita Speech & Hearing Improvement School (ASHIS) in Trissur is taken over and run by MAM.


⇪ 1997

Amma makes women disciples become priests and perform pujas, for the first time.


⇪ 1996

Amma gives sanyasa diksha to Swamis Amritakripananda Puri and Vidyamritananda Puri.


⇪ 1996

The Amrita Kuteeram project completes 25,000 free houses for the needy.


⇪ 1996

The School of Engineering is established in Ettimadai, TN.
The School of Pharmacy, begins at Cochin.
The School of Business opens at the Coimbatore campus, Tamil Nadu.
The School for the deaf and the dumb starts in Trissur, Kerala.
Amrita Institute of Advanced Computing (AIAC) begins at the Ettimadai campus.
The Amrita Institute of Management is founded.


⇪ 1995

Amma is a speaker at the 50th Anniversary of the UN International Celebrations held in New York.


⇪ 1995

Amma gives Sanyasa Diksha to swamis Paramatmananda Puri (Nealu), Turiyamritananda Puri, Pragnyanananda Puri, Jnananamritanda Puri and Swamini Krishnamrita Prana.


⇪ 1995

Installation of Brahmasthanam temples in Mumbai, Delhi and Madurai.


⇪ 1994

The foundation stone is laid for the AMRITA Hospital (Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences) in Ernakulam.


⇪ 1994

Inauguration of the Amrita Kripa Sagar Hospice for terminally ill cancer patients in Mumbai.


⇪ 1994

Inauguration of the Engineering College in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu.


⇪ 1994

Amma gives Sanyasa diksha to Swamis Ramakrishnananda Puri, Poornamritananda Puri,  Amritatmananda Puri,  Pranavananda Puri,     Amritagitananda Puri and Swamini Atmaprana (Dr Leela).


⇪ 1993

The installation of a Brahmasthanam Temple in Kozhikode.


⇪ 1993

Amma receives the Hinduism Today ‘Hindu Renaissance Award’.


⇪ 1993

Amma is a speaker at the 100th Anniversary of Parliament of the World’s Religions (1893) held in Chicago.


⇪ 1992

Installation of Brahmasthanam Temples in Trivandrum and in Pune.


⇪ 1992

Amrita Sanskrit Higher Secondary school is started at Paripally (running along with the orphanage).


⇪ 1991

Amma visits Russia for the first time (The visit happened right during the attempted coup to overthrow the communist rule).


⇪ 1990

Installation of a Brahmasthanam Temple in Chennai.


⇪ 1990

The Amrita Institute of Computer Technology (AICT ) is inaugurated in Kollam, Kerala.


⇪ 1990

The Kali Temple is inaugurated at Amritapuri.


⇪ 1989

The Industrial training Center, a vocational training school, is started in Kerala.


⇪ 1989

Swami Amritaswarupanandapuri (Br. Balu) becomes Amma’s first sannayasi. He is initiated by a Sanyasin from the Sri Ramakrishna Mission.


⇪ 1989

The MA Center in San Ramon (San Francisco Bay area, USA) is inaugurated.


⇪ 1989

Amma holds programs in Delhi and Kolkata for the first time.


⇪ 1989

Amma takes over of the Paripally Orphanage (near Trivandrum), which becomes her first humanitarian activity to help alleviate the world’s poorest.


⇪ 1988

The first Brahmasthanam Temple is installed by Amma in Kodungallur (21st April).


⇪ 1988

Amma holds her 2nd World tour, which became an annual yatra.


⇪ 1987

The building of free houses project starts around the ashram.


⇪ 1987

The first Amrita Vidyalayam primary school is started in Kodungallur, Kerala. (In 2018, the number of schools had risen to 80).


⇪ 1987

Amma visits the Reunion Islands and Mauritius (month of December).


⇪ 1987

Amma visits North India for the first time, up to Mumbai (month of November).


⇪ 1987

Amma’s 108 divine names are composed by Ottur Unni Nambudiripad.


⇪ 1987

Amma goes on her first World tour ( May to July). The includes 12 stops in the USA (San Francisco, Carmel, Seattle, Mount Shasta, Santa Fe, Boulder, Chicago, Madison, Charleston, Boston, New York and Stamford), and 4 in Europe (Paris, Zurich, Swiss Alps and Austria).


⇪ 1986

The foundation stone is laid for the Amritapuri Kali Temple building.


⇪ 1985

Amma stops giving Krishna bhava darshan (In November)


⇪ 1985

Amma visits Chennai.


⇪ 1985

Mission branches start in France, Chennai and Kerala (Kozhikode, Alappuzha, Ernakulam and Kodungallur).


⇪ 1985

Amma’s 1st biography and teachings is published in English: “The Mother of Sweet Bliss” (by Br. Balu) . 


⇪ 1984

Amma visits Thiruvannamalai for the second time. She visits Ramanashram, climbs the Arunachala hill with devotees, and reaches Skandashramam.


⇪ 1984

Amma visits Kanyakumari. 


⇪ 1984

A branch for the mission starts in Kollam.


⇪ 1984

Matruvani, the ashram’s monthly spiritual magazine started. (in 2020 it was already available in 16 languages: 8 Indian and 8 foreign).


⇪ 1983

First publication of Amma’s teachings (Amrita Sutram).


⇪ 1983

Amma’s family shifts to a new house, and the Idamannel House (Amma’s ancestral house/ birth place) becomes the ashram. Amma brings in daily schedules for sadhana (spiritual practices) – meditation, archana, bhajan, seva etc.


⇪ 1982

Amma makes her first visit to Thiruvannamalai and Ramanashram with Neal (who used to live there) and other residents and devotees.


⇪ 1981

Amma is formally given the name Mata Amritanandamayi Devi. The Mata Amritanandamayi Mission (Math) gets formally registered.


⇪ 1978-1980

Amma’s first batch of young and earnest spiritual seekers (who later became resident brahmacharis and Sanyasins) start visiting Amma from their homes frequently (Balagopal, Ramesh Rao, Sreekumar, Ramakrishnan and Venugopal), before coming to live permanently with Amma. They are followed by Neal Rosner from the USA and other westerners.


⇪ 1977

Amma visits Madurai Meenakshi temple with devotees, and goes into deep samadhi for about 1 and half hours inside the temple.


⇪ 1976

Unnikrishnan (later Swami Turiyamritananda Puri) is Amma’s first resident brahmachari with Amma, staying in hut near the family house.


⇪ 1976

Sudhamani resolves to dedicate her life totally to serve, love and uplift all humans. She begins Devi Bhava Darshan in addition to Krishna Bhava Darshan, hugging and blessing all, hearing each one’s woes, and offering solace and guidance.


⇪ 1976

Living at the beach for 6 months, she spends 20-22 hours in meditation daily. Animals and birds come and feed her regularly.


⇪ 1976

During an intense vision of Devi, Amma has a divine commandment to guide others on the spiritual path, which she describes in a special song ‘Ananda Veedhi’


⇪ 1975

Sudhamani has a divine vision of Devi, stays outdoors all the time, to not disturb her family at night.


⇪ 1975

Regular Krishna Bhavas begins at the cowshed next to the house.


⇪ 1975

Sudhamani has a divine experience of Lord Krishna merging in her. Being asked to prove the authenticity of her experience, she does a miracle converting water into milk and then to a sweet pudding.


⇪ 1962- 1975

Not sleeping and crying at night while singing with devotion, her family members are disturbed by her behaviour and believe that she is mentally deranged. They threw her out of the house.


⇪ 1962- 1975

Sudhamani gives food and family goods to the poor and gets repeatedly scolded and punished for this. Wanting to make money to be able to help the poor, Sudhamani learns tailoring at a local church. The priest is impressed by her devotion and predicts she will become a great soul.


⇪ 1962 -1975

Whether working or alone, Sudhamani remains immersed in devotion to Krishna. Fully engaged in domestic chores from 3 am till 11 pm, her mind remains simultaneously immersed in Krishna Bhakti.


⇪ 1962

As her mother falls sick, Sudhamani is taken out of school (at the age of 9) and is asked to handle all domestic chores for the family.


⇪ 1953 -1961

Little Sudhamani frequently turns inwards, forgetting the outer world and goes to meditative states. She is soaked in Krishna bhakti most of the time, and starts composing devotional songs at the age of 4, singing and crying with devotion.


⇪ 1953, September 27th

Sudhamani is born to Smt Dhamayanthi Amma and Shri Sugunanandan at Parayakadavu, a fishermen’s hamlet in Alappad, Kerala. The very place where the Amritapuri ashram stands today.