Mata Amritanandamayi, now called Amma, was born into a poor fishing family in a village in Kerala in 1953. From an early age she showed exceptional empathy for others. She began to comfort those who were suffering by hugging them. In her early twenties she developed a following which steadily grew. Her parents finally recognized that their daughter was going to be a guru, and began to support her activities. Her ashram now stands on the land where her house once was.

On Saturday, Helena, a Canadian guy named Steve and I left the beach to go to Amma’s ashram for two nights. When we arrived in the evening, Amma was giving dharshan (originally the viewing of a saint, but in her case she gives a hug to everybody who comes). Shortly after arriving, we were whisked away to the back of the temple by one of the Ashram residents. Within a few minutes we were in line. As usually, I was curious but did not expect anything significant. When the man in front of me (a Westerner) put his hands to his face as if crying after his hug, I found it overly dramatic. Then it was my turn. Her helper put my hand on the cushion next to Amma, who then pulled me in to her shoulder. She held me for about five seconds, and murmured in my ear. I couldn’t really hear what she said. Then she started to let me go, and then pulled me back a second time. When she did release me, I was dizzy and disoriented. Somebody pressed something into my hand. Another assistant helped me to stand up, and I slowly wandered off in a daze. The initial feeling of disorientation turned to confused amazement that I really had felt something. Neither Helena nor Steve had felt anything special.
After the dharshan, Amma took a thirty minute break, before coming to the large pavillion to sing devotional songs. The music was really amazing, and very relaxing. The crowd of several hundred people was very diverse, including South and North Indians (including Sikhs and Muslims), and many foreigners.
The next day I started with some meditation, and then we went to watch Amma do dharshan for awhile. Steve went again in the morning, and this time he also felt moved. In the afternoon, Helena and I did seva chopping vegetables in the kitchen, which we happily ate later in the evening.
That evening was a special dharshan, in which Amma would dress as the goddess Devi. Things started with Amma giving a talk at 5:00. This led into music which lasted until 8:30. With only a half-hour break, she began dharshan again at 9:00 and continued without a break, not even standing up, for 13 hours. At around midnight I had a chance to get another hug. I was very curious to see what would happen. Although I felt very relaxed, and happy afterwards, it was not nearly as dramatic as the first hug. Afterwards, I sat on the stage behind her for an hour. I also had a chance to be an assistant, by handing her prasad (blessed offerings) for her to give to the devotees.
I really enjoyed the positive atmosphere in the ashram. I found little of the holier-than-though attitude which one often finds in such communities. As a newbie, I was treated with special honor. I highly recommend a stay at the ashram to anybody coming to India.
It was nice to get back to Varkala. To hear the mosque as one walked along the beach to have delicious Keralan food. To hear the surf when one went to bed. But I really want to go back and get another hug.