2007: Amma’s Year in Review
January
1 January 2007
2007 New Year Celebrations at Amritapuri
“Let us sincerely pray that this year—unlike in the past—we don’t have to witness any more wars, innocent people being killed due to terrorism or natural disasters. Collective prayers can make some difference,” Amma said.
5 January 2007
Kozhikode , Kerala Program
170,000 people attend the program at Corporation Stadium
8-10 January 2007
Brahmasthanam Festival in Kodungallur, Kerala
14 January 2007
Tele-Fisheries and Tsunami Alert System Launched in Alappad
Today, the Amrita ISRO Village Resource Center launched Tele-Fisheries and Tsunami Alert Systems at the fisheries harbour in Azhikkal, Alappad Panchayat, Kerala.
20 January 2007
South India Tour
Amma leaves Amritapuri for her annual tour of Tamil Nadu.
21-23 January 2007
Amma sings and dances with the Badaga in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu
“For us that was the happiest moment. We felt that Amma was really one with our community.”
24 January 2007
Amma blesses swimming pool at the Ettimadai Campus of Amrita University
Amma knelt down and gathered some of the water in her cupped hands. It was a moment of silent worship—one who could truly see the divinity pervading the elements communing with them.
25 January 2007
Amma in Trichy, Tamil Nadu
Program held at National College Grounds, four kilometres from the Sri Raganatha Swami Temple.
27 & 29 January 2007
Amma’s Programs in Chennai
At the program at Pachaiyappa’s College Grounds in Shenoy Nagar, renowned classical dancer Dr. Padma Subrahmanyam said, “Humanity does not always have this opportunity to see divinity in flesh and blood.”
Karnatic Music
Kanya Kumari and other Karnatic musicians perform for Amma during Chennai Brahmasthanam Festival.
31 January 2007
Amma in Nagapattinam, Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu CM Karunanidhi praises Amma as “a pearl among humans” during this program in tsunami-devastated Nagapattinam.
February
2 & 4 February
Amma in Madurai, Tamil Nadu
DMK Ministers praise Amma during her Madurai programs.
6 February 2007
Amma Visits Ramnad, Tamil Nadu
Amma is greeted by descendent of the king who pulled Swami Vivekananda in a chariot.
8 February 2007
Amma in Kanyakumari
Monks from Ramakrishna Math praise Amma’s compassion.
10 February 2007
Darshan by the Sea in Trivandrum
The waves were breaking just 50 feet from where Amma was giving darshan. Fishermen were hauling in their catches during bhajans. And the salty ocean air blew across the 40,000 people assembled for Amma’s program in Trivandrum all night long.
14 February 2007
Up All Night with Amma for Shivaratri
“God is always present within us—wide awake,” Amma said. “We, on the other hand, are fast asleep. This is why we are unable to recognize the divine presence.”
17 February 2007
Nanotechnology Centre Inaugurated at AIMS
A Nanotechnology Centre for Tissue Engineering and Stem Cell Research in India was inaugurated at AIMS.
23-24 February 2007
Amma Gives Away Tsunami Houses in Sri Lanka
On the invitation of the President of Sri Lanka, Mahinda Rajapakse, Amma goes to Sri Lanka.
25 February 2007
North India Tour
Amma leaves Amritapuri for her annual tour of points north of Amritapuri.
26-27 February 2007
Amma in Manantavadi, Kerala
March
1-2 March 2007
Amma in Mysore—The Colours of Holi
When darshan finished, Amma stood up and began to dance. It was the very picture of Holi—Amma’s white sari covered in colours, surrounded by dancing devotees. One devotee later commented, “Until now I did not know what heaven was.”
4-5 March 2007
Amma in Bangalore
6 March 2007
Amma Sings Manre Sikha Prabhu
In a dry bed of the Tungabhadra River, Amma sang this new Hindi bhajan for the first time.
8-9 March 2007
Amma in Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh
Secunderabad District Collector requests Amma to help street kids
Andhra Government Praises Amma’s works
11 March 2007
Amma in Pune
Dr. Vijay P. Bhatkar praises Amma as a source of knowledge.
15 March 2007
Amma announces massive farmer relief program
Maharashtra CM Vilasrao Deshmukh met with Amma on the issue of suicides by farmers of Vidarbha. After the meeting, Amma announced that the Ashram will undertake a massive project to tackle the problem.
15- 18 March 2007
Amma in Mumbai
21 March 2007
Amma in Ahmadabad, Gujarat
“Kerala may be the centre of Amma’s activities, but her spiritual consciousness enfolds all of humanity, the entire universe is her field of action,” said CM Narendra Modi.
24 March 2007
Amma in Jaipur
26, 29, 30 March 2007
Amma in Delhi
April
2-5 April 2007
Amma in Reunion
7-9 April 2007
Amma in Mauritius Island
15 April 2007
Vishu Celebrated in Amritapuri
Amma said that the custom of Vishu kani “contains the message that one should see good and pure in everything at all times, not the bad.”
28-29 April 2007
Brahmasthanam Festival in Ernakulam
28 April 2007
Health Cards Issued to Poor
The Amrita Health Card was launched today through AIMS. Pooor families around AIMS are extended free medical aid up to Rs 10,000 per family per year.
May
1-2 May 2007
Amma in Palakkad, Kerala
4-5 May 2007
Amma in Trissur, Kerala
7- 12 May
Cultural Camp for Children in Amritapuri
2,500 children attend “Amritam 2007 Personality Development Camp”
12 May 2007
Amma Donates 33 Lakh for Water in Kerala
“Mata Amritanandamayi Math’s contribution to the social water-supply scheme is unparalleled,” said Kerala State Water Resource Minister Sri. M.K. Premachandran.
25-26 May 2007
Amma in Kobe, Japan
28-29 May 2007
Amma in Tokyo, Japan
31 May – 18 July 2007
Amma in United States
Amma goes on her 21st tour of the United States of America
July
20-23 July 2007
Amma in Toronto, Canada
26-28 July 2007
Amma in Santiago, Chile
Amma’s historic first visit to South America.
31 July – 1 August 2007
Amma in Rio, Brazil
August
14 August 2007
Independence Day Celebrations in Amritapuri
“There should be truthfulness in the country, in the government and in our words and actions,” Amma said. “We need love towards our country and its people. We need unwavering faith in our own dharma. Otherwise, freedom becomes slavery. Independence becomes dependence.”
27 August 2007
Onam Celebrated in Amritapuri
“Gratitude, equality, beauty, surrender—these are some of the important lessons that Onam teaches us,” Amma said.
September
3 September 2007
Krishna Jayanti Celebrated in Amritapuri
“Many great souls have taken birth on this earth. But Sri Krishna was a master and guide for all times, places and people,” Amma said in her Krishna Jayanti satsang.
24 September 2007
Amma Address Gathering of Sannyasis
It was a historic moment. Addressing an all-India assembly of sannyasis at the Sivagiri Math of the Sri Narayana Guru Dharma Sangha in Varkkala, Amma expressed her vision of sannyasa dharma.
27 September 2007
Amma’s 54th Birthday Celebrated in Amritapuri
Amma’s birthday address and new charities inaugurated including scholarships for children of impoverished farmer’s and more.
27 September 2007
Children of farmers who committed suicide come to Amma
On Amma’s birthday, some 200 children benefitting from the Ashram’s Vidyamritam Program came to Amritapuri from Hyderabad in order to have Amma’s darshan. Vidyamritam is the Ashram’s new project aimed at fighting farmer suicide through the provision of scholarships to 30,000 children from poor agricultural families. Similar students also came from Karnataka, Maharashtra and many parts of Kerala.
October
12 October 2007
Amma honoured by Cinema Verite in Paris
Cinema Verite, a French film organization focused on creating awareness regarding human-rights issues, honoured Amma in acknowledgment of her role as a force for world peace and harmony. The award was presented by American actress Sharon Stone.
13 October – 18 November 2007
Amma’s Europe Tour
22 November – 2 December 2007
Amma in United States of America
December
5-7 December 2007
Amma in London
16 December 2007
Amma in Manjeri
18-20 December 2007
Amma in Kozhikode
22-23 December
Old faces in Kodungallur
24 December 2007
Christmas Celebrations in Amritapuri
“When we celebrate the birthdays of great souls like Christ, Krishna and Mohammed, there is one prayer that we should never forget to recite: ‘Please bless us to realize the eternal “I” in me.’ This prayer should be part and parcel of our spiritual life.”
29 December 2007
Nagapattinam Thanks Amma
This morning 75 tsunami survivors from Samanthampettai, Nagapattinam came for Amma’s darshan. Three years ago when the tsunami waves ravaged India’s west coast, Nagapattinam caught the worst of it, and in seconds more than 7,000 people were killed.