Sri Sakthi AMMA
Sri Sakthi Narayani Amma, affectionately known as Amma, is an esteemed spiritual leader in India. With the aim of promoting love and wisdom throughout the world, Amma teaches that service to others is a path to inner peace and harmony.
In 1992, at the age of 16, Sri Sakthi Amma left the family home, in Vellore, to settle in the nearby rural village of Thirumalaikodi in Tamil Nadu, South India. There, at the foot of the Kailash Giri Hills, Sri Sakthi Amma established Sri Narayani Peedam and its mission:
"To lead humanity on the spiritual path and to uplift the lives of those in need."
Sri Sakthi Amma Documentary
An introduction & insightful glimpse into the spiritual activities and social upliftment programmes of Sri Sakthi Amma, the creator of SRIPURAM ,the GOLDEN TEMPLE based entirely on sacred geometry (VASTHU) in Vellore, Tamil Nādu, India.
Sages in Prayer
Many centuries ago, as rishis (sages) sat in deep meditation in the South Indian hills of Kailash Giri, they became keenly aware of humanity’s impending plight in this present period of Kali Yuga (dark age). They yearned and prayed for the Divine Mother to manifest on earth – to guide humankind back onto the path of right living. In response to the sages’ unconditional devotion and prayers, many centuries later, Sri Sakthi Amma was born. At 16 years of age, Amma established Sri Narayani Peedam at the foot of these holy hills.
A Holy Birth
Srimathi* Jyothiamma and Sri* Nandagopal were a devout couple from a humble background, steeped in the tenets of Vaishnavism (the worship of Vishnu) and living in the district of Vellore, South India.
When Srimathi Jyothiamma was pregnant with her second child, she had many visions about the baby she was expecting. Sages also revealed to her that she was carrying a divine child. The baby was born on Saturday, January 3rd, 1976. When the new-born was presented to Jyothiamma, the experience is described to have felt like a mystical vision. The infant was chubby beyond belief, with arms and legs covered in fleshy roll after roll, reminiscent of a painting of baby Krishna.
The dark skin of the child was, in the mother’s own words, ‘black, like midnight’ and had an amazingly luminous quality about it. The baby’s head was fully covered with thick, jet-black curly hair. He had an unusually strong and firm neck, unlike newborns, and was able to turn and control his head to gaze at all present.
It is described that an aura of radiant light was visible, shining around the child’s crown, while a vaishnavite naman (vertical red line down the middle of the forehead) was evident between the brows. On seeing the new-born for the very first time, the maternal grandfather blurted out, ‘This is no ordinary child. This infant is truly Lord Perumal!’ (a form of Lord Vishnu).There was also a short white line seen running vertically down the centre of the baby’s chest, as well as markings in the shape of shankha (conch) on the left shoulder and a chakra (wheel) on the right. All these signs were deemed convincing physical evidence of the holiness of this most extraordinary child, who was named Satish Kumar.
At age 16, Goddess Sri Narayani manifested her cosmic form in the body of Satish Kumar. This marked the moment that the persona of Satish Kumar was left behind and the Goddess Sri Narayani revealed Herself as Sri Sakthi Amma or Narayani Amma.
* Srimathi and Sri are honorific titles for a woman and a man in the Tamil language.
In 1992, Sri Narayani Peedam (located in the village of Thirumalaikodi) became the headquarters for the materialisation of Amma’s vision. In a short period of time, Amma’s work had a profound and far-reaching impact on the area. The implementation of a multitude of projects alleviated the poverty of the local population, and even spread beyond the immediate region. Over the years, Amma transformed this tiny village into an important spiritual centre filled with seva (selfless service) dedicated to humanity and the environment.
Amma’s design is not simply limited to temple life. The construction of hospitals and schools soon followed, sweeping the small village area with a complete cultural and environmental transformation. Amma’s holistic vision is designed to enhance every aspect of daily life, be it spiritual, medical, educational, vocational, environmental (including access to clean water) and cultural, providing thousands of job opportunities.
Avatāra
In Hinduism, it is believed that Divinity manifests in human form when the balance between good and evil in the world is disturbed. Such a form is known as an avatara, a Sanskrit word describing a deliberate descent or incarnation of the Divine to earth. The avatara descends in order for humankind to ascend on the spiritual path. The avatara lives amongst the people, guiding humankind, reducing suffering and restoring dharma (righteous living) in the world.
Throughout the yugas (ages or extended periods), many avataras have come to earth when adharma (non- righteous ways of living) reaches its peak and the Divine power no longer tolerates the level of evil actions. In previous yugas, humanity has witnessed other avataras such as – Narasimha Avatara (Satya Yuga); Rama Avatara (Thretha Yuga); and Krishna (Dwapara Yuga).
Sri Sakthi Amma is an avatara and is the first known incarnation of the Goddess Narayani – the highest form of feminine energy. In other cultures, Narayani is recognised as Quan Yin, Mother Goddess, Mother Earth, Mother Nature and Divine Mother, to name a few. Sri Sakthi Amma is lovingly known as ‘Amma’ – the word for ‘mother’ in various Dravidian languages across South India.