THIS SITE IS DEDICATED TO HER HOLINESS SRI SRI MATA AMRITANANDAMAYI DEVI (AFFECTIONATELY KNOWN AS AMMA!)
H.H. Shree Shree Mata Amritanandamayi Devi (Amma)
N O T E: For definitions of foreign terminology, many words have been underlined, and are a linked to further clarification. Please click on such words to be taken to wikipedia or mapquest, etc.
On this site you'll find out information about who
When Murray State University (Murray, Kentucky) is in session for the Fall and Spring terms we usually meet on campus in the Curris Center, as it is more convenient for students and people living in the city limits with limited transportation means. Other wise we meet outdoors in the rural country side in Puryear, Tennessee at the following address: 35 Perkins Road, Puryear TN, 38251.
Basically, if you are not familiar with a satsang, the very word stems from the Sanskrit language, originating out of the Indian Sub-continent, and comprises two words: Sat (Truth) and Sang (Company); so a satsang is a group of people who come together to associate in truth about god, or spirituality. So we're a spiritual group our focus being on Amma.
Below I have outlined a typical satsang meeting. In doing so I have attempted to put together a sort of online version so you can hold satsangs in your home daily or weekly or when ever time permits irregardless of where you may be residing at. Perhaps you live a great distance from any formal satsang, then perhaps this online version will be helpful to your spiritual advancement.
If you visit the links on the left of this page under the navigation menu you will find a link to "daily practices". It is a good idea to do your sadhana (Spiritual Disciplines) after you have awaken and bathed and before you've taken breakfast. Usually spiritual disciplines are done early in the morning before the sun rises, but if you get up at irregular times for work, you should not by any means compromise your spiritual disciplines, and you should attempt do them as early as possible when time permits.
A typical Amma satsang consisits of studying scripture or Her teachings or watching a video or somthing of this nature which mentally makes us think of Her. Then, there is chanting; and Amma recommends us to chant the Lalita Sahasranama as it is very beneficial spiritually to do so. You may begin not being able to recite it well at all, as it is in sanskrit. But regularly listening to it, and studying it, and in time learning what each mantra means, and concentrating on the meaning while chanting finally, you'll gain some great spiritual and material benefits. I have put a link under the navigation menu to help clarify what it is, and some of the benefits of chanting. Keep in mind if you have never chanted and get frustrated that merely listening to the Lalita Sahasranama will bring many great results and many blessing to you and the family. I've listed the sanskrit (devanagari) version in PDF for both the 108 names of Amma, and 1000 Names of Godess Lalitambika. The romanscript is listed on the YouTube videos under the Lalita link along with proper pronunciation.
Then there is singing of Bhajans which are spiritual songs about the yearning for God, and songs inspired by saints link Amma, and poets etc. These songs may be in a different Indian languages you are unfamiliar with, so for those songs we have transposed them into English with English meaning which we give as hand outs at satsang. Singing bhajans in a group is a very powerful way to praise God. I've put an Amma bhajan on this page, as well there are some being played in the different videos.
Finally after bhajans are sung, comes "Arati" which comes from the sanskrit meaning (Aa=Towards Rati=Highest love for God) towards the highest love for Truth & God. I've actually included an Amma video where Her arati song is being played complete with words. I've put an arati plate underneath the video to symbolize the entire arati experience. Please see the link under navigation titled "Arati" for a more descriptive interpretation of Amma's arati.
At our satsang we end with Prasad, or sanctified (blessed) food. The food is first offered to God, then eaten as though God is offering it back to us. In our tradition we eat vegetarian Indian food. On this website below I have represented this by including a picture of the kind of prasadam we eat after satsang is over.
Well, I hope I have done well to introduce you to Amma, and what a satsang is, and hope you will feel welcome to visit us and join our satsang regularly. Now please enjoy the online satsang, and enjoy learning about compassionate Amma.
North West Tennessee Online Satsang
-Recite / Chant 1000 Names of the Goddess Lalita or 108 names of Amma
Lalita Sahasranama Player:
Amma108.pdf
-Reading from one of Amma's books, a video, or possibly a presentation.
-Bhajans (Devotional Music)
Click Link below to listen to an Amma Bhajan
amritanjali 2.mp3
English Bhajan / Video
MP3 of Achyutam Keshavam
-Arati (waving a flame in front of Amma's picture)
-Prasadam (Indian Vegetarian Meal)
The Attachments below will give you a picture of Amma, Her 108 names, Lalita 1000 names, maybe some bhajans, and prayers, etc.
