Seeing as India is a man's world, we thought we would go to the Amritapuri ashram, home of India's most famous female guru. She is also known as the "hugging mother" because she gives "darshan," a holy hug. People line up for hours for her hugs, and she has been known to hug for more then 24 hours in one sitting (without getting up or eating). People travel from all over the world to stay at the ashram and are said to "find peace, love, personal insight and spiritual understanding" in her hugs. She also travels for 8 months of the year to 20+ countries and has hugged over 25 million people so far!!

Besides hugging, she preaches love, compassion and "selfless service" (humanitarian work). She is both cool and spiritual but also makes the audience laugh, dances "raise the roof" Indian style and is an amazing singer!! She has a huge NGO which has various hospitals, school, universities, environmental programs, housing/feeding/pension programs and disaster relief ($20 million on the tsunami).

We got darshan twice, though it happens so quickly its hard to think! There is a huge audience and then Amma sits up on stage totally surrounded by a hive of swamis/as (disciples) and other helpers (all in white). When you get to the front of the line, one person pushes you down to kneel, another pushes your legs so you're in front of her, another puts your hands on the chair, another twists your head and then Amma pulls you in for a tight hug and kiss and whispers in her own language "my daughter, my daughter, my daughter" and then another person pulls you up and out...this is all within 10 seconds!! And while she is an amazing and loving person, I didn't really feel anything as profound as the people weeping and falling on the ground beside me did! And then another helper asks "are you alright, do you need to sit down" and others asked "how was your first experience with Amma." I felt like I should have shed a few tears or something, but I just couldn't squeeze any out! :)

The ashram is really cool, it is all pink and has 3 skyscrapers for more then 4000 permanent residents, along with visitors like us. It is located between the river (we took a 3 hour boat there) and the ocean, and is also her families land. Staying there cost $4 (all food incl.) and we had to do "seva" which is 1-2 hours of work each day (I did laundry and dishes). The schedule was also quite intense, but it wasn't mandatory (we only got up this early the first day!). Here it is:

5-6-Archana-chanting of the 1000 names of the "Divine Mother"
6:30-7:30 meditation
8-9-yoga
9-10-breakfast
10-..-seva
1-lunch
2-satsang-spiritual talk
5-6 meditation
6-7 bhajans (really cool music, often led by Amma and probably my favorite part of the ashram)
8-dinner

Overall the ashram experience was both intense but relaxing. I really admire Amma, she has a truly beautiful heart and is doing great things.

"People experience two types of poverty: the poverty caused by lack of food, clothing and shelter; and the poverty caused by lack of love and compassion. Of these two, the second type needs to be considered first—because, if we have love and compassion in our hearts, then we will wholeheartedly serve those who suffer from lack of food, clothing and shelter." -Amma

http://www.amritapuri.org/Mother-page.php