International Day of Peace at Amritapuri Ashram
Tuesday, 21 September 2004

Amritapuri Ashram

Her Holiness Mata Amritanandamayi Devi led the residents of Her Amritapuri Ashram through a prayer for world peace today, as part of the International Day of Peace organised by the United Nations.

At 11:00 a.m., Amma joined more than 5,000 people in the Ashram meditation hall, where the ashramites had spent the morning dedicating their spiritual practices to the cause of world peace, as per the U.N.’s request.

Amma then delivered a satsang about the state of the world and the necessity to pray for God’s grace and to nourish love and compassion in one’s heart.

She then guided everyone through a short meditation. At five minutes to 12:00, She led everyone in chanting the ancient peace mantra “Om lokah samastah sukhino bhavantu.” Then, at 12:00 sharp—along with millions of others throughout the world—Amma and Her devotees stood and observed a minute of silent prayer for world peace. Amma asked everyone to imagine that their heart was filling with peace and then that peace was spreading to pervade the entire world.

To conclude, Amma walked out to the year-old banyan sapling that is planted in the ashram garden. During Amritavarsham50, Amma’s 50 th Birthday Celebration for Peace & Harmony, the sapling was watered by Amma, President Kalam and the then Kerala Chief Minister A.K. Anthony with waters collected by Amma’s devotees from 191 United Nation-member countries.

Amma lit an oil lamp located at the sapling’s side, placed a garland on it, kissed it and lovingly watered it. She then walked around the base of the tree in reverent pradakshina. She concluded Her worship of the tree by waving lit camphor before it.

Amma then returned to the meditation hall and led everyone in singing of “Bhajore Bhajo Krishna Hari Ram.” She then served a full plate of prasad to one and all with Her own hands.

This was only one of thousands of such gatherings initiated by the Math in support of International Peace Day. All of the M.A. Math’s educational institutions, hospitals and branch ashrams performed similar prayers, as did hundreds of thousands of Amma’s devotees throughout the world.

"Amma has a desire"

Read full text of Amma's Peace Day Message

Photos from the ashram on Peace Day