The American Meditation Society was founded in 1976 by Purushottam Narshinhran Valodia (March 3, 1932–May 17, 1988), also known as Gururaj Ananda Yogi. Its teaching is focused on
MEDITATION.
Drawn as a child to spiritual concerns, the guru ran away from his home in Gujarat at age five to visit temples. He wandered from village to village for six months, until found by his parents.
As he wandered, he discovered that the temple gods were lifeless and did not speak to him. Con-
tinuing his search into adulthood, he eventually discovered that what he sought lay within himself.
After SELF-REALIZATION, he set about to become a spiritual teacher in the West.
He moved from his native Gujarat to South Africa and became a successful businessman. In 1975, he retired from business to become a full- time spiritual teacher, founding the International Foundation for Spiritual Unfoldment in 1975. By 1976, the organization had spread to nine coun- tries in the British Commonwealth, Europe, and America, where the American Meditation Society was founded that year in California.
Gururaj Ananda Yogi taught that his path is not a religion, but the basis that underlies all religions.
His teaching is to awaken each individual to the same reality that he discovered, primarily through the practice of meditation. The society offers courses in meditation and the intonation of sound during meditation. During his lifetime, students would send pictures of themselves to Gururaj, who would meditate upon the pictures and hear each person’s unique sound in the universe, which became the student’s personal mantra for meditation.
Further reading: Ted Partridge, Jewels of Silence (Farmbo- rough, England: St. Michael’s Abbey Press, 1981); Savita Taylor, The Path to Unfoldment (London: VSM, 1979).
American Yoga Association
(est. 1968) The American Yoga Association, the first nonprofit organization in the United States dedicated to yoga education, was founded by Alice Christensen (no date of birth) in 1968. Located in Sarasota, Florida, it serves as a resource center for both stu- dents and teachers, focusing on VEDANTA philoso- phy, HATHAYOGA, and MEDITATION techniques.In 1953 Christensen began to have visionary experiences of a white light followed by transcen- dental communications from Swami SHIVANANDA
SARASWATI (1887–1963) of Rishikesh. Subsequent dreams encouraged her to pursue the path of yoga.
Sivananda became Christensen’s guru and they K 24 Ambuvachi
maintained their correspondence by mail until his death. She then began to study with SWAMI RAMA
(1900–72) and to travel in India.
Christensen began to teach yoga in 1965. As a student of Swami Rama she represented his teach- ings in the West. In 1968 she founded the Light Society (known later as the American Yoga Asso- ciation) in Cleveland Heights, Ohio. By 1972 11 yoga centers were established in India, Australia, and the United States. During this time the first book published by the association was released, The American Yoga Association Beginner’s Manual.
After Swami Rama’s death in 1972, Christensen continued to study yoga as a student of Sri LAKSH-
MANJOO (1907–92), a teacher of KASHMIRI SHAIVISM. Christensen would remain his student, frequently traveling to Kashmir, until his death in 1992.
The American Yoga Association provides edu- cational services to program developers in health- related fields as well as writers seeking information on yoga. During the late 1960s Christensen inau- gurated a program called Easy Does It Yoga, which the association continues to offer to seniors and those with physical limitations. The program has gained wide respect for its effectiveness in help- ing older adults regain independence. Following the Kashmiri Shaivism system, the association emphasizes a self-directed approach to yoga that encourages its participants to engage in inner awareness for the purpose of releasing potential for self-knowledge. The association offers books and videotapes by Christensen.
Further reading: Alice Christensen, The American Yoga Association Beginner’s Manual (New York: Simon
& Schuster, 2002); ———, The American Yoga Asso- ciation’s Easy Does It Yoga (New York: Fireside Books, 1999).
amrita
Amrita is the term used in the VEDAS for SOMA, comparable to the ambrosia of the Greeks. It is considered a nectar of immortality of sorts and is
taken during certain rites to achieve transcendent insight. Perhaps because the Moon is sometimes called Soma, amrita in the Vedic context is said to be found on the Moon; it feeds the Fathers in the dark half of the Moon’s phases and the gods in the bright half.
The story goes that the gods and antigods (asuras) once joined together to churn the MILK
OCEAN to make amrita. A huge mountain was used as a churning stick and the divine snake ADISHESHA
(or Vasuki) was used as the rope around the stick.
Many things emerged from the Milk Ocean at that time including the special divine wish-giving cow who appears in later mythology. Finally, the amrita emerged held in a cup by the divine physician Dhanvantari. The gods then plotted with VISHNU
so that the antigods (asuras) would not be able to drink the nectar. Vishnu took on his form of the dazzling maiden, MOHINI, and as he distracted the asuras, the gods drank all the amrita themselves.
One story says that when the gods drank the amrita it spilled at four sites: HARDVAR, Nasik, Ujjain, and ALLAHABAD (Prayag). In esoteric HATHA YOGA it is thought that amrita can be accumulated in the skull above the posterior of the nasal pas- sage. This amrita is understood to be transformed semen that can create bodily immortality. By sev- ering the frenulum, or skin attachment under the bottom of the tongue, a yogi can force his tongue backward into what is called the Khechara MUDRA, in order to drink the amrita.
Further reading: Cornelia Dimmitt and J. A. B. van Buite- nen, Classical Hindu Mythology: A Reader in the Sanskrit Puranas (Philadelphia: Temple University Press, 1978);
Alfred Hillebrandt, Vedic Mythology (Delhi: Motilal Banar- sidass, 1990); E. Washburn Hopkins, Epic Mythology (Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass, 1986); W. J. Wilkins, Hindu Mythology, Vedic and Puranic (Calcutta: Rupa, 1973).
Amrita Foundation
(est. 1970s)The Amrita Foundation was founded in Dallas, Texas, during the 1970s by former associates of the
Amrita Foundation 25 J
SELF-REALIZATION FELLOWSHIP (SRF), who felt the need for independent development and wanted to publish their own version of the teachings of Paramahansa YOGANANDA (1893–1952). Since the 1920s, SRF had taken prime responsibility for publishing and circulating Yogananda’s writings, but after his death some followers thought that the SRF’s editing distorted the texts.
As SRF owned the copyrights to most of Yogananda’s writings, the Amrita Foundation set about reprinting materials that had passed into the public domain, including the original editions of Yogananda’s writings. Among the reprints were the initial writings and essential teachings of the infrastructure of Yogananda’s work—the lessons on KRIYAYOGA distributed to students.
The home study course is a hallmark fea- ture of the foundation’s services, making the kriya lessons available to everyone. Issues are sent out each month to subscribers. The focal points of these lessons include the principles of MEDITATION and concentration, as well as physical practices designed to facilitate the spiritual development that kriya yoga can help achieve. Advice on diet and nutrition is also promoted; an important aspect of kriya yoga is promotion of a healthy body in order to awaken
KUNDALINI energy as the vehicle to spiritual bliss (ANANDA).
The foundation has reprinted a substantial number of the first editions of Yogananda’s early writings, including The Second Coming of Christ, Songs of the Soul, and Whispers from Eternity. The foundation remains based in Dallas, Texas.
Further reading: Paramahansa Yogananda, Second Com- ing of Christ (Dallas: Amrita Foundation, 1984); ———, Songs of the Soul (Dallas: Amrita Foundation, 1980).
Amritanandamayi Ma
(1953– ) teacher who embodies the Divine MotherAmmachi (beloved Mother), as Amritanandamayi Ma is affectionately known, is a world-renowned
Hindu guru recognized as an incarnation of the Holy Mother of Hinduism.
Sudhamani (her birth name) was born on September 27, 1953, to a poor fisherman in the small village of Parayakadavu in the state of Ker- ala, showing signs of divinity from the start. The birth itself, which was foreseen by a wandering religious mendicant, was said to be painless for her mother, and the infant did not cry, beaming a happy smile instead. At six months she began speaking prayers and singing songs in praise of Krishna. Her fervor increased, and by age six she was found daily immersed in JAPA (MANTRA
recitation), devotional singing, and quiet MEDITA-
TION. This practice estranged her from family and friends who did not understand. She took refuge in a deep spirituality.
In the mid-1970s she had a series of pro- found visions and meditative experiences, which firmly established her intimate relationship with the Divine Mother and set her on her present mission to
Amritanandamayi Ma (b. 1953), a famous devotional teacher from South India known for physically embrac- ing all who go to her (Ma Amritananda Center, San Ramon, California)
K 26 Amritanandamayi Ma
“Give solace to suffering humanity.” Her mission has matured into a dynamic global congregation.
She runs an orphanage near her ASHRAM, housing about 400 poor villagers. She has built hospitals in Bombay and Ernakulam and industrial and com- puter training centers to help poor students learn vocational skills. She advocates the establishment of schools at every ashram to impart religious education.
The house where Ammachi was born has become an ashram and the headquarters of Mata Amritananda Mayi Trust. The ashram, Amritapuri, offers food and accommodations for travelers, funds social services for indigents, and sponsors humanitarian activities around the world. Hundreds of devotees work there on social service projects all day and attend daily sessions with Ammachi. At each of her daily appearances, Ammachi sits on a simple chair on stage with 30 male students, brahmacharis, seated on mats on her right and 30 female students, brahmachari- nis, seated on her left, all dressed in white. Each
DARSHAN, which can last for six to eight hours, includes the singing of BHAJANS while each of the attendees walks forward for a blessing and an embrace from Ammachi, who remains on stage until all have experienced her embrace.
Ammachi tours the globe with a constant schedule of appearances held at major cities in many countries. She does not deliver teachings or speeches. Instead, she blesses all those who go forward. Often thousands of admirers stand in line for hours to be hugged by Ammachi. She says that her life itself is her message and teaching. “An unbroken stream of love flows from me towards all beings in the universe,” she has said. “That is my inborn nature.”
At gatherings she disappears behind a screen, where she puts on the clothes of KRISHNA or DEVI, the goddess. She returns to serve as a channel for God, blessing the audience. She says, “The ATMAN, or Self, that is in me is also within you. If you can realize that Indivisible Principle ever shining in you, you will become That.”
Ammachi has initiated 11 senior disciples into the order of sannyas (renunciants), two of whom are women. She has followed Hindu tradition by having Swami Dhruvananda of the RAMAKRISHNA
MATH AND MISSION give the rites of sannyas to Swami Amritaswarupananda, her first disciple to renounce worldly life. Since then, Amritaswaru- pananda has performed the rites with Ammachi in attendance.
In 1993 Ammachi was named one of three presidents of Hinduism by the Parliament of the World’s Religions in Chicago. That same year Hin- duism Today bestowed a “Hindu of the Year” award upon her. In 1995 she spoke at the interreligion meeting of the United Nations. A movie, Darshan, released in 2006, portrays her life and the services organized by the headquarters of her trust.
Further reading: Amritanandamayi, Awaken Children:
Dialogues with Sri Sri Mata Amritanandamayi. Adapta- tion and translation by Swami Amritaswarupananda 3d ed. (Kerala: Mata Amritanandamayi Mission Trust, 1992); ———, Eternal Wisdom. Compiled by Swami Jnanamritananda Puri. English translation from the original Malayalam by M. N. Namboodiri (San Ramon, Calif.: Mata Amritanandamayi Center, 1999); Swami Amritaswarupananda, Ammachi: A Biography of Mata Amritanandamayi (San Ramon, Calif.: Mata Amritanan- damayi Center, 1991).