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True ahimsa is the overflow of love as compassionate action. We have visionaries in almost all areas of knowledge. What we truly lack are people who have a ‘visionary perspective’ towards life, a sense of a larger vision in one’s work for the common good.

Swami Amritaswarupananda Puri

President

Swami Amritaswarupananda Puri is Amma’s senior-most disciple. Guided by her vision of universal love and compassion, Swamiji serves as the President of Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham and Vice-Chairman of the Mata Amritanandamayi Math (MAM)—institutions that are leading solutions for the urgent challenges our world is facing.

In 2005, MAM received Special Consultative Status with the United Nations, the beginning of partnerships with various UN agencies, as well as community-level organisations, academic institutions, and government bodies. Today, MAM is a global network of volunteer-run national and regional nonprofit organisations in 50+ countries. These initiatives have reached over 3 crore beneficiaries.

Upon his initiation into sannyasa in 1989, Amma tenderly declared, “He is no longer my son. He is a son of the world now.” In this way, he has truly embodied the name she gave him—amrita swarup ananda—he who is in the form of immortal bliss.

Following in his Guru’s footsteps with sincere love and dedication, he selflessly guides Amma’s global projects to address food and water, shelter, healthcare, education, livelihood, disaster relief, gender equality, youth empowerment, and ecological restoration.

Since her first world tour in 1987, Swamiji has traversed the globe with Amma, directing the free public programs across six continents. He also regularly travels abroad to lead spiritual programs of his own, as well as collaborate with local community organisations, academic institutions, and UN and government bodies.

Holding a Master’s Degree in Philosophy, Swamiji humbly shares what he has experienced in life with Amma as his Guru. This includes several prestigious international addresses, numerous books with profound spiritual depth, and the composition of deeply moving bhajans.

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Global
Addresses

2024

Compassion in Action: Arizona State University & University of Illinois, USA

Defining the world’s fundamental challenges as a struggle between love and grief, while advocating for compassion as a practical force for overcoming global crises. 

2024

Compassion in Action: Arizona State University & University of Illinois, USA

Defining the world’s fundamental challenges as a struggle between love and grief, while advocating for compassion as a practical force for overcoming global crises. 

2024

Compassion in Action: Arizona State University & University of Illinois, USA

Defining the world’s fundamental challenges as a struggle between love and grief, while advocating for compassion as a practical force for overcoming global crises. 

2024

Compassion in Action: Arizona State University & University of Illinois, USA

Defining the world’s fundamental challenges as a struggle between love and grief, while advocating for compassion as a practical force for overcoming global crises.

2024
2023

 The Global Faith Leaders UN COP28 Summit: Abu Dhabi, UAE

Urging world religious leaders to teach their followers to protect the Earth and warning that climate change is an immediate manmade crisis, not a distant problem for the future.

2023
2023

G20 India Interfaith Forum: Pune, India

As Civil 20 India Troika, an opening plenary address with a vision to shape world peace and sustainable development through interfaith harmony.

2023
2023

Civil 20 India Symposium – Compassion is the Need of the Hour: Chicago, USA

Bridging the gap between high-level policy and human empathy, especially in the rapidly expanding realms of AI, climate change, and global sustainability.

2023
2022

UNESCO World Higher Education Conference: Barcelona, Spain

As President of Amrita University, sharing its sustainable practices, including a focus on performance and research for gender equality and women’s empowerment.

2022
2019

Global Conference on Human Fraternity: Abu Dhabi, UAE

At this historic interfaith conference, a powerful address about the interconnectedness of creation, stating that harming any aspect of nature is akin to harming ourselves.

2019
2018

ThinkEdu Conclave: Chennai, India

Calling upon India’s leading policymakers and educators to define spirituality as “education for life” and challenging society to move beyond selfishness and use knowledge in service to the world.

2018
2015

Summit of Conscience for the Climate: Paris, France

Leading to the UN COP21 conference, uniting with global religious leaders to mobilise action on the spiritual and ethical dimensions of the climate crisis.

2015
2014

EU Parliament Conference: Strengthening Europe through Youth: Strasbourg, France

Addressing the global crisis in education and calling for a values-based system that empowers youth to act in harmony with nature and society; Organised by AYUDH, MAM’s youth wing.

2014
2005

Cannes Film Festival: Cannes, France

During the premiere of a documentary about Amma, Darshan–The Embrace, at the world’s most influential film festival,  presenting her as a global spiritual leader and humanitarian.

2005

Literary
Contributions

As Amma’s head disciple, Swamiji has published a comprehensive body of work that embodies her global mission of love and service. The following selections represent a few of his publications, which serve as essential guides for applying ancient spiritual principles to the complexities of the modern world.

Compilations of Amma’s Teachings

Awaken, Children! (Volumes 1–9)

From the mid 1970s to the early 1990s, these nine books provide a comprehensive record  of dialogues between Amma and her early disciples and devotees, alongside moving accounts of their experiences.

From Amma’s Heart

A collection of Amma’s answers to questions asked during her programs in the West, most of them during darshan. She addresses a vast range of topics, from the nature of birth and death to in-depth philosophy to global peace.

The Eternal Beauty That We Are

In this collection of timeless messages from Amma, her words present the profound truths of the ancient scriptures in a format accessible to all. Through contemplative study, these messages reveal a vast depth of knowledge and practical wisdom within every word.

Original Works

Mata Amritanandamayi: A Biography

Swamiji vividly portrays Amma’s life story—from a compassionate little girl in a poor fishing village to a global spiritual leader and humanitarian. With her selfless act to embrace one and all, people from around the world, including himself, arrived to experience her motherly love, spiritual guidance, and concrete response in times of hardship.

Mother of Sweet Bliss

A condensed version of Amma’s biography for young adults. This compelling account documents the life of little Sudhamani as she overcomes formidable challenges to emerge as Amma—a global emissary of Universal Motherhood and humanitarian service.

The Color of the Rainbow: Compassionate Leadership

An original framework for leadership that integrates spiritual principles in the modern professional world. Drawing from decades of experience at Amma’s side, Swamiji analyses her unique decision-making, pragmatic approach, and insightful strategies for achieving success that is of collective benefit.

The Irresistible Attraction of Divinity

Swamiji describes his first meeting with Amma in 1979—at the age of 22, he was reborn. Still a child at heart, he explores the enduring nature of the Guru-disciple bond and the nuances of spiritual evolution. The work serves as a testament to Amma’s Universal Motherhood as his primary object of meditation.

Bhajans

Swamiji composes and performs music from a depth that transcends words. A master of the harmonium, he has authored hundreds of bhajans that span the spectrum of spiritual experience—from a deep longing for the Guru’s presence to the supreme joy of experiencing Amma as the Mother of All.

He passionately views the practice of bhajans as a dynamic instrument for social restoration and collective well-being. By merging individual voices into a single, unified harmony, this practice contributes to the dissolution of the ego and the breaking down of barriers of caste and creed. It becomes a humanitarian action—a way to harmonise humankind’s heart and direct this combined energy toward the greater good of all living beings.

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