Mata Amritanandamayi birthday celebrations today

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http://www.hindu.com/2008/09/27/stories/2008092753670300.htm

 

Mata Amritanandamayi birthday celebrations today

 

Staff Reporter

 

KOLLAM: The 55th birthday celebrations of Mata Amritanandamayi will be held at

the Amritapuri Vishwa Vidyapeetham campus.

 

A special pandal has been erected at the campus for the purpose. Thousands of

devotees of the Mata from with the country and abroad have started arriving at

Amritapuri to attend the celebrations.

 

The celebrations will commence at 8.30 a.m. with the traditional gurupada puja

to be performed by Swami Amritaswarupananda Puri, the vice chairman of the

Ashram’s board of trustees.

 

This will be followed by the Mata’s customary address to her devotees.

 

At the public meeting which follows the Mata will present this year’s Amrita

Keerti Puraskar to the renowned Sanskrit Scholar R. Vasudevan Potti.

 

The award carries a cash prize of Rs. 1,23,456, an idol of Saraswati Devi

crafted by artist Namboodiri and a certificate of commemoration from the Ashram.

 

The award is being given professor Potti for his meritorious contributions for

the perpetuation of Vedic knowledge. Since 2001 the award is being given each

year to “persons who have helped to promote a healthy society through the

preservation and propagation of the values of Sanathana Dharma.â€

 

The educational scholarships to the children of farmers who had committed

suicide will be distributed at the function.

 

On the occasion the ashram will conduct the wedding of 108 couples from

impoverished families. Clothes will also be distributed to the poor.