Mātā Amritānandamayī Devī, often known simply as Amma ("Mother"), is an Indian Hindu spiritual leader, guru and humanitarian, who is revered as 'the hugging saint' by her followers.
Sreeni Pattathanam is a rationalist, activist, and writer from Kerala, India. He was born in the Pattathanam area of Kollam City in the Indian state of Kerala. Pattathanam was the editor of Ranarekha, a monthly in Malayalam, which ceased publication in the 1980s. He started publishing another monthly in Malayalam called Yukthirajyam. This journal is the official journal of the organization, Bharatheeya Yukthivadi Sangham. He was also the secretary of the Kerala state branch of Indian Rationalist Association. Pattathanam later left IRA and started, with like-minded people, another rationalist association, Bharathiya Yukthivadi Sangham. He is the vice-chairman of the National Level Rationalist Organization, RAI, Rationalist Association of India that was established in 1930. RAI is one of the founding members of the International Humanist and Ethical Union (IHEU), based in London. www.iheu.org
The Mata Amritanandamayi Math (MAM) is an international charitable organization aimed at the spiritual and material upliftment of humankind. It was founded by Indian spiritual leader and humanitarian Mata Amritanandamayi in 1981, with its headquarters in Paryakadavu, Alappad Panchayat, Kollam district, Kerala. Along with its sister organization, the Mata Amritanandamayi Mission Trust, MAM conducts charitable work including disaster relief, healthcare for the poor, environmental programs, fighting hunger and scholarships for impoverished students, amongst others. It also runs the seven-campus university known as Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, 90 chain of English medium CBSE schools known as Amrita Vidyalayam, and classes in yoga, meditation and Sanskrit.
Amritapuri originally Parayakadavu, is the main Ashram of Mata Amritanandamayi Devi, the world-renowned spiritual master, also called hugging saint. She is also known by Amma, which means 'Mother' in many South Indian languages. This place is also the International Headquarters of Mata Amritanandamayi Math. It is located in the state of Kerala, which is 8 km away from Karunagappally, 29 km away from Kollam, about 110 km north of Thiruvananthapuram, and 120 km south of Kochi. Amritapuri is also the name by which the location of the ashram is now known.
Amrita is a Hindu movement named after Mata Amritanandamayi.
Kollam district, is one of 14 districts of the state of Kerala, India. The district has a cross-section of Kerala's natural attributes; it is endowed with a long coastline, a major Laccadive Sea seaport and an inland lake. The district has many water bodies. Kallada River is one among them, and the east side land of river is East Kallada and the west side land is West Kallada.
Edamattom is a small village on the bank of Meenachil River located in Poovarany Village in the Kottayam district, state of Kerala, India. The town lies 6.5 km (4.0 mi) southeast of Pala. Nearby towns and village include Amparanirappel, Bharananganam, Kizhaparayar, Poovarani and Vilakkumadom. Though it is a very small village, Edamattom is the home to the headquarters of Meenachil Panchayat, as well as accompanying services, including the Krishi Bhavan, the Political Associate Office of the Village (Poovarany) and the Meenachil Service Co-operative Bank. The village also contains an Ayurvedic hospital. The most prominent church in Edamattom is the St. Michael's Church. All these are considerably good landmarks for tourists and strangers, who come to Edamattom to live there. Occupationally, most residents are dependent on agriculture. The primary focus of agriculture in the village is rubber and as such the village contains a rich vegetation of rubber trees.
Puthur is a small town located 26 kilometers (16 mi) from Kollam City in Kollam District, Kerala, India.
Karunagappally is a municipality in the Kollam district of Kerala, India. It is 24 km north of Kollam and 60 km (37 mi) south of Alappuzha. Karunagappally taluk consists of Alappad, Ochira, Adinad, Karunagappally, Thazhava, Pavumba, Thodiyoor, Kallalibhagom, Thevalakkara, Chavara, Neendakara, Clappana, Kulasekharapuram, Thekkumbhagam, Ayanivelikulangara, Panmana, Ponmana and Vadakumthala. The taluk is bound on the north by Kayamkulam, on the east by Kunnathur taluk, on the south by Kollam and on the west by the Arabian Sea. It is one of the fastest developing towns in Kerala and is part of Kollam metropolitan area.
Mathra is a village in Kollam district in the Indian state of Kerala, located near the town of Punalur. It is the headquarters of Mathra Grama Panchayat, a fertile area in which many residents are engaged in farming.. It is surrounded by hills, and several streams flow through village.
Poothakkulam, also known as Bhoothakulam, is a village in Kollam district in the state of Kerala, India. The village is located 3.9 km away from Paravur, 11.4 km from Varkala and 23 km from Kollam. In 2011, it had a population of 628,451 residents. The village covers an area of 16.56 km2.
Vettikkavala is a village located in the Kollam district in the state of Kerala, India. One point of interest within the village is a Shiva-Vishnu temple which hosts a special deity called Vathukkal Njali Kunju. An annual celebration of Pongala is held at the temple. The village is also well known for temple arts and a palace constructed by Sree Moolam Thirunal.
Enadimangalam is a village in the Pathanamthitta district of the state of Kerala, India. Enadimagalam includes mainly Elamanoor and Maroor. Enadimagalam is often recognised as a Panchayat. Enadimangalam had a population of around 30,000.
Kappil is a tourist spot in Kollam district, Kerala state, India. It is located in Edava Panchayat of Varkala Taluk at the coast of Arabian Sea. It is 18 km (11 mi) north of Kollam city centre. Varkala Railway Station is major railway station near Kappil.
Hinduism, Islam and Christianity are the prominent religions in Kollam district. As per the Census 2011, out of the total population of 2,635,375 persons, 64.42% follow Hinduism, 19.30% follow Islam and 16.00% follow Christianity. Other religions comprise 0.04%, while 0.25% did not state any religion.
Pizhala is an island near Kochi surrounded by river Periyar. It is the central part and Capital of Kadamakkudy Grama Panchyath, Kanayannur Taluk, Ernakulam District in the Indian state of Kerala. The name Pizhala is derived from the Portuguese words paz na ilha, which mean 'peace on island'. Pizhala island was formed naturally due to the great floods of Periyar in 1341 AD, which choked the Muziris Port, one of the greatest ports in Ancient World.
Kuzhithura is a village in the Kollam district of the Indian state of Kerala. Kuzhithura is part of Alappad panchayat, which is part of the Karunagappally municipality, situated on a narrow strip of land sandwiched between the Arabian Sea and the Thiruvananthapuram–Shoranur canal. It is a tourist destination with green land, backwaters, and beaches.
The Paravur Estuaries are a group of estuaries in Paravur, India, near the South-Western coast of Kollam district, Kerala. Paravur is one among the 4 municipal towns in Kollam district, Kerala state. The place is known for its natural beauties, backwater locations, white-sand beaches and concentration of temples.
Srayikkadu is a coastal village in Kerala, India. It is in Kollam district. Srayikkadu is part of Alappad panchayat which is part of karunagappally Taluk situated on a narrow strip of land sandwiched between the Arabian Sea and the T S Canal.The village is connected to the mainland by bridges as well as by country boat ferries. The main nearby places Karunagappally, Kayamkulam, Ochira are connected by roads. By water, it is connected to various places like Alappuzha, Kollam. Mata Amritanandamayi Math is 1 km away from this small village as well. It is a green land with backwaters and beaches.
City of Kollam or Quilon is a Port city in South India and was the commercial capital of erstwhile Kingdom of Travancore. It is situated on the Laccadive Sea coast of South Kerala. The city is known as the "Gateway to the backwaters of Kerala". The city lies on the banks of Ashtamudi Lake, Kerala's second largest lake, on the Arabian sea coast. Major parts of Kollam city are covered by Ashtamudi Lake.
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