Temple Priest

Sri Karunamayi Shanti Dhama

Amma Sri Karunamayi is revered across the globe as a living saint due to Her spiritual wisdom & guidance, charitable works, and compassion that she offers to all. Considered as an embodiment of Divine Motherly Love, she is widely sought after and has spoken in venues across the world, sharing her visionary message of global unity, sustainability in the new millennium, & spiritual awareness.In the year 1980, at the tender age of 21, Amma left the comfort and security of her home and traveled by foot to the remote and sacred Penusila Forest, where a number of ancient sages had meditated for many hundreds of years. There she lived in accordance with Vedic injunction, and performed meditation austerities for ten years. After these austerities, Amma decided that it was time to share her knowledge with those who thirsted for true spirituality, wherever they may live in the world.Emerging from her seclusion in the sacred Penusila Forest, Amma was invited by a follower to stay in Bangalore, where She began giving public discourses on various aspects of Sanatana Dharma, and conducted sacred ceremonies to promote world peace and universal well-being. At this time, Amma also established the SMVA trust, which has implemented various humanitarian projects, such as offering food & clothing to the underprivileged, free housing to those in need, natural disaster relief, free medical, dental & eye treatment to the impoverished, free education & mentorship programs to stop child labor, free wheelchair distribution to the physically disabled, water treatment projects to alleviate toxic water sources, leprosy care, and a mobile health clinic to reach out to the most remote disadvantaged communitiesThrough Her teachings, meditation programs, and Yagnas (sacred fire ceremonies for the benefit of world) Amma has extended the reach of the SMVA trust to other countries as well. During her visits to each city, countless followers come to express their worries and problems and to request blessings or guidance. And to this day, Amma uses Her own sari to wipe away tears from Her childrens eyes as She comforts every follower with Divine Motherly Love. Amma often likes to say that Her only work in this world is to remove the suffering from the hearts of Her children. This she does through Her kind, loving words of spiritual guidance and encouragement, Her healing touch, and Her divine knowledge and insight. Today, Amma divides Her time between the US, Canada, Europe, Asia, Australia and India, fulfilling Her lifes mission of providing comfort, solace, and spiritual guidance to all who come to Her. In recognition of her work, Amma has been honored with The Golden Swan Award 2013, State of Illinois Official Proclamation 2013 by the Governor of the State of Illinois USA, Woman of the Year Award 2013, US Congressional Record, New Jersey Assembly Resolution, and 10 Years of Service Anniversary Award in Toronto Canada. In 2009, Her Holiness Amma Sri Karunamayi was invited to speak at the opening programs of Parliament of World Religions in Melbourne, Australia, and again invited in the 2015 Parliament in Salt Lake City, Utah, USA. From 2010 - 2014, Amma Sri Karunamyi was invited as a speaker to the Ontario Legislative Building in Toronto, Ontario by various Members of Provincial Parliament. Her holiness has issued messages for the yearly International Days of Peace, International Women's Day. and has spoken at the United Nations United Religions Initiative as well. In an effort to bring about lasting peace in the world, Her Holiness Amma Sri Karunamayi has led hundreds of peace marches and international peace prayers around the world. In 2011 Amma held a World Peace Prayer with participants from over 60 countries at Ground Zero, the site of the 9/11 tragedy in New York, USA. That same year Amma addressed members of the United Nations at the UN Plaza, New York on the topic of world peace. Amma has visited the United Nations on numerous occasions to speak on womens rights and other pertinent issues since then.