Welcome to Amma Center of Chicago

Arati: worship accompanied by waving of light (akin to vespers)

Ashram : a hermitage or monastery( also called a Math) Ammachi’s ashram in India is known as Mata Amritanandamayi Math, and is commonly referred as Amritapuri.

Bhakti Yoga: a [path of love and devotion, traditionally considered one of the simplest paths to experiencing

Bhajans: devotional songs (usually in call-response style). Ammachi strongly urges bhajan as a practice for clearing the external environment and opening of heart. Amma usually leads 90 minutes of bhajans every day of her life.

Brahman: the Absolute or Supreme as part of a philosophy which considers the oneness of God, Sprit, and the Universe.

Devi Bhava: is a traditional worship of eternal feminine. As a concluding ceremony, Ammachi tends to reveal more of this principle in her outward mood.

Jnana Yoga: the path of knowledge, using discrimination and reasoning as a route to experiencing the Absolute.

Karma Yoga: the path of action; offering one’s actions selflessly to God.

Guru: a spiritual teacher. Literally, gu (remover) + ru (of darkness).

Maya: ignorance obscuring the experience of the Absolute( the illusory aspect of Creation)

Moksha: liberation or final emancipation (from the bondage of the world), which is the ultimate goal of spiritual practice.

Prasad: a gift, usually symbolized as food or sweets. Ammachi gives a Hershey’s Kiss as prasad to her devotees in the United States. Hard candy is given in India, as chocolate would quickly melt.

Puja: traditional Indian ceremony offering prayers.

Raja Yoga : a scientific path of Yoga that emphasizes postures, breath control, and meditation to calm the mind and senses.

Sadhak: an aspirant devoted to the practice of spiritual discipline.

Satsang: Sat denotes Truth. Sang means “association with” When a group of devotees gathers to contemplate Truth, it is called satsang. This is also a synonym of spiritual discourse.

Seva: selfless service-a fundamental way to put spiritual theory into practice, particularly in the modern world. This is Ammachi’s example.

Yoga: Sanskrit word that literally means “Union.” Though popularly associated with physical postures, the original meaning connotes union of individual soul and the Universal Soul.