AnnapurnalayamAnnapurnalayamAnnapurnalayamAnnapurnalayamMarvel of Mathrusri Anasuya DeviHow to reach Jillellamudi?

Jillellamudi is situated at a distance of 14 kms from Bapatla, in

Guntur District (AP) on the Vijayawada-Chennai railway line and

on the bus route from Guntur to Chirala. Taxies and Tempos are

available from Bapatla Railway station and bus stand to reach

Jillellamudi.

For further details, contact the Resident Secretary,

Sri Viswajanani Parishat, Jillellamudi-522113,

Guntur District, Andhra Pradesh. Tel: 08643 227324, 227492

Email: svjp.amma@gmail.com

Websites: www.viswajanani.org

www.motherofall.org

.

Proposed new building for Annapurnalayam

Written/compiled by:S.Mohana Krishnafor Sree Viswajanani Parishat, Jillellamudi

Designed and printed by :Janani Visual Communications, Hyderabad. (98491 80889)

Sponsored by :P.Baburao, CMD, Kranti onstructions,Hyderabad S.Ravishankar,Nairobi, Kenya

S.P.Vittal, Chief Executive SVL Spectronics,Hyderabad (939246132)

Annapurnalayam

The early days

Way back in early fifties, Matrusri Anasuya Devi, popularly known asAmma, Jillellamudi, started a rice bank at Jillellamudi, then an unknown tiny village with less than one thousandpopulation, tucked away in a corner of Guntur district in Andhra Pradesh. Most of the villagers were illiterate and depended on agriculture, cultivating small holdings or working as farm hands. As the fields did not receive assured irrigation,rain fed crops were grown the yields of which were erratic. The village was under the sway of a few land lords who held the rustic and uneducated poor people under their control. Steeped in ignorance and poverty, the poor villagers had to go without food for days when ever natural calamities struck or the imperious village lords did not favour them. Into this scenario, Brahmandam Nageswararao, Amma's consort,(reverentially addressed by the visitors as Sri Nannagaru) entered Jillellamudi as the village Officer along with Amma and their elder son.

Under these conditions, to douse the flames of hunger of the poor in the village, Amma suggested the simple yet effective idea of organizing a rice bank. The womenfolk, when they cook food are to take a fistful of rice and keep it apart. The rice was pooled with Amma who agreed to be the custodian. When any of the members had no work, they could withdraw their requirements from the bank. This bank saved many a soul from starvation and proved revolutionary.

Amma was once asked: “What, in your view is the worst suffering for man?” Her immediate response was: “Hunger”. As the Mother of All, she made provision to satiate our hungers by establishing the Annapurnalayam. Right from her infancy and childhood, a lot of seekers recognized divinity in Amma. Many others were drawn to her because of her extraordinary compassion. The number of people visiting Amma was constantly on the rise from fifties. In those days, Amma herself used to cook food and feed all the visitors irrespective of their numbers. The devotee childrenfrom Chirala requested Amma, “Mother, let there be a separate kitchen. Nannagaru's financial resources are meager”. Mother granted their wish and accordingly Annapurnalayam was declared open on 15th August, 1958. Mother assured “This is Jagannadha Radham. Once started,it will not stop”.

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Amma's feeding - a natural nurturing for the body and the soul

“To feed you and look after you is my work”, Amma asserted, and her life was a living commentary on this singular ideal though she ate almost nothing right from her child hood.

Young Amma was in the habit of feeding with her own hands beggars, poor people and stray animals. When food was not available, she would give away what ever she had on hand --- money, jewelry and even clothes on her body.

But, through out her life, Amma is known to have not taken food like the rest of us. She used to take little quantities of coffee now and then that too after she grew up and became popular as the Mother of All. When food was offered before her as offered before the image of deity in a temple, Amma used to touch the offering with her fingers and take a few grains into her mouth. No sooner than she completed this ritual, she used to belch as if she had taken sufficient quantity of food. At times, she used to simply glance at the offering. Was she taking in the food by merely looking at it? Any way, the offering which was sanctified by Amma's touch or look was served as prasadam in Annapurnalayam. There were very few instances when she ate the quantity of food which should be sufficient to meet the body's requirement. It is as if food had no nourishing effect on Amma's body as poison failed to affect it.

Amma, when she was about eight months of age, came crawling and put into her mouth few grains of cooked rice from the plate of Nagamma, who was nursing her and who belonged to the cow-herding community. On another occasion, at Tenali, Amma was fed by her uncle a few grains. The formal first feeding ceremony (Annaprasana) was not celebrated for Amma by her parents which seems strange, as every function is celebrated in the traditional household of Sitapati, Amma's father. (Nagamma and her daughter Subbalakshmi who were loyal to the family of Sitapathi, village head of Mannava brought up the child Amma like the child Krishna in their house. Amma bestowed on them several experiences and they came to regard Amma as a divine child.)

“In this age of 'Kali' I do not feel hunger” was Amma's enigmatic reply when people observing her not taking any food insisted that she eat. However, none else in known history endeavored like Amma incessantly to relieve the hunger of other beings.

Giving away food to those who are hungry is considered a great virtue and a meritorious deed. Amma, how ever, never felt that she is feeding others as an act of charity. She did not encourage the use of the phrase'Anna danam' (donating food) and questioned how a mother feeding her

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children can be construed a charitable deed. This concept of Amma is not only unique and unparalleled in history but also not easy to understand, unless one appreciates the universal motherhood of Amma. What is more, this act of feeding is not limited only to other human beings whom she regards as her children but extends even to the animals, birds, insects -- why --all the creation. Once Amma said that she feels happy and contented even by feeding grass to the cattle. Several brothers and sisters saw Amma feeling overjoyed feeding crows with crumbs of food.

Mother of All - feeding one and all

More glimpses of Amma and her penchant for feeding ---

In her child hood, when Amma was camping at Pavuluru village near the Anjaneyaswamy temple with her extended family members in a choultry, she observed many farm hands and servants going hungry, not having enough food. Amma was less than ten years old then. She used to collect the pulses and grains that were given away as prasadam in the temple and used to prepare delicious chutney by grinding them in the heavy stone grinder. As the heavy stone was unwieldy, young Amma used to go round the stone grinder holding the moving stone pestle in hand. She used to serve the tasty chutney along with rice to the washer men, servants and others. She was rebuked and punished for giving away food in this manner by the unkindly relatives.

During these days, when young Amma offered to the deity clods of earth as she did not have anything else to offer, pleasant fragrances emanated from the earth which became prasadam with exquisite taste.

Despite the abuses and beatings, Amma could not desist from feeding others. During the evenings, hoards of beggars used to come for alms.Amma said (in a taped conversation during seventies) that she could not stay in the house when their wail for food reached her ears. She also said that the cry for food in that twilight time was something she cherished! The members of the house hold of the grand father of Amma, Venkatasubbaiah were aghast when they came to know that she handfed Ankalu, their servant. Like wise, Manthrayi, the house hold servant who belonged to a caste considered untouchable those days, was hand fed by Amma with food specially prepared for him. The same empathymade young Amma to feed dogs, cats and even pigs from a verytender age.

Once Amma gave away a gold ornament to an old beggar as she could not find food readily for him. When the old man was flustered but could not resist accepting the ornament, she took him to a nearby bank, makes

Students of Mathrusri Oriental College

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him pledge the article and get money. The beggar however misuses the money for taking a drink and purchasing meat. Later in the night, he gets bitten by a snake and again it was Amma who rescues him. Significantly, Amma became savior of his life despite the beggar misusing the money. Amma kept demonstrating by such deeds in her life that it is the others' need but not their merit that receives her grace, grace in the form of food. It is the hunger of the being to which she responds. Physical hunger as also spiritual yearning, hunger of the individual soul to become one with the divine.

In Thaithiriyopanishat, a disciple extols the virtue of food describing that beings arise due to food (Annam), depend on food and make their final journey into food. He concludes that food (Annam) is Brahman.

Food which sustains life is thus most important for any living being. Amma said that no other pain is as severe as the pangs of hunger. It is perhaps due to this, Amma with overflowing love towards the creation, sought to alleviate the suffering caused by hunger.

It is strange but true that Amma, who strove to douse the flames of hunger of all those around her, never ate like the rest of us. With her mother Rangamma passing away even when Amma was a child of five, and herfather Sitapati busy with his preoccupations, Amma was left in the care of relatives who never really cared for her. Except a couple of elderly relatives, the others not only deprived her of the gold ornaments on her body but abused and ill treated her in many ways.

Once when Amma was in teens, she spends twenty two days in the open in a Tamarind grove in her native village Mannava without food or water. An old person Moulali, who develops immense faith on Amma, keeps hercompany. During that period, Amma goes into transcendental states and bestows divine visions on Moulali. After coming out of the supra-conscious state, she feels very thirsty and when she stares intensely at the tamarind tree ahead, the trunk of the tree breaks with the sound 'Om' yielding juice with which she quenches her thirst. Interestingly, at the same time, clouds gather and the first heavy showers of that season, waters from heaven, pour on to the scorching earth and make the dying plant and animal kingdom regenerate. Even after the self imposed fast for such a length of time, Amma first seeks to feed Moulali with available fruits in the grove.

Amma was required to stay in Kugler Hospital in Guntur as an in-patient for several weeks. She sold the gold ornaments on her body and with that money helped the poor and hungry to have food.

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But the empathetic vibration of Amma towards any one with hunger went beyond the usual acts of sympathy or concern for others' hunger. When Amma was leading the life of a simple house-wife in Jillellamudi, unknown to the outside world as the Divine Mother, a Sadhaka happens to visit Jillellamudi who observes a vow that he will not take food in a place without a temple. At that time, there was no temple in Jillellamudi. Amma cajoles him into taking food in their house that night showing whitewashed structures as the village temples which were in fact tombs! On the day break the next morning, Amma admits to the astonished visitor that satiating his hunger is important to her and she will take upon herself the consequences of uttering the untruth.

Invariably, the first question that Amma asked a new comer to the‘House of All' was 'have you taken your meals?' Nothing seemed to please her so much as personally looking after arrangements for feeding the visitor. Mother commented humorously once: “you grow weak if you don't eat, but I grow weak if I don't feed.”

And between 1958 and 2009, on a conservative estimate, more than twelve million meals would have been easily served in Annapurnalayam. To a question “What is the qualification for taking food in Annapurnalayam?” Mother clarified “Hunger”. Anyone hungry can walk into Annapurnalayam and partake of the Maha prasadam served there, the visitor's caste, creed, race, religion or gender becoming at once irrelevant.

Annapurnalayam feeds not only the spiritual seekers and visitors to Jillellamudi, but also caters to the food requirements of over two hundred indigent students, who pursue their education in Matrusri Oriental College and High School. There are nearly a hundred residents in the Ashram. Some of them are mentally challenged, some are financially weak, and some suffer from ailments of old age. Thus any contribution to Annapurnalayam is a contribution to a spiritual cause; it has also a great social content. The theists and atheists alike flocked to Amma's feet, some attracted by her supreme divinity and compassion, others by the pinnacle of her humanism.

The concepts underlying feeding

If one wants to perceive the deeper and subtler aspects of the phenomenon of Amma striving all her life to feed her 'spiritual' children the following would provide some clues.

There are many people and organizations providing food to the hungry. In all these places, generous persons give away food to satiate the hunger of 'others'. The motive is no doubt noble but in the act of 'giving',

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there is a giver from whom the less privileged receives. If the process of giving is not done with out ego, then perhaps, the objective of giving may not help the giver, though it might satisfy the physical hunger of the recipient.

Here again, as the fine thread running through every teaching of Amma, the 'Bhava' assumes great importance. It is with this insight Swami Vivekanada asked us to see 'Narayana' in the poor and serve them not out of a sense of doling out charity but with humility, with the attitude that the person receiving has given us an opportunity to do so. “Eat what you have with contentment and share what you have with love and regard. And have faith that you are doing everything at his bidding”is the essential message of Amma.

Though the message is seemingly simple, it calls for an attitude of equanimity, selflessness and total surrender to a higher power. If examined closely, this will reveal many subtle meanings.

All of us perform the act of eating with enjoyment and relish. But in modern day world, due to umpteen pre-occupations and concerns, partaking of food became a mechanical act, one of the functions to be performed in the multi-tasking approach. It is perhaps keeping this type of situation in view, Amma gently asks us to focus on the act of eating food contentedly. In the oriental country Japan, the 'tea ceremony' is perhaps intended to make the participants savor the delicious drink in a right mood, in a proper ambience.

Amma equated contentment with liberation, that is absolute contentment, a stage when you do not aspire for any thing else.

The contentment that comes from eating properly cooked, wholesome and sattvic food first offered to God and taken as prasad may be the first step toreach that stage. Here, there are other psychological factors too. If we have to eat the food with relish, then the food has to be prepared in hygienic conditions in clean surroundings. The persons who cook will have to follow the science and art of cooking with care so that the cooked food will be delicious. Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa, the prophet of our ages said that even the attitude of the persons who cook has a bearing on the effect the food will have on the persons who eat.

To drive home this fact, Amma used to tell that the food in Annapurnalayam has to be served with 'loving attention' as the side dish. While the physically visible food is the nourishment to the body, theloving attitude with which food is served is food for the soul. If we further examine this, we can not fail to understand that the food for the soul is House of All

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not only to the person who receives the food but to the giver or the person who serves with the right attitude.

If you start giving food with loving attention, gradually you would reach a stage when you cannot refrain from 'not giving food'. It becomes a habit and a part of your personality. Over time, it will take you to the stage that you are feeding the 'I' in all. Thus the simple act of preparing and serving food with a proper attitude becomes the royal road to realize the Advaita Vedanta. A Sadhana simple yet profound.

During the golden Jubilee celebrations of Amma in the year 1973, when more than 1.60 lakhs of people ate food in a single day at Jillellamudi,some one praised Amma on the historic event. Amma remarked that the persons who came to partake of food are really important stating that you can feed only if there are recipients.

(Not only giving food, this 'Bhava', if extended to all facets of life and practiced, will take the Sadhaka to spiritual heights in the path of 'Karma Yoga'. It is with this intention, Amma directed the elderly ladies and residents of the House of All, her personal attendants including her physician, not only to serve food but to apply turmeric paste to the feet of village women, labourers and the socially backward during her‘Kalyanotsavam' celebrations in May 1985.)

Anna prasadam during Amma Swarnothsava Celebrations

Annapurnalayam-incredible facts Now, coming to the Annapurnalayam, the eternal kitchen established

thby Amma on 15 August 1958, the facts read stranger than fiction.The slow burning paddy husk lit over five decades ago to cook food continues to burn unceasingly. Jillellamudi which is an out of the way village which does not boast of a regular bus service even today, provided food for more than 12 million people in the last fifty years. As per Amma's directive, any and every one who is hungry should be given food in the Annapurnalayam at any time of the day or night. Not the dress and address but being hungry is the only qualification to receive food in the Annapurnalayam. Sree Viswajanani Parishat, the

'Samstha' which manages the activities of Annapurnalayam does not have agricultural lands worth the name to grow crops. The inflows of monies to the 'Samstha' are always in shortfall in comparison to the expenditure. No comfortable reserves to meet the ever-growing expenses to run the Annapurnalayam. Yet the gong which is sounded to invite the residents, college students, visitors and pilgrims never stopped sounding since Annapurnalayam was started and no one left Jillellamudi hungry.

Annapurnalayam and its maintenance remains an enigma like Amma to many. The mystery at work is revealed only when we approach them with

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Despite Amma trying to conceal her real nature during her sojourn and her mission on earth, innumerable instances in her life revealed her divinity. Like in the lives of many great souls, many incredulous phenomena occurred around Amma. But these happenings occurred in such subtle and ways that many failed to recognize them as any thing out of ordinary. As Amma tried to conceal her divinity and her prowess, it is left to the individual's faith to form an opinion on such phenomena. But there are several objective and tangible pointers of the divine action in running the Annapurnalayam.

Marvel of Mother's love

Coming to some wondrous phenomena around the profound relationship between Amma and food ---

During Amma's marriage at Bapatla in the house of Chidambararao, Amma's maternal grand father, food was being prepared for the expected guests. At about that time, people going to the Railway station and those who got down the train were inexplicably drawn to witness the marriage. as the bride invites these total strangers in a small voice to take food. Strangely, every one of the visitors hears clearly Amma's voice as if personally told to them. Chidambararao was upset as food was prepared for hardly one hundred persons where as the crowd has swelled to five hundred. Looking to the perplexed grand father, Amma assures him that in hot season people may not eat much as they would be drinking lots of water and that the food already prepared should suffice for every one. Chidambararao, despite having belief in Amma, could not dismiss the reality of feeding so many with the limited quantity and orders for preparing food for the additional 'guests'. When the food was served, batch after batch, the original quantity suffices. Each time when cooked rice was drawn from the rice heap, it appears as if the quantity might not be sufficient and they had to empty the freshly cooked rice from the large vessels on to the heap to replenish. But mysteriously till the end, the same quantity satiates all those, invited and uninvited. On that occasion, with twenty measures of rice five hundred people were fed.

Amma's mother-in-law Kanakamma invites Bodhananda Swami and Anubhavananda Swami and their disciples for 'Bhiksha' to their house at Bapatla. At that time Amma was the new daughter-in-law in their house hold. Some other families also were invited on that occasion to partake food. Amma prepares several dishes in the stipulated time and also brings the required water for cooking and drinking from the public tap.

Amma Swarnothsava Celebrations-1973

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as refrigerated tankers were hardly available in the early seventies. The milk thus brought in the tankers from the dairies and also milk procured in the surrounding villages in drums and large vessels in open tractors remained fresh though it was hot summer. The events which were filmed for 'Amma' feature film show raw milk thus brought in tractors being taken out to the temporary kitchens with metallic vessels used for carrying water. Under such unfavorable conditions, milk should coagulate. But there was no such instance and on the other hand, the curd prepared out of the milk was solid and very tasty.

The word taste brings many instances to the fore related to the food Prasadam in Annapurnalayam. The taste of the preparations in Annapurnalayam is legendary. Though the fare is simple particularlyin the initial days, most times with tamarind chutney, Sambar or Rasam and butter milk, people took food with relish. It is the experience of manythat though they think that they can not eat much with such simple menu, they find themselves eating to their fill.

The taste of the food prasadam

The following extracts narrated in first person by 'Kimo' (published in the article 'The coconut changes' in the English Matrusri journal Vol VIII Number IV) reveal how food offered to the deity changes its taste and becomes Prasad:

“Mother! I asked her on one occasion,” is it true that a thing offered to the Deity (Prasad) some times changes in its taste also?”

“What prompted me to put this question to the Mother was that I had afriend in Calcutta who was far advanced on the path of spirituality.He conveyed to me more than once that the food offered to the Deity on special occasions tasted quite different, far superior, and finely delicious.When he compared the part of the food offered with other part kept apart,this was quite discernable. So I wanted to verify the truth of this from theMother herself whom I expected either to confirm or deny it verbally.But she didn't do it and I could not help it. But we talked of other things and I forgot altogether about this later.

“Now (on the fourth day of my visit), I offered to the Mother the partingcoconut and arati with a deep sense of devotion and gratitude. Arati over, Amma affectionately adorned me with kumkum (saffron mark) and placed in abundance, kumkum packets. More important and attractive was her indefinable look which one would not exchange for anything else. Now witha final pranam, I departed full of feeling and emotion.”

While some fifty guests only were expected and food prepared accordingly, double the number turn up. Swamijis, their entourage and others, describing that the food tasted like ambrosia, eat to their hearts' content. Kanakamma and a couple of elderly women serving the food were concerned that the prepared items may not be sufficient for the remaining persons. More particularly, as only sixty pieces of the sweet item (prepared out of jowar) were cooked, Kanakamma thinks of making each into two pieces and serve. However, in a hurry, she serves the full pieces. When the subsequent batches sit for food, Kanakamma and others notice that the sweet items as also the other preparations were available in sufficient numbers and quantity for every one.

It may be proper to recall a few wonders that occurred in the running of Annapurnalayam, though the very maintenance of Annapurnalayam for over fifty years is by itself a great wonder.

During the fiftieth birthday celebrations of Amma in 1973, preparations were afoot to cook and serve food for about one lakh people. By morning that day, there were only about 20,000 persons. The organizers were concerned that if the expected number of persons does not turn up, huge quantities of food may be wasted. The matter was reported to Amma and Amma in her characteristic way replied that who ever was destined to take food there would come. But from ten am, the crowds swelled as if materialized from the bowels of the earth. After looking to the unprecedented flood of persons, once again the organizers went to Amma, this time sheepishly to bring to her notice that the food being prepared may not suffice to the crowds and that they want to rush persons to the nearby town Bapatla for additional supplies of rice. Amma smiled and quizzically asked how they can feed so many if they start cooking after physically seeing (on taking count) the people! She assured them not to worry and went to have her bath. The organizers heaved a collective sigh of relief. Amma then visited all the thirteen kitchens and touched the mounds of cooked rice and other preparations. After giving 'arati' to Amma the manifestation of Annapurna Devi and also the mounds of food, it was served to the innumerable persons that assembled. The food was not only sufficient for every one with large quantities remaining inexplicably. Several persons who managed the kitchens later told with awe that even as they were taking out huge quantities from the mounds of food, they hardly gotdepleted. Amma directed that the remaining food be put in the 'omkar' river flowing by the side of the village saying that the organisms in the water which also are her 'children' will receive the feast on the unique occasion.

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Milk was brought in tankers mainly to prepare curds to be served to the lakh and odd persons. It was required to be transported in water tankers

“Then I made straight to the room with the coconut halves offered to theMother and given back as Prasad, as also the kumkum packets. Presently there came to my room two friends those whom I made friends even during those few days to see me off. I wanted to reciprocate their nice feeling and gave them a few pieces of the coconut Prasad, keeping a few pieces in my own hand to take them myself. At the first casual bite, I was struck with its exquisite flavour and I exclaimed to them, “Oh! What a superb flavour and splendid taste!” The two brothers too corroborated my experience, saying 'finely delicious'. And impressed with the rare phenomenon, they urged me to take home the rest of the coconut Prasad for the others also to taste the same. Really I was excited over this discovery I had been seeking so long.”

“I may inform the readers here that I had been on raw diet for years on end, during which period, my principal food consisted of coconut and plantain. So I was not a stranger to the taste of coconut. But never before I had tasted anything like the Prasad obtained from the Mother now.”

The above are among many such instances. When asked about such instances, Amma would feign ignorance. Amma's mission is something far too superior and sublime. She doesn't want the already weak and wavering minds of this Kali to hanker after the minor Siddhis and lose focus.

The food that is served in Annapurnalayam is called prasadam. It is the experience of countless persons that the food taken as prasadam of Amma in the Annapurnalayam, apart from being nourishment for the physical frame, is charged with spiritual blessings enriching the subtler sheaths of the being. It is the experience of millions of people that the consecrated food served in Annapurnalayam tastes like ambrosia. It certainly cannot be only due to the culinary expertise however skilled.

Annapurnalayam cures

There are innumerable instances of the prasadam in Annapurnalayam curing illnesses, bestowing prosperity and saving people from dangers. I recount our (author's) experience below:

It was during 1984, during the days when I and my family members havebeen drawn close to Amma, a very significant incident happened.My wife Rukmini had a typical health problem towards the end of January that year. She lost her appetite. Any diet taken at our behest, she vomitted. We consulted doctors at Kadapa where I was working then. They could not find anything clinically wrong but gave some medicines all the same. Medication was of no avail and she could not ingest

Images in the Temples at Jillellamudi

Amma, Anasuyadevi Hymavathidevi

Nava Naga Nageswara Swami Varasiddhi Vinayaka

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anything. She could not retain even liquid diet like milk. After a week, we decided to visit Hyderabad for better medical services and personal care of our family doctor there. After a thorough check up, our family doctor at Hyderabad had got done various pathological lab tests. When the reports arrived, a team of doctors scrutinized them and finally saidthat there is absolutely nothing wrong with her and asked her to eat…! The Doctor of course prescribed some medicines assuming that the condition could be due to amoebiasis. All through this time, Rukminimaintained a stoic indifference to any kind of food. At the end of eighteenth day of this strange fast, we found to our consternation that she could not bear even the smell of rice being cooked. She started retching at the smell or site of food.

Now where to turn to? We chose to go to Jillellamudi and present the problem to Amma. Surprisingly, Rukmini was in a condition to travel even though she was without food for so many days. We packed our bags and left Hyderabad for Jillellamudi. After the overnight train journey, our party myself, Rukmini her sister and my mother, reached Bapatla.

The van that used to ply between Bapatla and Jillellamudi was under repairs we were told. We could not get a taxi as all the cars were engaged in some elections at that time. The only transport available was cycle rickshaw. We engaged two rickshaws to travel from Bapatla to Jilellamudi. The climate was pleasant and our rickshaws lumbered their way slowly to Jillellamudi.

Soon after reaching Jillellamudi, having learnt that Amma was giving darshan, we made a beeline to Amma. I told Amma how Rukmini wasnot able to ingest any kind of food and of our fruitless visit to Hyderabad.

Amma held the hand of Rukmini and heard what all we said. Compassion showered from her eyes. With the concern only a Universal Mother can show, she asked Rukmini whether she would take a glass of buttermilk.

Rukmini nodded in assent since it is from the hands of Amma. Amma signaled to Vasundhara akkayya, Amma's personal companion to bring a glass of buttermilk.The Prasadam that is the buttermilk received from the hands of the Divine Mother was all that was required to bring about the cure for theinexplicable ailment. For the first time in about three weeks, Rukmini did not vomit. After the darshan, Amma asked us to have food in Annapurnalayam. We went to Hymalayam and Anasuyeswaralayamfor receiving the blessings of Sri Hymavati Devi and Sri Nannagaru.

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With a bit of hesitation she ate it. That was the first rice preparation she ate after the mysterious ailment set in seventeen days earlier.To our pleasant surprise, she could retain that also. By then, it was clear to us that Amma, the Bhishagwareswari has cured the disease. We asked Rukmini to sit along with us in Annapurnalayam and take food. She could eat a little food that day. In the evening, Vasundharakkayya came to the room where we were staying to enquire about the condition of Rukmini. On that day, late in the Dr Inajakumari, Amma's personal physician came from Bapatla and saw Rukmini at the behest of Amma. (Later the doctor told us that herinitial reaction after hearing the episode was one of annoyance since a person who did not have food for so many days was brought to a small village not having good medical facilities).Only on seeing the patient who was looking not too bad for a person who went without food for so many days, did she feel at ease.She prescribed some medication.

We were at Jillellamudi for five days having Darshan of Amma, talking to the inmates of the Ashram campus, participating in the morning and evening worship; enjoying each minute the peace and bliss of the place made sacred by Amma by her stay there for about forty years. That was our first extended stay at Jillellamudi .

When I told this happening to my father -in-law some time later, he became thoughtful. He knew astrology. He recollected that accordingto the horoscope, Rukmini was to face a serious problem (gandam) during that period. My in-laws and we felt deeply grateful for the divine intervention. Amma, widely worshipped as Sri Lalitha Parameswari is extolled asRogaparvatha Dambholi in the Lalitha Sahasra Nama Sthothram. Is there any wonder that she cured the strange ailment with her compassionate looks, nectarine words and through a little glass of butter milk?

It is believed and experienced by many that Amma's grace flows to her spiritual children through food. When people used to appeal and pray to Amma for deliverance from problems, Amma used to ask them whether they had taken food in the Annapurnalayam. If they replied that they had not taken food, Amma used to coax them to partake at least a little as Prasadam.

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There, after the archana, pulihora, a rice preparation (which contains tamarind and spices) was given as Prasadam. We asked Rukmini also to partake of the Prasadam.

Dhanyabhishekam (worship with paddy and rice)

Paddy puja, otherwise known as Dhanyabhishekam was initiated in 1988 and became a very popular function unique to Jillellamudi. It involves worshipping Amma and Sri Nannagaru with bags of rice or paddy. Over the years, those who participated realized that their granaries were never empty or that their fields yielded better than ever. Every year on 17th February, the day on which the physical remains of Brahmandam Nageswara Rao (Sri Nannagaru) were consecrated inAnasuyeswaralayam, Dhanyabhishekam is performed with gusto and enthusiasm in honor of Sri Nannagaru.

After Abhishekam is performed to the idols of Amma and Nannagaru withrice and paddy they are brought in procession from temples to Annapurnalayam with large number of villagers, residents and pilgrimsparticipating in the function. A good number of brothers and sisters from around the country and abroad participate in the worship and voluntarily contribute. Every one who participated receives rice with which Abhishekam is performed as prasadam which they place in their granaries or paddy bins. The paddy/rice so received is used for cooking in Annapurnalayam, throughout the year. The normal annual requirement for Annapurnalayam is around 1000 bags of paddy. The farmers, whose produce would have been received by then, contribute bags of paddy in kind.

Annabhishekam (Worship with cooked rice)

Amma is worshipped by many as the 'Annavatar' a manifestation of Annapurna in this age of Kali. Sadguru Sivasri Sivanandamurty of Anandavanam near Visakhapatnam holds Amma in high esteem. Sadguru visited Jillellamudi and suggested that Amma be worshipped with cooked

thrice. Accordingly, on every 12 June, on the day of Amma's Maha Samadhi, the life-size image of Amma in Anasuyeswaralayam is worshipped with mounds of cooked rice. The rice so offered is served as prasadam to the multitudes who gather to participate in the event.

Sadguru Sivanandamurty, while inaugurating Annabhishekam during 2006 declared that each grain of rice blessed by Amma is potent to redeem the soul from many cycles of birth and death.

The prasadam is believed to contain everything-a remedy for the suffering, a solution to the problem, an answer to the question and aids in the fruition of a genuine aspiration. With the Annabhishekam ceremony, the generations who did not have the fortune of receiving

Annabhishekam

Dhanybhishekam

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prasadam from the hands of Amma can derive satisfaction and blessings through the consecrated rice prasadam that day.

Sadguru endorsed the view that Jillellamudi is the eighth 'Mukti Kshetram' (sacred center bestowing liberation) in India like Kasi, Avanti, and Ujjain etc.

Annapurnalayam everywhere

Annapurnalayam fed millions of people who came to visit her abode. Amma described Annapurnalayam as her heart. Once when Amma was suffering and became weak, saline was sought to be given by her personal physician. Amma, indicating her oneness with Annapurnalayam said “Are you planning to give saline to Annapurnalayam?”

Amma expressed her wish that every house should become Annapurnalayam. At one time she said that it would be good if Sri Venkateswara swami gives food to the visitors at Tirumala.

It was only after that the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams commenced its free feeding programme which became very popular. The spirit has spread among Amma's innumerable spiritual children and followers who offer food to visitors at their houses.

During 1990, commencing from the sacred 'Navarathri' period, His Holiness Purnananda Swami of Hatakeswar near Srisailam has thrown open the ashram kitchen till then limited to the inmates to all those who visited the ashram. Swamiji is considered by his disciples as an incarnation of Lord Siva. Talking about Amma,he said: “Motherless Siva has at last found his Mother.”

Significantly, Sri Purnananda Swamiji placed a life-size photo of Amma in the ashram dining hall and visitors hail Amma's name exactly the same way as done at Jillellamudi before partaking of the food prasadam.

Annapurnalayam for All

Amma christened her abode at Jillellamudi as the 'House of All' (Andarillu) which provides restful accommodation to several permanent residents and visitors. This ashram complex at Jillellamudi is an open home for Amma's all pervading universal family. Anyone who came to visit Jillellamudi immediately felt like brother and sister who belonged there.

The moment one lands in Jillellamudi, it is like being transported into a new world. Mind is lost in the enjoyment of peace and contentment in

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Feading children of the deaf and demb school at stuartpuram

Annapurnalaya Swarnothsavalu-feeding in Appikatla village

the tranquil and serene atmosphere. Even a casual visit to Jillellamudi can do a world of good. Nothing is charged for anything; food, stay, worship, education, medicine. By the same reckoning, maintaining it also is the responsibility of all her children

Amma named the eternal kitchen which provides food to everyone in the'House of All' as Amma's Prasadam as Annapurnalayam, the temple ofgoddess Annapurna. Millions of people who dine in Annapurnalayamagree that Amma Anasuya Devi is none other than the goddess Annapurna.

Even skeptics and agnostics, after seeing the equality and brotherhood felt in the House of All extolled that it is a role model for an ideal society.While the spiritually inclined are drawn by Amma's divine traits, those who believe in serving the fellow beings are attracted by the sympathetic vibrations of Amma in feeding the masses to assuage their hunger through Annapurnalayam.

It is that spirit imbibed from Amma that spurred Sri Viswajanani Parishat to go out and help those in distress whether they are fire victims at Guntur or recent flood victims in villages near Repalle. Similarly during

ththe Golden Jubilee year of Annapurnalayam (August 15 2007 to August

th15 2008), Sri Viswajanani Parishat visited jails, old age homes, orphanages, leprosy rehabilitation centers and other hospitals, schools for blind, deaf and dumb, homes for the disabled and street children at several places like Guntur, Ponnur, Gannavaram Bapatla and Hyderabad and offered food to the inmates.

Golden Jubilee Celebrations of Annapurnalayam (Annapurnalaya Swarnotsavalu)

During Amma's sojourn on the earth, millions of people visited her. A large number came to her seeking her grace to remove their difficulties, cure diseases, for material prosperity, well- being etc., Amma heard everyonewith great compassion, gave 'kumkum' as Prasad and asked them to partake of food in the Annapurnalayam. While their genuine aspirations were fulfilled, many experienced that what they sought might not be granted always, but what they received - may be in another dimension of their life is much more precious and fulfilling. What is fascinating is thatthe phenomenon is continuing. Umpteen instances of cure from diseases,material prosperity and spiritual progress are experienced by many after intake of a morsel of food blessed with the divine love of Amma.

This glorious institution Annapurnalayam completed fifty years by th

15 August 2008. Under the aegis of Sri Viswajanani Parishat, the body that is coordinating and implementing the activities initiated by Amma,

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Feading in Mannava Village ( Amma’s birth place)

Anna prasada Vitharana at Sub-Jail Tenali

th thYear long (15 Aug 07 to 15 Aug 08) Swarnotsava celebrations were held with the enthusiastic participation of innumerable devotee children of Amma in India and abroad.

During the Swarnotsava year Sri Viswajanani Parishat organized AnnaPrasada Vitharana (providing food as Amma's prasadam at over seventy five centers in different parts of Andhra Pradesh and elsewhere. It is significant that in foreign countries too Anna Prasada Vitharana program has taken place with the initiative and involvement of long time devotee children of Amma.

What is fascinating is that when the idea was mooted, villagers and townsmen alike responded enthusiastically and irrespective of the religion, caste or creed participated in the programmes.

Sri Viswajanani Parishat which planned, coordinated and organized these activities offered 'Ramzan feast' to hundreds of Muslim villagers and visitors in the Annapurnalayam this year. It may be appropriate to mention here that the Divine Namam 'Jayaho Matha Sri Anasuya Rajarajeswari Sri Paratpari' which is being sung melodiously day and night at Jillellamudi for decades has been coined by a Muslim boy by name Imam.

Recital of Sri Lalitha Sahasranamam hundreds of Crores of times during the Annapurnalaya Swarnotsava Year

Right from Amma's childhood, a long line of holy persons as also devoutcommon folk who chanced to meet Amma were wonderstruck at her spiritual radiance. Amma, by her enchanting form and her tender love and compassion towards one and all came to be known as the 'Mother of All'. Amma is worshipped by many as Goddess Lalitha Devi. Thus itis not a mere coincidence that thousands of persons who visit Jillellamudi take to the recital of Sri Lalitha Sahasranamam, the thousand names of Sri Lalitha Devi, which is extolled as the Sthothrarajam.

Sri Matha is delighted with Namaparayana. As such Sri Viswajanani Parishat decided to get the recital of Sri Lalitha Sahasranamams onehundred crore times during the Annapurnalaya Swarnotsava year. At a number of places including Jillellamudi, the recital was done by thousands of devout persons. Interestingly to the organizers' pleasant surprise, the recital crossed 200 crore mark and it is believed that recital on such a wide scale would generate positive vibrations and benefit the humanity.

Sri Hyma Amma

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Ramzan Feast in AnnapurnalaYam

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PEARLS OF WISDOM

(Amma's sayings which are beacons of light)

Mother means the beginning.

You were all born of me, and I gave you to your mothers to bring up.

You are all my children whether you sit here by my side or stay elsewhere, whatever your age and whoever you are.

Mother Earth feeds equally the grass and the banyan tree according to their needs.

You grow weak if you don't eat, but I grow weak if I don't feed.

Mother may distribute differently but giving is same to all.

Empathy for the suffering is the hallmark of divinity.

The One who nourishes all creatures Herself needs no nourishment.

If one wants to worship the deity of patience, one needs puja offeringsIn the form of pains.

My way is not to tell you, but make you do.

As long as you see divinity in others, you become divine.

Service to others is true worship of God.

For me, the four Vedas were the mortar and pestle, the broom, the hearth and the kitchen knife, and the fifth Veda was the winnowing basket.

It is not that the universe is creation of God.. but Creation itself is God.

She is a mother only if she understands the child's problems and gives without being asked.

My arrival is to make you know what is not known.

I can see even if one is in another place; no boundaries can limit my knowledge. You must come here to see me, but I am always looking at you.

The very desire to visit Jillellamudi is fruitful; actually coming is even better. It will be never in vain.

Important functions at Jillellamudi

1st January New Year Day

17th February Abhishekam with Paddy and Rice

Chaithra Suddha Ekadasi Amma Birthday

5th May Amma Kalyana Dinotsavam

12th June Amma Alaya Pravesam (worship with

cooked rice)

15th August Annapurnalayam Anniversary

October Navarathri Festival

Karthika Bahula Shashti Sri Hyma Birthday (Recital of

Lalitha Sahasranamams ten million times)

25th December Christmas