Eastern Wisdom + Contemplative AI
Where can one meet Amma and receive a hug?
For those who feel drawn to receive Amma’s embrace, the most natural place to seek her is Amritapuri, her ashram in Kollam, Kerala, which is regarded as her principal residence and spiritual center. When she is in residence there, she offers darshan in the form of a hug, and this setting allows seekers to encounter her in the environment that has grown up around her life and teachings. Beyond Amritapuri, she also holds programs in other major cities in India, where large gatherings assemble for bhajans, spiritual talks, meditation, and the intimate moment of darshan.
Her presence, however, is not confined to India. Amma undertakes regular international tours, visiting major cities in North America and Europe, as well as selected locations in regions such as Australia and parts of Asia. These programs are often held in hotels, convention centers, temples, and spiritual centers, where the atmosphere of a temporary ashram is created through devotional singing, collective practice, and the long, patient unfolding of individual darshan. In many of these gatherings, she embraces each person who comes before her, and the sessions can continue for many hours as seekers wait for that brief but deeply personal contact.
Those wishing to meet her are generally not required to register in advance for darshan, and attendance at programs is typically open and free, with donations accepted for those who feel moved to contribute. Because her movements are extensive and her schedule varies, the most reliable way to discern where she can be met at any given time is to consult the official channels associated with her work, such as her main websites and local centers or satsang groups. These sources provide up‑to‑date information on when she is at Amritapuri, which cities she will visit on tour, and how the programs in each location are structured.