Swami Amritaswarupananda Puri's August 2025 Visit
August 26, 2025 — Midwest
Carrying Amma's message of universal love, compassion, and peace, Swami Amritaswarupananda Puri, Amma's most senior disciple, arrived in Chicago as part of his 2025 North America tour. Swamiji is a spiritual luminary of our times; an acknowledged speaker on the world stage on topics ranging from sustainability and environmental consciousnes to compassion, spirituality, and inner growth. He is also an author, accomplished singer and composer, and above all, a shining example of living a life surrendered to one's spiritual master. He has been with Amma since the 1970s and has traveled the world with her on all of her tours.
Swamiji’s Chicagoland visit began with an all-day youth program on Friday, August 22nd at MA Center Chicago, organized by AYUDH, an international youth movement dedicated to empowering young people to contribute to a peaceful and sustainable world and become compassionate leaders with a sense of tolerance, solidarity, and global responsibility. The program brought together AYUDH members from all over the country and included numerous seva projects, including making blessing bags and blankets for the needy in the local community. Swamiji also led the youth in bhajans, meditation, and Q&A sessions. The day included a nature walk on the beautiful 142-acre MA Center campus and concluded with a bonfire where Swamiji shared his life experiences and sang devotional songs (bhajans) with the group.
The weekend retreat on Saturday and Sunday, August 23rd and 24th, titled ‘Coping in an Uncertain World,’ included spiritual classes led by Swamiji with select verses from the Bhagavad Gita, focusing on Amma’s messages regarding moving from confusion to clarity in today’s world. In addition to the spiritual talks, the retreat included devotional music, meditation, a Q&A session with Swamiji, panel discussions, and games. The retreat also featured an auspicious Ganapathy Homa and Navagraha Puja.
On display at the program were several stalls showcasing MA Center Chicago activities, including environmental efforts, farming, and hand-crafted wellness products. Representatives of Embracing the World and the Amrita Institute of Advanced Research (AIAR) also showcased the impact they are making in service of Amma’s causes around the world.
On Saturday evening, Swamiji conducted a free public program with guests including the Mayor of the Village of Elburn, Jeffrey D. Walter, and his wife, Carrie Walter, as well as leading Chicago industrialist Niranjan Shah. Other distinguished guests at the function included representatives from the business community, local community, religious leaders, and leading artists from the Chicagoland area. Mayor Walter proclaimed August 23, 2025, as Amma Day in the Village of Elburn and extended his deepest gratitude to Amma for her enduring inspiration and to Swamiji for honoring them with his presence and representing the values of compassion, love, and service that Amma embodies.