Amma, universally known as the hugging saint, went through a twodecade transformation from a simple fishermans daugh. Oct 15, 20 thirdly, it is evident that amma has failed to understand your life because now you are simply gail tredwell and acting against her so it clearly proves her defeat. Amma, universally known as the hugging saint, went through a twodecade transformation from a simple fishermans daughter to an international wonder worshiped by millions. Cpim state secretary pinarayi vijayan on saturday said the allegations against spiritual leader mata amritanandamayis ashram were. Oct 22, 20 for two decades gail tredwell lived in india and served as the personal attendant to amma, commonly known as the hugging saint. Gails book is a warning to the devotees of all gurus who claim to have supernatural powers or be incarnations of gods. Gail gayatri tredwell was there every step of the wayfrom early devotee to head female discip. I even get wouldbe official letters from unnamed officials on plain paper containing unsigned subtle threats the same message being circulated in. She was born in queensland, australia, tredwell served mata amritanandamayi, known more frequently as simply amma, for 20 years from 1980 to 1999 as a disciple. It all has to do with the book holy hell, written by her former aide gayatri, her legal name gail tredwell. Jan 04, 2014 gail tredwell aka gayatri or swamini amritaprana, who for twenty years was ammachis revered first and closest western female devotee, has just published a memoir entitled holy hell, a memoir of faith, devotion and pure madness containing many shocking but credible revelations.
John brittas interview with gail tredwell an analysis kairali people tv aired an interview with gail tredwell, who has taken the headlines by a storm in kerala. The first i heard about this book was when i watched an interview of gail tredwell on one of the malayalam channels. Far more than a cautionary tale, holy hell is a captivating, heartrending, inspiring and instructive story. Ammas former personal attendant of 20 years gail gayatri tredwell published her autobiography of her life with amma entitled holy hell. From the descriptions of amma in the book a person knowledgeable about psychopathic traits would surely make a conclusion she is one. Gail s book is a warning to the devotees of all gurus who claim to have supernatural powers or be incarnations of gods. She had made some controversial allegations in this memoir as well as media interviews which preceded and followed the release of the book. Today, in the spirit of the coming jupiterneptune clash, i will be talking to aussie gail tredwell who fled the socalled hugging saint after decades of service, and wrote a book called holy hell your.
Amma, gayatri and myself in 1981 online i encountered so much reports and accusations about scandals around mata amritananda and her ashram. Tredwell served mata amritanandamayi, known more frequently as simply amma, for 20 years from 1980 to 1999 as a disciple. A memoir of faith, devotion, and pure madness by gail tredwell isbn. Mar 12, 2014 in her book, tredwell a former aide of amritanandamayi, says she was repeatedly raped at the ashram by head priest from 19791999. Gail tredwell aka gayatri or swamini amritaprana, who for twenty years was ammachis revered first and closest western female devotee, has just published a memoir entitled holy hell, a memoir of faith, devotion and pure madness containing many shocking but credible revelations.
I also wrote out a lengthy question to ask ammachi, the gist of which i will touch upon in a moment. Amma who stopped distribution of a book in india which accuses her of being involved with murders will not be able to stop publication of her exsecretary gail gayatri tredwell s book holy hell. Holy hell of mata amritanandamayi sparks controversy. A memoir of faith, devotion and pure madness claims that she was a close disciple of amma for several years and lived in the ashram before she escaped from there following bitter. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading holy hell. Her story has many parallels with your own and it is a source of comfort to us to know that. A memoir of faith, devotion and pure madness in october 20. One of the members is gail tredwell, who was ammas primary female disciple for 20 years before she defected due to all the abuse she saw and experienced. If former inmate of the mata amritanandamayi math gail tredwell lodges a formal complaint relating to the various allegations, including. Australiaborn gail gayatri tredwell in her book holy hell. Ammachi has had sex with several of her swamis, numerous times, before and after they became swamis, all the while she was preaching celibacy as. This book reads as an honest, humble and thorough account of gail s journey with this amma. She made some allegations in this memoir as well as media interviews which preceded and followed the release of.
Your book was a very important read for us as our daughter has been deeply affected by the amma cult and is all but lost to us as a consequence. Ashram says allegations in gail tredwells holy hell baseless. In her book, tredwell a former aide of amritanandamayi, says she was repeatedly raped at the ashram by head priest from 19791999. At the end of 1999, she made her daring break from the organization and fled to hawaii.
A memoir of faith, devotion, and pure madness and was written by gail tredwell formerly called gayatri, who for 20 years served as ammas closest personal attendant and chief female disciple. Amritanandamayis exaide gail tredwell in her memoir had alleged sexual exploitation among senior ashram inmates. Although the content of book had become viral in social media, political parties in kerala maintained stoic silence on the issue until saturday. Oct 22, 20 the first i heard about this book was when i watched an interview of gail tredwell on one of the malayalam channels. Earlier this evening i spent a couple of hours going through a number of the pieces written online, including the rolling stone expose from 2012, as well as ron rattners essays, gail tredwells revelations, etc. Amma pays no us income tax on her bloated income streamall by claiming to be a spiritual project. Gail tredwell stands by rape accusations against prominent. Feb 19, 2014 mata amritanandamayi scandal gail tredwell book holy hell. Hav ing trained as a psychiatrist in paris, i thought it would be useful to understand in depth what this book tells about the personality of sudhamani aka amma, to help myself and others to see more clearly. Allegations by gail tredwell in 20, gail tredwell, a former disciple of amritanandamayi selfpublished a memoir of her 198099 tenure in amritanandamayis ashram. A memoir of faith, devotion and pure madness was published last november, it sent shockwaves among the devotees of mata amritanandamayi, popularly known as the hugging saint.
Read holy hell a memoir of faith, devotion, and pure madness by gail tredwell available from rakuten kobo. Ammas exaide alleges sexual abuse at ashram india news. A memoir of faith, devotion and pure madness, who alleged in her book that she was raped repeatedly by the chief priest of the mutt balu in mideighties and physically tortured by the god woman amrithanandamayi during her stay in the ashramam, told india today on sunday that she will standby her allegations and have no intention of. But allegations of sexual exploitation by the author have only widenend the rift between the believers and the sceptics, finds varuna verma after a visit to the ashram.
The rolling stone article on amma last august 2012 included almost a whole page of allegations by gail formerly called gayatri. May 23, 2016 if former inmate of the mata amritanandamayi math gail tredwell lodges a formal complaint relating to the various allegations, including that of rape and financial irregularities that she had raised i. Thirdly, it is evident that amma has failed to understand your life because now you are simply gail tredwell and acting against her so it clearly proves her defeat. After years of recovery, she is ready to share the inside story of ashram life and her unique perspective of this famous woman. Mar 20, 2019 tredwell never imagined that she would soon be trading her free spirit. Kairali people tv aired an interview with gail tredwell, who has taken the headlines by a storm in kerala. Final question to the math, even amma has failed to know the life of her own devotee who served her for 20 years then how can amma know the fate of other devotees. Mata amritanandamayi scandal gail tredwell book holy hell. At the end of 1999, she made her daring break from the organization. The interviewer, john brittas, who is also the chief editor of the channel did a good job in asking the right questions. A memoir of faith, devotion, and pure madness tredwell, gail on. A memoir of faith, devotion and pure madness was published last november, it sent shockwaves among the devotees of mata amritanandamayi, popularly.
Amma is a mere human being, and a psychopathic one i must say. My desire to read the book had other personal connections as well. I must say that this book is very readable and entertaining. Allegations against mata amritanandamayis ashram serious. Interview with gail tredwell when australian writer gail tredwells book holy hell. Holy hell ebook by gail tredwell 9780989679411 rakuten kobo.
Memoir of faith, devotion and pure madness 3, written by gayatri aka gail tredwell, led me to question quite a few things. Holy hell by gail tredwell a sincere search to the truth. For two decades gail tredwell lived in india and served as the personal attendant to amma, commonly known as the hugging saint. She also sent letters to media organisations that she would stand by her allegations. Gailgayatri tredwells book, holy hell is now available on amazon we can bet that followers of amma, who has made untold millions of dollars, will scream objections at treadwell for earning one penny for this book. A memoir of faith, devotion, and pure madness book online at best prices in india on. There were the expected shrill and high decibel claims and counter claims from both sides.
Followers of amma started websites denying any scandal. Today, tredwell lives in hawaii, working a variety of jobs while writing a book about her time with amma currently titled for the love of god. Dec 08, 20 amma s former personal attendant of 20 years gail gayatri tredwell published her autobiography of her life with amma entitled holy hell. It is an excellent portrayal of the subtle and insidious selfbetrayal that can occur to spiritual seekers slowly over time especially when sequestered away from the rest of their life and the world. When australian writer gail tredwells book holy hell. She made some allegations in this memoir as well as media interviews which preceded and followed the release of the book. Also aded is an excerpt from a video filmed just a year or two before gail tredwell, gayatri or swamini amritaprana, left amma s ashram. Also aded is an excerpt from a video filmed just a year or two before gail tredwell, gayatri or swamini amritaprana, left ammas ashram. Ammas personality in light of her relationship to gail and to her youth psychological analysis and reflections by dr jacques vigne psychiatrist, writer on india and psychological spirituality summary of the study february 2014 has been an important date. About the author for two decades gail tredwell lived in india and served as the personal attendant to amma, commonly known as the hugging saint. A memoir of faith, devotion, and pure madness kindle edition by tredwell, gail. She came from australia and becomes a devotee of amma in india.
When amma found out, she would give gail a trashing and stop these terrible luxuries. A book by a former devotee of mata amritanandamayi, gail tredwell, who left the ashram after 20 years, points fingers at keralas hugging saint. May 08, 2019 holy hell by gail tredwell is a heartwrenching story. Tredwell never imagined that she would soon be trading her free spirit. In simple words, she has explained the love, pain, faith, madness, and devotion in this book.
Gail gayatri tredwell was there every step of the wayfrom early devotee to head female disciple, everpresent personal attendant, handmaiden, whipping post, and unwilling keeper of some devastating secrets. A memoir of faith, devotion, and pure madness, 1 was published in november 20 by wattle tree press, maui, hawaii. A memoir of faith, devotion, and pure madness, was published in november 20 by wattle tree press. Gail gayatri tredwell was there every step of the wayfrom early devotee to head female disciple, everpresent personal attendant, handmaiden, whipping post. Gail gayatri tredwell was there every step of the wayfrom early devotee to head female disciple, everpresent personal atte. A memoir of faith, devotion and pure madness, who alleged in her book that she was raped repeatedly by the chief priest of the mutt balu in mideighties and physically tortured by the god woman amrithanandamayi during her stay in the ashramam, told india today on sunday that she will standby her allegations and have no intention of withdrawing anything. This post written by me was first published in taslima nasrins blog here.
This book has sent shockwaves around the amma community as tredwell reveals what really went on behind closed doors. Holy hell by gail tredwell is a heartwrenching story. This intelligent, brave, and lucid account is uniquely valuable for its depth and searing honesty. Written by shaju philip thiruvananthapuram published. Gail tredwell reveals the lies, cruelty, and greed behind her gurus facade of selfless love, perpetual bliss, and divine perfection. Unfortunately, gail doesnt say this in the book, but she often had to go behind amma s back to provide nutritional supplementation to the girls when she found many were suffering from deficiencies and strange discharges. Gail tredwell repeated the allegations in a tv interview aired by people channel. It has been few weeks since the book written by former disciple of the so called hugging saint amrithanandamayi has started making waves. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets.
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