Even before knowing the energies of Pratyangira Devi, or the name for it, Amma would frequently be in states of absolute bliss as a young girl. The Divine energies would encompass her in increasing intensities. She would spontaneously go into Bhava, a complete expression of the Divine energies in human form.
As Amma Adi Sakthi and Swami Shanmuga started their life together, Swami started experiencing the Divine Mother's energies and became Her Adiyar (devotee and servant) with complete surrender, experiencing many transformations from within.
Over a period of time, Sri Maha Pratyangira Devi revealed Herself to Amma and Swami astrally. In 1997, Amma and Swami received the tremendous blessing of an open-eye Darshan of Pratyangira Devi, the highest blessing that the Mother bestows on a human being.
When they initially had darshan experiences of Pratyangira Devi, they did not recognize this form of the Divine Mother. They did not know who this Mother was and what it was about, never knew that such a form of the Mother exists. It was through a divine coincidence that they spotted a rare picture of the Goddess and learned more about Her.
Many 'learned' priests tried to dissuade Amma and Swami from worshipping the Mother Pratyangira, saying that She was an Ugra Devata and that it was not a good idea. However, all that Amma and Swami felt was the warmth and love of the Mother and the swift currents of Her energies. They simply followed their heart and surrendered to the Mother. They consider Pratyangira Devi to be their Guru and Mother, and hence call her Gurumata.
Gurumata, Old Lady Mother OLM, Daadi Maa, Vaisanamma
As the Pratyangira consciousness in Amma Adi Sakthi rises, everything about her changes, including her physical features. The transformation is so complete that Adi becomes Pratyangira Devi and Pratyangira Devi becomes Adi, they are fused as one. It is not a split personality but rather a manifestation of Adi Amma's Higher Self.
In this consciousness, Amma Adi Sakthi transforms into the all-knowing grand old soul of Pratyangira Devi, and for this reason, they fondly referred to this state of hers as Vaisanamma in Tamil which translates as Old Lady Mother, or OLM in short. In North India, people spontaneously refer to her as Daadhi Ma, meaning grandmother. The terms OLM, Gurumata, Pratyangira Devi, Vaisanamma, and Daadhi Ma are used interchangeably.
People would spontaneously address Adi as Amma because they would naturally feel the healing energies of the universal Divine Mother through her. As the years progressed and as their experiences with the energies they carry deepened, Amma Adi Sakthi became the vessel or conduit for Pratyangira Devi's energies, fusing as one. And Swami Shanmuga became a vessel for the Shiva energies, making the union of Shiva-Shakti complete.
OLM is the higher self of Amma Adi Sakthi who is a conduit of OLM. In their normal self, Amma and Swami are Adiyargal or devotees who have completely surrendered themselves at the feet of Gurumata Pratyangira Devi.
As OLM stepped into their life, Amma and Swami's life took on a different direction. It was both an easy and difficult transition to make. They completely trust Gurumata, and with Her energies around, it is always a case of growth and shape-shifting energies all the time. This is sometimes challenging to Amma and Swami, but their total surrender makes it easy for them.
