Key topics
Religion, spirituality, adventure, youth
When a Goddess Dies
2014 - Oxford University Press
Venerated as an incarnation of the Divine Mother (avatar), Ma Anandamayi (1896-1982) is considered the most important Hindu saint of the 20th century, with hundreds of thousands of followers. Based on fieldwork, Orianne Aymard reviews what happens to a religious organization after the death of its leader. Her work sheds new light not only on Hindu holiness, especially female holiness, but also on the nature of religious leadership and devotion.
Sous l'Ĺ“il de la DĂ©esse
2022 - Éditions du Mont Blanc
A story of resilience started at the foot of the Himalayas.
At age 25, Orianne suffered a serious stroke in the foothills of the Indian Himalayas, near the samadhi (tomb) of one of the greatest spiritual figures of modern India, Ma Anandamayi, the "Mother of Joy". A few years later, Orianne thwarts the medical prognosis that condemned her to give up high altitude, and decides to pursue her dream and climb Lhotse (8.516 m), the satellite summit of Everest and the 4th highest summit in the world.
The only woman in her group, and even though she is neither a mountaineer nor an experienced Himalayan, she embarks on a journey through "the zone of death". Despite the chaotic progress of her expedition, on May 23, 2019, she found herself atop Lhotse, gazing before her at Everest, or Chomolungma, the Mother Goddess of the World.
Available on Amazon
Avec mon bâton
2022 - Éditions Un Dimanche Après-Midi
Inspired by Orianne’s pilgrimages, this children's book traces the day of a young boy and his grandfather alongside their faithful companion, the walking stick. A great story of knowledge and the importance of sharing!