> In Tamilnadu, India this word 'Ammachi" is used in a colloquial form
> to mention god.Mainly, such an usage is predominant when parents tell
> something about "god" to their children.
The word as I have understood it is derived from
``Mahalakshmi'', said in a style appropriate for
children. I have relatives named Mahalakshmi whose
nicknames are ``Maachi'' or ``Ammachi''. Presumably
these nicknames arose when they were children.
Mani
