'Hugging Saint' spreads mission in Coralville

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Tuesday, July 3, 2007

 

'Hugging Saint' spreads mission in Coralville

 

Thousands wait for embraces

 

By Brian Morelli<http://www.press-citizen.com/apps/pbcs.dll/personalia?ID=243>

Iowa City Press-Citizen

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Amma, known worldwide as the " Hugging Saint, " pauses to smile at Theresa

Murphy of Omaha, Neb., after giving her a hug Monday at the Coralville

Marriott and Convention Center. Amma will be giving darshan, compassionate

hugs with a blessing, in Coralville through this evening. *Press-Citizen /

Hannah van Zutphen-Kann*

 

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Some people wept, others beamed and some closed their eyes and savored the

warm embrace from the world- renowned humanitarian known as Amma, the

" Hugging Saint. "

 

" If you are in the right frame of mind and really receptive, it is like

eating or drinking something you have never had before, " Kamal Bijlani, 46,

said Monday of what it is like to get a hug from Amma. " Many people cry or

spontaneously feel very happy, or it just brings up great emotion in them. "

 

Bijlani originally is from India, but has become one of the thousands who

tour with Mata Amritanandamayi, or Amma, a tranquil 53-year-old woman from

Parayakadavu in the Quilon district of Kerala, India.

 

More than 2,000 people, including Bijlani, Coralville Mayor Jim Fausett and

Lt. Gov. Patty Judge packed into an ornately decorated conference hall in

the Coralville Marriott Hotel and Convention Center Monday to receive hugs.

 

" She arouses the feeling of love. She rekindles the fire of love in all of

us, " Bijlani said.

 

Bijlani was dressed in flowing white garments -- like many of her followers,

he said, for simplicity.

 

Vendors packed the convention, as well, selling garments, CDs, pictures of

Amma and books, and there was a ring of Indian foods being sold in a hallway

surrounding the main room.

 

After a brief group meditation and chant, gatherers sat at Amma's feet and,

one at a time, kneeled before her and received an embrace, which many

consider a healing or blessing.

 

Raj Solanki and his partner Tracy Gonzalez wanted their son Makaiah, 3, to

experience Amma, so they drove up from Fairfield for the event and got in

line.

 

" I really wanted to my son to see her, " Gonzalez said. " I hear she has a

really big heart and gives great hugs and we wanted to share that love. "

 

Although they hadn't received their hugs yet, visitors received tokens that

kept order of first to last.

 

Amma has a reputation for making an impact in humanitarian efforts.

 

" It is not often we host someone of such international importance,

especially someone who has done so much to bring the world together and

improve lives of millions of people, " Judge said.

 

Amma had events throughout Monday and there are additional events scheduled

for today.

 

" Where as Amma is a renowned humanitarian and spiritual leader, who's sole

mission is to help people ... (I) declare July 2nd and 3rd of 2007, the days

of Amma the hugging saint, " Fausett said in a proclamation.

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