"Amma, The Hugging Mother" Makes Sixth Visit To M'sia From Saturday

KUALA LUMPUR, April 5 (Bernama) -- Sri Mata Amritanandamayi Devi or popularly known as "Amma, the Hugging Mother", will make her sixth visit to Malaysia beginning Saturday. About 20,000 people are expected to meet her at the Penang International Sports Arena (PISA) from 7pm on April 7 and another 7,000 people or so at the Putrajaya International Convention Centre (PICC) in Putrajaya at the same time on April 9. Dr Sukumaran Krishnan Nayar, chairman of the Amriteswari Foundation of Malaysia, said Amma, 59, also known as the "Mother of Immortal Bliss" from Kerala in India, had been visiting Malaysia every alternate year over the past 10 years to provide blessings at her "darshan" or audience with a holy person in Sanskrit. Those who seek blessings from her are known to have either a glow on their faces, tears on their cheeks, or just a contented smile, and the luckier ones sometimes get a gift from her, a rose petal or a fruit. Dr Sukumaran said the foundation, which was the official body representing the vision and mission of Amma and hosting her visit to Malaysia, also planned to step up its charity work this year. Presently, it provides tuition and martial arts training to more than 100 under-privileged children and sewing and cooking classes for about 50 single mothers in the Puchong area, near here. "The idea is to help them have a better life through education and better skills," said Dr Sukumaran, adding that plans were also in the pipeline for volunteer doctors to provide medical aid later this year. -- BERNAMA