Het Nieuwsblad

Thousands of People are Hugged Daily by Indian Mother

By Dirk Musschoot

Amma is in the Netherlands. Call her a mother, spiritual leader or guru, divine mother or inexhaustible source of love. About three thousand people, including many from our country, had already come on Friday to 's-Hertogenbosch to be hugged by Amma. This is her speciality: darshan, with a solid hug she transfers love and healing force into people.

Literally darshan means "meeting with a saint", but Amma herself does not want to express it that way. "I'm just a woman who is doing what she has to do," she says. "I serve and I bring light".

(Photo of Amma giving darshan) "Ministers and presidents ask her advice. And this weekend also thousands of Belgian and Dutch people.

"There is not enough love in this world. I try to do something about this"

Her name is Mata Amritanandamayi (Mother of Immortal Bliss), or Amma which is easier to pronounce. She is one of the most important representatives of Hinduism. When she's home in Kerala in the south of India, where her elders where poor fish-sellers, she receives ministers and presidents to ask her for advice.

But she likes to go to the people. A tour between European villages was finished this weekend in a sports hall in 's-Hertogenbosch, where ten thousand people where expected to receive Amma's embrace.

Rose petals or an apple

It is strange to see; people from Holland, Belgium, also French speaking people in white, pink or orange garments; with a globule or self-sticking jewel on the forehead, barefoot and in yoga posture on the hard floor of the Maaspoort sports hall. Eyes closed or with an infinite look.

You can smell the incense and the Indian rice-meal that is prepared somewhere else in the building. (You can only start eating when Amma has blessed the food).

The Indian musicians on the podium sing Bhajans, religious songs, and it's striking how many people from here can sing them.

Slowly people come closer to the place where Amma is giving darshan in her seat. To bring order in this process, everybody has to get a ticket, like at the butcher. For hours they are waiting; old and young people, mothers with baby's, men and women in wheel chairs. Everybody waits in peace, sings the songs, prays or meditates. Meanwhile Amma is hugging everybody who is coming to her. She whispers something in their ear and gives her power to the people. How long does it take, every hug? Half a minute? Afterwards people stand up, touched, and get rose petals, a sweet or sometimes an apple from Amma.

While Amma is concentrating on a new hug, she gives an interview. Doing two things at the same time, it is no problem for her.

What do you give people with that hug?

"I give them love. There is not enough love in the world. Compare it with a car. You can have enough fuel, but when the battery does not work, the car won't drive; it's the same with people."

Do you never get tired from hugging?

"Oh boy. Do you ask the river if he becomes tired from flowing? Or do you ask the sun if he gets tired from shining?

You keep on giving love and smiles. Don't you feel the misery?

I'm not going to change the world. Don't forget that society is nourished by people. By these people you can change the world. Touch the people and you touch the world; that is what I try to do. It is meaningless to be sad.

One of Amma's Swami's, an Indian man in an orange dress, says that I should get a hug. I give my glasses, clean my face and advance to Amma on my knees. She says, "Come in my arms, lay your head in my shoulder and open your heart; the rest will come of itself." While I am hugged, she whispers in my right ear (in Dutch!):"My good friend, my good friend. Don't make sorrow anymore." I think…who has told her that I have problems?
Amma meditates, sings and gives the Darshan the whole weekend from 10 in the morning until everyone is hugged in sports hall Maaspoort.

Yesna from Brussels, "I found peace in an aggressive world"
Yesna is receptionist at a bank. Six years ago she got knowledge from Amma's energy. Then she felt much better. "Amma means: open your heart for others, sharing with everyone. That is very clear to me. I try to open my heart for others, to give love. My relations with other people are better since I know Amma. We live in an aggressive world, but I found peace regardless.

Rudy from Antwerp "I see something of Christ in her"

Rudy is knows Amma since she came to Lier some years ago. "She was touching my heart immediately", he remembers. "I saw something of Christ in her. Amma brought me to myself and now I'm a member of the Friends of Amma. From time to time we sing together and meditate. No, I'm not a Hindu. I'm a Christian searching for spirituality."

Does Christianity have spiritual people like Amma? "Perhaps, but I haven't found them yet." (Photo of darshan of the journalist)

The Mother of Immortal Bliss hugged our reporter. And all his sorrows went away.