'Hugging Saint' from India is embraced by Americans

Washington, July 30 (UNI) Of all the things imported from India that has made a mark in the United States comes Transcendental Meditation, followed by Yoga, Ayurveda and oil massages in that order and now a much-admired spiritual guru, known in the US media as the "Hugging Saint" or "Amma" who has gained international prominence for her practice of hugging people as a way to spread peace and compassion.

Recently she was in New York to meet with her devotees and receive an award for her humanitarian work.

The Interfaith Center of New York (ICNY) honoured her work in an award ceremony that also included Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer and actor Richard Gere.

In May this year the ICNY bestowed an award on Sri Mata Amritanandamayi Devi, better known as Amma for her outstanding role as a spiritual leader and humanitarian, citing in specific her organisation's massive relief work in the wake of the 2004 Asian tsunami. As part of the award ceremony, Amma delivered an address on intra-religious understanding and collaboration.

The award ceremony was held at the Rubin Museum of Art in Manhattan. Since its inception in 1997, the Interfaith Award has been presented to 11 individuals who the ICNY feels are doing exceptional work in fostering peace and harmony between the diverse religions of the world.

The award is named after the founder of the ICNY, the Very Reverend James Parks Morton. These include 1989 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate His Holiness the Dalai Lama, 1984 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Archbishop Desmond Tutu, 2003 Nobel Prize Laureate Shirin Ebadi and US President Bill Clinton.

This year, Amma was honoured along with five others: 2005 Noble Peace Prize winner Dr Mohammed Elbaradei, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency; US Supreme Court Justice Stephen G Breyer; the renowned American actor Richard Gere, for his work as Director of Healing the Divide and as Chairman of the Board of the International Campaign for Tibet; and the pair of Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf, the Imam of Masjid Al-Farah, and Daisy Khan, the Executive Director of the American Society for Muslim Advancement.

The 53 year-old south Indian "Amma" reportedly has millions of followers in India, especially Kerala from where she comes. But she also has a large following in the United States as well. Thousands of Americans now line up to see and experience Amma on her annual North American tours.

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