The power of a hug
Jul 2, 2007
By Molly Rossiter
The Gazette
http://gazetteonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070702/NEWS/70702018
molly.rossiter@gazettecommunications.com
CORALVILLE – Theresa Murphy struggled to keep her emotions intact after receiving a personal blessing – in the form of a hug – from India’s hugging saint, Sri Mata Amritanandamayi Devi, or “Amma,” this morning.
Hug power:
A crowd gathers to hug Amma during the first day of a public event at the Marriott in Coralville today. Amma is known as a humanitarian and for traveling the world and blessing people by embracing them with a compassionate hug.
“It’s almost indescribable,” the 36-year-old Omaha, Neb., woman said of her first encounter with Amma. “It’s overwhelming, it’s light. It’s the embodiment of love.”
Organizers estimated nearly 1,000 people were at the Coralville Marriott Hotel and Convention Center to see Amma, a world-renowned humanitarian and recipient of the 2002 Ghandi-King Award for Non-Violence.
“This is really the smallest crowd that we’ve seen so far,” said Randy Rutenbeck, a member of Amma’s tour team.
Amma’s Coralville stop includes a spiritual talk at 7:30 p.m. tonight, meditation and individual blessings at 10 a.m. Tuesday and a Devi Bhava service at 7 p.m. Tuesday, all at the Coralville Marriott Hotel and Convention Center.
After 20 minutes of meditation this morning, Amma, seated in front of a stage, received those who came for miles to see her. Each of those waiting for an individual blessing dropped to their knees and waited their turn. She greeted each person with a broad smile and outreached arms, and enveloped them in a hug while chanting blessings in their ear.
“There’s just something about her, it’s just phenomenal,” said Betty Dahmer, who drove from St. Louis to be hugged by Amma.