Mata Amritanandamayi, the world-famous “hugging saint” whose charitable trust runs schools and hospitals all over the world, is safe after being attacked yesterday by an unidentified assailant. The attempted stabbing occurred in the Kollam district of Kerala, where the spiritual leader is based.
Reports say her followers wrestled the attacker on to the ground before he could reach the stage where she was leading prayers for 18,000 people.[BBC]
Two of the disciples who rushed to protect their leader experienced minor injuries.
Mata Amritanandamayi, (“Mother of Absolute Bliss”) or “Amma” as she is sometimes called cautioned against revenge:
Ms Amritanandamayi said on Monday she wanted her followers to forgive the attacker.
“All those who are born will die one day. I am going ahead keeping this reality in mind,” she said.
“I will carry on. I will continue to give darshan to the devotees coming here to meet me. I don’t want my [followers] to create any problem for what had happened yesterday.”[BBC]
Hail Lucifer?
The Indian Express newspaper said the attacker may have been a follower who was expelled recently.[BBC]
The spiritual leader’s website had this statement:
August 21, 2005 – Latest News from Amritapuri
Amma is unharmed. She is giving Devi Bhava darshan now. Stranger with a hidden knife rushes to the stage during Amma’s bhajans. Devotees overpowered him and have handed him over to the police. None of today’s Devi Bhava programs were interrupted by this incident.
my hometown!
Malayala Manorama (English Edition) has an article here. The accused is a 47 year old rubbertapper from Idduki, who has been a regular at the ashram. Other details are still unclear.
See previous post for background.
sad…
Did not get the “Hail Lucifer” comment by Anna….
M. Nam
I admit I rolled my eyes when I first heard of Amma…decided she was cute and harmless when I heard about her charities and billion hugs. Newfound respect for the woman after reading her words to her followers here. Anyone who can so resolutely paraphrase Keynes is alright in my book.In the long run, we will all, indeed, be dead.
Lucifer – cast out of heaven, so decides to set up hell and become God’s enemy.
/comic book explation>
cicatrix – thx for the simple explanation.
M. Nam
Kollam?! Really?
Now why was I thinking, you were maybe from Punjab?
you don’t rush the hugging saint and stab. you hug the hugging saint and stab.
Reminds me of the story about Swami Sivananda, who was attacked by an axe-wielding man and similarly saved by his disciples. I assume the story has been mythologized to some extent, but the version I am familiar with has Sivananda visiting his attacker in jail, bringing him flowers and religious books, and worshipping at his feet. Ultimately his attacker was transformed by the experience and became a follower of Sivanada.
A bigger man than me…
Do you think it would be very good PR if Amma/Sivananda raged for the blood of the “murderers”? WOuld the flow of dollars continue as strongly if they did anything but what JP II did to Mehmet Agca?
Carnivore: That is an unforunate, but not incomprehensibly cynical way of looking at these matters. As a meat-eater, it may be difficult to understand this (kidding!), but not every religious figure is in it for the money. I can’t vouch for Ammachi or the former pope though.
Also, there are plenty of religious leaders calling for blood these days, though for national not personal vendettas, and their coffers are overflowing.
amma and anna …sounds n looks similar. any catch there?
no, but this “ANNA” was named for her father’s “Amma” who spoke malayalam…and i’ve now managed to fit THREE palindromes in one sentence. w00t!
Wow, this isn’t the first time something like this has happened in the past week, either.
shocked
I guess if you’re a big public figure, religious or not, you’re going to have enemies, even if your public life is spent hugging people and giving away lots of money to tsunami victims.
Amma is unbelievable. It took me three years of seeing her, once or sometimes twice a year to build an inner connection with her. The first time I saw her I was crying, and the love I felt for all mankind, and the compassion for all the suffering of people was unbelievable. I cannot see Amma (in person or on video) now and not cry at least a few tears of love. It is unbelievable.. I’m not a little girl but a man who had lost the ability to cry for many years… The comment about hugging the saint and stabbing her then is atrocious. The comment about the money is also ignorant, because not everything is about money. Amma herself does not have any possesions. It all goes to charity. But even so, a saint cares not for money. Even someone like me who is very far from the purity and enlightenment of Amma, doesnt care about money. I will not tell a lie to make money, money is NOTHING. It can be used for good, yes, but in itself it is nothing, it is not reality.