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Born in the southern Indian state of Kerala, Mata Amritanandamayi, also known as Amma, is a renowned spiritual leader and humanitarian. She is widely revered as the "hugging saint" due to her practice of embracing individuals as a means of offering solace and spiritual connection. Amma's compassionate nature and philanthropic efforts have garnered international recognition, inspiring numerous charitable projects focused on education, healthcare, and disaster relief across the globe.