A healer in Edgware claims to be able to perform miracles, but, as DONNA HALFPENNY learns, supplicants must ensure they are not `unclean'

Three kings appear to a young girl in a dream. They dismount from their camels and, in turn, touch her head, telling her in unison: "You will be the star."

The following day the six-year-old notices a star on each of her palms and the soles of her feet.

"From that day on I felt the power of God." said Divine Mother Annai Gayathri, now 29 and working in Edgware.

The Divine Mother has come a long way, both literally and spiritually, since the first time she was prompted to acknowledge her gift as a healer.

She claims to have healed hundreds of people with varying problems and ailments in 24 years. From cancer victims and poeple in comas, those suffering infertility and with relationship problems, the Divine Mother claims to have cured them all.

In these spiritally famished times, the Divine Mother, who lives on the first floor of a warehouse in High Road, said all you need is to have faith in her power.

"I am a small instrument and I am doing good," she said. "There are a lot of people saying that they are God but we all have God in us. I have never said that I am God."

She said her healing knew no distance. People seeking her help did not necessarily need to come in person to be healed, the process is not formulaic.

She said: "A woman whose brother was blind came to me on his behalf. She lived in England and he lived in Pakistan. She came and I cured her brother without ever seeing him."

But there are rules to abide by before you enter into the Divine Mother's presence. You must cleanse yourself and no alcohol, meat or cigarettes should be consumed the day before you visit.

Surprisingly, the reason for the rules is based not upon any religious doctrine because, according to the Divine Mother, anyone is welcome to attend a consultation regardless of his or her religious persuasion. Rather, the rules are necessary to her personal wellbeing. She claims that if she comes into contact with unclean people she can start to sweat blood, hours, even days, after the visitor has gone.

Evidence of her miracles are said to be well-documented. Peppered around the huge expanse of her office there are glossy photographs featuring grateful recipients whom, she said, she has healed. The Divine Mother has scrapbooks full of letters, the yellowing correspondence saying as much about her clients' gratitude as it does about the extent of her fame.

The stamps on the envelopes track her healing journey to Sri Lanka and Canada, and now, to England.

There is no charge for miracles, but the Divine Mother does suggest recipients make a donation. After all, she argued, "the people take my energy" and, like a miracle, that has no price.

The building in which we met, sipping hot water, cost £550,000. The Divine Mother took out a loan to pay for it and was not, as some may expect, given the money by a benefactor. The first floor of Gemini House will be her healing headquarters, where people will meet her. You can contact her on 0181 951 4777 or 0181 952 7775.

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