Sri Lanka, a Tamil Hindu’s devotion to Our Lady: Thanks to her I became a mother
Mullathivu (AsiaNews) - Crowning the desire to have a child thanks to the intercession of the Virgin Mary: this is the story of a devout Tamil Hindu Vijitha from Sri Lanka. "I have had to face a lot of difficulties in my life - the woman tells AsiaNews - but I've always found comfort in devotion to Mother Mary. After 17 years of prayer she has given to me and my husband a beautiful little girl , making our lives happy and serene".
Vijitha , 42, lives in the village Mullivikkal East in Mullathivu District (Northern Province) . The area is predominantly Tamil and was hard hit by the civil war . "This is where we were born - she explains - even though we lost our homes in the conflict. Now we are living in temporary shelters, in which it is hard to live when it's hot".
This woman's life has been difficult since birth: "I was three when I lost my mother and my father remarried. He had six more children with his new wife, males and females, but I never really got on with them. That was when my devotion to Our Lady was born. I suffered a lot for this, but I thought that even if they did not want me, I had the greatest Mother of all, Mary".
After finishing her studies Vijitha worked in a rehabilitation center for the Jesuits. In June 1994 she married Anandarasa, a fisherman by trade. After a few years of marriage they had been trying to have children, but without success. In the end, she says, "I turned to Our Lady and prayed for the gift of a child. Eventually my faith grew and I prayed to her for so many things that happened in our family life". Vijitha also began to go to church.
"After 17 years - she said - Mother Mary heard my prayers and I got pregnant. I was really happy, and my husband was caring and loving with me. After nine months, last year I gave birth to a baby girl". Her name is Tibexsha, but the people in the village call her "Daughter of Our Lady".
Despite the blessing received, Vijitha says she does not want to convert to Christianity : "For the moment I will not baptize my daughter or seek baptism for myself. But when she is old enough she will be free to decide if she wants to convert. Meanwhile, however, I bring her to church with me , because as a family we participate in all the enounters, Masses and events organized by the local church".
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