The sight that greets visitors to Kampung Batu 13, Hulu Besut, is one of awe and wonder. The village houses several strange gigantic structures such as a kettle, vase, crescent moon, umbrella, half-hat and so forth.

Kampung Batu 13 lies in a remote corner of Terengganu that borders Kelantan, and a bus ride to Kota Baru takes less than 90 minutes from the nearest town of Jerteh, about 20km from the village.

In this village lies the earthly 'spiritual headquarters' of Ariffin Mohammad, or Ayah Pin (photo) to his followers. The man who claims to be the reincarnation of holy figures in the world's major religions.

The village itself, about the size of three football fields, is supposed to be a replica of what Ayah Pin, 64, calls the Sky Kingdom (the heavenly abode). He claims that the blueprint for the buildings came from the Sky Kingdom.

According to Ayah Pin, all human beings come from one God, and to return to Him, humankind must be united.

Surrounding the unique structures are dilapidated wooden houses where some 30 families, mainly followers, reside.

The gated entrance is elaborately designed with a concrete arch while the giant structures are covered with bright coloured tiles and boast a professional touch.

According to my guide, musician Rosly Abdul Samad, the structures are estimated to cost "a few million ringgit".

Large following

"I don't know exactly how much and I don't know where the money comes from. You have to ask Ayah Pin that. All I know is that he doesn't solicit funds from followers nor does he seek fame.

"People recognise him from their dreams and come looking for him," explained Rosly during our eight-hour bus journey from Kuala Lumpur to Jerteh.

"He doesn't teach any religion or faith. He just heals those with troubled hearts, minds and souls by offering advice and spiritual guidance regardless of their religious background," he added.

Rosly said Ayah Pin has a huge following among Muslims, Christians, Buddhists and Hindus in and outside Malaysia.

"We believe there are between 5,000 and 10,000 Malay followers while another 30,000 are those from other ethnic groups, mostly the Orang Asli community," he added.

The illiterate 'saint' also claims to command a following in India and the predominantly Hindu island of Bali in Indonesia.

"He transformed me. I now lead a reasonably good life with a steady income. I'm married with two young children and am happy making music and being around him. All we want to do is live in peace with everybody, regardless of race or religion," said Rosly.

Nothing wrong

The Saturday I was there, a few groups of newcomers were at the village as well. These included Singaporeans who came after reading about the village and Ayah Pin in a newspaper in the republic.

"We recently read about this village and the stories regarding the followers of Ayah Pin. Out of curiosity, I decided a weekend getaway with five friends," said a Malay woman in her 50s who requested anonymity.

"I wanted to see the structures and meet him in person," added the mother of six who operates a cafeteria.

After witnessing two gatherings led by Ayah Pin, she concluded that there was nothing wrong with the activities.

"To me, these people are harmless. They are not infringing on anyone else's rights, they are not a political group or a threat to the government."

The woman believed that it was up to individuals to make sense of their surroundings and use their judgement to absorb what is good.

At one point, a young Malay man sitting next to her interjected to proclaim that Ayah Pin had changed him from being a "racist gangster".

"I used to get into fights back in KL. I was also a racist but since coming here I no longer feel that way towards people of other races," he said.

A Chinese man had travelled to the village from Singapore with the hope of having the "heaviness in his head removed".

At a gathering, attended by some 150 people, that night, Ayah Pin told the man that he was not a bomoh and thus could not cure him but could "help lighten the burden".

He paused for a moment and then uttered softly to the man, "You should be feeling lighter in the head now. Tell me, am I right?" The man looked a bit perplexed but then smiled and nodded in agreement.

"But only you can solve your own problems," Ayah Pin added.

Interpreting dreams

The gathering began after 8pm with a five-minute song in praise of Ayah Pin. A group of men led by Rosly then accompanied Ayah Pin into the main hall.

After the singing ended, he began prompting questions from the floor.

"Ask me on any subject and I'll give you an answer. Ask me anything at all."

Ayah Pin gave his full attention to each question and depiction of dreams before attempting to decipher them during the five-hour question-and-answer session.

"The duration of such gatherings is not fixed. It depends on the crowd size and the number of questions posed to Ayah Pin. But he answers every question that is put to him," explained one of his followers later.

Ayah Pin was asked to decipher dreams ranging from walking through the clouds to visions of the Egyptian pyramids.

A few related visions of a regal looking woman with long black hair. According to Ayah Pin, the woman is a Balinese princess and appears only in certain people's dreams.

"You must remember that what you see here is a reflection of the Sky Kingdom on Earth. God goes by many names but they all refer to one and the same ... there are only different religions but God is only one," said Ayah Pin.

"I will provide answers for your troubles, both of this world and the other world."

Throughout the session, Ayah Pin kept repeating that there was no compulsion in religion as it was "a basic human right practised since time immemorial".

"My job is to save the lives of humans on Earth regardless of colour or creed, to help open their hearts and the eye of their minds to their respective beliefs."

The session ended well past midnight and the crowd adjourned for tea and fellowship at an adjacent stall.

About 3am, the followers began trickling into the cluster of structures individually or in small groups.

"Everyone prays according to what they feel is the best way to worship God," said Kamariah Ali, whose appeal on issues of religious freedom was dismissed by the Federal Court last week.

The giant structures are linked by walkways of polished tiles, interspersed with Roman pillars and balustrades, wood and plaster carvings lining the twists and turns of the path leading from one to the other.

Each structure - which is at least two storeys high - has a room with ceiling lights, table and chairs.

"Troubled minds are cleared in these rooms with the help and spiritual guidance of the Sky Kingdom. Only those who believe can see it (the Sky Kingdom) and me in my office up there among the clouds," explained Ayah Pin.

Sunday morning's gathering was similar to that of the previous night but with a smaller crowd. At the end of the three-hour session, newcomers were taken by the followers to the structures for prayer and meditation.

Temple visits

Marie P, who has been staying at the village on alternate weekends since last October, said visiting the village has made a difference in her life.

"Those who come here are not asked or told to leave or change their religion. I'm still a Catholic. I've always been searching for the truth. I heard about this place from my friends and decided to check it out for myself," she said.

Recalling bits and pieces from her past, Marie, who is in her 50s, said she used to talk to God when she was young.

"I still do, and I find this place very peaceful for prayer regardless of your faith."

She said her quest for the truth had led her to Ayah Pin.

"My mother has met him but she was unable to accept his claims. To me, he is a father figure now."

Ayah Pin's activities have occasionally made the news, such as reports that his followers have been distributing video recordings of his visits last year to Batu Caves and a makeshift temple in Setapak to the public.

More recently, followers released a video recording of Ayah Pin attending a ceremony at the 7th century Besakih Temple complex northeast of Bali early this year. Besakih (also spelt as Besakhi) or the Mother Temple, is Bali's largest and most sacred Hindu shrine.

To many Ayah Pin's saintly claims and his strange structures may border on absurdity but to his band of followers, he is nothing short of a divine miracle.