In order to prove their belief in higher powers, Indians often deprive themselves of earthly goods. Sometimes the desire to demonstrate devotion to the gods grows in their mania, bordering on self-harm. So, in any case, those who were brought up in other traditions think.
Well, who of us, pray tell, would think to raise a hand and never lower it again? And all for the sake of Shiva, one of the supreme deities of classical Hinduism …
Way to yourself
Mahant Amar Bharti Ji lives in the Indian city of New Delhi. At first, he was no different from his compatriots: he was a successful official, got married, bought a car, built a house. gave birth to three sons … Maybe he even planted a tree. That is, he did everything. according to popular wisdom, a real man should do in his life.
But one day Amar had a dream. What exactly the father of the family had dreamed of, he did not tell anyone, but suddenly, without any explanation, he left his job, left home and settled in a tent. All alone. However, he could not sit in the tent, and, again without explanation, he set off to wander the roads of India. Perhaps he was looking for a way to self-improvement, or maybe even then he decided to devote himself to serving Shiva … Who knows? Be that as it may, Amar traveled for three years.
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I vote for
However, the years passed, and the wanderer realized that he had not achieved his goal - and Shiva did not please in any way, and it seemed that he was far from self-improvement. And then, due to something completely incomprehensible to you and me, dear reader, an impulse of the soul Amar Bharti raised his right hand to the sky. It happened in 1973. I wonder if Amar had guessed then. that he is no longer destined to lower his long-suffering limb?
For the first few years, the muscles and joints ached terribly, but the ascetic got used to it, moreover, the hand gradually became like a dry branch, and even if you cut the skin on it with a knife, Amar will not feel pain. So he walks around New Delhi - as if constantly voting "For".
Perhaps such a sacrifice is pleasing to Shiva. It is even possible that thanks to the raised hand, Amar, it seems to him, has become closer to the formidable god. However, given that Amar's fingers gradually curled into a fig, and the nails on them have not been cut for 40 years, one can doubt the positive reaction of Shiva to such a gesture of goodwill in his direction.
It's not about the record
According to Amar. in this situation he gained much more than he lost. In any case, he managed to achieve harmony with his own self. Besides, who was Amar before? An unknown official, father and husband.
What a marvel! But now he is famous throughout India, he has dozens of followers who idolize Amar almost the same way. like Shiva. True, to repeat his feat - to live 40 years with a hand raised up. - so far no one has succeeded. But the record is not the point! And in what?
Elena LANDA