It may sound like an absurd story for a man to hold his right arm high for 47 years for the sake of faith, but in India, it is a real life. His name is Amal Bharati, and he is a Hindu dervish who believes that doing so is a tribute to Lord Shiva and a prayer for world peace. His right arm had shrunk into a rotten log, but he never gave up on his faith. How did he do it, and how did he end up?
From ordinary people to dervishes
Born in 1945, Amal Bharati was originally an ordinary Indian, with a job in a bank, and three children with his wife, living an ordinary and stable life. But in 1970, he suddenly felt a sense of emptiness and confusion, and he felt that his life had no meaning and no faith. He began to seek guidance from Hinduism, and he believed in Lord Shiva, one of the most important gods in Hinduism, representing the power of destruction and creation.
He decided to give up everything, became an ascetic, and began a long and bumpy path of faith. In order to realize his faith, he resolutely divorced his wife, left all his property to his family, and embarked on a life on the streets alone. He began all sorts of austerities, such as not wearing shoes, not shaving his head, not eating meat, not drinking, not bathing, not sleeping, not talking, and so on. He believed that in this way he would purify his body and mind and also get closer to Lord Shiva.
Faith with the right arm held high
Amal Bharati's asceticism did not satisfy him, he felt that he was still constantly tempted and distracted by the outside world, and he wanted to adopt a more extreme ascetic method to strengthen his religious beliefs and also to show his respect and gratitude to Lord Shiva. So in 1973, he made the amazing decision to raise his right hand, and since then he has never lowered his right hand below his waist. He sees it as an eternal tribute to Lord Shiva and a way to pray for world peace.
"I don't ask for much, why is there a war between us, why is there so much hatred and enmity between us? His actions quickly spread around the world, and thousands of people were inspired by him, and he gradually became famous as a role model for monks and people in India. Many media outlets came to interview him and even asked him to advertise, and he became more and more famous. Countless pairs of eyes were focused on him, and if he wanted to give up at this time, someone would condemn him for his impiety. But he will never give up easily.
Changes and endings in the right arm
The penance of Amar Bharati raising his right arm changed dramatically. For the first few years, he would have pain in his right arm, but then the pain slowly subsided, and due to the loss of circulation, he lost all sensation in his right arm, and it would have to take a long time to pull his hand back to his waist. Due to his long-term inactivity, his right arm has gradually shrunk, his skin is black against his bones, and his fingers and nails are joined together, which looks very terrifying, like a rotten wood growing on his body.
His right arm can no longer be called a hand, but a symbol, and his right arm has become a part of him and everything to him. He doesn't need anything else, he just needs his right arm, his faith.
epilogue
Amar Bharati's story makes us feel the power of faith and makes us think about what true peace is. In his own way, he expressed his respect for Lord Shiva and also expressed his prayer for world peace, and he interpreted the meaning of faith and the value of peace with his own life.