Mystic manifestation

[Guest guest]

Mystic manifestation

 

Religion has its basis in unquestioned faith while science is rooted

in proven facts, yet both originated from humankind's desire to

understand our origin and environment. Voices Coordinators tell us

about miracles and superstitions from around the world

Religion and science are usually perceived as binary forces, for

religion has its basis in unquestioned faith while science is rooted

in proven facts. However both originated from the human desire to

understand their origin and environment. Archaic man searched for

answers to numerous questions and this quest resulted in a body of

knowledge called science.

 

But many vital queries remained unanswered and to deal with them man

turned towards faith, the belief in a superhuman power referred to

as God. Since then science has made many strides and various belief

systems and religions have also evolved to enable man to overcome

his frailties.

 

Since the nineteenth century most people, under the influence of

post-Enlightenment Europe had deliberately tried to become rational

and scientific. Yet beyond the realm of our knowledge which is

wholly derived from five senses, has always lurked a grey zone of

half perceived, preternatural incidents and experiences. Faith and

not reason alone can explain these phenomena and significantly most

religions have their share of these strange occurrences.

 

In Christianity they are called "Miracles" and in Hinduism they are

called "Chamatkars". Both have the same meaning — an extraordinary

event manifesting divine intervention.

 

Christian miracles for example have shown an uncanny resemblance.

The archive of these bizarre incidents that are beyond any valid

scientific explanations is staggering. In the year 988 A.D. the

inhabitants of Pucelles at New Orleans, France were awestruck by the

mysterious weeping of Jesus. Soon a devastating fire ruined the city

and people realised that the weeping Crucifix was a forewarning of a

disaster.

 

In 1972 a statue of Virgin Mary at Porto San Stefano began to bleed.

A few months later in Akita in Japan a wooden statue of the blessed

Virgin Mary also began to bleed. The statue even perspired and began

to emit a clear fluid from the eyes that looked like tears. The

statue reportedly wept 101 times. In addition to tears the statue's

right hand oozed out a reddish-brown fluid. Both the fluids were

sent for laboratory testing without disclosing the source. The

teardrops were identical in composition to human tears. The other

fluid was found to be of human origin of blood type AB.

 

In the year 1992 in San Thomas, Mexico, Ana Avila, a sixth grader

found discovered tears flowing down a three-foot Madonna statue. The

girl was praying for her mother who was suffering from cancer. When

Ana returned home that day she found that her mother was cooking

dinner. She had been so unwell for a long time that she was unable

to get out of bed earlier.

 

Word quickly spread throughout the town and other healings were

reported. People from all over the world arrived on crutches and

stretchers and walked away on their own will. Scientists from USA

and Mexico City confirmed that the tears are real but could not

provide an explanation about the miracles.

 

Miracles in Hinduism and other religions are equally uncanny and do

not have a logical explanation.

 

In the early 1970's the devotees of Satya Sai Baba of Puttaparthi in

South India witnessed a miracle. On certain days of the week the

picture of Satya Baba emitted an ash-like substance which came to be

known as "bibhuti". The picture frames were thoroughly scrutinised

but convincing explanation of this occurrence could not be found.

Burmese religious pilgrims flocked to Nyaunglaybin township, 160 kms

north of Rangoon to witness multi-coloured light appearing from a

Buddhist monastery. At the centre of this was a Buddhist monk named

Sayadew. In recent years the monk has become well-known for his hour

long sermons at which listeners are required to remain perfectly

still with their eyes closed. Sayadew's followers claim to have seen

Buddha's relics on the monk's robes. He told his followers that

those who have been blessed with the fortune by looking at those

relics would be distanced from hell by 92 worlds.

 

While some miracles like the Shivalinga shaped papaya or the "five

hooded naga" which is really a pumpkin climber, can be dismissed as

freaks of nature; others may have a more rational answer.

 

Ganesha, one of the most enduring images of Hinduism, kicked off a

never seen before mass hysteria on 21 September, 1995. A man in

Delhi dreamt that Ganesha was craving for milk. He went to a nearby

temple and offered milk to Ganesha, the moment a spoonful of milk

was placed before the idol's image it vanished. By evening everyone

who offered milk to Ganesha claimed He had consumed it. The frenzy

ended the same night as rationalists were quick to attribute it to

normal capillary action, yet another theory was absorption.

 

In our modern society so rife with tension, trauma and violence,

faith and science help us cope with our turbulent existence. While

science provides us with answers to vital problems, faith helps us

tackle the unanswerable. Even if we do not accept miracles, there is

no denying the fact that these experiences help people to emerge

stronger and better than before.

 

These uncanny events unite rather than divide people, and most

importantly, they keep our curiosity alive and remind us of a

suprenatural power; somewhat like Fox Mulder from The X-Files would

say, "the truth is somewhere out there."

 

Shreya Sarkar, GD Birla Centre for Education

Ankur Modi, Birla High School (Boys)

Sujaan Mukherjee, South Point High School

Anindya Chowdhury, WWA Cossipore English School

 

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