Saturday, March 20, 2010

Sceptic challenges Indian guru to kill him live on TV

When a famous tantric guru boasted on television that he could kill another man using only his mystical powers, most viewers either gasped in awe or merely nodded unquestioningly. Sanal Edamaruku’s response was different. “Go on then — kill me,” he said.

Mr Edamaruku had been invited to the same talk show as head of the Indian Rationalists’ Association — the country’s self-appointed sceptic-in-chief. At first the holy man, Pandit Surender Sharma, was reluctant, but eventually he agreed to perform a series of rituals designed to kill Mr Edamaruku live on television.



Millions tuned in as the channel cancelled scheduled programming to continue broadcasting the showdown.

First, the master chanted mantras, then he sprinkled water on his intended victim. He brandished a knife, ruffled the sceptic’s hair and pressed his temples. But after several hours of similar antics, Mr Edamaruku was still very much alive — smiling for the cameras and taunting the furious holy man.

You can see video of the 'incident' here and here.

8 comments:

arbroath said...

I'd be a bit nervous when he brought out the knife. Maybe it was for a 'just in case the temple pressing, messing up the hair didn't work' scenario.

arbroath said...

The guru really did not <span>want</span> to kill because he really is a peaceful and benign man.

That's why he didn't succeed....

...............

Yep, I also would have been nervous about knives or some strong poison that could do harm via the skin or via a ring with a sharp needle .....

arbroath said...

He didn't succeed.... Because he was lying or at best delusional.

arbroath said...

Any person I'd truly consider "holy" wouldn't even try to kill another human being (and especially not just to prove he could)!

arbroath said...

Or even sugget that he or she could do so...

arbroath said...

Also the power" of the guru, shaman, whatever resides in the belief of the threatened.  If the intended victim doesn't believe in the power, nothing will happen.

arbroath said...

david koresh claimed to be god's son. didn't beleive him either. nah.

arbroath said...

Errr, He didn't say anything about the timeframe. I suspect sometime in the next 40 years the Guru will be vindicated!