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India, often seen as a land steeped in superstition, has a profound connection to mysticism unmatched by most other regions globally. It is the cradle of some of the world's oldest and largest religions, particularly Hinduism, which is followed by 80% of its population. With over a billion inhabitants, it's no wonder the country is home to some extraordinary and noteworthy traditions. Here are some intriguing ways mysticism reveals itself in this captivating South Asian nation.
10. The Government’s Unusual Quest for Gold
Swami Shobhan Sarkar experienced a peculiar dream. Unlike Martin Luther King Jr.'s vision, this was more along the lines of a deceased prince revealing the location of hidden treasure. The prince, Ram Baksh Singh, executed by the British in 1857 for rebellion, allegedly informed Sarkar, a Hindu leader, about 1,000 tons of gold buried in the village of Daundia Khera. This amount is roughly equivalent to an eighth of the US federal reserve.
When Charan Das Mahant, a government minister, learned of the dream, he deemed it an opportunity too significant to ignore. He dispatched teams from the Geological Survey of India, followed by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI). Initial reports from geologists suggested the presence of metal underground, prompting archaeologists to excavate two trenches. The event quickly turned into a media frenzy, with journalists and locals alike gathering to witness the dig.
Unsurprisingly, no gold was discovered. The first trench yielded iron nails and remnants of three burnt brick walls, while the second trench contained nothing but soil, as confirmed by an ASI spokesperson. It later emerged that the geological report had been altered. The geologists clarified that they never claimed to have detected metal or recommended excavation.
Naturally, many Indians were dismayed by the damage to their country's reputation. India Today criticized the incident, stating it made India appear “like a clown.” The episode even inspired a similar incident, where another priest, guided by a dream, conducted an illegal dig. Unfortunately, his chosen site was a protected monument, leading to his arrest, along with five followers, after they dug a 12-meter (40 ft) trench. It seems either the dead don’t communicate through dreams, or they enjoy playing elaborate jokes.
9. Temple Hair
Many religious institutions depend on donations and offerings for their revenue. However, some Indian temples have tapped into a unique and profitable niche—selling human hair to Western markets. Numerous Hindus shave their heads as a gesture of devotion, offering their hair to Vishnu. The Venkateshwara Temple in Andhra Pradesh, India's wealthiest temple, capitalizes on this practice on an industrial scale.
The temple houses two halls filled with barbers who shave the heads of 12,000 pilgrims daily. This generates 75 tons of hair annually, earning the temple $6.5 million. The hair is highly sought after in the West, with much of it going to Italian wig makers. Shorter hair is shipped to China, where the amino acid L-cystine is extracted for use as a food preservative.
8. Shiva Lingam
Shiva, one of Hinduism's most revered deities, is widely worshipped in India, where 80% of the population practices Hinduism. A particularly intriguing form of devotion involves the Shiva lingam, a symbolic representation of Shiva's phallus. Devotees craft stone pillars that are placed within a yoni, symbolizing a vulva. The union of Shiva’s “generative organ” with the yoni signifies the origin of all creation.
The practice of worshipping lingam stones has persisted for over 2,400 years. Although some contest the phallic symbolism of lingam worship, most historians agree that substantial evidence supports this interpretation. The oldest known example, the Gudimallam Shiva lingam, features an unmistakably clear glans.
Devotees typically pour various substances onto the stone pillar during worship. Milk and yogurt are frequently poured over the tip (reinforcing the phallic association), along with water, sugar, and other offerings. Not all lingams are man-made. One of the most revered is an ice stalagmite in the Amarnath Cave, attracting up to 15,000 visitors daily. However, rising temperatures have caused the lingam to diminish in size, leading some to label it a casualty of climate change.
7. Airplane Temple
Offering gifts at temples or places of worship is a common practice. While money is the usual offering, a Sikh temple (or gurdwara) in Punjab's Doaba region accepts a unique alternative—toy airplanes. The temple, with its traditional white dome, is located in a village marked by a cement replica of a British Airways jet at its entrance. Devotees believe these offerings aid in securing visas for countries like the US, UK, and Canada. Many in the region aspire to settle abroad, with 6 million people from Doaba already living overseas.
Rakesh Dixit, a Delhi-based scrap dealer, has adopted a unique yet connected method of worship. He purchased an Airbus A310, formerly operated by Air India, and is investing nearly $250,000 to transform the aircraft into a temple dedicated to the Indian guru Sai Baba. Dixit’s endeavor faced an initial hiccup when the fuselage, transported on a truck, was delayed by police until midnight to avoid causing traffic chaos due to the plane's considerable length.
6. Evil Eye
The concept of the evil eye is a global superstition, but it holds significant weight in many Indian communities. Referred to as nazar, it stems from the belief that a gaze can inflict harm. Compliments or even admiring looks are thought to sap someone’s fortune and vitality. Mothers are cautioned against overly praising their infants to avoid attracting the evil eye. To counteract this, babies are given artificial flaws, such as a black mark on their face or a black thread tied around their arm.
The evil eye is often attributed to individuals harboring jealousy. For instance, childless women admiring others’ children are believed to cast the evil eye on them. Similarly, envying someone’s cow might cause the animal to cease producing milk and deteriorate. Those in poor health or unfavorable circumstances are also thought to cast the evil eye by gazing at those who are more fortunate.
Fortunately, there are methods to shield oneself from the evil eye. Certain shops specialize in selling exclusively talismans intended to repel its effects. Many people opt for homemade solutions, such as hanging chilies, limes, and lemons. Online platforms also offer fruit-based protective charms for homes and offices, providing an option for those willing to spend a few rupees to enhance their fortunes.
5. Ganges River
The Ganges is among the most renowned rivers globally and hosts the largest religious gathering on the planet. The Maha Kumbh Mela, held every 12 years, attracts tens of millions of Hindus who come to bathe in its sacred waters. Organizing this massive event costs $290 million and requires the presence of 7,000 police officers. Most participants spend only a few seconds in the river.
The Ganges is believed to purify bathers of their sins. However, this spiritual cleansing contrasts sharply with the river's physical state, as it receives 3 billion liters of waste daily. The primary pollutants include domestic sewage, industrial heavy metals, and cremated remains. In popular bathing areas, human waste levels can reach 3,000 times the safe limit. The influx of 100 million people during the 55-day festival exacerbates the issue, causing a significant rise in biological contamination.
4. Satanism
In Mizoram, a region in India, reports have emerged of Bibles being burned in churches. The Bibles are placed on pentagram images within circles before being ignited. A local Christian scholar attributed this to the influence of Western pop stars, who allegedly pledge allegiance to Satan for fame and wealth.
A central ritual among the Satanic youth is said to be the Black Mass, a mockery of Christian ceremonies. It involves defiling and stealing sacred items from other religions. Churches in Kerala have experienced vandalized tabernacles and stolen communion bread. Local authorities, however, are hesitant to attribute these acts to occult practices, suggesting they may be ordinary theft attempts.
3. Child Sacrifice
At Mytour, we don’t shy away from exploring humanity’s darker aspects. We’re about to delve into the extremes of human behavior. While superstition and magical thinking can sometimes be harmless, they can also drive individuals to commit acts that are undeniably evil. If discussions of violence unsettle you, you may want to skip the remainder of this section.
In rural India, belief in magic is widespread. Witch doctors, or tantrics, roam villages, offering advice and performing rituals. These practices are often intended to bring good luck or counteract dark magic. However, some of these rituals involve horrific acts, including the mutilation and killing of children.
Akash Singh, a three-year-old from Barha village in Uttar Pradesh, fell victim to such a ritual. A woman in his village, plagued by nightmares, sought help from a traveling tantric. The tantric suggested sacrificing a child to the Hindu goddess of destruction. The woman abducted Akash, mutilated him by cutting out his tongue, severing his nose and ears, and then removing his fingers. He endured a slow, agonizing death, and his mother was the one who found his lifeless body.
Akash’s tragic fate was not unique. In Chhattisgarh, two men sacrificed a seven-year-old girl, intending to offer her liver in a ritual. Another witch doctor, seeking prosperity, decapitated an 11-year-old boy to present his head as an offering. Similarly, a woman, having lost her sons in infancy, consulted a tantric for guidance. The tantric then beheaded a five-year-old girl in a field after performing prayers.
Seven individuals were arrested after the bodies of two children—a two-year-old boy and an eight-year-old girl—were discovered in a witch doctor’s home. Authorities suspect more victims, as they believe he was involved in additional child sacrifices. In a slightly less tragic case, a policeman had two sisters, aged seven and four, bound and prepared for sacrifice. Fortunately, their parents found them while they were still alive. Beyond child sacrifices, approximately 200 women are killed annually after being accused of witchcraft.
Efforts to combat the superstition and ignorance fueling these atrocities are ongoing, but progress is challenging. Notable rationalists have faced assassination and exile. One Indian state has taken a step forward by banning black magic practices. However, with much of rural India remaining isolated and deeply rooted in these beliefs, many more victims may suffer before such practices are eradicated.
2. Margaret Thatcher
Margaret Thatcher isn’t typically associated with New Age mysticism. However, India’s former foreign minister, K. Natwar Singh, recounts two peculiar encounters between the former Prime Minister and an Indian tantric named Chandraswami. During a visit to the UK in 1975, the mystic requested a meeting with Thatcher, who had recently become the leader of the Conservative Party. This occurred four years before her premiership, and she agreed to spare him 10 minutes of her time.
Singh describes how Chandraswami asked Thatcher to write five questions on paper strips. After crumpling them, he closed his eyes and accurately answered each one. Thatcher was so astounded that she arranged a second meeting. During this session, Chandraswami made several predictions: Thatcher would become Prime Minister within four years and remain in power for nine, 11, or 13 years. She ultimately served for 11 years.
Chandraswami’s reputation has since declined. He has been linked to the assassination of Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi and convicted of violating currency exchange laws. Whether his mystical abilities failed him or Singh’s account is incomplete remains unclear. Notably, the story surfaced when Singh was promoting a book, earning him significant media attention.
1. Sathya Sai Baba
Sathya Sai Baba was a renowned guru—immensely wealthy and influential. He declared himself the reincarnation of Sai Baba of Shirdi, a guru who passed away in 1918. Sathya asserted he could perform miracles, though skeptics dismissed them as mere magic tricks. His death in 2011 left behind 50 million followers and a global empire valued at $8.2 billion. However, he left no successor, sparking a prolonged dispute over control of his vast fortune.
Sai Baba’s nephew, RJ Ratnakar, is one of several individuals vying for control of the fortune. Isaac Tigrett, co-founder of Hard Rock Cafe, claimed to have received divine guidance about the future of Sai Baba’s organization. However, members of the trust managing Sai Baba’s ashram—the spiritual and administrative hub of his following—dismissed Tigrett’s claims outright.
The guru’s ashram, a spiritual retreat and organizational headquarters, revealed a shocking secret. Upon opening Sai Baba’s private quarters, authorities discovered vast amounts of cash, gold, and silver, including $2.4 million in rupees and hundreds of kilograms of precious metals. Police suspect millions more may be hidden in secret vaults, and trustees were caught attempting to smuggle $75,000 in cash to a neighboring state. Followers were disheartened to learn that donations intended for charitable causes had instead amassed into Sai Baba’s personal fortune.
