17 April,2009 11:26 AM IST | | Ramesh H S
EYE-opener: Thousands thronged a temple in Doddabommasandra, Vidyaranyapura, to see the snake deity, carved in stone, with its eyes open (below). PICS/ RAMESH H S
Hundreds of believers rush to a shrine in north Bangalore after the man who owns it claims the snake deity opened its eyes
A family claimed a snake deity carved in stone opened its eyes, and attracted thousands of believers early today.
MiD DAY watched a milling crowd as Srinivas, an advocate who was active in politics, claimed that the Nagadevaru in his family temple suddenly started moving its eyelids.
He said Joshi Narasimhachar, the priest who was with him, confirmed that the deity had come alive in the eye region.
Rajesh, who lives in the neighbourhood, said he had been around since 7 pm. "It's a miracle, but I believe it is true."
The temple is in Doddabommasandra, near Vidyaranyapura, in north Bangalore.
By 1 am, the crowd had thinned. Policemen were discouraging people from flocking to the temple, and helped this reporter find the place only after he revealed his press identity.
A year ago, a man in south Bangalore had claimed the Sai Baba image in his house had opened its eyes.
Thousands milled around his house and donated cash running into lakhs. The "miracle" died down within a couple of days, and the owner of the house where the incident reportedly occurred had claimed to MiD DAY he would hand over the cash to the Shirdi temple.
What's our take?
We saw two dark points, which looked like they were drawn in charcoal, where the deity's eyes are carved, but they didn't look like live eyes. Srinivas, the man who runs the temple, said someone had rubbed the eyes to see if the miracle was true, and that was why we couldn't make out anything clearly!
MiD DAY advice: Be sceptical.
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