Science versus Miracles: Breaking coconuts on the head

B Premanand

In the 1980's a godman from Jaffna in Sri Lank came to Kerala, broke 101 coconuts on his head, and distributed the coconut water as prasad to devotees.  He claimed that he lived only on coconut water Mathrubhumi Weekly published a cover page article with pictures of this godman and challenged our committee to come to reason and believe in miracles. They said that the Jaffna Siddhan - as he was called - was demonstrating this miracle to prove there is a god and miracles do happen. Also, he never collected money. I was wondering how breaking coconuts on the head had anything to do with gods and how this could be a miracle. Later, even our national television showed him breaking coconuts. Some of my friends were asked to observe him.

It was found that he was not breaking ripe coconuts but very tender ones where the shell had not hardened. These coconuts were so tender that when they are dropped from the hand they would break. He himself climbed the trees and collected the coconuts for the feat.

Having discovered his secret, our friends exchanged his bag of coconuts with some ripe hard coconuts. The first bag was his and he broke them on his head. The second bag was ours. He took one coconut and hit it on his head. It did not break. He tried another but that did not break either. Like-wise, half a dozen coconuts were tried. But they would not break. H knew something had gone wrong. He informed the audience that there were some hurdles at the Morning Prayer and that was why he had failed to show the miracle. He said he would come again the next day. The next day he was missing as he knew from the newspapers that our committee had exposed his trick.

I trained half a dozen people to break coconuts on their heads. We demon­strated the feat in every district in Kerala, which gave our committee national recognition since every newspaper published the exposure. Some even made fun of us. Mathrubhumi published the exposure stating that the godman broke the coconuts for his livelihood, while we exposed him for fame! By this time he had pocketed more than a million rupees.

Experiment: 76

Effect: Breaking coconuts on the head.

Props: Tender coconuts without the fibre removed.

Method: This is not a trick. Hit the tender coconut on your head at the portion where the shell has three eyes. It will break.

Experiment: 77

Effect: Breaking hard coconuts on head without fibre.

The oracle hits his forehead with a ripe coconut without fibre and it breaks.

Props: One coconut without fibre and a tree-cutting knife.

Method: Beforehand, clean the coconut, removing the fibre completely except at the top. Then gently strike it around middle with the knife until there is a crack in the shell, but it does not separate. Dry it in the sun for three days when the pulp will separate from the shell. Now you are ready. Apply kumkum or sandal paste etc., on the coconut to hide the crack on the shell. Then hit it on your forehead. It will break into two.

Experiment: 78

Effect: Breaking a coconut by sprinkling water.

The oracle sprinkles water on a coconut chanting incantations. The coconut cracks and a ghost disappears.

Props: One ripe coconut cleaned of its fibre.

Method: Keep the coconut in a lime kiln and remove it when the kiln is opened. If water falls on it, the coconut cracks.

Hundreds take part in coconut breaking ritual at Mettumahadanapuram

The Hindu, Chennai

Weblink: http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-tamilnadu/article554759.ece 

(accessed on November 3, 2012)

KULITHALAI, August 6, 2010

Ritual of breaking coconuts on head observed

The Aadi festival of the Sri Mahalakshmi Amman Temple at Mettumahadanapuram in Karur district was celebrated on Wednesday with the important ritual of devotees having coconut broken on their head as a mark of thanksgiving or fulfilment of a vow. Some sustained simple bleeding injuries but for many it was pretty normal.

The ritual is part of the two-day annual festival at the temple revered by the ‘kudipaadu' comprising the Kurumba community and sections of the 24 Manai Telugu Chettiars community.

Earlier in the day, the Amman returned to the temple after a ‘thiruveedhi ula' and the chief priest, A. Periasamy, performed the abishekam with sanctified waters from River Cauvery.

Then a traditional lamp was lit atop the temple flag mast.

Even as more than 560 men and women devotees sat in rows with bated breath, a perked up Mr. Periasamy in a trance, stood on a shoe of nails and broke coconuts first on the head of seven elders each from the two main communities.

Then he went around the main enclosure breaking coconuts on the head of devotees who undertook the ritual as part of fulfilment of vows. The authorities had stipulated that only those above 20 years of age could take part in the ritual and as per the directive the participants were screened and admitted.

A medical unit with ambulance and paramedics was at hand to attend to emergency needs and the five devotees who suffered injuries were treated.

Kulithalai Revenue Divisional Officer Balasubramanian, Revenue Department officials, including Krishnarayapuram tahsildar Krishnakumar, Kulithalai DSP R. Manoharan, as also Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments executive officers Srinivasan and Ramalingam, had made the arrangements.

The usual teeming crowds that used to come to the ritual every year were conspicuously missing this year as the run-up to the festival was smooth with no irritant lighting up any controversies as had been the case during the years before.

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Science versus Miracles: Fire by Mental Power

B Premanand

In 1980 a number of yajnas were conducted on behalf of our Prime Minister, Indira Gandhi, for her long life. But the yajnas could not save her. She was assassinated in 1984.

A yajna was performed at Delhi by one Sadachari Sai Baba, a youth with black beard and long hair. Millions of people witnessed the yajna. The special significance of the yajna was that when he poured two or three spoonfuls of ghee (clarified butter) on the firewood and concentrated on it by mental power, it got lighted and began to burn.

This Baba made about eighty-six lakhs of rupees within three days of the yajna. He was exposed in Singapore when he collected money for a yajna to treat incurable disease and was deported to India by the Government. While at Madras Airport, when the customs department wanted to search his luggage, he became panicky. His hand-bag fell and caught fire. He was charge-sheeted for carrying explosives in his baggage.

Later, when he tried to raise the Kundalini Shakti of his followers at Bombay, he was exposed. He was using an electronic instrument which would give a shock to any person when he touched their head. He explained that the shock was the sign of rising of the sexual energy to sahasrara. Now criminal proceedings have been taken against him for murdering his first wife. These godmen claim to be the avatars of Krishna who had thousands of lovers. His modus operandi was to cure incurable diseases through yajna (Homa therapy).

When these godmen and Babas claim to have sacrificed everything, it is surprising that they are after money, fame and women. The last charge on him is for running a prostitute den in his ashram. He used to lure the rich to the den in the guise of Kundalini awakening and blackmail them after photographing them in compromising positions with the call-girls.

How did the Baba create fire?

Experiment: 75

Effect: Fire by mental power.

Props: Dry wood shavings or paper pieces, a metal plate, potassium permanganate and glycerin.

Crystals of Potassium Permanganate

Method: Arrange some dry wood shavings or paper pieces in a metal plate with some powdered potassium permanganate in the centre. In the guise of pouring ghee, pour two or three drops of glycerin over the potassium perman­ganate with a spoon, and act as if you are sending mental power through your eyes and fingers. With glycerine on potassium permanganate, a reaction takes place, first smoke comes out, and then the paper catches fire and flares.

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Science versus Miracles: Ash from Coins

B Premanand

While on a vijnan yatra in Maharashtrn in 1981, Vilas Baba, a godman from Phelton, challenged us that if we proved that his miracle ia false he would pay us Rupees five lakhs. His challenge was published by many vernacular dailies in Maharashtra. We agreed to investigate his clim and fixed a day for the same. In his reply he informed us that he was going into samadhi from that day up to the end of my tour in Maharashtra and as his soul would be roaming in the Himalayas, the date given was not suitable for him. Therefore, I gave rum the next day to investigate his claims and my lecture was arranged at Phelton on that date. Most of the people of Phelton and the suburbs had come to witness what would happen to me and the Baba. We waited for him for an hour and he did not turn out. Our people went to his ashram. It was locked and no one was there. He has not come back to the village to this day.

In 1982 when I visited Madhya Pradesh, I found that he had collected Rs. 5000 from a rich merchant for a male child and given him a coin to be placed in his prayer-room.

He claimed to be a Baba of the poor, and initially asked only 5 and 10 paisa coins. He took the coin and, bringing it near his mouth, recited some mantras and gave it back to the person to hold tight in his fists. Within a few minutes it became hot and when he opened his hand, vibhuti was seen emanat­ing from the coin. Even when the com was washed, vibhuti still formed. Being satisfied with his supernatural powers, the gullible met him to solve their prob­lems. He exploited them to the size of their purse. I was informed that he charged five to ten thousand rupees to see that one got a male child.

Experiment: 74

Effect: Ash from coins.

Props: Saturated mercuric chloride solution in water in a small container, an aluminium coin or a plate.

Method: Dip your index finger and thumb in the mercuric chloride solution stealthily. Call for a volunteer and ask for a five or ten-paisa coin. Take it and rub the coin with your index finger and thumb on both sides while chanting incantations. Then place it in the palm of the volunteer and ask him to close his hand. The solution and aluminium reacts, heat is generated and a grey sub­stance looking like vibhuti starts forming on the coin. Washing the coin starts the reaction again.

Take the plate, rub it with a piece of cloth dipped in the solution, and the same chemical reaction will occur.

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Satya Sai Baba Miracle: Producing Shiva Linga from the Mouth

B Premanand

On the night of Shivarathri, while the devotees are engaged in singing bhajans, Satya Sai Baba goes into labour. He squirms with pain, his right hand pressing on his stomach, heart and neck. While wiping the tears sweat and saliva with a towel, he suddenly "gives birth" to an oval gold or stone linga from his mouth.

Experiment: 68

Efect: Shiva Linga emerging from the mouth.

Props: An oval stone, one bath towel, ell starched, and a flower-pot.

Sai Baba regurgitating Shiva Lingam
Courtesy: http://robertpriddy.wordpress.com

Method: The oval stone is hidden inside the towel and placed in the flower vase as a decoration. While the right hand presses your body to the sound of groans, you take the towel and start wiping the sweat and tears. When your hand reaches your neck, saliva flows from your mouth. Under the pretence of wiping the saliva, the towel is applied to the mouth. The oval stone is placed half inside your mouth and when you lower the towel, it appears as if the oval stone is emerging from your mouth. Satya Sai Baba bas stopped performing this trick also after we demonstrated it in Anantapur, and made fun of him about his homosexuality as narrated by Tal Brooke in his book "Lord of the Air".

Experiment: 69

Effect: Turning Stone into Sugar Candy.

Satya Sal Baba, while walking on the river bank of Chitravati, asked Dr. Bhagavantam, a physicist, to pick up a stone and give it to him. The scientist did so. Then Satya Sal Baba put it into his mouth 3l1d asked him to eat it. It was sugar candy.

Props: White stone, Palmyra candy or sugar candy.

Method:  Palm a piece of the candy. Ask someone to pick up a small stone which you point out to him and give it to you. Take the stone in your fingers and while moving transfer the candy to your fingers while palming the stone. Put it in the mouth of the volunteer and ask him to eat it. It will be sugar candy.

Experiment: 70

Effect:  Producing a copious flow of water from a small vessel.

After washing the feet of Satya Sai Baba, that water is filled in a gold pot and distributed to thousands of the devotees. It looks as if endless quantity of water is flowing from the vessel.

Props: Special pot and water.

Method: Fill the vessel with water. With your thumb close the hole on the neck of the vessel and slowly pour it out until it is empty. Put it down with the mouth up and remove the thumb. Water in the outer pot fills into the inner pot. Again reverse it with the thumb on the hole. Water flows out. In the same way you can repeatedly pour out water to small quantities until the water in the vessel is almost empty.

This vessel is devised by using the following two-scientific principles.

Experiment: 71

Effect: Water does not fall from a glass when covered by a paper and inverted

Props: One glass tumbler, water, and a thick paper to cover the mouth of the glass.

Method: Water in a glass is covered with a thick paper. When turned over neither the paper nor the water falls down. This is due to atmospheric pressure exerted on the paper.

Experiment: 72

Effect: Water does not spill out from a narrow-necked bottle when it is inverted.

Props: A soft drink bottle, a plastic insertion to make the neck narrower, and water.

Method: Turn over the soft drink bottle of water and show the water falling out. Then move your hand over the neck of the bottle stealthily putting the plastic insertion into the nock and reverse. Water will not fall down. Then, put a match stick through the hole of the plastic insertion which will float in the water.

This is based on the scientific principle “equal quantity of air has to enter the bottle to disperse equal quantity of water”. Due to the narrow neck when it is sealed by the water, air cannot enter the bottle to disperse water.

Reproduced with permission from Indian CSICOP.  For other articles from Science Versus Miracles we have already published please click here (http://www.carvaka4india.com/search/label/Science%20versus%20Miracles) 

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Producing Vibhuti on Satya Sai Baba's Photographs 'miraculously'!

B Premanand

Satya Sai Baba's paternal uncle (father's younger brother, Chinna Venkappa Raju) was a magician and it was he who taught him magic tricks. The first trick which Satya Sai Baba performed at his school was to take out pencils, rubber, sweets etc., from an empty bag and surprise his class-fellows and teachers. Then since he did not have the idea of acting as an avatar of god, he explained these tricks as done by nature gods like other magicians. The fact that one needs a bag to produce things is because it is a trick bag. He also collected double value for these materials from his class-mates.

Experiment - 58

Effect: Creating things out of an empty bag.

Props:  Trick-bag and the objects you want to produce.

Method: Hide the objects you want to produce in the second part of the bag and close it. Then show the bag to the audience by pulling out the inside to prove that it is empty. Then chant incantations, while pulling the centre partition to the other side and start producing things.

Experiment - 59

Effect:  Throwing flowers on the ground which forms into letters "Sai Baba".

The second trick which Satya Sai Baba demonstrated was to throw a bas­ket of Jasmine flowers on the floor which formed into the Telugu letters "Sai Baba" to prove that he was the incarnation of Shirdi Sai Baba. The humour of this is that while Shirdi Sai Saba knew only Marathi and Hindi, Satya Sai Baba knows only Telugu. So he could manifest only Telugu words.

Props: Colourless adhesive, a brush, Jasmine flowers and a fan. 

Method: Prior to the show, draw the words on the floor or carpet with the adhesive. Put on the fan and throw Jasmine flowers on that part. The Jasmine will stick to the adhesive and form the words. The other flowers get blown aside by the fan.

Experiment - 60

Effect: Creating necklace from no where. (Satya Sai Baba moves his empty hands in a circle and produces necklaces.)

Props: Necklace.

Method: Keep the necklace under the armpit inside the sleeves. Show the hand empty, move the hands in a circle two or three times, just hold the fingers towards the palm and release the necklace from the arm-pit. It will fall into your palm and thus enable you to produce it.

Experiment - 61

Effect:  Producing lockets, talismans, medals, rings etc.

Props: Lockets, talismans, medals, rings etc., which you can palm.

Method: Palm them before hand, wave your hand in circles and produce them as you produce vibhuti.

Experiment - 62

Effect: Producing Akshata (coloured rice). [Satya Sai Baba waves his hands in circles and sprinkles the rice on the head of the devotee]

Props: Coloured rice and thumb tip; paraffin wax.

Method: Place the thumb tip with rice on your thumb, circle your hands two or three times, release the thumb tip to your palm and sprinkle the rice on the head of the volunteer.

Another Method: Melt paraffin wax and soak the rice in it and take out and dry. Make a ball of this rice and because of wax coating it will stick together.

Palm it and after circling the hand two or three times bring the ball to your fingers and crush it and sprinkle it on the head of the volunteer.

Experiment - 63

Effect: Flower petals transformed into lockets, toffee etc.

Props: Flower petals, lockets, toffee etc.

Method: Cover the materials to be produced with flower petals. As if throwing the flower petals, also throw the materials hidden among the flower petals.

Experiment - 64

Effect: Nectar, honey, oil, etc., flowing from the photographs of Satya Sai Baba in the homes of his devotees.

Props: A bottle with one of the liquids, a framed photograph, a mantap, tube connection from the bottle to the frame with a tap.

Method: The bottle with honey, nectar or oil etc., is hidden in the frame or mantap with a tube at the back of the framed photo leading to the front of the glass. When the tap is opened, honey, nectar, oil etc., flows down the glass.

To expose this miracle, watch carefully to see how much honey is forming and falling into the plate kept below the photograph and find out if it is just some honey etc., poured on the glass. If honey is flowing down from the pho­tograph, remove the photograph from its place and you can find the source of the flow.

Experiment – 65

Effect: Holy Ash forming on the photographs of Satya Sai Baba in the home of his devotees. Vibhuti is seen formed on framed photographs.

Props: Perfumed vibhuti, framed photograph, Kanji water (rice water) fresh water and a plate.

Method: Make a dough of vibhuti in Kanji water (starch water from rice porridge - Congee) and spray it on the glass of the photo. Allow it to dry. Once it is dried repeat this once again, spraying the vibhuti on the first coat. Allow it to dry.

When a fan is working, the ash on the photographs sprayed with water flies in the air which makes people believe that ash is forming on the photo and falling down. Also keep some dry vibhuti below to make people believe that it is the ash that is forming and falling.

            .

To examine whether vibhuti is really forming on the glass of the framed photograph, remove the portion of the ash which has already formed on the photograph and you will see that it does not form again on the scraped portion.

Experiment – 66

Effect: Producing larger objects from sand.

Satya Sai Baba has created an 18" gold Krislma idol and a Bhagavad Gita book from sand. He goes near the river bank, selects a place, and sits there with his devotees in a circle around him. He makes a heap of sand, puts his hand inside the sand and brings out objects which are impossible to palm.

Props: The object which you want to produce.

Method: Hide an object in the sand well in advance and mark the place. Walk about as if you are searching for a place to sit and in the end select the marked spot. Make a small mound of sand and insert your hand in it and take out the hidden object as if you have created it

Experiment – 67

Effect: Holy ash from an empty wooden vessel.

On Shivarathri day Satya Sai Baba takes a wooden vessel containing vibhuti and empties it on the head of the Shirdi Sai Baba statue. After showing it empty, he puts his hand through the neck of the vessel and out flows vibhuti for several min­utes. He first uses his right hand, then the left hand, and again the right hand.

Props: A vessel with a big belly and a neck through which the hand can pass easily. Vibhuti, water and a bottle which can also pass through the neck. A robe with double sleeves and some thread or rubber bands

Method:  Mix the vibhuti in water into a dough and fill it in the vessel. Press it with the bottle so that the dough adheres to the sides of the vessel and the centre portion is empty. Allow it to dry. Fill the centre portion with dry vibhuti and tie them with a thread or rubber band so that it does not fall out.

Show the vessel with vibhuti. Turn it over and let the vibhuti fall on the idol or statue. Show it empty. Now hold the vessel with mouth up, put your right arm into the vessel, at the same time releasing the vibhuti from the sleeve into the vessel. Turn the vessel slowly and allow the vibhuti to fall out through your hand. When the flow stops, remove your arm and show the vessel is empty. Now hold the top up and put your left hand in, releasing the vibhuti hidden in the left sleeve. Then turn the vessel over and let the vibhuti slowly fall through your left hand until it is empty. Now remove your left hand, insert your right hand and slowly scrape the vibhuti placed on the sides of the vessel. Thus you can create more vibhuti than the vessel appears to hold .

Since it is very easy to expose this trick, Satya Sai Baba stopped producing vibhuti from a vessel in 1978.      

Reproduced with permission from Indian CSICOP.  For other articles from Science Versus Miracles we have already published please click here (http://www.carvaka4india.com/search/label/Science%20versus%20Miracles) 

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Swayambhu: Making Idols Appear by themselves from Earth!

B Premanand

Experiment: 55

Effect:  Producing Ganga water from hands or beard.

Props: Cloth or sponge dipped in water.

Method: Hide the cloth or sponge where you sit. Show your hands empty and palm the sponge or cloth. Press the hands together, or with the beard, and the water in the sponge or cloth is squeezed out.

Experiment: 56

Effect:  Idols appearing by themselves from earth as Swayambhu.

Whenever someone wants to build a temple, the god man or the priest has a dream in which he is informed that an idol of the god will appear at a certain spot out of the ground. Prayer is offered at that place. The next day he starts the prayers, getting gullible people to participate and on the exact spot shown to him in the dream. He marks the place, chants mantras non-stop, and then consecrates it with water. Within two or three days an idol of the god rises out of the ground by itself at the exact spot. Astounded believers pour money into the coffers of the baba and he soon becomes rich.

Props: Bengal gram (chickpea) to the weight of the idol or minimum 2 kg. A pit to the exact size of idol but 12" deeper than the idol.

Bengal gram swells as it sprouts
 pushing the idol upwards above the grund

Method: Without the knowledge of others, dig a pit, put the Bengal gram m the pit and place the idol on Bengal gram which should be about 2" lower than the ground level. Fill the pit and smooth over the ground to look natural. Mark the place.

The next day you reveal your dream, put up decorations and banners, start the prayers and the non-stop singing of bhajans. Water is sprinkled at intervals to soak the spot. Bengal gram swells and germinates as it sprouts pushing the idol upwards above the ground.

Experiment: 57

Effect:  Red feet of the goddess on the cloth.

To prove that he is possessed by the Goddess, an oracle washes his feet with water and walks over a cloth. The red foot-prints of the goddess appear on the cloth.

Props: Turmeric powder, slaked lime, water and a white cloth. METHOD: A white cloth is dipped in turmeric solution until is gets yellow. It is then dried and the turmeric powder sticking on the cloth removed. In a vessel slaked lime solution is stored as water. The oracle acts as ifhe is possessed by the Goddess. He then washes his feet in this water and walks on the cloth. Red foot-prints appear by the reaction of turmeric powder with slaked lime.

Reproduced with permission from Indian CSICOP.  For other articles from Science Versus Miracles we have already published please click here (http://www.carvaka4india.com/search/label/Science%20versus%20Miracles) 

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Abraham Kovoor’s Case Diary: Rifai Ratheeb - Unravelling a Muslim Miracle!

Abraham Kovoor

(Selections from the Writings of Abraham Kovoor)

My interest in Rathib ceremony was first aroused when I read a reference to it in the book "Far Off Things" by Dr. R.L. Spittel. In that book he mentions how he, in the company of Messrs. R.H. Basset and J.R. G. Bantock, witnessed a Rathib cer­emony some years ago. After giving a vivid description of the various acrobatic per­formances by about a dozen persons, Dr. Spittel concludes:- 

"All these act here described I actually witnessed. There was no fake about it. I closely examined the injuries afterwards. I must confess I would never have believed some of these feats were possible had I not seen them myself. .. I was astounded. How they escape hemorrhage, at least in the form of extensive extravagation is more than J can tell ... "

 In September 1964 I had a letter from a Muslim gentleman inviting me to see a Rathib ceremony on the 3rd of October 1964 at "Majumal Kairath" on Nimal Road, Bambalapitiya, by one A. Abdulla and party.

After an early dinner that day I went to that place with a member of the Ceylon Rationalist Association. We were received by the official in charge of the ceremony, and were given 'ring-side' seats.

Courtesy:
http://jailani.org/ratheeb-aboosally.htm

The performance was arranged to take place in the open garden. An area of the size of a badminton court was roped in. In this rectangular plot about two dozens of able-bodied men, in two rows facing each other, were seen singing devotional songs with the accompaniment of tambourines. The chief priest with two assistants was at one end of the two rows. The whole place was very well lit with numerous high powered electric lights. The garden surrounding the roped-in area was crowded with a thousand or more spectators.

At about midnight, one of the assistants of the priest opened a box and brought out numerous shining weapons of various types. There were two swords, six knives with sinuous blades, twelve daggers with ordinary handles, six daggers with abnor­mally big wooden handles which were spherical and of the size of large husked coco­nuts, and a large number of thin long needles. Apart from these weapons, he also brought out a light plank of about two feet long, one foot wide and half an inch thick.

Though there was no chance of our examining these weapons at close quarters, from the glittering shine on the blades, it looked that they were made of either silver or electro-plated iron.

The priest handed over these weapons one by one, after a sham enchanting, to selected persons from the 24 acrobats. From their performance one could come to the conclusion that there were in the troupe persons specially trained for specialized feats. Each acrobat received his weapon with devotion after worshipping the priest.

Acrobatic Feats

While the unarmed men in the troupe continued the chant at a louder and quicker tempo, the performers started jumping about in the arena with the agility of panthers mimicking the acts of cutting and stabbing themselves. They wore no shirts on their bodies.

Some four persons who had the knives with the sinuous blades finished their hopping about with a high jump into the air. They landed on the ground after the high jump with their bodies bent forward enabling their abdomen to recede far back. Just at the moment of landing on the ground the performer finishes a slashing movement of the knife against his encaved abdomen with lightning speed. After the slashing act he stands in the bent position holding the abdominal wall with his left hand under the pretext of preventing his intestines coming out of the non-existing wound. The priest now comes forward, pretends to make a magical movement with his hand under the pretext of curing the wound.

The slashing act in this acrobatic performance is so cleverly and quickly done that the spectators would think that the performer had actually cut his abdomen. In reality the knife passes without touching his abdomen. In one case I saw a person with two bleeding slits across his abdomen. Probably he might have been one who had not reached the high degree of required dexterity; hence the tip of the blade must have cut the skin of the abdomen. When such superficial cuts were made accidentally the prayer by the priest did not stop the bleeding.

The fraud in this act can easily be exposed if one among the spectators could get into the arena before the priest comes to affect the magical cure, and examine the abdomen of the performer while he is pretending to hold the slit-opened stomach. To his astonishment he will be able to see that there is not even a scratch on the abdomen.

I would advise the educated Muslims of this country to conduct such a test at the next Rathib ceremony. It will be helpful to prevent a few cunning persons from cheat­ing the gullible public. A world religion like Islam does not need the support of such frauds. It is possible that the priest might object to such a scrutiny on the pretext of desecration. It must always be taken for granted that if objections are raised against scrutiny on the ground of desecration, there is sure to be hidden fraud.

The staid start of the Rifai Ratheeb -
with devotional prayers.
Tambourines are lined up on the mat

Another similar act is the sham stabbing on the abdomen with a dagger. Here too, the performer leaps high up in the air and mimics the act of stabbing just at the moment of landing on the ground in a bent position. He remains in this bent position with about three to four inches of the dagger buried in the fold of the abdomen till the priest comes to his sham rescue. He even pretends that it is difficult for him to pullout the 'stuck' dagger from the abdominal wall. To make it realistic he pinches the ab­dominal skin round the tip of the dagger on to it till the priest comes to affect the fraudulent cure. Finally the priest comes, pretends to say some manthrams and pulls out the dagger which has not even made a skin-deep wound.

The performer proudly shows to the spectators his abdomen so that they may admire the miraculous powers of the priest to cure stab wounds. Like the cutting act in the former case, this stabbing act too is so quickly done that the spectators would be easily duped into the belief that he has actually pierced the abdomen. The disappear­ance of a few inches of the dagger from view into the fold of the abdomen will give the onlooker the necessary illusion.

Here too the fraud can be exposed if one of the spectators goes forward and examines the abdomen before the priest attempts the mumbo-jumbo cure.

A third act is the sham driving of a dagger into the abdomen by hammering. The dagger with the large wooden handle weighing about three pounds is hammered into the abdomen. The hammering is done with the light plank. Only fools and small children can be duped by this simple trick. The secret in this fraud lies in the following three facts.    

1. The part of the body selected for driving the dagger in is the boneless abdomen which can yield to pressure like a sponge. The blunt tip of the dagger could be pushed into the relaxed abdomen to a depth of one or two inches without causing any wound.
2. The thin plank is selected for hammering purposely to produce maximum sound and minimum force.
3. The heavy handle for this dagger is purposely made. If a force X can drive an object weighing 1 ounce to a distance of 10 inches, the same force will drive an object weighing 3 pounds only to a distance of 1/5 of an inch. If a person lying on the ground can support a grinding stone on his abdomen, he can allow another person to hammer on it even with a sledgehammer without any feeling of dis­comfort. Almost all the force of the hammering will be absorbed by the heavy grinding stone. Similarly when the heavy handle of the dagger is hit with the light plank, it imparts no effect on the abdomen. If the dagger is without the heavy handle, the force of hammering even with the light plank will have some effect on the abdomen.

How thrilling it would be if one rational minded Muslim among the spectators walk into the arena while this performance is going on, and show that he too can do the same act without wounding his abdomen? Such person will be doing a great service to his community by exposing this mass fraud.

A fourth act I saw was the piercing of the boneless parts of the body like the cheek and folds of skins and flesh with sharp long needles. One elderly person was seen to perform the only difficult· act which deserved admiration. He passed a long needle through his neck avoiding the pharynx and the larynx. In dexterity this act compared favorably with the one I saw many years ago when a performer in a circus troupe sent a sword through his upturned mouth into the gullet to a length of about one foot or more. The skill in this performance was his ability to keep his upturned mouth in a straight line with the gullet, and his capacity to relax the muscles of the throat. His performance, like that of the person who sent the long needle through the flesh of the neck, depended on the skill developed through prolonged practice, and not on any divine power.

Since the performer in the present case was in a semi or totally self-hypnotized state he would not have experienced pain. There is no mystery in a needle wound not bleeding. Similar piercing of flesh under hypnotic trance can be seen at temples and devales. Unlike incised wounds which cut across blood capillaries and arteries, needle wounds do not bleed. Doctors' hypodermic syringes, even if they are sent into the veins for intra-venous injections do not cause bleeding like incised wounds.

The weapons used at the Ratheeb

The final act was a sham cutting of a man into two by a sword. Like the third act in which a man was hammering a dagger into the stomach, this too could dupe only fools and small children. A man lay on the ground with face upward. Another per­former brought down a long sword on the bare abdomen of the prostrate person with pretended great force from a height of about 8 feet. Though the sword is brought down with considerable force, that force is broken just when it is about to touch the abdomen. The blunt blade is then pressed to sink two or three inches into the relaxed muscles of the stomach. At this moment another person covers the body and the sword with a bed sheet. While in that covered state the performer moves the sword forward and backward pretending to cut the person into two. The loose skin and the relaxed muscles of the stomach allow the blade to move forward and backward with­out inflicting any wound. At this stage the priest waves his hand over the body with a mumbo jumbo prayer. The cloth and the sword are then removed. The so-called cured man gets up and shows his 'cured' abdomen to the spectators.

Apart from acrobatic feats and tricks there is absolutely nothing mysterious in Rathib ceremony. They are definitely interesting performances suitable for entertain­ment at gatherings. But to claim that they are done with divine powers is pure fraud and absurdity. Such ceremonies, in the name of religion will make gullible persons more gullible. Like all other acts, the fraud in the final act also could be exposed if one among the spectators goes forward, removes the cloth and examines the abdomen of the prostrate person before the so-called 'cure' by the priest.

Credit will have to be given to these performers for the skill they exhibit. Such skills are only like the skills shown by the circus acrobats.

I had an interview with the priest Mr. A. Abdullah at his residence at Prince Gate. The talk I had with him confirmed my own analysis after seeing the perfor­mance at Nimal Road, Bambalapitiya.

If scientifically-minded persons like Dr. Spittel, Messrs. Basset and Bantock could be deceived by the so-called 'miracles', is it surprising that thousands of spec­tators who watch Refai Rathib are hoodwinked?

"First doubt, then enquire, then discover. This has been the process with all great thinkers": H.T.Beckle

Courtesy: Abraham Kovoor: Exposing Paranormal Claims; Published by B Premanand, Indian CSICOP, Podannur-641023; Date of Publication: 15-3-2000

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Abraham Kovoor’s Case Diary: Science of Charms!

Abraham Kovoor

(Selections from the Writings of Abraham Kovoor)

"What really are manthras? They are a certain co-ordination of words, sounds and phrases which, when chanted a required number of times, harmonize to produce an ethereal vibration. This vibration causes ripples in the Pancha Maha Bhutha (five elements). As all living beings are composed of the jive elements, these vibrations have an effect on living matter.

"In certain charms the forces, which are the Devathas, come under three cat­egories. These are brought into force by the constant and rhythmical repetition of their names and powers. In other charms, only the cosmic forces and their vibrations are brought in to play. In the third forms of manthra, devils' names and evil forces are brought into play.

"Charms could either bring evil spirits (devils) into service or repel them. A charmer could be bound by a devil, or he could drive it out of a possessed person".

 (Gaston de Rosayro, The Ceylon Observer, 8-5-67.)

This great vibration theory of charms as expounded by Mr. Rosayro should find a place along with subjects like heat, light, electricity, magnetism etc., in text-book~ on Physics, and should be included in the G.C.E. Syllabus for our students, especially because - unlike other countries - charms, manthras and devil dances are special features of our culture. Is it not necessary that we should have a faculty in the Univer­sity of Ceylon for this specialized branch of science? It may be that we may not be able to get suitable persons from abroad with university degrees or doctorate in occultism or demonology to chair this faculty. In that case the university authorities should not overlook the claims of local Kattadiyas. At least there is one among them with specialized training in demonology in America.

Abraham Kovoor

As a result of three challenges issued by the writer on three occasions to all occultists in this country to kill him, during specified time limits, by their charms, vas kavis, necromancy, curse etc.; he received 48 charms by post from various parts of the island. Of these, 33 were on copper and silver foils, and the rest on paper. In spite of all these so-called powerful charms and their 'vibrations' he is still hail and hearty.

Of course, like all living organisms, when he finally dies the demonologists and charmists in this country might claim that his death was due to the delayed action of their charms.

One Mr. Nandiris de Silva, a kattadiya from Panadura, claimed through the columns of the Sinhalese newspaper 'Silumina' that he could, by his charms and medical powers perform various miracles such as putting a ghost in my palm, show a demon in a mirror, get me stucked to the chair I was seated on, and smash up the pieces of furniture at my home with the help of demons under his control. Though several dates were fixed both by the editor of the 'Silumina' and myself for Mr. de Silva to demonstrate his tall claims, he never turned up.

The following letters which passed between us will expose the bluff of this typical charlatan:

                                                                              

26th July, 1967

Dear Mr. de Silva 

Although you published through the columns of the 'Silumina' that you were prepared to take up my challenge, so far you have evaded to demonstrate your so­called mysterious ability on the dates fixed earlier. Since the readers of Silumina are liable to lose faith in you, the Ceylon Rationalist Association whose main aim is to eradicate superstitious beliefs from the minds of people, and the newspaper Silumina, a final date to demonstrate your so-called power to smash up the furniture in my home by the help of demons or ghosts you claim to have under your magical control, has now to be fixed.

"The time fixed for the demonstration is 30th July, 1967, between 10 a.m. and 11 a.m. You are therefore requested to be present at my bungalow at this time to carry out the demonstration in the presence of Mr. Subasinghe, Deputy Editor of Silumina, Mr. Kapila Somaratna and Mr. Garnini Cabraal.

"Though the original challenge of mine was with a bet, tins test will be con­ducted absolutely free. Your failure to be present on this occasion on some lame ex­cuse will make me come to the logical conclusion that you, like all kattadiyas, are out to cheat the gullible public by your bluff, and that conclusion will be given due public­ity. Please remember that this is the last and final date, and no postponement will be made as the readers have waited too long already.

Yours faithfully,

Abraham Kovoor

On 3^rd August, 1967, I got the following reply from Mr. de Silva:

Dear Sir,

I am in receipt of your letter dated 26th July, 1967. I have already mentioned in my stories in Silumina that I wanted enough time to produce a ghost before you.

"Herewith I certify that I would produce a spirit of ghost before you. Please fix the date in September, because at present I am undergoing medical treatment from Dr. Ratnavale for an ailment in my body.

"Please let me know the date enabling me to prepare for it in time.

Thanking You

Yours faithfully,

S. Nandiris de Silva

   

On 3rd August, 1967, I followed it up by the following 1etter:­

Dear Mr. de Silva,

Thanks for your letter of 1-8-1967. Though I said in my previous letter of 26th July, that no postponement would be made, in view of your illness I am prepared to accede to your request.

"The new and final date now fixed to conduct, the test is 4th September from 10 am to 11 am Please note that this is the 4th postponement, and no further change will be made.

"Though I am sorry to hear that you are not well, I am glad that you are doing the correct thing by taking treatment from a medical doctor instead of depending on the magical powers you claim to possess. While ignorant persons seek the help of Kattadiyas, the Kattadiyas themselves seek the help of doctors. It is to expose this type of fraud that I have been all along challenging Kattadiyas.

Hoping to meet you on 4th September.

I am,

Yours faithfully

Abraham T. Kovoor

Following is an English translation of a letter from Mr. Nandiris de Silva written in Sinhala.

28-8-1967, Panadura 

Respected Sir,                                                                               , 

Thank you very much for the two letters. I am not in a position to show you the powers of ghosts on the 8th of next month owing to the following reasons:

I have been suffering from a brain trouble for the last three months and now I am feeling better. I am medically advised to rest for another month more: Before the 15th of October I will show you what the ghosts can do. This I will do at the Panadura Town Hall in the presence of you and a limited number of persons. This is because the police will object to public demonstrations.

I wish you long life and happiness.

N. de Silva

On 31st August I sent the following letter to Mr. N. de Silva.

Dear Mr. de Silva,

I am in receipt of your letter dated 28-8-1967. Although several dates were fixed in the past for you to demonstrate your claim, you have cleverly evaded facing the test each time giving some sort of excuse. The final date in September was fixed at your own request, but now you want it to be postponed again.

"I have now learned by experience that you are not in any way different from other Kattadiyas who claim that they could take up my various challenges, but in the end slowly back out by keeping silent. Hence, I am not prepared to waste any more of my time with an unreliable person like you. Right from the very beginning of the controversy you have shown your unreliability by changing your claims and condi­tions from time to time.

"First you said that you could put a ghost on my palm. Two weeks later you said that you could produce a ghost to be photographed. When this was accepted you changed your ground again and said that you could show a ghost through a mirror. Later you said that you could get me glued to the chair I was seated on. When asked to do it, you cleverly evaded that also and said that you could smash up the furniture in my house with the help of demons or ghosts.

"It was to demonstrate your claim to smash up the furniture that the last few days were fixed. Now you are trying to back out on the plea that you are having some brain trouble.

"Your last letter of 28-8-67 does not say a word about the smashing up of the furniture. On the other hand you vaguely say about 'what ghost can do' at the Panadura Town Hall, on the plea that the police will object if it is done in public. What was wanted of you was to break up my own furniture in my own house, and not in any public place. There is no question of the police interfering in it as you are doing it at my own request, in my own house.

"All you claim is mere bluff - an excuse to back out. Or, could it be that you find it difficult to introduce your accomplices to help you by some tricks if it is done in my house?

"Though I am not going to fix any more dates, you are at full liberty to fix a date most convenient to you to smash up the furniture. You can do this even without inform­ing me. If at any time you succeed, that news will be given publicity in newspapers.

"In the meanwhile I am releasing to the press the contents of the letters which have passed between us so that the readers may know the actual state of affairs.

"Though I am sorry to hear about your mental trouble, I am glad that you are taking treatment from a neurologist, instead of trying to cure it by your so-called manthras, thovil, bali and other fraudulent practices.

Yours faithfully

Abraham T. Kovoor

(It is a pity that the newspaper Silumina, which sponsored this controversy for many months, failed to give its readers the opportunity to know the final outcome of it by publishing these letters in spite of repeated requests. After all, who is the editor who will knowingly kill the goose which lays for him golden eggs regularly by way of lengthy advertisements?)

Courtesy: Abraham Kovoor: Exposing Paranormal Claims; Published by B Premanand, Indian CSICOP, Podannur-641023; Date of Publication: 15-3-2000

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Christian Miracles: How Christianity Came To India

B Premanand

About one thousand nine hundred and odd years ago, when St. Thomas visited Kerala, he saw Kerala Brahmins (Namboodiri Brahmins) performing shraadha ceremony. He enquired as to what they were doing throwing water upwards. They replied that they were sending water to the Pithrus, the dead ancestors.

St. Thomas smiled and said that their gods had no power because the water they send upwards to heaven fell to the ground. We are told he then poured some water in his vessel, prayed that the water may reach the dead, and showed his vessel was indeed empty. Seeing this miracle all the brahmins there became Christians.

Experiment: 52

Effect: Water sent to heaven.

Pour water into the vessel. Move the vessel up as if you are sending water to heaven, then show the vessel empty.

Props: The trick-vessel, and water in a jug.

Method: The trick-vessel is so made that when tilted to the left side, the water goes into a second compartment. When it is tilted to the right side the water reappears.

Experiment: 53

Effect: Producing Ganges water from an empty vessel.

Props: Same trick-vessel with water filled beforehand.

Method: Tilt the vessel to the left and show the vessel is empty. Invoke the goddess Ganga and act as if Ganges water is filling into the vessel invisibly      from your hair. Then tilt it to the right side, water flows out. Though Indian godmen calling themselves avatars of Shiv had the same kind of vessel wherein they produced Ganges water, they could not make out that St. Thomas had used the same vessel.

How Africans Became Christians

African witch-doctors could not save their tribesmen from the bullets of the invaders from Europe, though they prepared a balm to be applied on their body. Christian missionaries brought a magician with them and demonstrated that if anyone had full faith in Christ, he would not be harmed by the bullets.

Experiment: 54

Effect: Catching a bullet in the mouth when fired.

Props: A gun, one bullet, and chemicals.

Method: Fill the gun with chemicals so that when it is fired one hears only the sound. But the victim acts as if he has swallowed the bullet, taking it out of his mouth!

Reproduced with permission from Indian CSICOP.  For other articles from Science Versus Miracles we have already published (http://www.carvaka4india.com/search/label/Science%20versus%20Miracles) please click here

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