quote:
Surely some scientists of repute did check it out. 24 hours or longer in the case of some statues. Why the relative dearth of information. I googled "milk miracle" "scientific investigation (and other such words)" and got a page and a bit.
Did science presume hoax/illusion and not bother?
Try googling milk miracle skeptic
Heres one:
http://www.findarticles.com/...i_m2843/is_n2_v20/ai_18158436
Heres another from Skeptic magazine 1995 v.3 issue 4 p.18 "Milk Miracle Makes Masses Mental"
Skeptics, including the Indian Rationalist Association, explained that most of these statues were white (thus masking the milk trickling down the front of the statue) and/or made of porous marble or plaster, which absorbed the milk. Further, they reported that the phenomenon was connected to the controversial guru, Chandraswami, now being investigated by Indian police for alleged connections to organized crime. (The "miracle" was a warning to leave him alone.)
More background information may be found in several articles in the the London Times between Sept. 23 and 26, 1995. Of particular interest:
Secret is in the Stone, say doubting scientists - Sept. 23, 1995 p.3
In the lap of the gods - Sept. 24, 1995 p.14
From the latter:
Many Indians favour a more sinister explanation. The great milk saga began at 6pm on Wednesday, according to the Indian Rationalists' Association, which investigates reports of the supernatural. Holy men known as sadhus at Haridwar proclaimed through loudspeakers that, the following day, ``Shiva's family will begin drinking milk''. News of the expected miracle spread with bewildering speed.
The sadhus' motives were not to bring peace to the world, but to protect a notorious swami implicated in the murder of Rajiv Gandhi, the prime minister, during the 1991 election campaign, the rationalists claim.
Dubbed the ``greaseball guru'', Chandraswamy is feared for the influence he exercises over Narasimha Rao, the prime minister, and is the claimed confidant of Elizabeth Taylor and the Sultan of Brunei.
Some of the sadhus were identified as the same holy men photographed the previous week in a Delhi street protest against Chandraswamy's arrest. The guru, who meddled in the Harrods' takeover battle between Tiny Rowland and the Fayed brothers, is fighting accusations that he tried to recruit an Israeli mercenary to assassinate Gandhi during the 1991 election campaign. He also denies giving sanctuary to a gang leader who killed a senior police officer.
Chandraswamy has been summoned to appear before a commission investigating the Gandhi killing. But the internal security minister who ordered his arrest, Rajesh Pilot, was summarily ejected from office by the prime minister. Yesterday the swami failed to appear before the commission, pleading back pain and high blood pressure.
From the ornate mansion in Delhi where he holds court sitting on a tiger skin, Chandraswamy was reported to have invoked Ganesh, and had his message relayed to important temples. ``Try and feed Ganesh,'' said one anonymous caller to the Birla temple in Delhi. ``He's simply drinking the milk.''
Just doing my job
{Added by Edit}
The admins dont like just quotes and they want people to be on topic so I must add my thoughts.
The "milk miracle" is purported to be one of the proofs of indicators of reincarnation and Hinduism according to the OP. My research indicates skepticism regarding these claims is definately called for as "extraodinary claims require extraordinary evidence" - Carl Sagan. As far as I can tell from my research, the "milk miracle" has been debunked.
Upon closely watching the video, I can even see evidence of the milk fusing with the evidently wet statues under the spoons. I could also see in some instances actual milk running down the statues and congealing at the bottom. The desire to believe should not outweigh ones own immediate common sense perceptions.
Additionally, instances of abusing the faith of the masses for personal gain, as I believe is shown by this incident and which occurs among all religions, should be exposed and vilified by all people regardless of belief. To support such hucksters, because they are part of "my" religion, is an insult to God and humanity.
In this case millions of gallons of milk, which could have been used to feed the poor, were wasted as the believers poured them into the statues. I wonder how many died to further the mecinations of this Chandraswami's thirst for power and self-preservation.
Slightly OT - I hope this post also shows the need to go beyond the internet when performing research in many cases, please feel free to visit your nearest library. - (opinion of an obviously biased librarian)
And please be skeptical, the life you save may be your own (or even someone else's).
ABE - The opinions in the above rant are meant for a general audience and are not necessarily targeted at any individual in this thread.
Edited by anglagard, : Add Skeptic quote
Edited by anglagard, : misplaced quotation mark
Edited by anglagard, : additional info
Edited by anglagard, : My thoughts
Edited by anglagard, : clarification concerning audience
Edited by anglagard, : remove a few words that could have been misinterpreted