ISAKHAPATNAM, ANDHRA PARDESH, INDIA, October 6, 2001: Driven to despair at the unrelenting drought affecting the state this year, the government decided to invite divine intervention. Accordingly, the endowments department directed the executive officers of all temples in its jurisdiction to perform special abhishekams (ritual bathing of the Diety) on October 7 to invoke the blessings of the rain god to save the farming community from the drought. It granted US$104 per temple for this purpose. Just the thought was sufficient, for by the time the executive officers of all Siva temples in the state received the announcement, the state experienced torrential rains. The temples went ahead with the ceremonies anyway, to give thanks. In some of these ceremonies for rain, which are historically quite effective, an icon of the Deity will be immersed in a container of water.
A daily summary of world news for Hindus and non-Hindus alike