Sadhus are spiritual ascetics who dedicate their lives to the pursuit of spiritual knowledge and liberation. They are often seen as wandering mystics, who renounce all material possessions and take up a life of meditation and contemplation. One such Sadhu is Amar Bharati, who has been holding his hand up in a gesture of devotion to Lord Shiva for over 49 years.
Amar Bharati was born in 1950 in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. He became a Sadhu at a young age and devoted himself to the worship of Lord Shiva, the Hindu god of destruction and transformation. In 1970, at the age of 20, he decided to take his devotion to the next level and began holding his right hand up in the air in homage to Lord Shiva.
At first, Amar Bharati only intended to hold his hand up for a few days. However, as time went by, he found that he was able to maintain the posture for longer and longer periods. Over the years, his hand has become frozen in the upright position, with the fingers curled tightly into a fist. Despite this, he remains committed to his devotion and continues to hold his hand up to this day.
Amar Bharati’s dedication has not gone unnoticed. He has become something of a local celebrity in his home town, and his story has been covered by numerous media outlets around the world. People come from far and wide to see him and receive his blessings, and many consider him to be a living saint.
Despite the physical toll that his devotion has taken on his body, Amar Bharati remains resolute in his commitment to Lord Shiva. For him, the act of holding his hand up is not a burden but a privilege, a way of expressing his love and devotion for the divine. His story serves as a reminder of the power of faith and the lengths that some people will go to in order to express it.
