Introduction: Healing implies such a concept which implies the restoration of good health among the individuals. Healing is showered on the sufferers by the healers. The concept of healing has emerged since time unknown. developed among the masses as they were unable to explain nature as well as the people’s incapacity to apprehend about the diseases which led to the death of the people. Thus, people named as “spiritual healers” or “ healers” emerged in the society to provide healing to the people so that they can go back to their normal pattern of life. In the present module, the sole focus will be to discuss on the different healers and the associate healing places which are specific to . India is a land of diverse and their correlated religious practices. There is an array of faith healers and healing places in India. A few noted healers and healing places have been a part of the present module.

Spiritual healers across all religions: A spiritual healer is believed to be a charismatic personality who sees himself or herself to be a medium by which healing light and energy can be showered to his/her followers. Spiritual healers act for the benefit of others in the society. A few noted spiritual healers according to the respective religions are as follows—

Ramakrishna Paramahamsa: Sri was born in 1836 and took his last breath in 1886. He represents the hub of the spiritual consciousness among all the seers and sages of India. He spent his whole life in the contemplation of . His words and thoughts have a universal appeal. Sri Ramakrishna stanchly practiced the spiritual disciplines of diverse religions and came to the conclusion that all of them lead to the same goal. He declared, "As many , so many paths." He is also believed to act as a spiritual healer. Ramakrishna Paramahamsa practiced physiognomy i.e. he could apprehend about a person’s character from his or her outer appearance. He observed the eyes, forehead and general appearance of those who approached him and, on occasion, even weighed their hands as he did of to assess their fitness for spiritual instruction. On another occasion, Sri Ramakrishna saw from his verandah a frail man being mercilessly beaten by ruffians in the bathing ghat far away. He was greatly disturbed, but to the amazement of his devotees, linear streaks of urticaria appeared on his back! It seemed that he was physically sensing the pain of the victim and was suffering vicariously. He stated on many occasions that siddhis which empower a man to perform were a bar to self-realization and should be

shunned. (Cited, Valiathan 2011) He himself did not believe in miraculous cures. He noted that the cause of diseases is the stress in the mind of the individuals.

Ramakrishna Paramahansa’s popular healing place is the Dakshineswar followed by The . The well-accliamed Dakshineswar temple houses the Goddess Kali. It was founded by Rani Rashmoni following a dream she saw when she was about to start on her pilgrimage to Benaras. Ramakrishna Paramhansa used to worship Ma Kali and the place is considered to have a divine touch by all the religious pilgrims. Many individuals finding no other cure for their pathologies visits the Dakshineswar Temple so that they can be healed by the blessings of Ramakrishna Paramahansa. Numerous devotees gather at the shrine on 1st January every year as it was on this solemn occasion that Ramakrishna attained enlightenment. This solemn occasion is termed as the “Kalpataru Utsav”. The Ramakrishna Mission has numerous objectives or goals by which healing is provided to the people both in the rural and urban centers. Thus, Ramakrishna Paramahansa blessed the people and made the quotation on the healing of the individuals that—

"The faith-healers of India order their patients to repeat with full conviction the words, 'There is no illness in me, there is no illness at all.' The patient repeats it, and, thus mentally denying, the illness goes off. So if you think yourself to be morally weak and without goodness, you will really find yourself to be so in no time. Know and believe that you are of immense power, and the power will come to you at last." - Sri Ramakrishna1

Ma Anandamayi: Ma Anandamayi was born at Kheora, a tiny little village in the district of in East Bengal in 1896 on 30th April, Kheora. She had the divine power of transcending herself into the other world and healed the people out of their suffering. Her healing touch was sought by strangers from far and near. During one stage and period in her life, she was able to miraculously heal people with just the touch of her hand. She was a good counselor by which many people came to her regarding their suffering but it is through her words that she healed the people psychologically and rejuvenated them to lead a better life ahead.

There are numerous healing centres associated with Ma Anandamayi. The various Ashrams gather devotees each year from all around the world.Recently, Mata Anandamayee Hospital was established in Shivala, to provide medical treatment and healing to the poor including free eye operations. Thus Her glories are still praised far and wide across the globe. In her words—

..."Ja Hoye Jay!"....."Whatever happens is OK!"...it is this place we work in Divine Clearing...we stay in "Dynamic Stillness"...where Life itself heals and changes the form.

1 Source: http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/rls/rls27.htm

There is no-one in the way to impede the healing of the Innate Intelligence...we witness healing knowing that all is already whole and perfect..”2

Sai Baba: Sai Baba is also known as Shirdi Sai Baba. He was a spiritual master who is regarded both in the past and present by the devotees as an avatar of God, saint, fakir, and sadguru. He was venerated by both his Muslim and Hindu devotees. It is still a dilemma that whether He was a Hindu or a Muslim. To Sai Baba taking care of health was an important factor. Sai Baba's uncountable devotees deem that he executed many miracles such as bilocation, levitation, mindreading, materialisation, exorcisms. He is believed to make the river Yamuna enter a state of Samadhi at his own will; lighted lamps with water; removed his limbs or intestines and stuck them back to his body (i.e. performing khandana ); healing the sick; appeared to be beaten when another person was beaten; rising from his death on the third day; averting a from falling down on people. He is believed to give Darshan (vision) to people in the form of , , Vithoba and many other depending on the faith of devotees.3 After the death of Sai Baba numerous healing places opened in various parts of the world. The most famous healing centre is in Shirdi itself. It was founded in 1922 to carry out the services of Shri Sai Baba. Thousands of devotees gather each day to seek the blessings of Sai Baba. During the first years of His stay at Shirdi, Baba used to give some sort of a medicine (traditional medicine given in Indian villages) to the sick people and had earned reputation as an village doctor. He continuously prayed God day and night. At a certain point of time He started giving Udi as the panacea for all maladies, physical ailments etc. At Shirdi while devotees took leave of Baba He gave the sacred ash of His dhuni (sacred fire) to the devotees as a gesture of His blessings. It conferred health, prosperity and freedom from anxiety and fear. Even today the sacred ash collected from perpetual fire at Shirdi is sure cure for all maladies – physical as well as mental. It works miraculously and graciously in the moments of distress and utter despair – as an unseen hand extended by Him. (Cited, http://www.shirdibaba.org/aboutsai/udi.htm) Thus, in his words— “I will not allow my devotees to come to harm”—Shridi Sai Baba4

2 http://divineclearingmassage.blogspot.in/2011/12/sri-anandamayi-ma-hari-hari-her-words.html 3 Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sai_Baba_of_Shirdi#Reported_miracles 4 Source: http://www.saibaba.ws/quotes/shirdi100sayings.htm

Khwaja Moinuddin Chisti: Moinuddin Chishti was born in 1141 and expired in 1236 CE. He is also known as Gharīb Nawāz "Benefactor of the Poor". He is the most famous saint of the Chishti Order of Sufism of the Indian subcontinent. 5 One of His many miracles is, One day, a weeping old woman came to him and said, "Huzoor, the ruler had killed my innocent son. For God sake, help me." Hearing the woman, Khwaja Sahib (R.A) was moved very much. He with his sceptre in his hand accompanied the old woman. Many followers and disciples also accompanied him. He arrived at the dead body of the boy, stood there silently and gazed at it for quite a long time. Then he stepped towards the body, put his hand on It said, "O boy, if you have been killed innocent, come to life by the grace of ALLAH." He just completed his sentence, the boy was alive. Khwaja Sahib (R.A) further said, "The man should be so close to ALLAH that his prayers are to accepted without any delay. If it is not, then he is not a Faqir" (Cited, http://www.khwajamoinuddinchishti.com/dargah_khwaja_moinuddin_chishti.htm). Dargah Sharif or Sharif is a Sufi shrine built in the name of Moinuddin Chisti. It acts as one of the healing centers in India. Various devotees not only visits Mecca as a part of their Hajj trip but also visits the Ajmer Sharif as it is believed to grant the wishes of the devotees and heal numerous followers out of their ailments and other pathologies. Therefore, Khwaja Moinuddin Chisti provided men and women with not only physical healing but also psychological healing. His followers still owe Him gratitude through their prayers and by visiting the Dargah Sharif.

Nizamuddin Auliya: Hazrat Shaikh Khwaja Syed Muhammad Nizamuddin Auliya (1238 – 3 April 1325) is also known as Hazrat Nizamuddin. He was a famous Sufi saint of the Chishti Order who belonged from the Indian Subcontinent. He believed in drawing the people close to God through renunciation of the world and charity. He is regarded to be one of the great saints of the Chishti order in India. Hazrat Maulana Wajihuddin, who was one of the mureeds of Hazrat Nizamuddin Aulia, was suffering with tuberculosis for some time. When he was in a hopeless condition, some of his friends advised him to go and live in Hazrat Nizamuddin's Khanqah outside the city for a change of healthy climate. He therefore went to the Khanqah in the evening at the time of Iftaar (breaking time of the day's fast). One of the mureeds of the saint brought some 'laddoos' (sweet balls) made of 'methi' (a kind of tasty herb) for the saint. Hazrat Nizamuddin asked Maulana Wajihuddin also to join him in eating them and the latter ate some of these 'laddoos' with relish. Now, it must be remembered, 'methi' is chemically a very hot stuff and is highly injurious for a patient of tuberculosis, but, by the grace of God, these 'laddoos' completely cured the Maulana of his illness and he never suffered with it for the rest of his life (Cited, http://www.sufiwiki.com/Miracles_of_Nizamuddin_Auliya#Tuberculosis_Cured). Nizamuddin Dargah is one such healing place where thousands of devotes gather each day to offer their prayers in the name of the healer. Not only the Muslims but people from all the

5 Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moinuddin_Chishti

religions visits the dargah and ask for healing benefits. Many are believed to achieve mental solace by going to these dargahs and thus attain healing from their mental stress. Thus, Nizamuddin Auliya is indeed one of the greatest healers present in India. His dargah is visited by numerous devotees belonging to different religions.

Mother Teresa: Mother Teresa (26 August 1910 – 5 September 1997) was a Roman Catholic Religious Sister and of Albanian origin, her family originating from Kosovo. Mother Teresa served the poorest of the poor. She spent a major chunk of her life in India and served the poor of the country selflessly. Her healing touch is believed to be a boon to the lives of the people. Even after her death, cases have been reported where Mother Teresa has believed to heal the followers who prayed to Her. One such case is Monica Besra who fell seriously ill in 1998. Few doctors said that she had a malignant tumor, while the rest opined that she had tubercular meningitis. She visited the hospital following which she was prescribed four anti-TB drugs. She was too poor to remain in the hospital and thus she came to a hospice run by the of Charity. While praying she observed a ray of light radiating from the eyes of Mother Teresa’s photograph. She felt light and dizzy but continued to pray by lying down on a bed. The next morning she felt relaxed and realized that she was healed from her illness. The main healing centre associated with Mother Teresa is the Missionaries of Charity. It was established in 1950 by Mother Teresa. It consists of over 4,501 religious sisters and is active in 133 countries6. Unnumbered followers congregate every year in order to attain healing from the Missionaries of Charity. Prayers are offered in the name of the sick and the poor for their healing. Funds are raised and numerous social works are conducted so that the goal and vision of Mother Teresa could be sustained. Thus, it is through these ways that Mother Teresa healed the poor people and instilled in them the confidence of trusting themselves in life and to face all odds that comes across with a strong shoulder. Nanak: was (Saturday 15 April 1469 - Monday 22 September, 1539) the founder of . He was the first of the ten of the and was born in the village of Talwandi. He gave confidence to his followers and instructed them to meditate (Naam Japna). Meditation helps in the healing of the mind. Guru Nanak has many fables related to his healing power. From his one history, a short note on how He healed a crippled man is presented--a man who had been crippled by some unexpected ailment, came to Nanak and begged for the healing touch. Guru Nanak healed his mind, and body 7. Panja Sahib is a Gurdwara which is situated at , 48 kilometres from Rawalpindi in . It is considered as one of the most holy places of Sikhism due to the presence of a rock which is believed to have the hand print of Guru Nanak imprinted on it. Sikhs visit this Gurdwara from all over the world at least twice a year. People who feel themselves to be in distress are believed to be healed after their visit to the gurdwara. Thus, Guru Nanak Dev Ji opened the door for a new religious among the masses and people all over the world praise His glory and His healing powers till today.

6 Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Missionaries_of_Charity 7 Source: http://searchsikhism.com/sri-guru-nanak-dev-ji/guru-nanak-in-kashmir-and-ladakh

Lord Buddha: Gautama Buddha, also known as Siddhārtha Gautama/ Shakyamuni or simply the Buddha, was a sage on whose teachings was founded. The core of earliest Buddhism is the practice of dhyāna. Dhyana was meant to performed by either chanting or by meditating. Mantras are regarded to be “sound” icons or symbols. It is in the same way that people envision a Buddha with certain visual symbols. Both visualization and chanting mantras is believed to connect men to the Buddha within. Mantras in Buddhism are extremely effective for practitioners in healing. Millions of people rely on to support their healthy practice. Whether because of transformation of the “mind”— the almost limitless power of the internal—or the intervention of a divine external, there is no end to the healing miracles attributed to mantra. For example, to increase longevity, merit, remove defilements and help heal, the White Tara mantra is used effectively by millions of practitioners i.e. Tare Tuttare Ture Mama Ayur Punye Pushtim Kuru Ye Svaha 8

There are many healing centers in association with Lord Buddha. The Global Vipassana Pagoda (also known as the Golden Pagoda, branch), is one such center where meditation is promoted among the followers. Vipassana is the meditation the Buddha practiced after trying all other forms of bodily mortification and mind control and finding them inadequate to free him from the seemingly endless round of birth and death, pain and sorrow.

It is a technique so valuable that in Burma it was preserved in its pristine purity for more than 2,500 years (Cited, http://www.globalpagoda.org/what-is-vipassana).

Thus, Lord Buddha himself formulated the eight fold Path, The Four Noble Truths, according to which he wanted the human race to enlighten themselves and clear themselves from all the inhibitions. He wanted men and women to lead the path of truth and meditate by which it is believed that people can attain . As he rightly said that— Our sorrows and wounds are healed only when we touch them with compassion. --Buddha9

Mahavira: (599 BCE–527 BCE) is also known as Vardhamana. He was the twenty- fourth and last of . Although Mahavira is widely recognized as the founder of Jainism, he is more properly regarded as a reformer of Jainism10. It is believed that Lord Vira is similar to the gentleness of the moon. He is as cool and soothing as the moonbeams. He is free from the raging fires of anger. He is considered to be filled with the nectar of calmness. He is tranquil in nature. Moonbeams are believed to heal many diseases. Similarly, worshipping Mahavira is regarded by the followers of Jainism to cure them of the disease of rebirth. It was believed that silence is the best cure for many ailments. One must not speak unnecessarily and

8 http://www.buddhaweekly.com/157/ 9 Source: http://fakebuddhaquotes.com/our-sorrows-and-wounds-are-healed-only-when-we-touch-them-with- compassion/ 10 Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahavira

waste the energy of the body. Rather meditation and help them to gather those energies within the body thereby healing them from within. Mahavira practiced keeping silent for 12 long years. There are various healing centers in relation to . A few famous Jain are Great (also known as Gomateshwara), The Dilwara Jain Temples, The , The Sri Digambar Jain Lal Mandir, which has scattered white Digambar Jain temples all around the hill and village, The Temples, The temples, The Shantinath Temple of Khajuraho, The Kulpakji Jain Temple, The Dharmanath Jain Temple and The Jain temple. People across the globe travels to these shrines in order to be blessed by Lord Mahavira. Therefore, the teachings of Mahavira are indeed essential for receiving healing benefits from within.

Conclusion: Healers are present all over the world. Each and every healer possesses their own healing powers which they emit out to their followers. Few use the spiritual course to heal the people while the others use prayers, meditations, to bring about healing among the individuals. The present module discussed about healers in India. These noted healers across all religions are still praised for their healing powers and it is due to this reason that several healing places are opened too so that devotees or followers all over the world can travel to the healing places in order to attain the blessings and ask for healing from the healers. It can be rightly said that as long as human civilization will continue, the belief system of the people around the world will keep these healing places active.

References

Mukund Raj (1 November 2010). "Shri Sai Baba Shirdi Home Page". Saibaba.org. Retrieved 8 January 2011.

Valiathan, S M., Healing in the Ramakrishna Tradition, Bulletin of the Ramakrishna Mission Institute of Culture, November. Reprinted from Total Human Development in the Light of Ramakrishna-Vivekananda- Tradition published by the Institute in 2009.

Wane, N N & Solomon, A., Indigenous Healers and Healing in a Modern World, referred from www.corwin.com/upm-data/5195_Moodley_I_Proof__Chapter_5.pdf.