Paranormal Investigation Challenge - Milk Drinking Statues

[Vigilante]

Disclaimer: This challenge is not in anyway intended to insult the Hindus. If anyhow someone finds this offensive (apologies in advance), ReCom anchors may take the step to delete this forum.

Not sure if any of you have heard of the case where statues in Hindu temples were 'drinking milk', but I have seen it myself on CNN news. It was very long time ago, back in 1995. Nevertheless it was a very interesting case.

Here is a news article by Associate Press.


NEW DELHI, India (AP) -- Millions rushed to Hindu temples across India on Thursday after reports of a miracle -- the statues of one of their gods were drinking milk. The faithful -- bearing milk in everything from earthen and steel pots to tumblers and jugs -- converged on temples that had reproductions of the elephant-headed Lord Ganesha.

``It is a miracle,'' said A.K. Tiwari, a priest at a temple in southern New Delhi.

Crowds thronged temples in dozens of cities, including New Delhi, Bombay, Calcutta and Madras. There was no way to estimate the overall number of people going to the temples. But a city such as New Delhi has about 5,000 roadside temples, and crowds of up to 300 per temple were reported.

Police and paramilitary soldiers were called out to guard temples across India. In the northern town of Jamshedpur, police waved bamboo canes to control a crowd of 500 that tried to storm a temple.

Milk shortages were also reported. In Calcutta, cafes stopped offering customers milk with tea and instead sold the milk for 10 times the normal price.

Tiwari, the priest, said the excitement began early Thursday when a devotee dreamed that the deity wanted milk. When the man, who wasn't identified, held a spoonful of milk near the statue's trunk, the milk disappeared.

Word spread quickly and people began lining up at temples as early as 4 a.m. Many were late for work because they stopped at temples first.

One of the more popular gods in the Hindu religion, Ganesha is credited with bringing prosperity. The faithful dismissed suggestions of a hoax.

``It cannot be a hoax. Where would all the milk being offered go? It is such a small idol, it can't take in so much,'' said Parmesh Soti, a business executive who stood in line. ``The gods have come down to earth to solve our problems.''


Anyone who is interested may give it a shot and try to explain this bizarre phenomenon. If possible, avoid searching the answers from the internet.

Extra hints below.

[Vigilante]

Disclaimer: This challenge is not in anyway intended to insult the Hindus. If anyhow someone finds this offensive (apologies in advance), ReCom anchors may take the step to delete this forum.

Not sure if any of you have heard of the case where statues in Hindu temples were 'drinking milk', but I have seen it myself on CNN news. It was very long time ago, back in 1995. Nevertheless it was a very interesting case.

Here is a news article by Associate Press.


NEW DELHI, India (AP) -- Millions rushed to Hindu temples across India on Thursday after reports of a miracle -- the statues of one of their gods were drinking milk. The faithful -- bearing milk in everything from earthen and steel pots to tumblers and jugs -- converged on temples that had reproductions of the elephant-headed Lord Ganesha.

``It is a miracle,'' said A.K. Tiwari, a priest at a temple in southern New Delhi.

Crowds thronged temples in dozens of cities, including New Delhi, Bombay, Calcutta and Madras. There was no way to estimate the overall number of people going to the temples. But a city such as New Delhi has about 5,000 roadside temples, and crowds of up to 300 per temple were reported.

Police and paramilitary soldiers were called out to guard temples across India. In the northern town of Jamshedpur, police waved bamboo canes to control a crowd of 500 that tried to storm a temple.

Milk shortages were also reported. In Calcutta, cafes stopped offering customers milk with tea and instead sold the milk for 10 times the normal price.

Tiwari, the priest, said the excitement began early Thursday when a devotee dreamed that the deity wanted milk. When the man, who wasn't identified, held a spoonful of milk near the statue's trunk, the milk disappeared.

Word spread quickly and people began lining up at temples as early as 4 a.m. Many were late for work because they stopped at temples first.

One of the more popular gods in the Hindu religion, Ganesha is credited with bringing prosperity. The faithful dismissed suggestions of a hoax.

``It cannot be a hoax. Where would all the milk being offered go? It is such a small idol, it can't take in so much,'' said Parmesh Soti, a business executive who stood in line. ``The gods have come down to earth to solve our problems.''


Anyone who is interested may give it a shot and try to explain this bizarre phenomenon. If possible, avoid searching the answers from the internet.

Extra hints below.

[Vigilante]

This might give more information and clues.
http://www.ufoindia.org/milk_miracle.htm

Personal human accounts and news around the world.


GANESHA STATUES IN VARIOUS PARTS OF INDIA AND MALAYSIA DRINK MILK

I am in Penang, Malaysia. This morning I had an urgent call from my
wife while I was at the office. (I had not read about the Ganesha
story yet ). She said that he had heard news of Ganesha Deities in
several temples drinking up milk, and when she tried to offer milk
to our own Ganesha Statue at our home, He drank up ! She was so
excited, and insisted that I come home immediately to feed some
milk to Ganesha. I did. Although a lot of the milk was apparently
spilling, there seemed to be a general sucking action, and there
was a general reduction in the quantity of milk. Later we proceeded
to a nearby temple, where a large crowd, which included some curious Chinese persons, queuing up to feed the Ganesha deity. We too joined the queue, and sure enough Ganesha drank up the milk offered. - JAIDEV


Yesterday, there was a lineup of about 1000 people at the Ganesh Mandir in Toronto, where I spent about 5-6 hours in controlling the crowd, offering milk to the metal statues of Sri Ganesha. Most of them offered a spoonful of milk to Ganesha through the left tusk (tusk immersed in the milk) and over a period of few minutes - some faster, some slower - the milk disappeared. It was true a lot of milk came at the base and accumulated in the basin.

BANGKOK, Sept 22 (Reuter) - Hundreds of ethnic Indians from Thailand along with Buddhist Thais and other Asians rushed to a main Hindu temple on Friday after reports that idols of Hindu gods were drinking milk poured at sacred offerings.
``It's a matter of faith, if you have faith in it you can see it with your eyes,'' said one ethnic Chinese woman from Singapore offering milk to an idol of the god Ganesha, the elephant-headed deity.

HONG KONG, Sept 22 (Reuter) - Hong Kong's Hindus spent a second day on Friday offering milk to Hindu gods in the hope that their wishes would come true.

JAKARTA, Sept 22 (Reuter) - Indians in Indonesia crowded Jakarta's main temple on Friday after claims by Hindu worshippers in India that stone idols had begun drinking sacred milk offerings.
Housewife Ritu Garg said she and her two young children were left speechless when the small silver idol of Ganesha began drinking the milk she fed the elephant-headed deity at the shrine in her house.

LONDON, Sept 22 (Reuter) - Anila Premji didn't have the slightest doubt. It was a miracle.
Premji was one of hundreds of Hindus who flocked to the Vishwa temple in Southall, west London, as word spread like wildfire through the capital's large Indian community that religious statues had begun drinking milk offerings.
After waiting patiently in a long queue on Thursday night, Premji described the moment when, her hand quivering, she held a spoonful of milk up to the temple's 15-inch (38 cm) high marble idol of Nandi, the bull ridden by the Hindu deity Shiva.
Hasmukh Shah of the World Council of Hindus told the Daily telegraph newspaper that more than 18,000 people had visited 18 temples in West Yorkshire, northern England.

NEW YORK (Reuter) - Thousands of U.S. Hindus tried Friday to reproduce an Indian ``milk miracle'' at home or by lining up at a New York temple to feed milk to brass statues of a reputedly thirsty elephant god.
``My friend said, 'I'm afraid he is not going to take the milk from me. Does that mean I am not going to be blessed?' I said 'No, that is not the way it works,''' Nargis Sharma said.

[Vigilante]

This might give more information and clues.
http://www.ufoindia.org/milk_miracle.htm

Personal human accounts and news around the world.


GANESHA STATUES IN VARIOUS PARTS OF INDIA AND MALAYSIA DRINK MILK

I am in Penang, Malaysia. This morning I had an urgent call from my
wife while I was at the office. (I had not read about the Ganesha
story yet ). She said that he had heard news of Ganesha Deities in
several temples drinking up milk, and when she tried to offer milk
to our own Ganesha Statue at our home, He drank up ! She was so
excited, and insisted that I come home immediately to feed some
milk to Ganesha. I did. Although a lot of the milk was apparently
spilling, there seemed to be a general sucking action, and there
was a general reduction in the quantity of milk. Later we proceeded
to a nearby temple, where a large crowd, which included some curious Chinese persons, queuing up to feed the Ganesha deity. We too joined the queue, and sure enough Ganesha drank up the milk offered. - JAIDEV


Yesterday, there was a lineup of about 1000 people at the Ganesh Mandir in Toronto, where I spent about 5-6 hours in controlling the crowd, offering milk to the metal statues of Sri Ganesha. Most of them offered a spoonful of milk to Ganesha through the left tusk (tusk immersed in the milk) and over a period of few minutes - some faster, some slower - the milk disappeared. It was true a lot of milk came at the base and accumulated in the basin.

BANGKOK, Sept 22 (Reuter) - Hundreds of ethnic Indians from Thailand along with Buddhist Thais and other Asians rushed to a main Hindu temple on Friday after reports that idols of Hindu gods were drinking milk poured at sacred offerings.
``It's a matter of faith, if you have faith in it you can see it with your eyes,'' said one ethnic Chinese woman from Singapore offering milk to an idol of the god Ganesha, the elephant-headed deity.

HONG KONG, Sept 22 (Reuter) - Hong Kong's Hindus spent a second day on Friday offering milk to Hindu gods in the hope that their wishes would come true.

JAKARTA, Sept 22 (Reuter) - Indians in Indonesia crowded Jakarta's main temple on Friday after claims by Hindu worshippers in India that stone idols had begun drinking sacred milk offerings.
Housewife Ritu Garg said she and her two young children were left speechless when the small silver idol of Ganesha began drinking the milk she fed the elephant-headed deity at the shrine in her house.

LONDON, Sept 22 (Reuter) - Anila Premji didn't have the slightest doubt. It was a miracle.
Premji was one of hundreds of Hindus who flocked to the Vishwa temple in Southall, west London, as word spread like wildfire through the capital's large Indian community that religious statues had begun drinking milk offerings.
After waiting patiently in a long queue on Thursday night, Premji described the moment when, her hand quivering, she held a spoonful of milk up to the temple's 15-inch (38 cm) high marble idol of Nandi, the bull ridden by the Hindu deity Shiva.
Hasmukh Shah of the World Council of Hindus told the Daily telegraph newspaper that more than 18,000 people had visited 18 temples in West Yorkshire, northern England.

NEW YORK (Reuter) - Thousands of U.S. Hindus tried Friday to reproduce an Indian ``milk miracle'' at home or by lining up at a New York temple to feed milk to brass statues of a reputedly thirsty elephant god.
``My friend said, 'I'm afraid he is not going to take the milk from me. Does that mean I am not going to be blessed?' I said 'No, that is not the way it works,''' Nargis Sharma said.

[Vigilante]

ROME (Reuter) - Roman Catholic Italy, more used to `weeping'' statues of the Virgin Mary, joined the latest ``miracle'' wave Monday -- Hindu idols that sip milk.
A store in Rome that sells Indian wares said a small metallic idol of the elephant-headed Ganesh, son of the Hindu god Shiva and his consort Parvati, had begun sipping milk from a spoon.
``We were all surprised and astonished,'' he told Reuters as a relative fed the idol a spoonful of milk for television cameras.

The case is not as simple as it seems. Try to ponder upon these few questions.

1) How did the milk 'disappear' into the statue?
2) How do you explain that statues around the world had the same effect?
3) How did the phenemenon spread around the world so fast? In fact it was almost instantaneous in even remote parts of India, which were lacking proper telecommunication.
4) Why did hundred thousands of people around the world participate in the event, which most of them were very sure that it cannot be a hoax?
5) Why did it gain so much attention from the media?

Remember, it is not as simple as most would think.

[Vigilante]

ROME (Reuter) - Roman Catholic Italy, more used to `weeping'' statues of the Virgin Mary, joined the latest ``miracle'' wave Monday -- Hindu idols that sip milk.
A store in Rome that sells Indian wares said a small metallic idol of the elephant-headed Ganesh, son of the Hindu god Shiva and his consort Parvati, had begun sipping milk from a spoon.
``We were all surprised and astonished,'' he told Reuters as a relative fed the idol a spoonful of milk for television cameras.

The case is not as simple as it seems. Try to ponder upon these few questions.

1) How did the milk 'disappear' into the statue?
2) How do you explain that statues around the world had the same effect?
3) How did the phenemenon spread around the world so fast? In fact it was almost instantaneous in even remote parts of India, which were lacking proper telecommunication.
4) Why did hundred thousands of people around the world participate in the event, which most of them were very sure that it cannot be a hoax?
5) Why did it gain so much attention from the media?

Remember, it is not as simple as most would think.

[qedx]

because its real? :P

[qedx]

because its real? :P

[Thirdshifter]

Reading a little too much of National Enquirer ? Maybe Batboy could solve the mystery.
http://www.hill-kleerup.org/blog/jsquad/archive/www-batboy.jpg

[Thirdshifter]

Reading a little too much of National Enquirer ? Maybe Batboy could solve the mystery.
http://www.hill-kleerup.org/blog/jsquad/archive/www-batboy.jpg

[Schye]

Maybe one of us should go to a temple nearby and try to offer milk to the metal statues of Sri Ganesha if possible. Then i think it will solve at least the main question we have here which will lead the discussion to the next level. (take some photos if possible )

However, i am one of those who think that miracles do happen :)

[Schye]

Maybe one of us should go to a temple nearby and try to offer milk to the metal statues of Sri Ganesha if possible. Then i think it will solve at least the main question we have here which will lead the discussion to the next level. (take some photos if possible )

However, i am one of those who think that miracles do happen :)

[wwhong]

i m curiuos...is there any specific meaning related to the milk drinking by Ganesha Deities that made so many people crazy about it?

[wwhong]

i m curiuos...is there any specific meaning related to the milk drinking by Ganesha Deities that made so many people crazy about it?

[__earth]

Maybe one of us should go to a temple nearby and try to offer milk to the metal statues of Sri Ganesha if possible. Then i think it will solve at least the main question we have here which will lead the discussion to the next level. (take some photos if possible )

First hand, recorded observations have already been made in the past. I remember seeing it on CNN but I don't know whether scientific investigation has been done or not.

[__earth]

Maybe one of us should go to a temple nearby and try to offer milk to the metal statues of Sri Ganesha if possible. Then i think it will solve at least the main question we have here which will lead the discussion to the next level. (take some photos if possible )

First hand, recorded observations have already been made in the past. I remember seeing it on CNN but I don't know whether scientific investigation has been done or not.

[masterof_none]

My question after reading this post is :

why suddenly the price of milk skyrocketed?
Is it because everyone try to feed the gods at the temples?
HIgh demand?

[masterof_none]

My question after reading this post is :

why suddenly the price of milk skyrocketed?
Is it because everyone try to feed the gods at the temples?
HIgh demand?

[wesleyanne]

according to my indian suitemate, the milk was only absorbed by the stone statues in india. her mom tried feeding milk to their other metal statues and it did not work, so she believes that its more of a hoax than anything else :) it was a really big thing at that time, and apparently, the scientific backing they gave was that the seismological forces were affecting the porosity of stones that day. basically, you could have fed the statues any other liquid, and it would have been quickly absorbed :) Im no geology major so I can't explain further ;)

other than that, in india, the supply of milk did not increase, and the demand exceeded supply by leaps and bounds, hence the price increase :) everyone in india was so excited that they all rushed out to get milk so there was also a shortage of milk in india for the next 2 days.

as to the question on why everyone still participated even though most were convinced it was a hoax, i guess its just to satisfy their curiosity? I mean, if I hear bout it, i'll be thinking its a hoax as well, but i would just go ahead and try it out just to confirm my thoughts :)

[wesleyanne]

according to my indian suitemate, the milk was only absorbed by the stone statues in india. her mom tried feeding milk to their other metal statues and it did not work, so she believes that its more of a hoax than anything else :) it was a really big thing at that time, and apparently, the scientific backing they gave was that the seismological forces were affecting the porosity of stones that day. basically, you could have fed the statues any other liquid, and it would have been quickly absorbed :) Im no geology major so I can't explain further ;)

other than that, in india, the supply of milk did not increase, and the demand exceeded supply by leaps and bounds, hence the price increase :) everyone in india was so excited that they all rushed out to get milk so there was also a shortage of milk in india for the next 2 days.

as to the question on why everyone still participated even though most were convinced it was a hoax, i guess its just to satisfy their curiosity? I mean, if I hear bout it, i'll be thinking its a hoax as well, but i would just go ahead and try it out just to confirm my thoughts :)

[Vigilante]

http://www.milkmiracle.com/imgs/Milk_Miracle_Ganesh_Mumbai.jpg

http://www.milkmiracle.com/imgs/Milk_Miracle_Shiva_url.jpg

http://www.milkmiracle.com/imgs/Milk_Miracle_Cow_Do_they_Do_url.jpg

http://www.milkmiracle.com/imgs/Milk_Miracle_Udderly_Amazing_url.jpg

http://www.milkmiracle.com/imgs/Milk_Miracle_World_Wide_url.jpg

Here's a video, although poor quality, provides a lot of details and visual evidence of the statues drinking milk. Highly recommended to view it.
http://www.milkmiracle.com/imgs/Milkmiracle 120x90-1.wmv
6:05 min, 3.4 MB

[Vigilante]

http://www.milkmiracle.com/imgs/Milk_Miracle_Ganesh_Mumbai.jpg

http://www.milkmiracle.com/imgs/Milk_Miracle_Shiva_url.jpg

http://www.milkmiracle.com/imgs/Milk_Miracle_Cow_Do_they_Do_url.jpg

http://www.milkmiracle.com/imgs/Milk_Miracle_Udderly_Amazing_url.jpg

http://www.milkmiracle.com/imgs/Milk_Miracle_World_Wide_url.jpg

Here's a video, although poor quality, provides a lot of details and visual evidence of the statues drinking milk. Highly recommended to view it.
http://www.milkmiracle.com/imgs/Milkmiracle 120x90-1.wmv
6:05 min, 3.4 MB

[Schye]

Also, there is one simple question which has always come to my mind as far as the Milk Miracle goes. It is a question that is simple, but scientists who are of the view that it was just capillary action, need to answer it: Why is it that for the thousands of years before September 21, 1995 and the six and a half years after has this miracle not repeated itself? If it was attributed to capillary action alone, then this should tale place today as well. But it doesn't. If you try to feed a Ganesh idol with milk today, it will not absorb it. Please explain this first and then doubt later.

I had the same question in my mind and i found this on www.milkmiracle.com

[Schye]

Also, there is one simple question which has always come to my mind as far as the Milk Miracle goes. It is a question that is simple, but scientists who are of the view that it was just capillary action, need to answer it: Why is it that for the thousands of years before September 21, 1995 and the six and a half years after has this miracle not repeated itself? If it was attributed to capillary action alone, then this should tale place today as well. But it doesn't. If you try to feed a Ganesh idol with milk today, it will not absorb it. Please explain this first and then doubt later.

I had the same question in my mind and i found this on www.milkmiracle.com

[qedx]

geez you people are ignoring the most obvious explanation: the hindu gods drank the milk :P

[qedx]

geez you people are ignoring the most obvious explanation: the hindu gods drank the milk :P

[__earth]

funny thing is, do gods or god eat/drink?

[__earth]

funny thing is, do gods or god eat/drink?

[qedx]

apparently they do

[qedx]

apparently they do

[el_empty]

God all this talk is making me thirsty...

anyways, just wanted to share with you guys this link on miracles/hocuspocus and whatnot.
http://www.shareintl.org/index.htm

[el_empty]

God all this talk is making me thirsty...

anyways, just wanted to share with you guys this link on miracles/hocuspocus and whatnot.
http://www.shareintl.org/index.htm

[Vigilante]

Okay, I wasn't expecting this 'challenge' to end so early due to lack of activity. But anyway, here is the report of the investigation conducted by Sanal Edamaruku, the head of Indian Rationalist Association.

(Shortened in certain parts to avoid being to verbose here)


1) Not only statues of Ganesh and deities of Shiva 'consumed' milk. Other statues with smooth surface, including Jesus and Mahatma Gandhi have shown to 'consume' milk too.

2) These statues could drink not only milk but coffee, mineral water and even beer.

3) The flow of the liquid started automatically only when the statue is wet with the same type of liquid that it was fed. Due to the principal of surface tension, liquids have a tendency to form a singluar unit when two units meet each other. The slightly projected liquid surface in the spoon breaks at the point of contact and following a primary siphoning as it flows over the surface of the statue. Milk in small quantities or over white marble is almost invisible. In most cases the statues were also covered with flower garlands which did not allow a close inspection of them.

4) Principle of capillary action is responsible for the primary siphoning, which initiates the downflow of the milk.

5) Automuscular movements can make the feeder tilt the spoon without noticing, thereby adding speed to the downflow of the milk from the spoon.

We not only explained the scientific principles behind the illusion, but also were able to demonstrate its functioning by having our Ganesh statue "drink" milk and blue ink in front of running TV cameras. By evening our explanations were presented on the major television networks. I also gave phone interviews for international news on the BBC and CNN. After hours of enthusiasm, the miracle spectacle died down, demystified by our massive media presenece.



So is that it? Not so. There's more to that as I have said before. Follow on investigations showed that "several temples received phone calls the night before the event, announcing that a miracle was going to happen and instructing the priest to pour milk over the deities and to feed them with a spoon as soon as dawn break."


The report continues, "They found the miracle working and passed the information on, as they had been asked to do. There had obviously been a well-organized and precisely timed central telephone coordination."

"It(local newspaper) said that in Hardwar(Hindu holy city in Uttar Pradesh) milk had already gone out of stock the evening before the milk miracle. That meant that in Hardwar the Shiva family of deities got thirsty half a day earlier than in the rest of India. Could this have been a trial run for the big miracle?


There was a 'conspiracy' behind this well-organized milk miracle. So the challenge, if anyone is still interested, continues.

Who was behind this conspiracy and what was the motive?

[Vigilante]

Okay, I wasn't expecting this 'challenge' to end so early due to lack of activity. But anyway, here is the report of the investigation conducted by Sanal Edamaruku, the head of Indian Rationalist Association.

(Shortened in certain parts to avoid being to verbose here)


1) Not only statues of Ganesh and deities of Shiva 'consumed' milk. Other statues with smooth surface, including Jesus and Mahatma Gandhi have shown to 'consume' milk too.

2) These statues could drink not only milk but coffee, mineral water and even beer.

3) The flow of the liquid started automatically only when the statue is wet with the same type of liquid that it was fed. Due to the principal of surface tension, liquids have a tendency to form a singluar unit when two units meet each other. The slightly projected liquid surface in the spoon breaks at the point of contact and following a primary siphoning as it flows over the surface of the statue. Milk in small quantities or over white marble is almost invisible. In most cases the statues were also covered with flower garlands which did not allow a close inspection of them.

4) Principle of capillary action is responsible for the primary siphoning, which initiates the downflow of the milk.

5) Automuscular movements can make the feeder tilt the spoon without noticing, thereby adding speed to the downflow of the milk from the spoon.

We not only explained the scientific principles behind the illusion, but also were able to demonstrate its functioning by having our Ganesh statue "drink" milk and blue ink in front of running TV cameras. By evening our explanations were presented on the major television networks. I also gave phone interviews for international news on the BBC and CNN. After hours of enthusiasm, the miracle spectacle died down, demystified by our massive media presenece.



So is that it? Not so. There's more to that as I have said before. Follow on investigations showed that "several temples received phone calls the night before the event, announcing that a miracle was going to happen and instructing the priest to pour milk over the deities and to feed them with a spoon as soon as dawn break."


The report continues, "They found the miracle working and passed the information on, as they had been asked to do. There had obviously been a well-organized and precisely timed central telephone coordination."

"It(local newspaper) said that in Hardwar(Hindu holy city in Uttar Pradesh) milk had already gone out of stock the evening before the milk miracle. That meant that in Hardwar the Shiva family of deities got thirsty half a day earlier than in the rest of India. Could this have been a trial run for the big miracle?


There was a 'conspiracy' behind this well-organized milk miracle. So the challenge, if anyone is still interested, continues.

Who was behind this conspiracy and what was the motive?