Baby with two faces born in North India is being worshipped as the reincarnation of a Hindu goddess, her father said Tuesday.
This must be where the idea for gods with multiple limbs, heads, etc. came from. Ignorant people cannot explain the cause for such abnormalities and mutations in nature, so make up their own explanations...or invent a new god/goddess. Christian fundamentalists make up their own reasons for these happenings in nature, they say the devil or evilness in the world causes babies to be born malformed. What is so wrong with just saying it was a genetic malfunction or mutation? The baby, Lali, apparently has an extremely rare condition known as craniofacial duplication, where a single head has two faces. Except for her ears, all of Lali's facial features are duplicated — she has two noses, two pairs of lips and two pairs of eyes.
"My daughter is fine — like any other child," said Vinod Singh, 23, a poor farm worker.
Lali has caused a sensation in the dusty village of Saini Sunpura, 25 miles east of New Delhi. When she left the hospital, eight hours after a normal delivery on March 11, she was swarmed by villagers, said Sabir Ali, the director of Saifi Hospital.
"She drinks milk from her two mouths and opens and shuts all the four eyes at one time," Ali said.
Rural India is deeply superstitious and the little girl is being hailed as a return of the Hindu goddess of valor, Durga, a fiery deity traditionally depicted with three eyes and many arms.
Up to 100 people have been visiting Lali at her home every day to touch her feet out of respect, offer money and receive blessings, Singh told The Associated Press.
"Lali is God's gift to us," said Jaipal Singh, a member of the local village council. "She has brought fame to our village."
Village chief Daulat Ram said he planned to build a temple to Durga in the village.
"I am writing to the state government to provide money to build the temple and help the parents look after their daughter," Ram said.
Lali's condition is often linked to serious health complications, but the doctor said she was doing well.
"She is leading a normal life with no breathing difficulties," said Ali, adding that he saw no need for surgery.
Lali's parents were married in February 2007. Lali is their first child.
Singh said he took his daughter to a hospital in New Delhi where doctors suggested a CT scan to determine whether her internal organs were normal, but Singh said he felt it was unnecessary.
"I don't feel the need of that at this stage as my daughter is behaving like a normal child, posing no problems," he said.
14 comments:
I agree that making up a god explanation for everything is a sign of ignorance, but in this case, I think it works in her favor. Instead of people staring at her and making her feel like an outcast, she is being elevated and exalted. Isn't that much more positive? Of course, they should still seek medical care for her, even if she does seem normal, just to make sure everything is all right.
Hi michelle,
Well, on one hand it is good that the child is being "elevated and exhaulted" but what happens if she ever leaves her little world? What happens if her village doesn't last? What happens when outsiders come in and she realizes she isn't the goddess they revere? And it could happen like just happened in Nepal where Nepal where Nepal's supreme court ordered a government investigation into possible children's rights violations and the goddess stuff will be declared as abuse?
Yes, if she lives her whole life in her tiny world, undisturbed, then she might be alright as long as she isnt plagued with health problems. And that is another question. What happens if she does start having health problems and grows ill? What will the people think of their "goddess" then? It would be healthier all around if the child knew who she really is, and taught to deal with this unusual and difficult challenge like many children like her have had to learn to do.
These kind of events always make me sad. I do, however, wonder what people would say about the whole heaven/hell thing if one co-joined twin claimed it was saved but the other did not.
Anyway, take your anti-emetics before you read this.
I do, however, wonder what people would say about the whole heaven/hell thing if one co-joined twin claimed it was saved but the other did not.
Spirula, I know exactly what they would say...they would say that there are two souls in one body, once they are dead they split and one goes up up up, and one down down down. (That reminds me of an Old Huckleberry Hound cartoon. I will have to find it. )
Dammit Spirula, you actually made me click on Townhall.com! Eeesh!
Medved is such a clod. He should stick to reviewing movies.
If he was around during the 19th century when they were debating slavery, he would be arguing against abolition, because it would cause undue hardship for plantation owners.
Medved. The fucker. One time I was at a friend's house and this loser was going on about how horrible Native Americans are. And this was in Washington, where they are a significant minority, and where Medved has a nice house on expensive Mercer Island. They were here first, dipshit.
Anyway....this poor kid. I can't imagine this condition is not going to cause difficulties later on. If not already, since they won't get her xrayed or whatever.
*the radio was tuned to his show, I forgot to write.
Wow - you CAN have eyes in the back of your head! (sorry! lol)
So many gods and goddesses, so little time! Why can't the human race just admit that they don't understand something without creating some deity to explain it?
I can't help but wonder, if the baby grows up to be a healthy adult, what advantages it would be to have 4 eyes and 2 mouths?
..... Hmmmmm ... I could come up with one advantage even now... lol
Seriously, I hope that baby grows up to be a happy adult.
Check this out -- rightwing fundies slaughter an endangered species.
Jason that was absolutely disturbing! Oh my gawd! This is awful. That poor poor turtle, and an endangered species no less. These people have no respect for anything in this world. They are uncivilized, uneducated, superstitious, and just outright and incredibly STUPID, MEAN and HATEFUL of everything in this world...animals, other people and even each other.
That vid really, really, really, really pissed me off. I am sorry I watched it right before bedtime.
If he was around during the 19th century when they were debating slavery, he would be arguing against abolition, because it would cause undue hardship for plantation owners.
Tommy,
Heh. Funny you should mention that. How about him arguing something along those lines in the 21st century?
I clicked on it and said, oh
Fu@#! why did you send me there? I don't want to watch it.(about the turtle)
About the baby, I thought the same thing, at least she will be taken care of. (goddess)
tina, I just hope the family continues to have medical care for their little "goddess" and not just think that she will somehow just automatically live life with no complications. Who knows what is in store for her as her body grows.
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