Holy Hash Smoker, a photo from Uttar Pradesh, North

Photographer's Note

2001 Kumbha Mela. One of the main attractions was "Ek Bahu Baba", a naga with the Juna Akhara. His tapasaya, or austerity, also a big money/hashish maker, was/is his upraised right arm. The arm, according to sadhu expert Dolf Hartsuiker whom I interviewed, had been in the up position for 27 years. Sounds incredible, but there is physics behind it. The arm, with the aid of a crutch, is raised gradually over time until it stands erect. Once erect the musculature/scar tissue locks the arm in place. He couldn't lower his arm now if he wanted to. There is a process, but it is also gradual and takes many, many painful months.

The Shaivas smoke charas, hashish, constantly.

As for the photo itself, it could have been framed slightly better vertically, and could have been focused on his face rather than the smoke. Taken at about 150mm. I like the timing though. Note the atrophy and the fingernails. I heard of another Ek Bahu whose fingernails had actually grown through his hand and stuck out the other side.

Anyone interested in learning about Sadhus in depth, Dolf Hartsuiker's book, "Sadhus", is a must. His photographs, of which there are a hundred or more--though he claims not to be a photographer--are the best collection on the subject I've ever seen.

faz09, jboj, eleparc, sohrab, randompics, marieaude, rastapopoulos, JasPahal, yesyuvraj, tzourob heeft deze opmerking als nuttig gemarkeerd

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faz09 (32) 2004-09-13 19:57

Amazing pic and story, I will definately check out the book.

eleparc (24063) 2004-09-14 3:18

exciting note bennett and superb photo;-) your series makes me discover a brand new world. I heard about those guys and saw pictures but your notes open a totally new world to me. thanks for sharing...

voodoo (60) 2004-09-14 3:42

Bennett, what is the reason for the raising of ones arm? Also are/were you doing an anthropological study or just hangin out whith these guys..Great info and photos.

Matt

sohrab (7439) 2004-09-20 14:04

another fabulous portrait from you benett.
actually recently i turned down an opportunity to go with a group of sadhus to mansarovar lake and mount kailash in tibet , where shiva used to meditate. hopefully i'll go with these babas next summer
by the way your article "one helluva morning" is one of the best pieces of literature ive read recently :)
you should write more such articles. im sure you have enough experiences to write about and yes mac's photographs are really good
take care

tongapup (0) 2005-01-14 21:13

Get OUT of here! The arm! I'd be sure to smoke a lot of hash too if that were my arm. Sheesh.

My only complaint about this picture is the dark background -- he blends in so much. But anyway who cares when he's had his arm raised for TWENTY-SEVEN YEARS! Aiiii!

One of the things I like about India is that, just when I feel jaded, it throws something like this at me.

babul (612) 2005-01-25 9:03