The Body is a Temple

You are looking at a living embodiment of a Hindu god in India. At a young age, this boy made a decision to liberate himself from all material possessions and often, his biological family. He chose instead to dedicate his life to becoming a holy man of India, a sadhu. His purpose is the divine; his body a living temple, serving others. The blue body paint, contrasting painted tattoos, beadwork and free-flowing, deep brown hair attract attention, not to him personally, but to his presence. As a beacon, there is no mistaking his luminous and independent spirit.

Within his chosen life of asceticism or self-denial, giving is a virtue and requires the offerings to be beyond the self, with no expectation of return. In this, it contrasts our Western world’s preoccupation with material profit, commerce, equal or “fair” exchange, and wealth building through possession of things or land or people groups. This boy, if he achieves the spiritual platform to which he aspires, will have given away all things and by such an act, he will have everything he needs.