An Indian Who Used Cow Dung... Now Worships the 'Corona Goddess'

In Coimbatore, South India, there is a Hindu temple dedicated to the goddess of COVID-19.
[Photo by AFP]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hwang Sumi] In India, where the spread of COVID-19 infections is severe, local media reported on the 27th (local time) that following some Hindus who apply cow dung on their bodies to combat the virus, a Hindu temple dedicated to the 'Corona Goddess' has also emerged.

According to reports, the Kamatchipuri Adinam Hindu temple authorities in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, southern India, recently established a separate shrine for the Corona Goddess. They believe that worshiping this goddess can help reduce the spread of COVID-19.

An official from the temple said, "In the past, when infectious diseases such as smallpox and chickenpox were prevalent, people had similar temples to worship gods in hopes of eradicating the diseases," adding, "Now, we pray daily to the Corona Goddess to lessen the impact of COVID-19."

He further added, "We believe the Corona Goddess will protect people from COVID-19."

The temple houses two statues of the Corona Goddess, made of wood and stone respectively, and a consecration ceremony for these statues was held on the 18th.

In addition, in India, attempts to overcome COVID-19 by harnessing the power of cows have continued. On the 11th, foreign media reports raised concerns as some local Hindus in India were using unverified 'folk remedies,' such as applying cow dung on their bodies to prevent the virus.

According to the reports at the time, some Hindus in Gujarat, western India, visited cowsheds once a week with the intention of boosting immunity and recovering from COVID-19 by applying cow dung and urine on their bodies. They would wait for the dung and urine to dry on their skin, hug the cows, and perform yoga to raise their energy.

Hindus regard cows as motherly figures and believe that anything derived from cows has special efficacy.

Doctors and scientists in India and around the world have issued warnings regarding these 'folk remedy' practices by some Hindus. One expert pointed out, "There is no concrete scientific evidence that cow dung or urine boosts immunity against COVID-19," adding, "It is purely a matter of belief." He also warned that indiscriminately applying cow dung and urine on the body could spread other diseases from animals to humans.

Meanwhile, India's COVID-19 situation has recently shown signs of gradual stabilization. Since the 21st of last month, the daily number of new COVID-19 cases in India exceeded 300,000, and between the end of last month and the beginning of this month, there were days when new cases surpassed 400,000, indicating a severe situation. However, after peaking on the 6th, the number of new cases in India has been on a downward curve, with approximately 179,000 cases reported on the 27th.

Considering this trend, there is an assessment that the surge in cases in India has temporarily subsided, but voices are heard everywhere cautioning that the actual number of cases likely far exceeds the government's official statistics and that vigilance should not be lowered.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.