Lonar's mysteries - I - Thoughts on magnets and vermilionisation

We visited Lonar Lake in December 2015 after reading about it on various travel websites. The lake was created after a meteor crash approx. estimated to be 52,000 ± 6,000 years,  although more recent studies give it an age of 570,000 ± 47,000 years (making it really old). Mysteries still abound about the lake and what lies beneath it.

Near the lake is what is advertised as ‘Magnetic Maruti temple’, having an idol of Lord Hanuman (sculpted from a fragment of the meteorite which crashed at Lonar) in a sleeping position. Under Hanuman’s foot is Lord Shani Dev. It is believed that Lord Hanuman has a love-hate relationship with Lord Shani Dev (who is associated with the planet Saturn and is known to be either extremely maleficent or  benevolent) and is capable of neutralizing his ill effects. 

It is quite possible that the the locals believed the meteor fragment having strong magnetic properties to represent Lord Shani Dev (maybe after it had an ill effect on the water, livestock and crops in the neighborhood). Since one did not want to have an ominous object lying around, they sculpted an image of Lord Hanuman on it and for good measure, they also coated the entire statue with bright orange vermilion. It was only in 2012-13 that the coating was removed to reveal this statue.

Now, vermilion is extracted from Cinnabar (Mercuric Sulphide), which has strong metaphysical properties, capable of awakening one's mystic and psychic abilities. Women apply it as sindhoor and it is also used in Makardhwaj Ras, an Ayurvedic medicine used for anti aging, immunity and as an aphrodisiac.

In most Hindu temples, especially the ones where the idols are considered self-manifested, it is possible that the idols are made from meteor fragments and therefore coated with vermilion to reduce the ill effects of prolonged magnetic exposure. Those normally coated in vermilion like the Asthtavinayaks and Lord Hanuman, are considered extremely benevolent and worshipped. The ones left untreated like those at Shani Shingnapur, Sri Kalahasthi and the Jyotirlingams acquire an aura of mystery and are venerated. With the influence magnetic forces have on the human body and the fact that Cinnabar is toxic, it would be safe not to directly touch the temple idols from a scientific perspective, which is what our forefathers would have wanted.

So, when someone says it is spiritual magnetism which is drawing them to a particular temple, it may actually be the magnetic forces in the idols which are influencing the human senses. And for those crying hoarse about saffronisation in India, maybe the right word is vermilionisation. Atleast, the etymology would be right.