On the other hand, based on the information about the young girl who married a dog, the dog essentially continues to live in the village as a quasi-stray, and the marriage is a ritual only.

It’s hard for us to see this situation through our Western lens.

Letting this man near an animal doesn’t seem like a wise decision. And I agree that he doesn’t give a rip about his karma. He’s sick, and a superstitious priest told him he could be healed by a ceremony. I understand we’re not talking about an educated group of villagers here, but that doesn’t mean that it’s wrong to point out how ignorant and misdirected this kind of thing is.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/3004930.stm

Apparently, these folks routinely marry animals, trees and statues to ward off the evil eye.

Is this man’s “atonement” for life or just for now? What if he had killed a woman in the past, and married her sister for atonement (and a cure for his ailments)?

Um, he and the humans involved in the wedding had a FEAST, while the gave Selvi a BUN — a totally innappropriate and indaquate meal.

This is an indication that her future treatment will be even worse. AFter all, grooms’ behavior tends to degrade afer the wedding day. And he had all those guests watching.

This is awful, he’s not atoning at all. A bun! Poor dog!

stefani

It is very disturbing that people actually place animals in the care of animal abusers. It won’t teach them a lesson, it will just give them proximity to another animal to harm.

I hope the dog runs away from home, is adopted by a family who won’t abuse him, and the man continues to suffer the curse of the karma he has already earned through his prior abusive actions.

stefani

No, I dont think that someone that suffers is suffering because they have done something wrong or bad necessarily.
Everyones situation is different though. I think God does allow certain things to happen to certain people FOR certain reasons.
I’m not God, and I certainly cant explain WHY bad things happen to people that dont seem to deserve it.
(I could go on and on about that topic, but I will spare you ;)

I DO however think that when someones conscience is bothering them bad enough combined with (physical) agony, that they may look back on their life
and think that they are getting what they deserve and that God is angry with them. (or whatever their higher power may be)

So, they in return try to make it right and receive forgiveness the best way they know how.
Like everyone else here….I just hope and pray that the dog will be ok. and that it is treated kindly and cared for.

Of couse it is possible that this man has changed. I guess it would be nice to think/hope that is true. In all reality, this is probably not the case. It is more likely that his ailments have caused him to look for reasons and it could be that he has already tried to “atone” for other things he has done in his past, and that didn’t bring him relief. I may be cynical, but I really doubt that he has changed. Why do you say “we are allowed to suffer for reasons?” Would you presume that anyone who suffers has sinned or done bad things?

And, Rhonda, I too would worry what happens to the dog if his ailments don’t disappear.

Clearly he now understands that he did wrong otherwise he would not relate his physical ailments to something that he did wrong in his past.

We are allowed to suffer for reasons.
Its just that some people never see clearly why they are being allowed to suffer. Or refuse to even look back at the things in there life they’ve done.
Obviously this mans concience has worked on him over the years and he is now doing what HE thinks is right. Even if it sounds crazy to others.

At least other humans didnt have to bring him to justice like so many others HERE.
Over there animals have no rights and that is due to lack of education and knowledge about animals.
How can WE judge this man that we have never met and say that he has not changed?
We will never know what his true reasons for doing this is. Only he knows. All we can do is hope that he HAS changed. Its NOT impossible for people to change you know…

Let those that have never sinned cast the first stone……

Just sad. I hope the dog he “married” is taken care of at some humane level.

Made the only comments here that make any sense, and show that true compassion also involves common sense and morals.
Violence and hate does nothing but feed more cruelty and anger in this world.

this crowd does seem to think violence is a solution to individual human’s problems. That bothers me, cause I can never, ever condone violence on a human being or animal.

LOL!!