[kellyhound]

Dulal Giri Ji Maharaj from India is standing at 5 years of a planned 12-year total vow now.

He relies entirely on a wooden board or swing suspended by chains. He leans his upper body against this swing to sleep while remaining vertically upright.

Despite the visible physical deterioration and public concern urging medical intervention, Maharaj remains defiant. He is currently refusing to break his vow, stating he will not sit down until he achieves a divine vision of the Hindu deity Lord Shiva.

The ascetic's extreme vow has taken a massive toll on his lower body, resulting in several severe medical issues.

First of all he suffers from a severe bilateral leg edema. His legs and feet are heavily swollen, engorged and darkened due to continuous hydrostatic pressure from standing.

He also suffers from plantar and lower limb ulcerations. The skin on his soles and lower legs has broken down, resulting in open sores and ulcerated wounds.

Gravity has caused blood and fluid to pool chronically in his lower extremities, severely restricting healthy blood circulation.

Because the skin is compromised, volunteers must continuously sanitize his legs with disinfectants and apply topical ointments to ward off tissue rot and severe bacterial infections.

In the context of Indian spiritual traditions, Hatha Yoga represents a profound and rigorous form of penance (tapasya). Historically rooted in the Nath Sampradaya sect, it focuses on intense physical discipline, prolonged breath control, and severe austerities to master the body, awaken spiritual energy (Kundalini), and achieve enlightenment (moksha).

[Mecrupulent]

Fuuuuuck

I thought I spent too much time laying down... But now that I've seen this I feel better about it.

When he's done with his vow, good luck to find fitting new shoes !