Last Tuesday I began my university lecture (in a course called “Tradition and Modernity in India”) on the ancient Indian brahmanical ritual tradition by first showing on the digital projector screen a news item from the BBC with the headline “Goats sacrificed to fix Nepal jet”. Here is the link:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/6979292.stm

According to the report, the recent sacrifice (to “Akash Bhairab” – Bhairava being a fierce form of Shiva popular in Nepal) seemed to be successful, because soon thereafter the persistently troubled Nepal Airlines jet was fixed so that it could make its flight to Hong Kong. Aside from this intriguing blend of religion with technology, with questions one might raise about this incident and its ramifications for contemporary life, one wonders what might a Vaishnava best comment about it (especially if she or he is talking to a Shaivite).

Thoughts anyone?