GUNTUR: Kothuru Tadepalli a small village in the Guntur district of Andhra Pradesh recently became witness to a strange act of blind faith. A lady called Adava Venkayamma allegedly made an attempt to crucify herself with the help of her husband and two others in the village. Several questions are doing the rounds after the act was brought to light. Is it superstition or passion? What was the role of her husband and the villagers in the act?
According to sources, Doraiah, the village pastor, was very close to Venkayamma and her husband Francis. He died three years ago. It is said that recently Venkayamma was told by the spirit of the deceased to crucify herself. The spirit also suggested the place for her crucifixion.
Venkayamma was brought to the place referred to by the spirit of the pastor. Her husband Franics, children and relatives were also present.
Nearly 600 villagers, including children, read from the Bible for nearly 15 minutes. They recited the 1st verse from the fourth chapter before the crucifixion. Then they laid her on the cross and struck nails into her palms. That was when police, got to know of the attempt, intervened and rescued Venkayamma.
Venkayamma and Fransis are daily wage labourers. They have a son and a daughter who are in Class III and II respectively. “There were no problems in the family. We do not know what made them to do this,” said R Yesamma, a neighbour of Venkayamma.