Tooting man is Hindu goddess

[A.Rahman]

http://www.thesun.co.uk/article/0,,2007140831,00.html


Tooting man is Hindu goddess

By JULIE MOULT
and JOHN ASKILL
and from PAMELA TIMMS in India
March 30, 2007


COMMENT ON THIS STORY

JOBLESS Steve Cooper has found work at last — as an Indian GODDESS who thousands of Hindus believe can cure their infertility.

Pilgrims head to a remote jungle temple to be blessed by Steve, 32, from Tooting, South West London.

He places his third finger on the their foreheads and mutters: “The goddess is here”.

Surrounded by followers, Steve told The Sun: “I love being here. I don’t miss anything about Tooting.”

He is regarded as a reincarnation of Bahucharaji, the patron of Indian eunuchs. He has been at the temple in the northern state of Gujarat for three months.

Every time Steve walks through the local village, people flock to greet him, shouting: “Jay Bahuchar Ma” - “The goddess is here.”

Gender bender Steve calls himself Pamela. But his devotees have dubbed him Prema — Hindi for Divine Love.



Devotion ... followers in India flock to see
Prema, also known as Pamela and, er, Steve


He said: “All my life I just didn’t fit.

“Now I’ve found my life. I plan to stay for good. I couldn’t leave now.

“They revere me and believe I am a goddess. I feel what they feel in me.”

Steve was living in a tiny flat in Tooting until deciding on his new career after Indian friends told him he looked and moved just like the ancient goddess.

As soon as he arrived at the temple he was treated as a deity.

He now gets up at dawn and dresses in a holy saffron robe before beginning the daily ritual of blessings.

Steve said: “I feel as if I have come home. I was meant to be here. When I first came to the temple, I sat down and smiled. Everything fell into place.

“After about 20 minutes everyone crowded around and I naturally started blessing people. When I touch people I connect with them.”

Hindu pilgrims have no doubts about his powers. When we asked Bhanu Barot why she was so keen to receive Prema’s blessing, she said, simply: “Because she is a goddess.”

Another woman, Rekha, said she had travelled for days to be blessed by Steve. She added: “My sister-in-law came here and she got pregnant immediately.

“I am hoping the same will happen for me after receiving the blessing of the goddess.” But last night Steve’s stunned brother Justin Cooper said: “He’s just an ordinary guy.


“He never told me anything about this.”

Steve now follows a strict vegetarian diet and sleeps in a spartan room. He lives among 80 eunuchs — castrated men — at the temple. But some have their doubts that he is equipped to be a goddess.


A eunuch called Sudha said: “He is a fake. I checked and he still has a penis.



“He is a male so can’t be a goddess. He shouldn’t give blessings.” Steve, who has a tattoo of the goddess on his arm, just insisted: “I am both male and female.”

He grew up in Shepshed, Leics, with brother Justin.

Unmarried printer Justin, 36, who still lives in the town, said: “I last saw him about four years ago.

“He had developed a fascination with Hinduism and was visiting temples in London.

“Then about eight months ago he sent me a text saying he was off to India — then another arrived saying he was loving it.

“But we had no idea of the role he was playing.”

Followers of the goddess Bahucharaji Mata believe she was once a princess who castrated her husband because he showed no interest in sex.

Sita Ben Rawal, a trustee of the temple, said of Steve: “People think it is the power of the goddess Bahucharaji that has driven her to come here.


“I’m surprised someone from London would want to come here but we are very happy.”

Vanraj Thakor, who manages the temple guest house where Steve lives, added: “Even here, pilgrims come to receive blessings. It’s incredible.”

DO you know Steve Cooper? Call our newsdesk on 0207 782 4101, text or call 63000 from a mobile, or email 63000@the-sun.co.uk

 

[PakSniper]

Another woman, Rekha, said she had travelled for days to be blessed by Steve. She added: “My sister-in-law came here and she got pregnant immediately.

I wonder what, else they be doing there

 

[A.Rahman]

I wonder what, else they be doing there

They have been checking each others.....thing....

A eunuch called Sudha said: “He is a fake. I checked and he still has a penis.

 

[EagleEyes]

What can i say now.. what can i.. without offencing anyone.

 

[A.Rahman]

What can i say now.. what can i.. without offencing anyone.

Just say the truth

 

[Contrarian]

Say whatever you want. Illeterate people and their beliefs.

 

[PakSniper]

Say whatever you want. Illiterate people and their beliefs.

But don't those illiterate have brains to think with? I mean they can't be that du'mb for god sakes! Thinking a transvestite is a goddess thats' so absurd. Then some even checking him out, and getting pregnant.

 

[EagleEyes]

Say whatever you want. Illeterate people and their beliefs.

I would like to read your views on this.

 

[con]

There is no definecy of weirdos in this world ! I actually stay in Tooting never heard of this chap.

Stupid people will always display their "intelligence" no matter if they are in Uk or India or Australia.... real dorks

 

[Contrarian]

It does not matter, let them think what they have to or want to. Hope it helps them. So many con artists thrive on this kind of foolishness! Its unimaginable.

 

[A.Rahman]

So many con artists thrive on this kind of foolishness! Its unimaginable.

o true, They had something fake peer-baba [holyman] in Pak too; who used to take advantage of the girls, but Geo guys busted him. I remember watching it.

But this is just insane, he is claiming to be God! can he bring back people to life?

 

[Contrarian]

o true, They had something fake peer-baba [holyman] in Pak too; who used to take advantage of the girls, but Geo guys busted him. I remember watching it.

And there are hoards of such people in India. Trust me, there are just TOO many of these types.

But this is just insane, he is claiming to be God! can he bring back people to life?

Dunno, my old dog is dead. Maybe i should pay this guy a visit

 

[Awesome]

Chalk another one up to another Hinduism con.

The best was that milk drinking idol . I remember some dude became a millionaire when he made some Hindu God's idol from a stone that absorbed water. Everybody thought God's in the idol. He fled the country soon after, never to be heard again .

Pakistan should really consider investing some thought into these Hinduism cons. Of any given con, the followers/victims are in the millions. Lol trout up a God and you got yourself the largest army in the world

 

[Keysersoze]

Guys this thread is skating on thin ice here......

 

[Janbaz]

What can i say now.. what can i.. without offencing anyone.

Be blunt!