Every neighborhood in India has stories about acts of sincere devotion that warded off misfortune and disaster. Direct appeal for aid from a Hindu God or Goddess can result in Divine intervention—miracles.
Family members may ask a deity to cure a sick sibling or child, or farmers may pray for their fields to become fertile. In return, they vow to undergo an act of devotion—often a hardship—to thank the God or Goddess for answering their prayers. In some cases, devotees fulfill their vows by entering a trance and becoming possessed by a deity.
Karma
Each person is accountable for every action and every thought. The sum of all the good and bad acts in this life and all previous lives manifests as a person's karma. Selfless dedication to family and occupation create good karma. In contrast, disrespectful acts like seeking self-satisfaction at the expense of others result in bad karma. Fortune and social status are viewed, in part, as the product of past-life karma. Many Hindus worship to cleanse themselves of negative karma, with the hope of improving their circumstances for their next life. It is impossible to escape the consequences of one's own past, but the future is open.
Healing
Hindus accept the possibility of miracles. Sacred trees, rocks and other natural elements contain powerful healing energy, and simply touching these objects may result in a miracle. A Divine image, particularly one worshipped for years, may contain so much sacred energy that just being in its proximity may heal disease and reverse misfortune.
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