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CallMeJunior
"...don't call me Junior!"
The title of this article is a nickname. This article is about a canonical subject that lacks a proper name, and is known only by its nickname or callsign. Please see the relevant discussion on the talk page or explanation in the article itself.

"Om Namah Shivaya!"
―Sacrifice Victim[src]

A Sacrifice Victim was one of the prisoners of the Thuggee cult under Mola Ram. He was killed in 1935 as part of a ceremony at the Temple of Doom in India.

Biography

In 1935, when Indiana Jones, Willie Scott and Short Round found their way down into the Thuggee Temple of Doom, they witnessed high priest Mola Ram sacrifice a man to Kali. As he was being dragged to the altar he helplessly protested about was happening, he was then placed inside an iron cage. Ram reached inside his chest and removed his heart, but the man continued to live without it.[1]

During the 'ceremony' the man prayed to Shiva, knowing his fate. He was then immersed in molten lava, where his skin and clothes caught fire before he was killed by the lava; he screamed in fear and pain throughout the whole experience. As he died, his heart caught fire in Mola Ram's hand as the priest cackled insanely.[1]

Afterwards, Jones made a note in his journal to research a scientific, medical explanation for the victim's survival without a heart as he considered it unlike anything he had ever witnessed before.[2]

Behind the scenes

Deep Fried Sacrifice

The sacrifice victim died as he was lowered into lava.

The Sacrifice Victim was played by Nizwar Karanj in Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom.

The Sacrifice Victim's chant was developed on set following director Steven Spielberg and the production team telling Karanj how his character was to die. They asked what he would say and Karanj responded with "Om Namah Shivaya".[3] "Om Namah Shivaya", is a Hindu mantra which means "adoration to Lord Shiva".

In LEGO Indiana Jones: The Original Adventures instead of having his heart ripped out and lowered into the pit, the victim gets lowered and brought back up alive without injury, just wearing boxer shorts, much to his embarassment. The man is absent from the sequel, however, as the sacrificial cage is instead used to broil chicken for comedic purposes.

Appearances

Notes and references

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