An item in the Outlook (The News Scroll) of India (see URLs below for other sources) relates the report of a forest hermit who attracts wild bears with his sacred song. Article title: “Wild bears find spiritual solace in hermit’s bhajans.” Here are the first lines of the article:
A forest in Madhya Pradesh is witnessing a strange sight of a pair of wild bears along with their two cubs getting drawn to the world of spirituality, an activity generally associated with humans.
Swayed by the bhajans of a saffron-clad hermit, Sitaram, the wild bears have lent a new meaning to spirituality in the wild of Shahdol district.
The bear family has become a part of his surroundings while the ascetic strikes a communion with the almighty.
Sitaram, who has built a hut in the Rajmada forest area of the district, said the bear couple and their cubs frequent his home to listen to his hymning in rapt attention.
When the 65-year-old hermit sings bhajans and plays harp after offering puja, the wild beasts walk down to his residence near the Son river from nearby Jaitpur jungles.
These wild animals, far from attacking the sadhu, sit by side and slip into spiritual bliss hearing his bhajans.
The mammals retreat and melt into the jungles after consuming the prasad offered by him, Sitaram said.
URL: https://www.outlookindia.com/newsscroll/wild-bears-find-spiritual-solace-in-hermits-bhajans/1734570, https://www.indiatvnews.com/news/india/wild-bears-listen-to-bhajan-shahdol-madhya-pradesh-589005, https://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2020/feb/16/man-animal-camaraderie-bhajans-bring-wild-bears-closer-to-hermit-in-mp-chhattisgarh-border-forest-2104247.html, and https://www.hindustantimes.com/it-s-viral/bear-family-in-madhya-pradesh-regularly-visits-hermit-s-hut-to-hear-him-sing/story-7f3COP0dRMaxBAMjy8BjYK.html