God only gave me two hands. The rest he gave to the Indians.

Stephen Goranson goranson at DUKE.EDU
Mon Aug 4 16:00:13 UTC 2008


Quoting Grant Barrett <gbarrett at WORLDNEWYORK.ORG>:

> Does anyone know anything about the expression, "God only gave me two
> hands. The rest he gave to the Indians," or if it is even widespread
> at all? I have it from the grandmother of a friend; the grandmother
> has been saying it her entire life. My database and Internet searches
> turn up nothing for it.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Grant Barrett
> gbarrett at worldnewyork.org

Though I've never heard this, I wonder whether Indians here means American or
South Asian Indians. If the latter, might it refer to depictions of
Shiva or of
Buddha as many-handed?

Stephen

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