"A "holy man" on his bed of spikes. By torturing himself in this way, he believes he will go to the Hindu heaven without repentance for sin." A man dressed in rags with a necklace around his neck sits on a bed of spikes. This photograph is from an album prepared by W. K. Norton of The Pilgrims Mission, Benares [Vārānasi].
"A Hindu trying to earn salvation. The large jar is filled with water and it falls on his head drop by drop." A man with his face painted white sits cross-legged under a table with two jugs of water on it. There are a few people in the background. This photograph is from an album prepared by W. K. Norton of The Pilgrims Mission, Benares [Vārānasi].
"The "hook swinging sacrifice". The man is swung from the top of a strong pole." A man with a hook attached to his back is then swung from a tall pole. There are many people at the base of the pole who are watching him. This photograph is from an album prepared by W. K. Norton of The Pilgrims Mission, Benares [Vārānasi].
"A man buried in the ground with only his head showing above. If he remains buried for any length of time he will be practically eaten alive by worms." A man's head is all that shows above the ground. There is some food around him and a few blankets strung up behind him. This photograph is from an album prepared by W. K. Norton of The Pilgrims Mission, Benares [Vārānasi].
"The foot sticking out over this man's shoulder is his own foot that he has twisted around. This is his idea of earning religious merit." Despite the caption for this picture, this man does not stick his foot over his shoulder. Instead, he sits cross-legged with both feet facing the sky. One of his arms is raised and the hand on that arm has very long fingernails. He is wearing a necklace. This photograph is from an album prepared by W. K. Norton of The Pilgrims Mission, Benares [Vārānasi].
"This old man has held up his arm for a great many years. The muscles are withered and his elbow is stiff." A bearded man dressed in rags with a cloth headdress and necklace is holding his left arm above his head. This photograph is from an album prepared by W. K. Norton of The Pilgrims Mission, Benares [Vārānasi].
"To do penance and gain merit this man has held up both arms and has become as helpless as a baby." A bald man dressed in rags sits on the floor with his knees bent up to his chest an his arms held above his head. This photograph is from an album prepared by W. K. Norton of The Pilgrims Mission, Benares [Vārānasi].
"Another man who is trying to earn salvation by burying his head in the ground. The Hindu idea is that one has to earn salvation by self-torture." A man, with his head buried in the ground, raises his legs up in the air. There are people passing by him and watching him in the background. This photograph is from an album prepared by W. K. Norton of The Pilgrims Mission, Benares [Vārānasi].
"A Hindu worshipping a god in the form of a small stone. It is placed near a pepul tree which is "sacred" to them." A man bends over and clasps his hands in prayer before a sacred stone. The stone is surrounded by flowers and there are two small jugs on the ground. This photograph is from an album prepared by W. K. Norton of The Pilgrims Mission, Benares [Vārānasi].
"The same man in another attitude of worship. Garlands of flowers have been carefully spread around the god." A Hindu man stands with his hands clasped in front o fhim and one foot raised behind the ankle of the opposite leg. He is worshipping the god in a small stone at the base of a tree in front of him. Garlands of flowers and two small jugs surround the stone. This photograph is from an album prepared by W. K. Norton of The Pilgrims Mission, Benares [Vārānasi].
"The same man in still another attitude of worship. In the brass lotah is Ganges water which he has just sprinkled on the god." A Hindu man squats on the ground with his hands clasped in front of him as he worships a god in a small stone in front of him at the base of a tree. The stone is surrounded by garlands of water and the two jugs, or lotahs, have the aforementioned sacred purpose. This photograph is from an album prepared by W. K. Norton of The Pilgrims Mission, Benares [Vārānasi].
"Another Hindu "holy" man with one arm raised up over his head. The man sitting at his side counting the prayer beads is his disciple." Two men sit cross-legged on the ground next to each other. One is holding his hand above his head, while the other counts prayer beads. They are both wearing prayer beads. This photograph is from an album prepared by W. K. Norton of The Pilgrims Mission, Benares [Vārānasi].
"Three "holy" men. The two in the foreground are lying on thorny cactus with the locks of their hair tied together." One man lies on a single wire stretched out and two other men lay on a thorny cactus beneath him. They have intertwined their hair. A few men stand in the bakcground, watching these men in their religious pursuits. This photograph is from an album prepared by W. K. Norton of The Pilgrims Mission, Benares [Vārānasi].
"The form of penance of these two "holy" men in the foreground is to go about naked." Two nude men sit cross-legged on a mat in the foreground, while other people sit around them. These two men are wearing beads around their necks. This photograph is from an album prepared by W. K. Norton of The Pilgrims Mission, Benares [Vārānasi].
"Sadhus torturing themselves by sitting in the hot sun with five fires around them. The temperature was 120 in the shade when this picture was taken." Five men sit cross-legged on the round with rags around their legs in a row. Each man has five fires around him. There is a group of people sitting underneath umbrellas behind these men. Some of the men have rags on or around their heads. This photograph is from an album prepared by W. K. Norton of The Pilgrims Mission, Benares [Vārānasi].
"A Hindu temple. The man in the foreground is in the act of worshipping. A large idol is at the side to the back of the man." A man stands with his back to a large idol in the forground. In the background is a large, ornately decorated temple with people on the front steps. This photograph is from an album prepared by W. K. Norton of The Pilgrims Mission, Benares [Vārānasi].
Subject (Geographic):
Uttar Pradesh--India
Subject (Topic):
Indigenous populations; Religious practice; Temples
"Our Indian Pastor, Brother John Thomas Navitt. He has a devoted wife and five little children." An Indian Pastor smiles for the camera as he stands in front of a large column at the edge of a porch. This photograph is from an album prepared by W. K. Norton of The Pilgrims Mission, Benares [Vārānasi].
"A baptismal scene in the river at Benares. Our Indian Pastor is doing the baptising." An indigenous pastor and three young men stand in the river as the pastor baptizes them. The water comes up to their waists. In the background is a man in a small boat. This photograph is from an album prepared by W. K. Norton of The Pilgrims Mission, Benares [Vārānasi].
Subject (Geographic):
Uttar Pradesh--India
Subject (Topic):
Indigenous populations; Religious practice; Clergy
"A famine scene in India. Many of our best Christian workers were once famine sufferers." Men, women, and children of all ages who have been affected by the famine huddle together. The effects of the famine are very apparent. This photograph is from an album prepared by W. K. Norton of The Pilgrims Mission, Benares [Vārānasi].
"A Juggernath car being pulled through the streets of India. There are great wooden wheels on this car and sometimes poor pilgrims are crushed under them." A large car, or wagon, decorated with many idols and other figures rolls down a very crowded street. This photograph is from an album prepared by W. K. Norton of The Pilgrims Mission, Benares [Vārānasi].
