"This boy is lying on a bed of spikes believing that if he does this for a number of years he will gain merit and earn salvation." A boy lies on a bed of spikes with his head propped up on a wooden board. His knees are bent so that his feet are flat on the spikes. This photograph is from an album prepared by W. K. Norton of The Pilgrims Mission, Benares [Vārānasi].
"A boy worshipping the tulsi plant which is considered to be very "sacred" by all Hindus." A boy with only a simple rag clothing him worships a plant that is on top of a stone pedestal. His hands are clasped as if in prayer. This photograph is from an album prepared by W. K. Norton of The Pilgrims Mission, Benares [Vārānasi].
"This old Hindu took a vow that he would never again lie down. He has to sleep with ropes tied under his arms in order to keep from falling down." An elderly man with a long, bedraggled beard, holds a set of beads in his hands while he is being held upright by ropes around his arms. This photograph is from an album prepared by W. K. Norton of The Pilgrims Mission, Benares [Vārānasi].
"To earn religious merit one of these men has his head buried in the earth. His cmpanion attracts attention to shi act and counts his prayer beads." One man is lying on the ground with his head buried and his hands counting prayer beads. Another man gestures to the first man. This photograph is from an album prepared by W. K. Norton of The Pilgrims Mission, Benares [Vārānasi].
"The man in the center is hanging by his feet with his head over a slow fire." A man dressed in rags is hanging by his feet over a slow fire. There are many observers who stand around him in a semi-circle. This photograph is from an album prepared by W. K. Norton of The Pilgrims Mission, Benares [Vārānasi].
"Another man hanging by his knees with his head over a fire. He swings back and forth hoping by this torture to have his sins forgiven." A man dressed in rags hangs by his knees, swaying back and forth over a fire. There are many observers standing in a semi-circle around him. This photograph is from an album prepared by W. K. Norton of The Pilgrims Mission, Benares [Vārānasi].
"A man having a hook fastened into the muscles of his back preparatory to the "hook swinging sacrifice"." A man with his back facing the camera is having a hook attached to his back. There are other men standing around, including a man who is piercing the first man's back with the hook. This photograph is from an album prepared by W. K. Norton of The Pilgrims Mission, Benares [Vārānasi].
"This man tortures himself by holding his breath. His nostrils and his mouth are stopped. He claims he can hold his breath 5 minutes." A man sits cross-legged on the ground with a robe wrapped around him. There is a wire fence in front of him. This photograph is from an album prepared by W. K. Norton of The Pilgrims Mission, Benares [Vārānasi].
"A "holy" man on his bed of spikes which is so arranged that it can be pulled about." A nude, bearded man sits on a bed of spikes that has wheels on it so that it can be rolled around. Two other men sit near him and a cow stands to his right. This photograph is from an album prepared by W. K. Norton of The Pilgrims Mission, Benares [Vārānasi].
"A balancing trick. To earn merit this man swings on a stretched wire and counts his prayer beads." A nude man lies on a single wire that is stretched between trees while he counts prayer beads. He is also wearing beads around his neck. This photograph is from an album prepared by W. K. Norton of The Pilgrims Mission, Benares [Vārānasi].
