"Another "holy" man who has taken a vow that he will never allow the finger nails of his left hand to be cut or broken." A man stands with wide eyes and hands openly facing the camera. The fingernails of his left hand are very long. 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." A bald man sits on the ground dressed in rags with bracelets around his arm and necklaces around his neck. This photograph is from an album prepared by W. K. Norton of The Pilgrims Mission, Benares [Vārānasi].
"This Hindu "holy" man sitting on his bed of spikes has his forehead painted with a "sign of the beast". The two little idols in the foreground are worshipped by the Hindus." A gathering of men, women, and children watch a man who is sitting on a bed of nails. The man is dressed in rags and hs two white stripes painted on his forehead. There are two HIndu idols sitting on the ground next to 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. 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].
