Coronavirus impact: Hindu priests with body cameras & new temple economics

India's biggest, richest and most sacred Hindu temples may have to change themselves for the sake of their devotees

As the divine reverberations of ‘Om’ followed by the chants of the Shiva Panchakshara Stotram — na-mah-shi-va-ya and shi-va-ya-na-mah — permeate Varanasi’s Kashi Vishwanath temple, a solitary priest in the sanctum sanctorum housing the sacred Shiva Lingam continuously pours milk over it. Overhead, a brass receptacle ensures a steady stream of Ganga water drips on the lingam as the priest reaches the last stages of his rituals.

This priest is joined by another in the concluding moments of the prayer and both pour the remaining milk in a final floral-studded tribute to Shiva before the god is allowed to rest