
Laurene Powell Jobs, the widow of late Apple co-founder Steve Jobs, was spotted visiting the Kashi Vishwanath Temple in Varanasi on Saturday. Known for her spiritual inclination, Powell Jobs was accompanied by spiritual leader Swami Kailashanand Giri Maharaj during her visit. Though she had shown great interest in Indian traditions, she was guided respectfully to view the Shivling from outside the temple premises, adhering to local customs.
Niranjani Akhara Head Swami Kailashanand Giri Maharaj stated that the Kashi Vishwanath Temple only followed ancient formalities. The head emphasized the fact that no one except a practicing Hindu could touch the Shivling in the Kashi Vishwanath Temple. “There is no debate about her going to Kashi Vishwanath Temple,” said Swami Kailashanand Giri. “She respects me as a father and as a Guru, and her intention was pure—she wanted to learn about our traditions. But according to our customs, only Hindus are allowed to touch the Shivling. This is a tradition that has been maintained for generations.”
During her visit, Powell Jobs was given prasad (holy offering) and a garland, while she was being invited to be a part of the sacred ‘Abhishek’ (ritual worship). She also plans to take a holy dip in Ganga River as part of the crucial ritual of ongoing Mahakumbh Mela expected to attract more than 40 crore devotees.
The Mahakumbh Mela is one of the world’s largest religious gatherings, held every 12 years. The festival started on January 14 with tens of thousands of devotees thronging the confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna, and Saraswati rivers, known as Sangam, for a holy dip. The grand event is scheduled to conclude on February 26. The Shahi Snan-or more loosely, the main bathing rituals-will take place on significant dates like Makar Sankranti, Mauni Amavasya, and Basant Panchami.
Swami Kailashanand Giri emphasized that Indian spirituality and traditions are not only relevant worldwide but also prove that the interest in Hindu customs is global, as the visit of Powell Jobs shows. “Indian traditions are being accepted by people across the globe. Laurene is eager to learn, and she is genuinely respectful towards our practices.”
Despite restrictions on touching the Shivling, Powell Jobs’s visit has been appreciated in its entirety by everyone as a show of respect and curiosity for Indian spirituality. She will be attending various rituals that are conducted in the coming days at Varanasi during Mahakumbh.
(With Agency Inputs)
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