Illuminations Episode 3: Divine Technology
New Books in South Asian Studies
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Helicopter Technology Brings the Gods to Life
For Dandu Shastri, chief priest of the Ganesha temple, a helicopter was exactly what he needed to bring a Hindu deity to life. In this ritual called Prana-Pratrista, temple priests bring the spirit of a goddess into a statue in her image. Once the eyes of the deity are drawn on the statue, the goddess Banasankri has descended and fully embodies the statue with her presence. This is Illuminations, a limited series about the complex and captivating relationship of religion and science.
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