On Tuesday in India Visit The Hindu Shaman

Several times a week, in a small isolated village ouside Puri in the Indian state of Orissa, Hindu shaman priests provoke a trance state by means of hallucinogens. They emerge from the sanctum sanctorum of a small Shiva temple, accompanied by drums and other musical instruments, clanging bells and much smoke.

A short walk along rural pathways just a few kilometers outside Puri there's a pair of twin temples to Shiva & Parvati; These temples nestle under the shade of a giant banyan tree spreading randomly for several acres.

Several times a week, in a small isolated village ouside Puri in the Indian state of Orissa, Hindu shaman priests provoke a trance state by means of hallucinogens. They emerge from the sanctum sanctorum of a small Shiva temple, accompanied by drums and other musical instruments, clanging bells and much smoke.

When they emerge from the Parvati temple sanctum sanctorum, the priests escorted to the large lion statues flanking the entrance. They clamber a bit drunkenly onto the statues, then balance astride them. Temple guardians hand them flaming dired flowers or small bunches of smouldering leaves which they take into their mouths, quashing the flame. The shamans then toss the smouldering leaf into the crowd. If someone catches the embers they can ask a question. Speeding the process, sometimes, the shaman proceeds to tell them the answer to their question before they can even form the question. Sometimes the answers are brief; other times they are elaborate constructions in another language, so there is a delay while one of the other temple priests gives a translation. The crowd is lively and pays attention to everyone's readings. Eventually the shamans tire, and retreat into the temple interior and the crowd disperses until the next opportunity.