Laurene Powell Jobs, the wife of late Apple co-founder Steve Jobs, visited the Kashi Vishwanath Temple in Varanasi, where she was restricted from touching Shivling in the sanctum sanctorum.
At the Kashi Vishwanath Temple, Powell Jobs was not allowed to touch the Shivling, Swami Kailashanand Giri, Acharya Mahamandleshwar of Niranjini Akhara, explained, “She is deeply spiritual and like a daughter to me. Maharshi Vyasananda was also present.
Our family performed the ‘Abhishek’ and prayers. She was offered prasad and a garland, but there is a tradition that non-Hindus cannot touch the Kashi Vishwanath idol. If I break this tradition, it would be a violation.”
According to reports Powell Jobs will stay at the Niranjini Akhara camp until January 15, before heading back to the U.S. to attend the inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump on January 20.
While in Prayagraj, Powell Jobs plans to take a ritual dip in the Ganga River. She was given the Hindu name ‘Kamala’ by Swami Kailashanand Giri, reflecting her spiritual involvement. Dressed in a salwar suit, she was greeted at the camp with the sound of trumpets and served tea in a traditional kulhad.
