Photo Gallery: Beast Worship
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Worshipping Rats
A worshipper kneels down to the rats at the rat temple in Bikaner, India.
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Worship With Serpents
In the midst of a worship song, a congregant picks up a serpent. Pastor Coots and his congregation handle serpents as part of their worship service. This one-room church building, the Full Gospel Tabernacle in Jesus Name was founded by Jamie Coot's grandfather.
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Vegetable Vendor
A man sells vegetable in the streets of Delhi during the day. As in many religions, including Hinduism, animals that are considered sacred are offered vast amounts of food.
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Temple in Ahmedabad, India
Henry Rollins walks towards a temple in Ahmedabad, India honoring the Hindu god, Shiva.
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Sonoran Desert Toad
The Sonoran Desert Toad can grow up to seven inches long, and it has glands full of a toxic venom that contains the hallucinogenic chemical. Some devotees catch the toads, extract the venom, and smoke it for an intense drug trip.
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Snakes in Church
Pastor Jamie Coots brings the snakes and puts them in their boxes at the front of the church every service - but they are not always handled. Pastor Coots and his congregation handle serpents as part of their worship service. This one-room church building, the Full Gospel Tabernacle in Jesus Name was founded by Jamie Coot's grandfather.
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Snake Charmers
Two snake charmers play music to lure snakes out of their baskets outside of a temple in Bikaner, India.
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Serenading Snakes
Bikaner, India: Two Snake Charmers play music to lure snakes out of their baskets outside of a temple in Bikaner, India.
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Shiva and the Sacred Cow
A temple mosaic honors Shiva and the sacred cow in Ahmadabad, India. The cow is recognized as sacred or supernatural in many cultures. In Hinduism, cows are considered sacred as a symbol of life.
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Serpent Handlers
Middlesboro, KY, USA: This woman shared her testimony in the pews of how she had started going to Pentecostal Holiness churches as a young girl. Then, in the next song, she came to the front and was handed a serpent.
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Sacrificial Altar
Santeria altar set up in a sacred room in the house of Santeria high priest Ernesto Pichardo. Offerings of fruit, cake, candy, and recently sacrificed chickens are laid out for the gods.
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Sacred Rat Temple
Rats swarm around water and milk bowls in a sacred rat temple in Bikaner, India. The rats are considered sacred, and worshipers bring offerings of food and milk to them daily. The National Geographic crew's lighting illuminates the swarm.
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Sacred Cow Statue
A statue of a cow is situated in the center of a temple dedicated to the sacred animal in Hinduism.
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Rats Swarming Equipment
Rats swarm around the National Geographic crew's lighting stand inside a rat temple in Bikaner, India.
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Rat Temple
Rats swarm around the floors and walls of a temple dedicated to the rats themselves.
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Rat Temple Rat
Rat peeking out of a hole in the wall in Bikaner, India.
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Offering Milk to Rats
A worshipper kneels down to fill water and milk bowls at a rat temple in Bikaner, India.
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Henry Rollins
Henry Rollins stands on the streets of Delhi, India. In Hinduism, animals such as snakes, cows, and rats are considered sacred.
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Henry Rollins with Pastor Coots
Pastor Jamie Coots, born handles a Copperhead snake while Henry Rollins watches from behind the truck. Jamie is the pastor at the Full Gospel Tabernacle in Jesus Name in Middlesboro, KY. Any time Pastor Coots is handling venomous snakes outside of a church service he takes full precaution of handling them with a snake pole and keeping a respectful distance. Only in an actual service, under the influence of the Holy Spirit, does he or his congregants handle these venomous serpents without fear.
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Full Gospel Tabernacle in Jesus Name
This one-room church building, the Full Gospel Tabernacle in Jesus Name was founded by Jamie Coot's grandfather, led by his father for a few years, and now Jamie has taken over as the pastor.
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Cow Roaming the Streets
Ahmebad, India: Director of Photography Kris Denton and producer Alan Martin check out a sacred cow roaming the streets in India. The local street kids check them out.
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Copperhead Snake
A Copperhead snake is coiled in a fallen tree in the brush. Snakes lack external ear openings, and cannot hear; rather, they sense vibration with their jaws.
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Cobra Close-Up
The head of a Cobra while it flattens its neck in order to look larger and therefore more menacing to potential threats.
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Adorned Sacred Cow
A sacred cow is decorated with metal horns and a gown. The cow is recognized as sacred or supernatural in many cultures. In Hinduism, cows are considered sacred as a symbol of life.
