Laurence Powell Jobs, the spouse of Apple cofounder Steve Jobs, today offered prayers at Kashi Vishwanath Temple in Varanasi while accompanied by Niranjani Akhara chief Swami Kailashanand Giri Ji Maharaj as he prepares for his visit to take part in Maha Kumbh 2025, which commences on January 13.
“Today, we have come to Kashi to pray to Mahadev that the Kumbh is completed without any obstacles… I came here to invite Mahadev. Our disciple, Maharshi Vyasanand, is with us from America. Tomorrow, he is becoming a Mahamandaleshwar in my Akhara,” Swami Kailashanand told the news agency ANI.
Speaking on Laurence Jobs’ arrival for the Maha Kumbh, the priest said she was made to see the Shivling from outside the temple as no other Hindus are permitted to touch the holy symbol of Lord Shiva. He also said Laurence would attend the Maha Kumbh and take a dip in the River Ganga.
According to numerous reports, the billionaire widow of Steve Jobs will observe ‘alpacas’ at the Maha Kumbh. She will be among various VIPs, VVIPs, millionaires, seers, and saints who will participate in this sacred Hindu festival.
She will stay at Swami Kaliashananda’s camp, the ‘Mahamndleshwar’ of Niranjani Akhara. According to reports, she will stay at the Maha Kumbh until 29 January and take a holy dip during the fair.
Interestingly, Kalpvas is an age-old practice in the Hindu tradition that devotees called Kalpvasis or Kapasi’s follow for a month from Paush Purnima to Maghi Purnima. This ‘ kalpavasis’ used to take baths in the Ganga daily, visit the camps of various seers and saints to hear their sermons, and attend ‘bhajan and kirtan’ during Kumbh.
