Exorcism, or the practice of removing ‘spirits’ from people, has been a part of major world religions like Hinduism and Christianity for a very long period. In the 16th-17th centuries, it was not uncommon to witness priests in Europe drilling holes into the skulls of individuals who behaved defiantly, expressing their firm belief that the spirit would leave through that hole. While such barbaric practices are not in place anymore, India still struggles to come to terms with one such institution associated with religion and it is thus difficult to tackle.

Here, men and women are seen banging their heads on rocks without a single blemish or bruise on their bodies. Boiling water is poured on them, but they do not scream in pain. Some of them are hung from the ceiling using iron chains or bound to rocks and beaten by pandits.

Such scenes, although disturbing, are not uncommon in the Balaji temple. The chants of Jai Bala can be heard from miles away as devotees enthusiastically call out to the deity in hopes of having their wishes fulfilled. The temple houses the three principal deities responsible for the health and well-being of a spirit. Balaji refers to a younger form of Hanuman, who once swallowed the mighty sun and whose name is believed to chase away all darkness. Shri Pretarj Sarkar (King of evil spirits) also resides here and rules all the evil spirits that lurk around the temple. Here, pandits can be seen performing exorcism by chanting mantras on possessed souls using holy water from the statue of Balaji. The victims can be seen howling, crying, and cursing the deity in different languages but being unable to touch any of the people chanting the mantras in the deity’s praise.

The temple is a center of ritualistic healing and exorcism and requires some strict rules to be followed, both before and during the visit to the temple. Devotees must follow a strictly vegetarian diet for a week before visiting the temple. They also must never consume any item inside the temple. While most temples encourage visitors to eat the prasad given to them and not drop a single grain on the ground, Balaji temple requires all visitors to throw the prasad in a ritual fire without looking back.

Money or any form of donation is never accepted in the temple. Instead, all devotees buy Arzi, an assorted amount of laddoos, Urad dal, and boiled rice to offer to the deities - Pretraj Sarkar and Kotwal Bhairav ji in two separate containers. Further, those devotees who make a wish have to return to the temple after it is fulfilled and offer a Savamani - a ritual of offering that happens on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

After leaving the temple premises, there is only one more rule to follow - never to look back. Spirits that may be lurking around in the temple can get an invitation to follow if they make eye contact. The only thing a person should carry back with them is the blessing of Sankat Mochan- the one who has the strength to save one from all disasters.

Human beings are complex entities who find ingenious ways to navigate their difficulties. While culture and religion are both intrinsic and essential to social identity, it should not be forgotten that these systems are created from people, by people, and for people. However, sometimes they may serve only the purposes of an elite few. In any other place, the kind of treatment given to ‘possessed’ men and women would lead to strict legal actions. In Mehandipur Balaji temple, pandits are allowed to do whatever they please to cure the individual.

There is no denial of the connection between the soul and the body. There is also a sanctity and relief associated with the belief that even when the body turns to ash, as its mortality ordains it to, the soul, which has all memories of its loved ones, carries on to live. However, to trouble living beings in such a way is also unacceptable. The practices in the temple encroach upon several human rights, which all individuals deserve, bar no one. Often, women are taken to the temple on the pretext of being witches, and there are no laws to stop their abuse. The power is given to the pandits and their family, with autonomy and free will being snatched from the individual. Individuals with mental disorders like depression and especially schizophrenia, which involve a distortion of reality, are placed into these institutions without the provision of the psychological care needed by them. The results of such ministrations are often disastrous, with the forced compliance and withdrawal of individuals being termed as the return to ‘normalcy’ and freedom from bad spirits. If it is a fellow human being who can treat another human being in such a way, is there the need to look for bad spirits beyond one’s self?

At the same time, sometimes humans indeed need to turn to authority beyond them - whether it is termed as a God or a Goddess, the Supreme or the Higher Authority. Balaji is a saving grace for all those who believe they are being plagued by things beyond their control. However, the means to deliverance is something that has been developed by humans and must be changed. The practices in the Mehandipur Balaji temple lead to a bigger social problem - it sets the precedent that those believed to be corrupted by spirits can be cured by barbaric practices. It is only a matter of time before the same excuse is used to challenge all those who deviate from the norm.