Photography Divine

From time to time one comes across a text that seems so overwhelming in its implications that it's hard to talk about it. The questions of whether or not the divine, the truly sacred is mechanically, or digitally, reproducible have been long asked and answered. I'll quote a passage from Debganer Marte Agaman (The Gods Come to Earth) by Durgacharan Roy published in the 1880s that I found absolutely fascinating. The gods are visiting the Earth and after a tour of several places in India they have arrived in Calcutta. Having seeing the most obvious tourist sights...

They proceeded to another spot, where Narayan enquired, “Varun, what house is this?”
Varun: This is called a photographical establishment. For two rupees they will shoot your photograph.
Indra: Varun! Don’t you think it’s a good idea to take a photograph or two of the way in which we are touring Earth to show back in Heaven? What do you say, Grandpa?
Brahma: What’s the harm? Will they take a photograph of the group?
Varun: Why not?
“So be it”, Brahma laughed. “Narayan! Images of your tribhanga, flute in hand, are flooding the markets. Should we take one of you too?
Narayan: The all-seeing upon his swan is not far behind. If he’s getting one, why shouldn’t I?
They entered the house and decided upon the price. A sahib came and accompanied the gods to a dark room and made them sit. Upon entering the room Grandfather said, “Varun! This darkness is scaring me. Let’s get out of here. I don’t need a photograph.” Upa said, “Sir! Let’s see what the sahib is up to.” He stood up to look, then sat down and craned his neck. The sahib came running and said, “You are much too restless! Sit still. Otherwise the image will not come out right.” The sahib went out and before long the gods were looking at their own images and laughing. Upa kept looking from the image to Narayan, and back.
Narayan: What are you looking at?
Upa: They have drawn quite accurately. Why do the bazaar artists draw Grand Uncle in that monkeylike manner?
Brahma: How did you manage to draw so beautifully in such short time?
Varun: Sir—using a machine!

(Translation mine.)

 A few points about the translation (rather about the original): any single word or phrase denoting 'photograph' is used. The Bengali has "কয়েকখানি চেহারা তুলে নিলে হয় না?" A literal translation makes no sense at all, but the general idea is "capturing a likeness of the physical form". So as to not make it clumsy, I have used 'photograph' against better judgement. When Brahma asks if they take a group-photo, I decided to leave out the hyphen because the 'group-photo' as a discrete concept has probably not emerged.  Would have sounded anachronistic? But it's reassuring to see that the divinities also yield to the seduction of the 'having-been-thereness', so to speak.

Best not to add much to this.