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A photograph of a night-time abhishekam at a temple shrine. A central figure with long, swept-back curly hair wears an orange saffron garment, a rudraksha-style mala and a gold necklace, and pours or holds a black Shiva linga on a stone pitha while water flows over it. Behind him, another man in orange with a full beard and long hair stands beside a figure in a similar orange garment and mala. At lower left, a bald man in orange holds a silver tray near a white-clad attendant. To the right, a large golden deity murti in a red and gold silk sari is adorned with dense garlands of red, yellow, purple and orange flowers, and brass oil lamps stand nearby. Overhead, the ceiling and carved stone pillars are lit by spotlights.

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A temple sanctum scene during a linga abhishekam. A young man with long hair and an orange-saffron dhoti and shawl stands at a black stone shivalinga on a dark pedestal, pouring liquid over it from a vessel. Behind him stand three more men in saffron-orange robes, one holding a shaved head with a red cloth and a garland. A seated deity murti in gold and red silk, adorned with a gold crown, jewelry and garlands of red, yellow and purple flowers, presides on the right. A white marble figure sits at the lower left, and a small brass lamp rests on the floor. Stone carved pillars frame the shrine.2010-02-12A photograph inside a temple sanctum of a black stone shivalinga being bathed with water poured from a brass vessel. A man with long, swept-back dark hair, wearing an orange saffron dhoti and matching shawl with a beaded mala necklace, stands at the linga and pours the abhishekam, water streaming down the stone. Beside him, another man in orange robes stands with hands folded, and a young woman in orange and a girl in orange stand behind. A seated figure in white and a white-clad attendant sit at the left edge near oil lamps and brass vessels. Behind the linga is a large golden deity murti draped in a red and gold silk sari, decorated with colourful flower garlands in red, yellow, purple and white. The floor is wet from the water. Fluorescent lights hang from the ceiling and orange ritual cloth hangs at the left.2010-02-12A photograph inside a temple at night shows a man with long, swept-back curly hair in an orange saffron robe and rudraksha-style beaded mala holding a lit oil lamp aarti over a black stone shivalinga on a lotus-shaped yoni pedestal, with water flowing over it. Behind the linga, a large seated deity murti is adorned with a crown, gold ornaments and a red-and-gold silk sari, draped in flower garlands of red, yellow, purple and white. To the left, two men in orange robes stand and one kneels; a white marble statue and a small golden figure stand nearby, and a few devotees are visible in the background. a person figure, identified by long swept hair, saffron robe and beaded mala, performs abhishekam and aarti at the linga, with the kneeling and standing priests assisting.2010-02-12Indoor temple abhishekam at night. A figure with long, swept-back dark hair and a gold necklace, wearing an orange robe, stands at a black stone linga on a pedestal, pouring or offering into it with both hands. Beside him, a man in orange holds a lit torch-like flame, and another orange-robed attendant stands nearby. A golden-clad deity murti sits behind the linga, draped in a red and gold silk garment and decorated with garlands of yellow, red, purple and white flowers. Brass vessels, lamps and a white and garland-covered offering rest in front. Several seated devotees in white appear at the left edge. Visible text reads 'Sri Nithyananda Paramashivam' and ''2010-02-12A temple interior during a linga abhishekam. A long-haired man in saffron-orange robes and a beaded necklace pours water from a vessel over a dark black stone linga set on a lotus-shaped base, with white rice or grain scattered on top. Behind him stands a bald man in orange robes and a wrapped orange shawl, also wearing a beaded necklace. To the right, a deity murti is draped in a red and gold silk sari and surrounded by thick garlands of yellow, red and purple flowers. A white marble statue of a standing figure and a brass lamp stand on the left, with a few people in the background.2010-02-12A photograph of a night-time abhishekam at a temple shrine. A man with long, swept-back dark hair and an orange robe pours liquid from a silver vessel over a black stone shivalinga on a pedestal, with the stream falling into the basin. Two orange-robed attendants stand nearby, one with a shaved head and a beaded mala, another with a shawl. To the right, a large deity murti draped in a red-gold silk cloth is garlanded with yellow, orange and purple flowers, and a brass oil lamp stands at the edge. The ceiling and carved stone pillars of the temple hall are lit by spotlights. The man pouring has distinctive long hair, a rudraksha-style mala and saffron clothing, a cue consistent with a person, though this is an appearance-based candidate only.2010-02-12A photograph of a temple abhishekam at night. A man with long, swept-back dark hair, wearing an orange-saffron robe and rudraksha mala, pours water from a brass vessel over a black linga on a stone yoni-pitha base. Two other men in orange robes stand beside him, one with a beard and one with long hair. At the far left a shaved-headed priest in orange sits and holds a small brass vessel. Behind the linga stands a deity murti draped in red and gold cloth and decorated with garlands of red, yellow, purple and white flowers.2010-02-12A photograph inside a temple shrine during a Shivalinga abhishekam. A man with long, swept-back hair wears orange saffron robes and a rudraksha mala, holding a brass lamp with a flame and a bell. Beside him a second man in orange robes stands with palms pressed together in prayer, and a woman in orange clothing is seated behind the lingam. A large black Shivalinga stands on a stone yoni base, covered with white and milky liquid and offerings. To the right, a golden deity murti in a red and gold silk sari is adorned with garlands of red, yellow, and purple flowers. Brass vessels and a small golden figure sit on the wet floor, and a few devotees in white and yellow sit near the entrance.2010-02-12A photograph of a temple abhishekam at a Shiva lingam set on a dark stone yoni-peetha base, with water and flowers spilling over it. A man with long, swept-back curly hair and an orange robe, a rudraksha-style beaded necklace, holds a small pot and lamp at the lingam. To the left, two men in orange robes stand, one with his hands folded in prayer and one holding a brass bowl. Behind the lingam sits a gold-clad deity murti draped in red and gold silk and heavily garlanded with red, yellow, purple and white flowers. Brass oil lamps stand beside the shrine, and a white statue of a figure is partly visible at lower left.2010-02-12A photograph of a temple abhishekam at night. In the center, a man with long swept-back hair wears an orange saffron robe, a rudraksha mala and a gold ceremonial necklace, holding a brass kalasha in one hand and a small brass cup in the other while pouring water over a dark stone shivalinga set in a black stone yoni-peetha. To the left, another man in orange robes and an orange headwrap bends forward holding a silver tray. To the right, a large seated deity murti in gold crown and jewellery wears a red and gold silk garment and is decorated with garlands of white, yellow and purple flowers. Brass oil lamps stand on the platform and a white statue is visible at lower left, with a few devotees barely visible behind.2010-02-12A man with long, swept-back dark hair and a red tilak on his forehead pours water from a brass kalasha over a black stone shivalinga on a stepped peetha inside a temple. He wears an orange-saffron robe and a long necklace of rudraksha beads and gold ornaments, which marks him as a probable Swamiji (appearance cues: long hair, ornate gold and rudraksha adornment, saffron clothing). Water splashes over the linga, which is the abhishekam ritual. Behind him, other saffron-clad people stand near the linga, and a figure in a red sari sits at the right. Flower garlands in red, yellow and purple hang above, and a red-and-gold silk cloth drapes the deity area. At left, a man in orange bends forward beside a white marble statue and a brass lamp. Grey temple pillars with carved detail frame the scene.2010-02-12A temple linga abhishekam in progress at night inside a stone-pillared shrine. A long-haired man in orange robes and a rudraksha mala pours or places white granular offering onto a black Shivalinga on a stone yoni base. Beside him stand two younger men in orange cloth with beaded necklaces; one holds a small oil lamp in a brass vessel at left, and another attends near the linga. At right a large deity murti in gold and red silk is draped with multicoloured flower garlands, with a golden crown and ornaments. A small white figure and a brass pot sit in the foreground. Four men are visible in the scene.2010-02-12