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A photograph inside a temple hall of a linga abhishekam. A man with long, swept-back dark hair and an orange garment, wearing a rudraksha-style mala, pours liquid from a small silver vessel onto a dark stone shivalinga set in a black stone yoni pedestal, which sits in a shallow pool of yellowish liquid scattered with flower petals. Behind him on the left, a bearded man in orange robes holds a silver plate. Other orange-robed attendants stand in the background, and a white marble figure and a gilded standing figure sit at the left edge. On the right, a large golden deity murti in a red and gold silk sari-like garment is decorated with garlands of red, yellow and white flowers, under a gold arch.

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A temple abhishekam at night: a long-haired man in saffron-orange robes with a rudraksha mala stands at a black stone shivalinga on a tiered black pedestal, pouring liquid from a golden vessel as water and yellow liquid flow down the base. Other saffron-robed attendants stand behind, and a shaved-headed man in orange sits at left beside a small white marble statue. Behind them a gold-and-red adorned deity murti sits under a gilded arch wreathed with red, yellow and purple flower garlands, draped in a red and gold silk cloth. Marigold petals lie on the wet floor.2010-02-12A photograph of a temple abhishekam at night. A figure with long, swept-back dark hair and a rudraksha mala, wearing orange saffron robes, pours water from a golden vessel over a black stone shivalinga set on a dark pedestal. Water spills across the floor, which is covered in yellow petals. Behind him, other robed figures in orange sit or stand. To the right, a gold-clad deity murti sits in a red and gold silk garment, adorned with garlands of red, yellow and purple flowers. A white marble figure and a small gold statue stand at left. Swamiji (probable): the figure pouring the abhishekam has long swept-back hair, a rudraksha mala and saffron robes, and is performing the ritual at the linga.2010-02-12A photograph inside a temple at night showing a figure with long, swept-back dark hair in an orange saffron robe and rudraksha mala pouring water from a metal pot over a dark stone shivalinga on a black lotus-shaped pedestal. Water streams down the sides onto the golden-brown wet floor. Behind the linga stands a deity murti draped in a red and gold silk sari, adorned with yellow, orange and red marigold garlands and a gold arch. To the left, a second robed man in orange with a grey beard and hair stands with hands clasped, and a white marble figure rests on a stand. Seated devotees in white and yellow shawls are visible in the background. The pouring figure matches the appearance cues of the page's a person candidate, with distinctive long hair, saffron clothing and a mala, but identity remains uncertain.2010-02-12A photograph inside a temple hall during a linga abhishekam. A long-haired man in saffron-orange robes, a rudraksha-style mala at his neck and a red mark on his forehead, pours a golden liquid from a metal vessel over a black stone shivalinga set on a dark lotus-shaped pedestal. A second saffron-robed man with a beard stands beside him, and another robed figure is partly visible behind. To the right a golden deity murti in red and gold silk stands adorned with garlands of orange, yellow and red flowers. A white stone seated figure and a small brass lamp stand at left, and the floor is wet with flower petals and yellow liquid.2010-02-12Photograph of a temple abhishekam at a black stone shivalinga on a dark circular yoni-peetha base, set on a yellow-wet floor with scattered flower petals. Two men in saffron-orange robes stand at left; the foremost, with long swept-back dark hair, holds a silver bowl over the linga while pouring. Behind him another saffron-clad man is partly visible, and a white marble seated figure stands at left. At right a gold-framed deity murti is draped in a red and gold silk cloth and decorated with garlands of yellow, red, orange and white flowers. A cluster of small figures in the background suggests additional attendees in the dim hall.2010-02-12A photograph inside a temple sanctum of a linga abhishekam. A figure with long swept-back hair, wearing an orange robe, red forehead mark and a beaded mala, holds a silver plate over a dark stone shivalinga set in a black lotus-shaped yoni pedestal, water flowing over it. Two or three other men in orange robes stand behind him, and a golden-clad deity murti draped in a red and gold silk sari with garlands of marigolds sits in a gilded arch on the right. A white marble seated figure and a small gold statue stand at left, with flower petals floating in the wet floor.2010-02-12A 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.2010-02-12A 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.2010-02-12Photo of a temple abhishekam at a black stone shivalinga set in a stone yoni-peetha base, standing on a shallow pool of water. A man with long, swept-back dark hair in an orange saffron robe and a beaded necklace pours a milky white liquid from a round vessel over the linga. Beside him, a bearded man in an orange robe stands watching. To the right, a gold-clad deity murti sits under a gold arch garlanded with red, yellow, purple and white flowers, wearing a red and gold silk sari-like drape. A white stone sculpture and a small golden lamp stand at left, with flower petals floating in the water.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 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 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.2010-02-12