Skip to content
Nithyanandapedia
A 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.

More like this

Open the gallery
Photograph of a linga abhishekam at a temple shrine. A long-haired young person in an orange sleeveless top and orange wrap pours water from a golden pot over a dark black stone linga set on a black peetha base, while water runs down the linga and spills across the floor. Behind them, a bald man on the left in orange robes and beads stands watching, and two other orange-clad attendants with rudraksha-style beads stand near the linga. A deity murti draped in a red and gold brocade cloth is decorated with colourful flower garlands on the right, and a small white and gold figure sits on a tray in the foreground.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.2010-02-12Night-time temple abhishekam at a black stone Shivalinga. A man with long, swept-back dark hair, wearing orange saffron robes, a long gold-bead necklace and a shawl draped over his shoulder, pours water from a brass pot onto the linga, which is set on a dark yoni-peetha base. Water streams across yellow-dusted ground. Behind him a bearded man in orange robes stands watching, and a younger man in orange with a gold bead mala and a red tilak stands with palms joined. A white marble seated figure and a small gilded deity murti sit in the foreground, and a seated devotee in orange appears at the left edge. The appearance-based candidate matches Swamiji (probable) by his long hair, saffron robes and gold bead necklace.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.2010-02-12A temple abhishekam scene at night. A woman with long curly hair, wearing an orange saffron garment and a rudraksha mala, pours water from a brass vessel over a dark stone shivalinga set on a black stone yoni pedestal. Behind her stands a bearded man with long curly hair in orange robes, and a kneeling man in orange with a shaved head and glasses sits at left, hands raised in offering. Water splashes over the linga and runs down the pedestal. A white marble figure and a small golden deity figure sit at the lower left. Behind the linga a red and gold silk drape and garlands of yellow, red and purple flowers decorate the shrine, with a brass oil lamp beside it. Ornate stone carving frames the top left.2010-02-12A photograph of a temple abhishekam at a Shiva linga on a black stone yoni-peetha base, with water and milk being poured over it. A long-haired man in orange robes and a rudraksha mala pours liquid from a brass vessel over the linga. Beside him, a bald man in orange robes stands with palms pressed together in prayer. Two more men in orange robes with beads stand behind the linga. To the right, a deity murti is adorned with red and gold cloth and garlands of yellow, orange and purple flowers. Flower petals and offerings lie on the stone floor, with a small brass lamp stand visible in the lower left.2010-02-12A photograph of a Shiva linga abhishekam inside a temple sanctum. A long-haired figure in orange robes leans forward to pour or touch water over a dark black stone linga set on a lotus-shaped yoni pedestal. Behind, a bearded man in orange and a man in orange with a head covering stand watching, and another orange-robed person is partly visible. On the right, a deity murti is draped in red and gold silk with marigold garlands above, and a brass oil lamp stands beside it. A white marble figure sits at the lower left on a yellow floor. A few flowers lie on the pedestal. The scene is lit warmly against a dark background.2010-02-12December 16 20092009-12-16A temple interior during an abhishekam. A man with long, swept-back hair in an orange-saffron dhoti and shawl, wearing rudraksha malas, pours water from a golden vessel over a dark stone linga-shaped sculpture on a black stone base. Beside him, a man in saffron robes stands with hands folded, and two more saffron-clad attendants with malas stand behind. A devotee in white sits at the left edge. Nearby stands a large golden deity murti draped in red and gold silk and heavily garlanded with orange, yellow, red and purple flowers. Carved stone pillars and a warm lamp-lit ceiling frame the scene.2010-02-12A temple interior at night during a linga abhishekam. A standing man with long, swept-back dark hair, a red tilak and an orange robe with a rudraksha mala pours water from a brass pot over a black stone shivalinga set on a dark yoni-peetha base. Two young assistants in orange robes stand beside him, one holding a brass vessel, and a kneeling figure in orange and a white stone deity murti sit to the left. Red and orange silk draping and garlands of yellow, orange and purple flowers decorate the altar on the right, with a brass oil lamp nearby. Behind them is a stone-carved temple doorway. Visible people: about five.2010-02-12A photo of a linga abhishekam at night. A man with long, voluminous curly hair and a red tilak on his forehead stands at the centre, wearing saffron-orange robes and a gold bead necklace, and pours water from a brass vessel over a dark stone linga on a black pedestal. Two more men in orange robes stand behind and beside him, one tending the linga. Water streams down the linga and pools on the base, and a lamp glints in the background. Dim light and a warm orange palette dominate the scene.2010-02-12A photograph of a temple abhishekam in progress. A central figure with long, curly, swept-back hair and rudraksha-style beads wears a saffron-orange robe and pours white liquid over a dark stone Shivalinga resting on a black yoni-peetha base. Behind him, a woman in orange robes stands to the left, and a few other figures in orange and white are partly visible. To the right, a large deity murti dressed in a red and gold silk sari is adorned with garlands of orange, yellow, purple and white flowers. Scattered flower petals and a white milky substance cover the floor, and white stone carvings of figures stand at the lower left.2010-02-12