April 06 2017 - Nithyanandapedia

Nithyanandapedia

April 06 2017

More like this

Open the gallery

Night outdoor ritual at a brick-walled pavilion where a shirtless priest in a yellow turban, a rudraksha-style bead necklace, and a white dhoti with a maroon-and-gold border holds a ceremonial staff topped with a white cloth and flower garland over a yellow-and-white fire pit. Beside him, a woman in a maroon sari sits on a mat, and several people in orange robes stand behind. Marigold garlands, brass vessels and a lit homa fire pit are arranged in front. A second man in a white dhoti and yellow-patterned cloth stands at the right edge.

April 06 2017

A photograph of a homa ritual inside a temple-style shrine draped with gold and red fabric. A shirtless priest with a white turban, white and gold-bordered dhoti, and a beaded necklace stands at left, pouring an offering with a metal vessel over a fire. A devotee in a white saree with a green and gold border kneels before the flames. Behind them, brass deity murtis garlanded with white flowers sit on a red-draped altar, with brass oil lamps and red flower petals on the floor.

A homa fire ritual in a temple-like hall. In the foreground a fire pit of bricks burns with bright flames, and a brass bowl sits near its edge. Two priests in white dhotis with gold borders stand at the fire: the one on the right, wearing a maroon and gold shawl, a red turban and gold necklaces, holds a leaf tray of yellow marigold garlands and flower petals; the younger priest beside him, bare-chested with a sandalwood tilak, pours from the tray. A third man in a white garment and gold necklace stands behind, with other devotees further back. A red floor, a metal lamp stand, and green banana leaves appear behind the fire.

2018-04-14 +1 copies

A photograph of a ritual at a homa altar under a golden, carved canopy with red and gold drapes. A bare-chested priest in a white dhoti with gold border and a white turban with gold stripes stands at left, holding a ritual vessel or lamp over a kneeling devotee. The devotee wears a white garment with a green and gold-bordered sari-style cloth and is bent low before a fire pit with bright flames. Behind them are brass pots decorated with white and orange flower garlands on a red-draped altar, with a brass lamp stand at right. Red flower petals are scattered on the stone platform, consistent with a fire ritual such as a homa. No one in the scene is identifiable as a person from appearance.

March 16 2017

May 26 2017

A photograph of a homa ritual at an open-sided temple structure with gold and red draped cloth. A shirtless man with a white and gold-bordered head cloth and white dhoti with gold border stands at left, wearing a heavy gold bead necklace, a rudraksha mala and red-thread bracelets, while he holds a brass hand bell in his right hand and a lit brass oil lamp above the fire pit. Behind him a brass arch frames a deity murti decorated with white and yellow flowers and garlands. In front, a raised mud fire pit burns with flames and is scattered with red flower petals. Brass lamps stand on either side of the altar. The man has white markings on his arms and chest, showing a priest performing the Sudarshan homa fire ritual.

A photograph of a homa fire ritual in progress. In the foreground, a man seated bare-chested with a multicoloured yellow-orange turban, rudraksha mala, a red-cord pendant and spectacles tends an open flame on a yellow-and-red tiled fire altar, with a silver bowl beside it and flower petals scattered on the platform. Behind him, a second seated man with a white headband and bare back sits near a gold-ornamented throne-like backrest, and a figure in maroon robes stands near the back. Figures in white dhotis and maroon garments fill the background, and a cameraman holds a camera at the left.

A shirtless priest in a white dhoti with a yellow border and a white head cloth with yellow stripes stands beside a fire pit during a homa. He wears a long gold-coloured bead necklace and holds a brass bell in his right hand while raising a flame-lit oil lamp. Behind the fire pit, a golden canopy with carved gold trim and red and gold drapes frames a small altar with a lit oil lamp, marigold garlands and a deity face image. Red flower petals are scattered on the orange fire pit wall and a bright fire burns in the pit. The priest is a single person in the scene, and the photo shows an active Sudarshan homa ritual.

A bare-chested man in a white turban with gold and yellow borders, white dhoti with gold border, and a gold necklace with a large pendant stands at left holding a folded white cloth with green and gold border and a red fringe. Behind him, an ornate golden canopy frames a shrine with red and gold drapes, a deity murti decorated with flowers and garlands, a brass lamp, and a small fire glowing at the base. Red and pink petals are scattered on the orange platform in front. He appears to be a priest performing a puja or homa. The photo shows one person.

A bare-chested priest in a white dhoti with gold border and a white head cloth with gold edging stands before a shrine, holding a lit oil lamp in both hands toward a deity murti decorated with white and green flower garlands and a white cloth. He wears a gold necklace and rudraksha malas on his arms and chest. Behind him are golden carved arches, red and yellow draped fabric, and a small fire burning in front of the shrine, with brass lamps at the right. The setting suggests a puja or aarti at a temple shrine.