April 30 2012 - Nithyanandapedia

Nithyanandapedia

April 30 2012

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A photograph of a ritual worship scene before a golden deity murti pair with a golden crown and ornate jewelled necklaces, and a consort figure in a dark embroidered headdress with white jasmine garlands. A man with a tied-back hair bun, bare-shouldered in saffron-orange cloth, stands at left, holding a small oil lamp flame and a bell over the figure, with a lotus-like flower nearby. Red and white flower garlands and a red curtain frame the altar beneath an ornate gold arch. The figure in saffron wears no crown, shawl or malas that clearly establish an identity, so no identification is made.

2012-04-30 +2 copies

A man in orange-saffron robes and a matching orange shawl performs an aarti ritual, holding a silver lamp with a flame in one hand and a silver handbell in the other. He wears a rudraksha mala and a gold pendant necklace, with a small red mark on his forehead. Behind him stand two ornately adorned golden deity murti figures, one wearing an orange crown and the other a black and red decorated crown, both draped in white and yellow flower garlands and jeweled necklaces. A gold throne-style frame and red and yellow floral decorations fill the background, with a pink lotus held by one murti.

A person in an orange-saffron dhoti-style wrap stands with their back to the camera, one arm raised to touch or adjust a gilded ceremonial arch. Dark hair is pulled into a bun, and a bangle and an orange-and-white beaded garland are visible. In front are golden deity murtis wearing ornate jewelled necklaces, a tall crown-like headdress with white and red flower garlands, and a pink lotus held in one hand. Red, white, yellow and purple garlands fill the background alongside an orange drape.

A man in saffron-orange robes and a rudraksha mala stands at left, bare-chested over the shoulder with a saffron wrap, a thin red tilak on his forehead, and gold bangles on his wrist. He holds a small lamp with a flame toward the decorated deity murti at centre, which wears a tall crown, jewelled necklaces and a red-orange cloth. To the right, a silver-and-gold murti with a patterned crown and a pink lotus in its hand is garlanded with white jasmine and red flowers. The shrine is framed by a gold-embossed arch and flower garlands.

A photograph of a temple festival scene at night. A man with dark hair pulled back, bare-shouldered and wearing an orange-saffron cloth draped over his body, stands at left reaching up with both arms to place or adjust a white and red ceremonial cloth over the head of a gilded metal murti. Two gold-coloured metal deity figures sit on a richly decorated palanquin or ratha framed by a gold arch. The figures wear jewelled crowns, ornate necklaces and garlands, and one holds a pink lotus. The palanquin is covered in heaped garlands of yellow, green, red and purple flowers, with white jasmine strands. Gold ornamental panels and an orange drape frame the scene.

A photograph of a priest in white ritual dhoti and shawl with gold border, seen from behind with shaved head, performing aarti with a flame over a brass lamp before two deity murtis draped in red and garlanded with yellow and white flowers. The left murti wears an orange garment and a tall crown; the right murti wears a red garment and a lotus-style headdress, both with gold necklaces. A red curtain forms the backdrop and a gold-embossed altar platform sits in front. A small temple-style display with flowers and lights appears at the left edge.

A photograph of a temple puja before a golden deity murti pair seated on a throne decorated with red, yellow and white flower garlands and green foliage. A person in a rust-brown dhoti and shawl, with long swept-back hair and a saffron-orange rudraksha mala, holds a lit oil lamp in one hand and a small vessel in the other, offering arati to the murti. The seated murti wear an orange turban-style crown, gold jewelry and garlands. Ornate gold arch and carved stone pillars frame the scene, with a gold trident-like staff at right. Appearance cues of the person are distinctive but the page is a single figure; the figure's appearance is consistent with a candidate description, so identity remains uncertain.

A photograph of a temple ritual centred on two golden murti figures seated on a decorated throne under a gold arch. The murti on the left wears an orange turban with a jewelled crown, a pink lotus in one hand and heavy ornaments, while the figure on the right wears a patterned crown and abundant floral garlands in yellow, white and red. A man in an orange dhoti and orange shawl stands at the left edge, facing the deities with one arm raised high, wearing a red-and-white garland and gold bangle. Another person's hand holds a small brass vessel at the bottom left. Red, yellow and white flowers and garlands surround the throne.

July 21 2010

A priest in saffron-orange dhoti and shawl stands with his back partly turned, facing a shrine and performing a ritual with a lit oil lamp over a black-and-white decorated stone linga. He wears white sacred markings on his bare chest and arms. Behind him stand large golden deity murtis in gold crowns and garlands, one with a cobra hood over a linga, the central figure holding a trident-like staff. Flanking statues wear garlands of white flowers in yellow, red and orange, with a red-and-gold attire on the right figure. Gold arched frames inlaid with blue and colourful stones surround the shrine. The scene suggests a puja or abhishekam at the altar. No a person candidate is clearly identifiable from appearance.