Skip to content
Nithyanandapedia
A photograph of a temple ritual in front of a painted, colourful temple backdrop. At centre sits a white-and-green deity murti on a gold-trimmed peetha, dressed with white flower garlands, a green cloth and a dense arrangement of red, yellow and purple flowers forming a bower behind it. A small fire burns at the lower right of the frame, and a bare-chested priest with a shaved head sits at left in a saffron-brown cloth with a rudraksha mala. Two men stand at right in white dhotis with gold borders and long white flower garlands, hands folded in prayer, with one holding a red-and-white flower garland. Painted guardian figures with gold ornaments appear on the wall, and a gold-carved throne-like chair is visible at left. Two men in the scene are standing and one is seated, with no clear indication of a person.

More like this

Open the gallery
April 23 20132013-04-23April 23 20132013-04-23April 23 20132013-04-23 +2 copiesApril 23 20132013-04-23 +2 copiesApril 23 20132013-04-23 +2 copiesTemple ritual scene in front of a deity murti of Meenakshi, a goddess form adorned with a crown, layered gold necklaces and a green sari-style drape, set on a magenta-and-green cloth on a gilded throne decorated with red, yellow and white garlands. Two men in plain white dhotis with saffron-gold borders and white turbans stand at the deity, one placing a garland and the other adjusting garlands with both hands. A third man seated at left wears saffron-orange cloth and has white sacred ash markings on his arms and body, tending a flame. In the foreground a homa fire burns in a brick fire pit beside silver bowls and offerings. Gilded arches and a painted dwarapalaka guardian figure frame the shrine.2012-04-23 +2 copiesA photograph of a temple ritual inside a decorated shrine hall. In the centre, a man seen from behind wears a rust-red dhoti and draped red upper cloth with a saffron-gold waist sash, and a rudraksha mala around his neck, standing with hands folded before the altar. To the left, a priest in white dhoti and white head cloth, garlanded with white and red flower strands, folds his hands in prayer beside a small fire lamp on the floor. To the right, another priest in white with a white turban, also garlanded, stands with palms joined. The altar holds deity murtis decorated with garlands of yellow, red and green flowers, behind a gold arched frame. On the far right, a pink-draped seat holds a small deity figure with an orange headpiece and a green backdrop, garlanded with white flowers. Flower petals are scattered on the floor.2012-04-23 +2 copiesApril 23 20132013-04-23 +2 copiesTwo priests in white dhoti and white turbans offer an aarti lamp on a silver plate before a deity murti seated on a gold-framed throne. The murti wears a green silk cloth, layered gold and jewelled necklaces and a crown, and is framed by arches of yellow, red and purple marigold and rose garlands. A third man in saffron-orange robes kneels at lower left near a homa fire of stacked yellow blocks, with brass bowls, fruit and offerings on the marble floor in front. Lamps glow in the background.2013-04-23A photograph of a ritual at a temple with a large deity murti dressed in layers of garlands of white jasmine, yellow and red flowers and a purple garland, decorated with gold jewellery and a crown. Two priests in white dhotis with gold-bordered shawls and white-and-gold turbans stand at the murti; the right priest drapes a garland over its head while the left priest, with white markings on his arms, adjusts a garland with his hands. A large painted figure with a moustache and multiple arms stands behind them, and a gilded throne is at the right edge.2012-04-23 +2 copiesA decorated deity murti of Meenakshi-style goddess stands on a green and magenta draped platform before a backdrop of red, yellow and purple flower garlands arranged in arches. Two priests in white dhotis with gold borders and white turbans, one with a sacred ash marking on his forehead, stand on either side, one adjusting garlands and the other looking on. In front, brass trays hold fruit and offerings, and a small flame burns near yellow turmeric-coated blocks. The scene suggests a temple abhishekam or puja setting, with an ornate gold-trimmed shrine behind.2013-04-23April 23 20132013-04-23 +2 copies