Skip to content
Nithyanandapedia
A photograph inside a temple shrine with gold-framed arches and orange drapes. A bare-chested priest in a white dhoti with a gold border and a white-and-gold head cloth pours a yellow liquid over a dark deity murti seated in an arched niche. A small golden figure and a golden vessel rest on a brass tray before the murti. A pink-robed deity figure with a crown and jewelled necklace stands in the adjacent niche, and a red and yellow floor kolam decorates the floor. A visible timestamp reads Jul. 12, 2024 8:23:42 a.m. Salem, Tamil Nadu. The priest's clothing and rudraksha mala are consistent with ritual abhishekam, but his face is not clearly identifiable.

More like this

Open the gallery
A bare-chested priest with a grey beard, wearing a gold-bordered white dhoti and a gold-striped headcloth, pours water from a vessel over a dark deity murti seated on a red cushion within a gold arched niche. The priest wears a rudraksha mala and stands barefoot on a wet grey floor. In front, a small white figure and a golden kalasha-like vessel stand on a copper tray during abhishekam. To the right, a dark deity murti in a pink silk sari with jewelled necklaces sits beside an orange-draped arch. Red and yellow kolam floor designs are visible. The walls are gold-painted, and a timestamp reads Jul. 12, 2024 8:14:29 a.m., Salem, Tamil Nadu.2024-11-07A photograph inside a temple shrine showing a bare-chested priest in a white dhoti with a gold border and a white head cloth bending forward to pour water from a gold kalasha over small metal deity figures on a low wooden stand. Behind them is a gilded arch framing dark stone murti with gold-yellow draped garments, one figure holding a trident-like staff and a crowned figure on the right, set against an orange cloth backdrop. A rudraksha mala hangs around the priest's neck. The scene appears to be abhishekam ritual bathing. A timestamp overlay reads Sep. 9, 2024 12:55:12 p.m. Salem Tamil Nadu.2024-09-09A bare-chested priest in a white dhoti with gold border and a white-and-gold head cloth stands bent forward in a gilded shrine, lighting or touching a small flame near a dark deity murti in an orange-lined arch. A brass tray holds a golden kalasha-like vessel, a small gold figure and offerings. To the right, a dark figure in pink and orange drapery with a crown sits in another shrine. The floor is wet and reflective, and the walls are gold-painted. The setting suggests a puja or abhishekam in progress.2024-11-07A photograph of a shirtless, bare-chested priest in a white dhoti with gold border and a red-and-white patterned turban, wearing a rudraksha mala, bending over a small gold-coloured altar table to pour liquid from a brass vessel over three small gold deity figures and a sword-like object. Behind him, dark deity statues in yellow and gold drapes stand before an orange cloth backdrop framed by an ornate gold arch. The floor bears yellow and red kolam designs. A timestamp overlay reads Nov. 8, 2024 10:49:59 a.m. Salem, Tamil Nadu. The priest's appearance does not clearly match a person candidate, so he is described by role.2024-08-11A photograph inside a gilded shrine room with a golden-arched niche. A bare-chested priest in a white dhoti with gold borders and a white-and-gold head cloth stands at left, leaning forward with both hands on a dark deity murti seated in a golden arch, the figure with multiple arms holding weapons and a yellow-and-red garment. Before the murti on a round brass tray are a small golden sculpture and a copper-coloured vessel. To the right, a black deity murti in a pink sari with a red crown and garlands sits in an orange-lined niche beside an orange curtain. A brass lamp and pot are visible at left. The floor bears yellow and red kolam designs. A timestamp reads Jul. 12, 2024, Salem, Tamil Nadu.2024-11-07A bare-chested priest in a white dhoti with gold border and a white-and-gold head cloth stands bent forward, holding a small lit lamp or flame near a golden-framed shrine. Inside the arch sits a dark deity murti with multiple arms, partly smeared with yellow turmeric, flanked by a brass-gold kalasha-like shivalinga and small metal figures on a gold plate. Behind, a second shrine has orange drapery and a deity dressed in a pink sari-like garment with gold necklaces and a crown. The walls are gilded and the floor is polished with a yellow kolam design; a digital timestamp overlay reads Jul. 12, 2024 Salem, Tamil Nadu.2024-11-07Photo inside a temple shrine. A shaved-headed priest with a grey beard and rudraksha mala, bare-chested and wearing a white dhoti with gold border, pours liquid from a brass vessel over a small gold-toned murti of a standing figure. Beside it stands a second gold-toned standing figure holding a cup, on a gold base with a metallic sri yantra-style meru piece in the middle. A brass plate with flower petals and a brass oil lamp sit nearby. Behind them is a gold seated deity murti garlanded with flowers under a magenta cloth, a blue-clad deity figure, a dark stone murti, and orange drapery in an arched niche. This appears to be an abhishekam being performed. The priest is a person, not a statue.2025-09-05A photograph inside a temple shrine with gold-leaf walls and orange drapery. A bare-chested priest in a red and gold-patterned turban and white dhoti with a gold border pours liquid from a small vessel over the head of a golden-yellow draped deity murti. Dark stone murtis stand beside it, including a multi-armed figure at right. A floral kolam decorates the floor, and a rudraksha mala hangs around the priest's neck. The timestamp reads Nov. 8, 2024 10:49:46 a.m., Salem, Tamil Nadu.2024-08-11A shirtless priest in a white dhoti with gold border and a white-and-gold head cloth bends over a large black stone abhishekam basin, pouring a liquid from a small vessel over a black lingam at a shrine. Gold deity murtis, including a standing figure in red cloth and a small golden Shiva-form idol, sit on a wooden stand in front. Behind the basin is an orange-lit arched niche with gold framing. In the background a golden seated figure wears a green turban and garland, next to a sign reading Kailasa Salem. A ceiling fan hangs under a corrugated roof. The timestamp reads Sep. 16, 2024, Salem, Tamil Nadu.2024-09-16A temple shrine photographed indoors with gold-leaf walls and gilded arched niches. A priest bent forward at a brass tray lamp, lighting an oil lamp with a lit wick, wearing a white dhoti with gold borders, a white turban and a bare upper body with a tattoo on the arm. Behind him an orange-draped niche holds a dark multi-armed deity murti seated on a throne with a small brass figure in front. To the right another niche holds a pink-robed deity with a crown and garlands. Pink and orange drapery, a wooden stool and a patterned floor complete the scene. A timestamp reading Jul. 12, 2024 8:25:47 a.m. Salem Tamil Nadu appears in the lower right corner.2024-11-07A photograph inside a temple shrine in KAILASA Salem. An elderly bare-chested priest in a white dhoti and a sacred thread pours liquid from a copper vessel over a small gold-coloured figure on a golden base, while a brass tray and small pots sit nearby. Behind him stand several dark-stone deity murtis dressed in white and gold garments with garlands, flanked by ornate golden arches and umbrellas in green and orange. A gilded golden pyramid-shaped object rests on the altar in front. A timestamp reads 05-Jan-2026 6:47:31 am, Salem, KAILASA SALEM.2026-01-05A priest with a bare chest and white dhoti with gold border stands at a large black stone shivalinga in a temple hall with golden walls and a corrugated metal roof. He pours liquid over the tall black lingam, which sits in a black yoni-pitha basin. Behind him on the left, a golden seated figure wears a maroon turban and a rudraksha-beaded garland and holds a trident, beside a gold kalasha-style lamp. A gold shrine niche with orange drapery holds a small deity murti. Brass vessels, a gold sri yantra pyramid, and marigold flowers lie on red cloth in the foreground. A ceiling fan hangs above.2025-09-22