Night photograph at a stone-walled sanctum site. A figure in an orange robe with long, swept-back dark hair sits on the edge of a stone platform, barefoot, with one hand on a bamboo ladder descending into the pit. Behind them, several people in white clothes and orange shawls stand and sit in the dark. A man in a white outfit and orange shawl holds a metal vessel with a cup. - Nithyanandapedia

Nithyanandapedia

Night photograph at a stone-walled sanctum site. A figure in an orange robe with long, swept-back dark hair sits on the edge of a stone platform, barefoot, with one hand on a bamboo ladder descending into the pit. Behind them, several people in white clothes and orange shawls stand and sit in the dark. A man in a white outfit and orange shawl holds a metal vessel with a cup.

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Night photograph at a stone construction site with a bamboo ladder leaning against stone steps. A man with long, swept-back dark hair in a plain orange robe sits on the step, looking down, one hand gripping the ladder. Behind him a man in a white dhoti-style garment with an orange shawl bends forward, holding an ornate metal vessel with a spout. Other people in white and orange clothing stand in the dimly lit background, and a man in grey sits at the left edge against a stone wall. The orange-robed man has distinctive long hair and orange clothing, so the appearance is a probable match for a person, seated on the steps during the sanctum consecration rites.

A photograph taken at night inside a stone-walled space during a consecration ritual. A central figure in an orange robe with long dark hair sits cross-legged on a raised stone platform, hands joined, head bowed. Nearby, a devotee in orange and white stands with hands pressed together, and two people with curly hair in orange shawls and white clothing sit in front of the platform. A bamboo ladder leans against the wall, a patterned mat lies on the floor, and a small fire glows at the lower right. Several people in white garments surround the scene, some with palms folded. The central figure has distinctive long dark hair and orange robes, a cue consistent with the probable identification from the page, so this is a probable Swamiji (probable) seated in prayer during the ritual.

A night photograph of a stone-walled sanctum pit being prepared for consecration. A figure with long dark hair and an orange robe sits on the stone edge, gripping a bamboo ladder that leans into the pit. Behind, a man in white clothes and an orange shawl holds up an ornate brocade-covered box with a metal vessel, while other men in white and orange shawls kneel and stand along the stone platform. A man in white with rudraksha beads stands at the right and women in white watch from the background. Dark night sky and bamboo poles frame the scene.

Night photograph of a ritual at a sunken stone pit. A central figure in an orange-saffron robe holds a lit brass lamp with a tall flame, with a second person in white beside them. Around the pit stand young men in white clothes with orange shawls, hands pressed in namaskar, and a bearded man in white. Above, on the raised stone edge, a crowd of devotees in white, orange and multicoloured saris leans forward with folded hands. Bright white floodlights frame the scene, and brass bowls and a tray with offerings sit at the edges.

Night photograph of a stone-walled sunken pit used for a consecration ritual. At the centre, a figure in an orange-saffron robe with long dark hair holds a lit oil lamp with a brass handle and a small brass bell, with flame rising from the lamp. Around the pit, young men in white dhotis and white shirts with orange shawls stand with palms pressed together in prayer, and one holds a brass vessel. Along the upper stone ledges, many devotees in white and orange clothing, some women in saris, stand or kneel with hands folded. A brass bowl and a wooden tray with a metal dish sit on the ledge at right, and a small open book rests on a dark stand. The sanctum-consecration setting suggests a garbha consecration. Approximately 30 people are visible.

A photograph of a night-time ritual on a concrete floor beside a bamboo ladder against a stone wall. A young man in orange robes kneels on a grey slab, his hands clasped, bowing with his head lowered toward another person's head in the foreground. Behind him, a man in white with an orange shawl stands with hands folded, and another man in white with an orange scarf and rudraksha mala stands at left, holding a brass-topped staff. A patterned mat lies on the floor and a woman in white with red-bordered dress stands at right. Two people with dark curly hair are seen from behind in the lower left. The setting suggests a consecration or sanctum-related ceremony.

Photo taken from above inside a dim, unfinished stone chamber with a bamboo ladder leaning against rough stone walls. A man with long dark hair in an orange robe sits cross-legged on a flat grey stone slab, holding a small brass vessel with a flame. Beside him a woman in white with an orange shawl stands with palms pressed together in namaste; other people in white and orange clothing stand at the edges and at the bottom of the frame, one reaching up with a lamp-like object. A patterned mat lies behind the seated figure. The seated man appears to be a person based on his long swept hair and orange robes, presented as an in-person figure in the ritual setting.

Dim outdoor night scene at a stone construction site: a stone block platform with a bamboo ladder and a small brass shrine or kalasha-like object draped with a red cloth in the lower right. Around it stand about seven men. The central figure in an orange shawl over a bare upper body and orange cloth stands near the stone, with a man in a white dhoti and orange shawl and others in white robes and orange wraps nearby. One man in white holds a paper or folder and another white-clad man holds a red-and-white woven bag. Overhead hangs a flag tied to a bamboo pole, and a fluorescent tube light is visible at right.

A dim stone-walled sanctum-like space with a bamboo ladder leaning against the wall. A figure in orange robes with long dark hair sits cross-legged on a flat stone slab, holding a brass lamp with a lit flame, while a hand in white sleeves reaches up toward the lamp from below. To the right, two women in white saris with orange shawls stand with palms pressed together in namaskar, and a figure in white stands at the left edge. A small patterned tile sits behind the seated figure. The seated figure shows appearance cues consistent with the page's identification, including long swept-back hair and orange robes, so this is a probable match to Swamiji (probable) performing an aarti with a lamp during a ritual. The visible people are four to five in number.

February 16 2007

February 16 2007