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A shirtless male priest in a white dhoti with a gold border stands at left, holding a lit oil lamp with flame in his right hand and a brass handbell in his left, while smiling. Rudraksha malas hang across his chest and wrist, and white sacred ash marks his shoulders and forehead. Before him on a glass-topped table stands a golden Nataraja murti dancing within a flaming arch, flanked by a golden standing male figure and a golden female figure, with a golden pedestal and scattered flower petals. Garlands of pink, yellow and white flowers drape the dark green velvet backdrop behind the golden ornate carved panels. Offerings in brass bowls, including rice and fruit, sit at the lower left. This is a temple puja scene with aarti being performed before the deity murti.

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A photograph of a temple shrine where a shirtless man in a white dhoti with a gold border and rudraksha malas performs aarti with a lit camphor flame before a golden bronze statue of Nataraja, Shiva as the cosmic dancer, standing within a flame-ringed arch. Smaller golden statues of a standing male deity and a female deity flank the shrine, with a golden tiered yantra-like base, a brass bell, a bowl of flower petals and scattered rose petals on a glass-topped table. Green velvet backdrop and pink and orange flower garlands decorate the shrine, and the priest has white sacred ash marks on his face and shoulders.2024-02-21A shirtless priest in a white dhoti with a gold border stands at a golden shrine, holding a lit oil lamp in his right hand and wearing a long rudraksha mala and bead armlet. A golden Nataraja murti dances within a flame arch, flanked by garlands of marigolds and pink flowers on green drapery. In front are a golden Shiva-linga-style peetha, a golden standing deity murti and a golden female deity murti, with rose petals and steel bowls of rice and offerings on the tray. The priest appears to be performing aarti or puja.2024-02-21A young man in a white turban with gold-and-white stripes, bare-chested and wearing a white dhoti, stands at a shrine holding a lit oil lamp near a golden bronze statue of Nataraja, the dancing Shiva, within a circular flame arch. Strands of rudraksha beads hang across his chest, and white ash markings are visible on his arms and torso. Beside the Nataraja statue stand smaller golden figures, including a child-sized devotee figure holding an object and a female deity figure, with a golden shrine base decorated with red flowers. Behind them a red velvet niche is framed by ornate gold arch carvings against a tan brick wall.A shirtless male priest in a white dhoti with a gold border performs puja before a gilded golden shrine. He holds a small offering at the Nataraja bronze murti of Shiva dancing within a flame arch, surrounded by a carved gold filigree backdrop and dark green velvet. Smaller golden figures stand on either side, and a gold stepped altar in front holds scattered rose petals. A brass bell, a brass bowl and a small puja vessel sit on the table, and garlands of white jasmine and pink and orange flowers hang at the sides. Ash markings are visible on the priest's arms and forehead, and a rudraksha mala rests on his chest.2024-02-21A shirtless priest in a white dhoti with gold border and a white turban stands at a gold-and-red shrine, pouring liquid from a small vessel over a metal kalasha-like stand. Behind him a large gilded arched frame surrounds a bronze Nataraja murti of Shiva dancing within a flaming ring of fire. Beside the bronze figures stand a dark bronze standing deity in a plain garment and a small brass bell in the priest's left hand. Rudraksha mala beads hang around his neck and white ash marks decorate his arms and shoulders. Pink flower petals lie on the golden platform, indicating an abhishekam ritual in progress.A shaved-headed priest with a red tilak on his forehead and a rudraksha mala draped over his bare chest pours liquid from a golden vessel over a bronze Nataraja murti. The dancing Shiva figure stands within a golden arch of flames on a lotus-like base, flanked by two smaller bronze figures, a standing devotee-like figure on the left and a figure holding a staff on the right. A gold sri yantra-style pyramid platform sits in front, with marigold and white flower garlands hanging on green velvet behind. Dishes of offerings and a small brass cup rest on the altar table. The priest wears a white dhoti with a gold border and white sacred ash markings on his arms.2024-02-21A photograph of a Nataraja shrine during an abhishekam. A bare-chested priest in a white turban and white dhoti, with white ash markings on his arms and chest and a rudraksha mala around his neck, holds a brass bowl of red petals in one hand and offers a flame or item toward the figures. Behind him stands a large gold Nataraja murti of Shiva dancing within a flaming arch, set against a red velvet backdrop. Two smaller gold figures stand in front, a male figure with a raised hand and a female figure with a crown, beside a gold stepped kalasha-like base decorated with red petals.A priest in a bare-chested state with a white dhoti worn with a gold-bordered end stands before a large golden Nataraja murti of Shiva in dancing pose, set within an ornate golden arch and a deep red curtain. The priest, with short black hair, holds a small bell in his right hand and applies or offers something with his left hand near the deity's face. He wears a long rudraksha mala and a pendant. The golden Nataraja holds a drum in one upper hand and a flame-like gesture in another, with a cobra coiled along its arm and its raised foot adorned with bells. The setting suggests an abhishekam or puja performed before the deity.2021-09-19A bare-chested priest in a white dhoti with gold border and rudraksha malas stands beside a large gold Nataraja murti with a flame arch and red velvet backdrop, holding a small bell and a lamp during abhishekam. Golden attendant figures with folded hands sit at the base. The priest wears a vibhuti mark and is performing puja to the Nataraja deity murti. No identification of the priest is made from appearance.2021-09-19A priest stands beside a large gilded Nataraja statue of Shiva dancing within a ring of flames, set against deep red curtains. The priest is bare-chested, wearing white dhoti with a gold border, a rudraksha mala around his neck, and holding a small bell and objects in his hands during ritual worship. A tall vertical banner with colourful floral and bird motifs stands at right. Two small gold devotee figures kneel at the base of the statue. The priest's appearance does not show distinctive a person cues, so his identity is unsure.2021-09-19KAILASA SEATTLE, USA on 9/19/20212021-09-19A photograph of a shaved-headed? No, a man with a white turban wrapped with gold-bordered cloth, bare-chested with white ash markings on his arms and shoulders, wearing a white dhoti with a gold border and a rudraksha mala around his neck. He stands at left with palms pressed together in anjali, facing a gilded shrine. Behind him a large gold-framed red velvet niche holds a bronze Nataraja deity murti dancing within a flame arch, with a smaller bronze figure at its left and a figure in a magenta sari at its right on a gold pedestal. Gold pillars with lantern-like finials flank the shrine, and yellow flower offerings and small brass bowls sit at lower left.