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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.

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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 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.2024-02-21KAILASA SEATTLE, USA on 9/19/20212021-09-19A 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.2024-02-21KAILASA SEATTLE, USA on 9/19/20212021-09-19A 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.2021-09-19A photo of a Nataraja abhishekam in progress. A bare-chested priest in white dhoti and white-and-gold turban, wearing a rudraksha mala, pours white liquid from a bowl over a golden Nataraja murti dancing within a circular flame arch set against a red velvet backdrop. Beside it stand a small golden figure of a sage with folded hands and a bronze figure in a purple dress. A small golden shrine model sits at the base, with pink flowers nearby. Gold ornate pillars frame the altar against a tan brick wall.A bare-chested priest in a white dhoti stands beside a large gold Nataraja murti, dancing Shiva, performing abhishekam. His right hand rests on the deity's crown while his left hand is held near his chest. He wears a rudraksha mala and a small pendant, with white sacred ash marks on his body. The golden murti is set before a deep red velvet backdrop and an ornate gold arched frame with flame-like filigree.2021-09-19A 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 man performing an abhishekam at a shrine. He wears a white turban and a white dhoti, is bare-chested, and has white sacred markings on his shoulders and upper arms; a rudraksha mala hangs around his neck. He pours liquid from a small vessel over a golden shivalingam-style yantra base in front of a gilded statue of Nataraja, the dancing Shiva, within an arched prabhavali. Beside the lingam stand a small golden murti of a standing figure and a golden figure in a maroon garment. The background is a gold-painted wall and a red cloth.KAILASA SEATTLE, USA on 9/19/20212021-09-19