Skip to content
Nithyanandapedia
Photograph of a ritual scene indoors where several men in white and cream dhotis with gold-bordered shawls stand and assist a bare-chested man in a pale dhoti who bows forward with his head covered by a red cloth blindfold. A man in white with rudraksha beads and a red-marked forehead holds his shoulder, while another man with a long beard and gold ornaments presses his head. On the right, a long-haired man in orange-red robes and gold necklaces stands near the front. Other blindfolded men with red cloths stand in the background against red curtains, and a red-and-gold garment is visible at the lower right. The setting appears to be a ritual initiation or blessing.

More like this

Open the gallery
A photograph of a ritual scene in an indoor hall with a red curtain behind. Several men in white dhotis with gold-bordered cloth and rudraksha malas stand around a bare-backed young man bending forward with his head bowed, his eyes covered by a red cloth band. A bearded man in white with a rudraksha mala and gold bracelets presses his hand on the bowed man's head while another man in white holds his arm. At the lower right a figure in a saffron-orange shawl with long hair and a gold necklace sits with eyes closed. Other men in white with red eye bands and white forehead marks stand in the background.2016-10-16A photograph of a ritual scene in a hall with red curtains. A bare-chested devotee with a red blindfold is held by two men in white dhotis with gold borders; one standing man wears a rudraksha mala and a red-and-gold cloth. Another man in white dhoti and rudraksha mala places a hand on the devotee's head, while a shaved-headed attendant in white dhoti holds a gold-coloured garland. On the right edge, a long-haired figure in an orange-brown shawl and gold necklace is partly visible.2016-10-16October 16 20162016-10-16October 16 20162016-10-16Indoor ritual scene in which several bare-chested men in white dhotis with gold borders and saffron-coloured shawls stand close together. A man in the foreground, wearing a rudraksha mala and gold chains, holds the head of a seated devotee whose eyes are covered by a red blindfold. Another man with a beard and white-and-gold shawl also touches a head, while others in red blindfolds stand behind. On the right, a man in an orange shawl wears heavy gold necklaces and bangles and reaches toward the group. Red and white wall decor and a red curtain appear in the background.2016-10-16A photograph of a ritual scene with a bare-backed devotee bowing forward, head covered by a red cloth blindfold, while a priest in white dhoti and gold-bordered shawl places a hand on his head. A second man in white with a red sash and rudraksha mala supports the devotee's arm. A long-haired figure in a saffron-orange shawl and gold jewellery sits or kneels at the right foreground. Other shirtless participants with red blindfolds stand in the background, and a red curtain hangs behind them.2016-10-16October 16 20162016-10-16A photograph of a ritual scene in a hall with red curtains. A man in a white dhoti with a gold-bordered shawl and a rudraksha mala bends forward with his head bowed, while two men in white and gold-bordered dhotis steady him and press their hands on his head and back. One man wears a red blindfold and another wears a red headband with a dark mala. On the right, a bearded man with long dreadlocked hair wears a saffron-orange wrap, gold ornaments and gold bangles, and places his hand on the bowed man's head. The setting suggests a blessing or initiation rite with several onlookers behind.2016-10-16Photograph of a ritual blessing in an indoor hall. A bare-chested devotee with a red blindfold bends forward while a man in white dhoti and shawl with gold-edged border and a rudraksha mala places a hand on his head and back. On the right, a bearded figure with long, dreadlocked hair, gold earrings and a gold necklace, wearing an orange-red wrap, presses a hand to the devotee's head. On the left, an older man in white with a red-brown rudraksha mala steadies the devotee's arm. Other blindfolded men in white stand behind, and red curtains hang in the background. The visible cues on the figure at right, including the long hair, gold ornaments and orange wrap, are consistent with the page's reference to Swamiji, so this is the appearance-based Swamiji (probable) in the role of the blessing giver.2016-10-16A photograph of a ritual initiation scene in a hall with red curtains. A bearded man in a white and gold-bordered dhoti and shawl, with rudraksha mala and red tilak, presses his hand on the head of a bare-chested young man whose eyes are covered with a red cloth and who is bent forward. A man on the left in white and gold clothing with a rudraksha mala and gold ornaments steadies the kneeling devotee's arm. On the right, a figure with long, swept-back dreadlocked hair, gold earrings, gold necklaces and an orange-red shawl reaches toward the devotee. Other blindfolded men in white stand in the background.2016-10-16October 16 20162016-10-16A photograph of a ritual initiation scene in a hall with a deep red curtain behind. A bare-chested man with a red blindfold over his eyes is held upright by two attendants. A bearded man on the right wears a white dhoti with gold-bordered yellow edging, a rudraksha mala, and a red tilak, and rests one hand on the blindfolded man's head. Behind them, other men wear red blindfolds and white dhotis; one attendant on the left wears a rudraksha mala, ash markings and a white dhoti. A woman with long dark hair and gold bangles on the right, wearing orange and gold, also touches the blindfolded man. Gold jewellery and bangles are visible among the attendants.2016-10-16