Skip to content
Nithyanandapedia
A photograph of an outdoor homa ritual on bare earth. A central figure in saffron-orange robes, with long wavy dark hair and a red tilak on the forehead, sits behind a fire pit built of white bricks decorated with marigold petals. Both hands rest near the altar as he officiates, and a microphone stand is positioned before him. Two young men flank him, each wearing white clothes with orange shawls; the one on the left holds a brass bowl. Brass vessels, a kalasha-style metal pot, oil lamps, and a bowl of red flowers sit on a blue cloth in front of them.

More like this

Open the gallery
Outdoor homa ceremony on bare ground with a square fire pit built of white bricks. A central figure with long swept-back dark hair and an orange saffron wrap sits and gestures with one hand toward the pit, a microphone on a stand in front of him. Two young male assistants flank him, both wearing white dhotis and saffron shawls. Brass bowls, a ladle, a plate of white offerings, a kalasha-like vessel and marigold garlands are arranged on a blue tarpaulin. A tree trunk and dry earth form the background.2006-09-21A photograph of an outdoor puja at a sandy, tree-shaded site. A central figure in an orange-saffron robe with long, swept-back dark hair and a tilak on the forehead sits behind a microphone on a stand, gesturing with one hand while the other rests on a knee. Flanked by two younger men in white kurtas and orange shawls, seated on a blue cloth. In front is a low brick fire pit or homa altar sprinkled with yellow flowers, with a brass bowl, a kalasha-style vessel and a small book nearby. A brass lamp stands at the right edge.2006-09-21Outdoor homa ritual on a blue tarp beside a dirt ground. A central figure with long curly dark hair and a white forehead mark wears an orange saffron wrap bare-shouldered and is sitting behind a microphone on a stand, adjusting a thin string or thread over a white brick fire altar decorated with orange marigold petals. Two young men flank him: on the left a young man in white kurta and orange shawl with a rudraksha mala; on the right a young man in white kurta and orange shawl reading from a paper. Brass plates, a brass kalasha, a silver goblet, and a bowl of red flowers sit on the cloth. Trees are behind them.2006-09-21A photograph of an outdoor homa ceremony on bare earth beneath trees. A man with long, swept-back dark hair and a red forehead mark wears an orange saffron robe and sits on a carved wooden chair in front of a low square fire pit built of white bricks decorated with marigold petals. He holds a ladle over a brass bowl and a silver ritual vessel rests before him, with a small brass bell and a brass kalasha nearby. A microphone on a stand is positioned at his side. Behind him a young man in a white kurta with an orange shawl plays a metal instrument, and another figure in white stands further back. A mat, a folded cloth and a few brass vessels lie on the ground to the left. The man's appearance (long hair, orange robe, distinctive ritual setting) is consistent with the page's reference to Swamiji, so this is a probable identification.2006-09-21A photograph of an outdoor homa ritual beneath large banyan trees on bare earth. A central figure with long dark hair and a red tilak on the forehead sits in an orange saffron robe, holding a ladle-like ritual spoon over a white-brick fire altar scattered with marigold petals. Two young men in white dhotis and orange shawls kneel behind, one holding a long wooden staff upright. Brass vessels, a silver bowl, a kalasha-like pot, banana-leaf-style plates of offerings and a blue cloth cover the ground. A microphone stand stands nearby. The scene is an ashram-style sacred fire ceremony.2006-09-21A photograph of an outdoor homa ritual under trees on bare earth. A central figure with long dark hair wears an orange saffron robe and holds an open white book, speaking into a microphone on a stand. Two young men flank them: the one on the left wears white with an orange shawl and holds a ladle, and the one on the right wears white with an orange shawl and sits beside the microphone stand. In front is a low fire altar built of white bricks decorated with marigold petals, with brass vessels, a kalasha-like golden pot, and a silver ritual vessel. The setting is a blue tarpaulin mat under a shaded grove.2006-09-21A photograph of an outdoor homa ritual on a blue tarpaulin beside a brick-lined fire pit decorated with yellow flowers. A central figure with long dark wavy hair and tripundra marks on the forehead sits cross-legged in an orange saffron robe, reading from an open book and speaking into a microphone on a stand. Two young assistants in white kurtas with orange shawls sit on either side; the one on the left holds a ritual implement and the one on the right sits near the microphone. Brass vessels, a ladle, a small silver vessel and a brass lamp sit on the ground, with a bare tree and dirt ground behind.2006-09-21Outdoor homa ritual under trees on a bare earth ground. A central seated figure in orange robes with long dark hair and a tilak on the forehead sits behind a microphone stand, holding an open book, with a square fire pit of white bricks in front. Three male attendants in white kurtas and orange shawls sit around the pit; the two on either side handle brass vessels, a brass bowl of white material and a brass pot. Blue tarpaulins cover the ground and small clay lamps and brass vessels are arranged on a mat in the foreground. Four people are visible.2006-09-21A photograph of an outdoor ritual on a stone platform. A long-haired man in saffron-orange robes sits cross-legged at the right, smiling, with a microphone on a stand before him. Beside him, a man in orange robes and a gold beaded necklace sits with hands folded over his chest, and a younger man in orange with a gold necklace and white forehead markings sits behind them. Several people in white clothes with orange shawls stand or kneel in the background. In front is a dark metal fire tray holding stacked wood, with brass vessels, a silver pot, mangoes in a bowl and a plate of orange marigold petals.2008-06-28Outdoor ritual on a paved terrace with orange cloths spread on the ground. Three men in saffron/orange robes sit cross-legged before a rusted metal fire tray holding stacked wooden sticks, the start of a homa or yagna. The foreground man on the right has long swept-back dark hair, a red-orange forehead mark, and a saffron wrap, with hands folded and eyes closed. The middle man wears a gold bead necklace over orange clothing, and a third man behind wears orange with a white tilak. Before them sit a silver platter of orange marigold petals, a silver kalasha-style vessel, brass bowls with mangoes, and incense sticks. Standing people in white clothing and a stack of folded orange cloth are in the background.2008-06-28A photograph of an outdoor homa ritual on a dusty ground beside bare tree roots. A man seated on a carved wooden throne-like chair wears an orange saffron robe over white, has long swept-back hair and a tilak on his forehead, and gestures with his right hand while speaking into a microphone on a stand. Beside him, a younger man in a white dhoti and orange shawl sits cross-legged on a blue cloth with his hands folded. In front are a brass bowl of ghee-like offering, a ladle, a silver kalasha-style vessel, a small silver pot, a white cloth and a pink flower on a low stack of white bricks, which mark the ritual fire area. The seated man is a person in an appearance-based sense, with long hair and orange robes, while the younger man is a devotee and assistant.2006-09-21Outdoor homa ceremony beside a brick fire pit built of white bricks, decorated with yellow marigold petals. A central figure in an orange saffron robe with long, swept-back dark hair and a red forehead mark sits cross-legged before a handheld microphone on a stand, gesturing with one hand. Two young men in white shirts and orange shawls sit behind him; one holds a tall wooden staff or ritual rod upright and the other adjusts the microphone. Two more young men in orange shawls sit in the foreground facing the fire pit. Brass vessels, a brass lamp and a tray of offerings lie on a blue cloth at the left. Large trees and bare red earth form the backdrop.2006-09-21