September 16 2015 - Nithyanandapedia

Nithyanandapedia

September 16 2015

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A photograph inside a dark stone temple shows a large black stone shivalinga on a circular yoni-shaped base, strewn with coloured flower petals. Water is being poured over it from a metal vessel held by a man in an orange robe with a shaved-looking grey head and tripundra marks, seated cross-legged. Beside him, a bare-chested man in white dhoti and sacred thread kneels and holds a metal pot, and a man in a dark red garment with a wrapped cloth reaches toward the base. A younger man in a teal garment reaches in from the right. A brass lamp and copper pot sit nearby, and a golden chain hangs from the upper left. This is a rudrabhishekam-style abhishekam of a Shiva lingam.

Night-time abhishekam at a temple shrine. A bare-chested man in orange cloth pours water over a black lingam set on a golden yoni-peetha base. Behind him stand two large deity murtis, one white-clad with a crown and the other in red and green with garlands, both with marigold garlands. Two more men in orange cloth carry brass and copper pots of water at left, and an oil lamp stands at right on the stone pillared pavilion.

A temple abhishekam at a golden lingam set in a circular golden yoni-peetha, with a brass kalasha pot hanging above it and water pouring over the shivalingam. Flower petals, marigolds and leaves are scattered on the base, and a metal tray of cash and coins sits at lower right. A young person in a red-and-gold garland and ornaments kneels at the railing, flanked by people in saffron robes and white dhotis, with a man in a checked shirt and yellow cloth also reaching in. Several people hold up phones to photograph the ritual.

Inside a temple sanctum, a man in a saffron-orange dhoti and reddish-brown shawl with a rudraksha-style mala and white floral garland stands over a golden circular lingam platform. He pours water from a brass kalasha pot onto the central shivalinga, an abhishekam. Around the railing, devotees in white, yellow and orange-trimmed clothes press close, some holding brass vessels and a steel tray of currency notes. Marigold petals and leaves rest on the platform.

A photograph inside a temple of a black stone shivalinga surrounded by marigold petals and scattered flowers. A man in a maroon and gold-bordered dhoti bends low over the linga, face down near the stone, with a person's hand and head near the yoni base. Behind, a figure in orange robes and rudraksha malas sits cross-legged. A bare-chested man in white dhoti leans over the stone with his hands flat on it. Other hands and arms of devotees reach in from the edges, and offerings of flowers are placed around the linga. The scene shows a rudrabhisheka or abhishekam ritual.

February 23 2007

Photograph of an abhishekam at a dark stone shivalinga on a raised stone platform at night. A man in an orange saffron wrap and gold beaded necklace, with white tilak on his forehead, pours water from a brass kalasha over the linga, while a second man in orange robes with a rudraksha-style garland and a red bindi holds a brass vessel beside it. A yellowish liquid flows off the platform over carved white stone. A white-clad attendant stands at left and a deity murti with a purple and gold cloth and flower garland appears at right. The page says Swamiji was present; the orange-clad pourer shows only a slight face-appearance match, so identity is unsure.

Photograph rotated sideways inside a temple shrine at night. A large dark stone Shivalinga with a yoni-shaped base stands in the foreground, decorated with white flowers, red petals and a small silver plate. A standing figure in a long reddish-orange robe with gold borders and an orange rudraksha-style beaded necklace pours liquid from a silver vessel over the linga. Behind him, a second bald man in orange and gold-trimmed cloth and a beaded necklace stands near a golden ornamental shrine piece. At the lower right edge, a third person in orange clothing and beads kneels or bends beside the linga. Abhishekam appears to be underway.

June 03 2016

A photograph of a temple abhishekam at night. A long-haired figure in a saffron-orange dhoti and wrap with a rudraksha mala stands centre, hands lowered toward a tall polished black shivalingam on a lotus-shaped peetha; water streams down its surface. Behind him, a bald priest in orange robes pours liquid from a silver vessel onto the lingam. Several other saffron-clad men with garlands stand to the left, and a tall deity murti in red and green garments, adorned with flower garlands and gold, looms at the right. Brass lamps and a small silver offering stand sit at the bottom left.

December 16 2009

Inside a dim temple sanctum, devotees gather around a circular brass yoni-peetha holding a linga, which is being poured over from a brass kalasha suspended by a chain. A man in a white shirt and white dhoti leans over the metal railing to pour or steady the vessel. Behind him a woman in a red-and-orange sari with a flower garland and gold jewellery sits near the railing. Other people wear white dhotis, a saffron-and-white shawl, and an orange sari, and a man in a cream kurta holds a steel cup. Marigold petals, rose petals and green leaves are scattered on the brass base, with a steel bowl of offerings and cash at right and yellow plastic buckets at left.