Skip to content
Nithyanandapedia
A photograph inside an ornate golden temple shrine decorated with repousse metalwork. A man seen from behind with long matted dreadlocks and a bare upper back, wearing a lavender beaded garland, reaches toward a deity murti with a tall gold crown and silver-embellished robes. Flanking murtis are adorned with white and yellow marigold-and-rose garlands in red, orange, white and green. A red-orange silk cloth hangs behind the shrine, and a green cloth-covered vessel and brass items sit in the foreground. The scene suggests abhishekam or padapuja at the altar. No other people are visible.

More like this

Open the gallery
A photograph of a temple ritual before a decorated deity murti. A figure with long dreadlocked hair and a lavender beaded shawl stands at right, one hand raised toward an ornate golden crown on the deity. The murti is adorned with thick garlands of white, yellow, green and red flowers, and a silver-patterned face and necklace are visible. Behind is a gold repoussé arch with an orange silk backdrop. A green-and-gold ritual vessel sits in the foreground beside a tray with yellow thread. Green leaves frame the upper left.2016-12-19December 19 20162016-12-19A photograph inside a temple shrine showing a priest with long dark braided hair and a bare back, adorning a deity murti with flower garlands. Two golden-crowned deity figures stand in the frame: a larger figure on the left with a silver face, Shiva-style forehead markings and a crescent emblem, and a smaller gold-crowned figure in the centre being decorated. Garlands of white jasmine and red roses hang across the arch, and a deep rose-pink and violet flower garland is wrapped around the priest's arm. On the right, a second attendant in a green and gold headdress is seen from behind, with a grey-blue bird figure above. The setting is a golden-framed shrine.2016-12-19Photograph of a ritual worship scene before an ornate silver shrine. A man with long dreadlocked hair and a bare upper body, wearing a purple and gold sash, raises one arm and holds a silver tray with a coconut and yellow thread. Before him stands a deity murti dressed in a golden crown, jewelled ornaments and heavy garlands of white jasmine, yellow flowers and red blossoms. Banana leaves frame the upper left, and a green-and-gold cloth-covered attendant stands at the lower right. The worship appears to be an aarti or abhishekam offering.2016-12-19A bare-chested man with long dreadlocked hair and a flowing beard, wearing a lavender-and-white flower garland over his shoulder, reaches forward with both arms to place white flowers on a richly decorated deity murti. The murti wears a gold crown and is adorned with long garlands of yellow marigolds, red roses and green leaves. Behind it stands a gilded silver arch with an orange cloth backdrop and a dark stone lingam-like form at lower left. Green banana leaves frame the foreground, and a silver tray holding yellow flowers or offerings sits at lower right. This appears to be a puja or abhishekam scene in a temple shrine at night. The man's appearance is consistent with a distinctive presentation (long dreadlocks, bare chest, floral garland), but identity cannot be confirmed from appearance alone.2016-12-19Photograph of a temple deity murti being adorned. A person seen from behind, bare-backed with long dreadlocked black hair tied in a braid and wrapped with a pink and blue flower garland, reaches up with both arms to place a golden kalasha-shaped vessel atop the deity. The deity has a gilded face and golden crown, with a white and red flower garland draped across its body and shoulders. Behind them, a large garland of white, yellow, and red flowers with green leaves hangs across the frame. In the foreground right, a green and gold ornamental headpiece sits beside a grey sculpted figure.2016-12-19A temple photograph of a priest with long dark hair worn loose and braided at the back, bare-backed, reaching up to touch a golden kalasha-shaped vessel on a deity murti. The deity to the left has a gold crown with a black-and-white tilaka-like marking, a gold face and gold-and-red garments. The shrine is draped with long garlands of white jasmine, red roses, yellow and orange flowers and green leaves, and a second figure in a green gilded headdress with a white flower garland stands at the right edge. Gold-embroidered panels frame the shrine.2016-12-19December 19 20162016-12-19A photograph of a temple shrine dressed for worship. A bare-backed priest with long dreadlocked hair, wearing a lavender flower garland around his head, stands at the left and raises his arms to offer or adjust an item over a golden deity murti. The murti has a gold crown with red and green stones, a black face with a white tripundra, and a gold-embroidered garment. Behind them is a large arch of red, yellow and white garlands. At the right a second attendant in a green gold-brocaded cap stands in the foreground. Gold ornamented metalwork and a purple flower decorate the shrine. Abhishekam or puja is being performed.2016-12-19A photograph of a temple deity murti dressed in white cloth and heavy silver and gold ornaments, wearing a gold crown and a tilak-marked face, surrounded by dense garlands of red, white, yellow and green flowers. In the foreground, a long-haired priest in orange-brown cloth with a pink floral garland stands at the left, reaching toward the murti and adjusting its ornaments, while another attendant in a green embroidered cap and white garland stands at the right. Brass lamps and ornate gilded arches frame the shrine in an evening puja setting.2016-12-19Night photograph of a temple worship scene before a large golden hooded serpent canopy (naga-like). A bare-backed man with long dreadlocked hair, wearing a purple and blue flower garland, stands in the foreground with his hands near the decorated deity murti. The murti wears a silver crown, ornate gold jewellery, an orange and gold drape, and is surrounded by white jasmine, red roses and yellow marigold garlands. A silver oil lamp stands beside the deity, and a dark stone figure with a white garland stands at right. Physical people visible: one.2016-12-19A photograph of a temple shrine with a priest in a bare-chested pose adorning an ornate deity murti. The priest, with long dark hair and a beard, wears a saffron-coloured dhoti and a pink-and-purple flower garland, and has white markings on his forehead and chest. He is placing a garland or adjusting ornaments on a silver-faced murti dressed in a green cloth, a jewelled gold crown and layered gold and red jewellery. The murti is surrounded by white, red and yellow flower garlands. Behind it are gold-embroidered panels in blue, maroon and gold, and banana leaves stand at the left edge. A brass lamp sits in the lower left corner.2016-12-19