Skip to content
Nithyanandapedia
A homa or fire ritual in a plain room with pale yellow walls. A priest in orange robes and an orange head wrap sits cross-legged on the left, hands joined in prayer and holding a spoon, facing a fire pit built of white bricks with flames and marigold petals. Two young girls in white kneel at the right, hands folded in prayer. Behind the altar, a framed photograph of a seated man in orange robes with a rudraksha mala, one hand raised, is garlanded with red, yellow and orange flowers and greenery. Below it, a white-draped altar holds a small deity murti, a blue-clad figure and brass oil lamps. Rows of brass plates with flowers and offerings line the foreground, and a brass kalasha sits at the right. The photograph is watermarked by the archive.

More like this

Open the gallery
A photograph of a homa at an indoor ritual space. A seated priest in orange robes and an orange head wrap sits cross-legged behind a brick fire pit where a flame burns, speaking into a microphone and holding a brass bowl. Standing at right, a young man in a white kurta leans forward to place offerings into the fire. Two young girls in white sit at the right edge watching. Behind the altar, a framed portrait labelled "Paramahamsa Nithyananda" shows a man in orange with a long garland, raising one hand, flanked by marigold garlands. Below, a deity murti and a kalasha sit on a white-draped table with brass lamps and marigolds on the floor. The seated priest's clothing and cues are not distinctive enough to confirm identity, so the a person field is unsure.2007-10-21A photograph of a homa-style ritual in a hall with pale yellow walls decorated with green leaf sprigs and marigolds. A seated priest in saffron-orange robes, with an orange head covering, holds a lamp aloft with one hand, its flame rising. In front of him is a low brick fire pit with marigold petals, brass vessels, a kalasha-style pot, and trays of fruit and offerings. Behind the altar, a framed portrait labelled "Paramahamsa Nithyananda" shows a saffron-robed figure with a garland, surrounded by yellow and red marigold garlands. A blue deity murti stands on the white-draped altar beside brass lamps. Two people in white sit at the right edge of the frame.2007-10-21A homa is performed in an indoor hall before a framed portrait of a smiling man in saffron robes and a long rudraksha mala, garlanded with yellow and red flowers. A priest in saffron robes and an orange head wrap sits cross-legged at left, holding a wooden stick over a brick fire pit where flames rise, and speaks into a microphone. Before the portrait stands a white-draped altar with a red-clad deity murti, a blue-robed figure statue, brass lamps and kalasha pots. At right a young person in white kurta-pajama stoops to tend the fire with a long tool, while two people in white sit watching, one with curly hair. Marigold petals and a coconut lie around the fire pit.2007-10-21A homa fire burns in a brick-lined pit on a white-draped floor in a plain room. A priest in orange robes and an orange head wrap sits cross-legged at left, stirring offerings with a long ladle into a brass bowl while a microphone rests by his face. Behind the fire, a framed portrait labelled "Paramahamsa Nithyananda" shows a seated figure in orange with a white beaded necklace, flanked by marigold and rose garlands. Brass oil lamps stand beside a silver deity murti and a small kalasha on a white-covered altar. At right, a man in white kurta and pyjamas bends forward, gesturing toward the fire, while a child watches from the edge of the frame. Marigold petals are scattered around the fire pit.2007-10-21A photograph of a homa or yagna in an indoor hall. A priest in orange robes and a head wrap, with a tilak on his forehead, sits at left and pours an offering with a long ladle into a small brick fire pit where a flame burns. Behind him a framed portrait of a bearded, long-haired man in orange robes with a rudraksha mala, hands raised in blessing, is garlanded with yellow and orange marigolds. A white-draped table holds a blue and gold deity murti and brass oil lamps. In front, rows of brass plates hold offerings, and fruit such as bananas, grapes and apples sits on a white cloth. Three young women in white dress with rudraksha malas sit cross-legged at right on a mat. Palm fronds decorate the yellow walls.2007-10-21A standing priest in orange saffron robes and a saffron head wrap holds a ladle-like brass stick and a flame over a brick fire pit where a homa is performed, with white smoke rising. Behind him, a framed portrait shows a figure in orange robes and a pearl necklace, surrounded by marigold and red garlands, above a draped white altar with brass oil lamps and offerings. Three seated children in white clothes sit on mats at right, with their hands joined in prayer. Marigold petals, bananas and bowls of offerings lie around the fire pit.2007-10-21A photograph of a homa fire ceremony in a hall with pale yellow walls decorated with green leaf sprays. A priest in orange robes with a shaved head and white forehead markings kneels at a brick fire pit, pouring an offering with a long ladle into a flame. A framed portrait of a man in orange robes with a white beaded necklace, raised hand, seated before a tree, sits above a white-draped altar with garlands, a brass lamp, a blue deity murti and a kalasha. Four people in white clothes sit cross-legged on the right, and brass bowls of offerings and oil lamps fill the foreground.2007-10-21A photograph of a ritual homa inside a hall with pale yellow walls. A standing man in orange robes holds a flaming vessel overhead while facing an altar draped in white. Behind the altar, a framed portrait of a man seated in orange robes with a beaded necklace, its frame garlanded with yellow and red flowers. Before the altar sits a small deity murti in blue and gold, and a brick-lined fire pit burns with marigold offerings. Brass oil lamps stand on both sides, a white-robed attendant holds a bell, and two children in white sit on the floor at right. Palm leaves and marigold decorations hang on the walls.2007-10-21A homa fire ritual in a hall with pale yellow walls. A seated priest in orange robes and an orange head wrap, with a beaded necklace and a microphone at his mouth, tends a fire pit built of stacked grey bricks, stirring with a long ladle. Beside him a standing man in white dhoti and white shirt bends forward, reaching toward the fire. Behind the fire, a framed portrait of a seated figure in orange robes and a long mala, hands raised in blessing, is garlanded with yellow and red flowers. Below it a white-draped altar holds a deity murti, a small Shiva-linga style figure, brass oil lamps, a brass kalasha with a coconut and orange marigold petals. Orange flowers are scattered on the floor.2007-10-21Indoor homa or yagna in a plain room with pale yellow walls decorated with leaf sprigs. A seated priest in saffron-orange robes and a saffron head wrap, with a mala necklace, sits at left beside a microphone. At right a man in white dhoti and shawl stands bending over the fire pit. The fire pit is built of bricks with a burning flame, brass bowls, a coconut and marigold petals. Behind it an altar draped in white holds a deity murti and a kalasha-like object, with brass lamps on each side. Above, a framed portrait of a smiling figure in saffron robes and a bead necklace, seated before a tree, is garlanded with yellow and red flowers.2007-10-21A photograph of a fire ritual in a plain hall with pale yellow walls. A man in orange robes and an orange head wrap stands at left, holding a brass plate of flaming camphor aloft with both hands; he wears a beaded necklace and gold bangles. Behind a low white-draped altar, a framed portrait of a saffron-robed figure seated with raised hand and beaded necklace is garlanded with marigolds and leaves. Before the altar sit a brass deity murti and small brass lamps, and a brick fire pit with burning wood, marigold petals and brass vessels lies in front. Seven or so young people in white clothes sit on mats at right and at left edge, watching the flame.2007-10-21A photograph of a homa fire ritual in an indoor hall with a pale yellow wall. A man in saffron robes and a saffron head covering sits cross-legged on a white cloth at left, pouring from a ladle over a brick fire pit with burning flames. Behind the fire, a framed portrait of a saffron-robed man with a long beaded necklace is garlanded with yellow and red flowers and set on a white-draped table, with a blue deity murti, a brass lamp and a kalasha. Several girls in white clothes sit on mats at right, and brass bowls with flowers sit in the foreground. A printed caption on the portrait area is not legible enough to copy. Palm leaves decorate the wall.2007-10-21