Skip to content
Nithyanandapedia
A photograph of a devotional blessing in front of an ornate gold throne with a leopard-print cushion. A man with long dark dreadlocks, a white tilak on his forehead, dark red-brown robes and gold earrings extends his right arm to bless the head of a bald, bare-chested man in a white dhoti and shawl who stands with palms joined in anjali. The bald man has a large tattoo on his right arm and wears red-and-beige beaded bracelets. Behind them, a woman in a maroon robe with a red-and-black bead mala looks down at a phone, and another woman in white stands nearby. In the foreground is a small brass deity murti with a crown and ornate necklace, beside a white ceremonial staff. The scene suggests a darshan or blessing ritual.

More like this

Open the gallery
June 01 20172017-06-01June 01 20172017-06-01June 01 20172017-06-01June 01 20172017-06-01A seated figure on an ornate gold throne with a red cushioned seat and red velvet drape behind, wearing a rust-red robe with gold border, layered gold necklaces and a rudraksha-style garland, with white and red tilak on the forehead and long dark hair swept back. A shirtless man with long dreadlocks in a white dhoti kneels before him while the seated figure presses his hand to the man's head. Standing to the left, a bearded man in a white garment and a woman in a purple blouse with white sari stand attentively, and a thin white cord runs from the kneeling man's head.2017-04-26June 01 20172017-06-01 +1 copiesA photo of a long-haired man with dreadlocks in a rust-orange garment with gold trim and a gold ornamental necklace, with white tilak on his forehead, touching the forehead of a shaved-headed person in white ritual clothing with a rudraksha mala, who stands with palms pressed together in anjali. The setting is a gold-carved temple wall. The man, with a long-haired, swept-back appearance, saffron-orange clothing and ornate gold necklace, matches the Swamiji (probable) appearance cues, so he is presented as a probable Swamiji performing a blessing on the devotee.2017-08-11 +1 copiesApril 26 20172017-04-26A photo of a ritual blessing. A bare-chested man with long dreadlocks, wearing a rust-orange cloth and gold necklaces and bracelets, extends his right arm to press his palm onto the crown of a seated devotee in a white dhoti and shirt, whose hands are folded in anjali. A golden deity murti of a goddess with a crown and necklaces stands on an altar in front. Behind them, women in white and cream saris with rudraksha malas watch, one with a tilak on her forehead. Appearance-based cues on the blessing figure (long dreadlocks, gold ornaments, orange cloth) are consistent with a person in the role of the officiating guru.2017-07-07July 01 20172017-07-01 +1 copiesJune 01 20172017-06-01 +1 copiesA ritual scene in a temple-like hall with gold-toned walls. In the foreground a man with long dreadlocked hair, a white tilak on his forehead, a gold ceremonial necklace and red beaded bracelets raises one hand toward a small gold deity murti with a crown. A man with short dark hair, bare-shouldered, leans in near the murti on the left. Behind them a woman wears a gold headpiece, and several men in white dhotis with orange shawls stand with hands folded in the background. The appearance of the central figure is a probable match for a person, based on long swept-back hair, a ceremonial gold necklace and red beads, so he is shown as a probable priest performing the puja. The gold murti and red-beaded wrists suggest an offering or blessing gesture.2017-07-07