Skip to content
Nithyanandapedia
Abhishekam ritual before large deity murti pair, a Shiva and Parvati form with gold crowns, jewelled garlands and a trident in the left hand. Water pours from a silver vessel onto the central lingam-style base. A long-haired man with dreadlocks and a red-brown wrap pours water from a silver pot while a second priest in orange holds a plate. Behind them, a bare-chested man in orange drapes stands beside a gold-faced figure with red headwrap. Brass oil lamps stand at left, and the platform is decorated with yellow, purple and red flower garlands. A kneeling priest in white cloth lower right bends over the base. a person appears as the dreadlocked figure in rust-red robe and matching head cloth, with his rudraksha-style adornments; the figure is clearly conducting the pouring.

More like this

Open the gallery
February 24 20172017-02-24A photograph of a ritual abhishekam at night before a large deity murti of Shiva and Parvati seated side by side, both adorned with gold crowns, jewelry and garlands of marigolds and white flowers. A standing figure in a long-haired dreadlock style, bare-chested with a rust-red wrap and red head cloth, pours water from a silver vessel over a black lingam set in a black stone peetha. Two bare-chested priests in white dhotis kneel at the right, and brass oil lamps with a lit flame stand at the right edge. The person pouring has no visible saffron-and-rudraksha cues sufficient to identify a candidate, so the appearance is uncertain.2017-02-24February 24 20172017-02-24A photograph of an abhishekam at a festival, with a long-haired man in a rust-orange wrap and dhoti pouring water from a silver vessel over a deity murti. The murti is decorated with silver and jewelled ornaments, and two gold-coloured arms are raised. Behind it, a garland arch of yellow, purple and red flowers frames the altar. On the left, a young man with a white forehead mark wears a rudraksha mala and a blue-grey cloth. Two bare-chested men in white dhotis bend over the base at the lower right, handling flowers and the water.2017-02-24February 24 20172017-02-24A temple abhishekam scene in which a long-haired man in a rust-red wrap and a red headband pours milk or water from a silver vessel over a pair of deity murti figures seated on a black stone pedestal. The murti on the left wears a white crown and gold-trimmed clothing, and the one on the right wears a red-and-gold sari-like garment with gold jewellery. Behind them is a large arch of yellow, white, red and purple flower garlands. To the left, two attendants in saffron-orange cloth with white body markings stand near a man holding a silver pot, and to the right a standing figure in a red-and-leopard-print outfit with gold necklaces holds his hands together in prayer. A small brass figure stands at the base of the pedestal.2017-02-24February 24 20172017-02-24Night photograph of a temple abhishekam before a large deity murti pair seated on a throne, the male figure crowned and the female figure in a red and gold sari with heavy gold necklaces. A black Shiva lingam stands on a black yoni-peetha base in the foreground. A figure in a saffron-orange dhoti and wrap, with long dreadlocked hair tied in an orange headband, pours liquid from a silver vessel onto the lingam. Two white-clad priests in dhotis bend over the base on the right. Brass oil lamps stand at the edges, and the arch behind is decorated with red, yellow and purple flower garlands.2017-02-24Temple abhishekam before a large deity murti pair with a dark stone shivalinga-style abhishekam pedestal in front. Two standing figures on the centre-left: one in orange robes with bare upper body and a red-orange shawl and long dreadlock-style hair wraps around head, holding a staff and facing the murtis; another in orange robes with bare upper body and a sacred thread, holding a small brass lamp. A devotee in white and gold dhoti kneels at right pouring water at the base of the pedestal. Behind, a murti with ornate crown and gold jewellery stands beside a seated goddess in red and gold sari, both framed by a tall arch of marigolds, roses and green leaves. Brass oil lamps stand in the foreground, and a small brass kalasha sits at the pedestal base. Several other people are partly visible at the right edge.2017-02-24A temple abhishekam at night in front of a large floral arch of marigolds, roses and green leaves framing two life-size deity murtis, a male figure with a crown and a female figure in a red and gold sari with heavy gold jewellery. A man with long dreadlocks and an orange-red wrap, standing in the foreground, pours water from a brass vessel over the deity's base, a black stone shivalinga-like pedestal in a dark basin. Two bare-chested men in white dhoti with gold borders kneel at the basin and assist with the ritual. Several men in orange-saffron robes stand at left, one holding a conch-shaped vessel. Brass oil lamps with lit flames stand along the sides, and a deity figure appears in the right background.2017-02-24Photograph of a temple abhishekam at a shrine decorated with bright marigold and flower garlands in red, yellow, purple and white. Two large golden deity murti stand at the centre, one with a crown and crescent and raised hand, the other in a red-and-gold sari with heavy gold necklaces. Several robed priests in orange and rust-coloured cloths stand in front, one in a red headcloth pouring a golden liquid over the murti from a vessel. Brass oil lamps stand at both sides, and a bare-chested man in white dhoti bows at the lower right. Two saffron-robed figures with distinctive ornamental necklaces stand among the priests.2017-02-24Abhishekam at a temple shrine: a long-haired man with a red-orange cloth wrapped over his head and shoulders pours water over a black linga-shaped base before large decorated deity murtis of Shiva and Parvati with trident and crowns, flanked by garlands of flowers. Several shaven-headed attendants in saffron and orange cloths stand nearby, and two men in white dhotis bow low at the right edge. Brass oil lamps stand in the foreground, and a small brass figure sits by the base. a person: the long-haired figure in red-orange robes performing the abhishekam fits the appearance cues, but his face is not clear enough to confirm identity. Pratyaksha pada puja is not visible here.2017-02-24