Skip to content
Nithyanandapedia
A photograph of a ritual outdoors at an ashram courtyard. A man sits cross-legged on a white ornate wooden-style seat before a fire burning in a metal pan over a cowdung fuel stack. He wears a rust-red dhoti and wrap, a white and black patterned headwrap, multiple rudraksha malas, a pendant, and red beaded armlets. Behind him stands a woman in a white sari with a red border, and a group of onlookers in orange and red turbans and white headwear, including children, stand by red buildings and wooden pillars. A brass lamp stands at the left edge of the frame. The scene suggests a Siddha-style purification ritual with fire and cowdung smoke, described here by its visible elements only.

More like this

Open the gallery
Evening outdoor ritual on a stone platform beside a bright fire pit of burning cowdung cakes, with smoke rising. A seated man in rust-red robes and a rudraksha mala, wearing a leopard-print headwrap, arm bands and a gold pendant, sits on an ornate silver seat holding a silver staff, with a silver plate of offerings on a silver stand beside him. Behind, a seated audience in red, white and yellow headwear watches; a small oil lamp and wooden pillars frame the setting. The scene matches an aushada purification process, with the seated figure presenting as a person from his rudraksha malas, ornate gold pendant and rust-red robes.2017-08-31 +1 copiesAugust 31 20172017-08-31 +4 copiesAugust 31 20172017-08-31August 31 20172017-08-31 +1 copiesA seated man in rust-red saffron robes sits cross-legged on an ornate silver chair, raising both palms overhead in a blessing gesture. He wears a leopard-print headband, rudraksha malas across his chest, a gold pendant, and beaded bracelets on his upper arms. Behind him stands a silver staff. In front, a fire burns in a pit beside a silver bowl of offerings, with smoke drifting across the scene. Several women and young girls sit on the ground to the left, one in a teal blouse and red sari, one in red. Red-painted pillars and a corrugated roof frame an open courtyard, with a lantern visible on the right.2017-08-31 +1 copiesA photograph of a seated man in a rust-red saffron-toned robe, a leopard-print headband, long dreadlocked hair, rudraksha malas and a gold pendant, with bangles and armlets. He sits on a white ornate chair beside a flaming fire, eyes closed, with a microphone stand at right. Behind him stands a woman in a white sari with a gold border, and at left two children and an older woman in orange and white head coverings watch. Red-roofed buildings and trees form the background, with a red pillar at left. The man appears as a person depiction in an in-person ritual setting, and the fire suggests a homa/yagna being performed.2017-08-31August 31 20172017-08-31 +1 copiesA photograph of an outdoor ritual on a paved courtyard beside red-walled buildings. A man with long hair and a patterned headband sits cross-legged on a white ornate carved seat, eyes closed in meditation. He wears a rust-red robe, a dense rudraksha mala, a gold pendant and a gold necklace, with beaded bracelets on his arms. Beside him a fire burns in a metal pan, with cow-dung cakes and smoke rising. Behind, a woman in a cream sari stands, and several people in orange and red head cloths sit watching. A brass lamp stands at left and a microphone stand is at right.2017-08-31August 31 20172017-08-31A photograph of an outdoor ritual at dusk beside a fire. A man seated on an ornate silver throne wears a maroon-red dhoti and wrap, a leopard-print headband, rudraksha malas and a gold necklace with a pendant. He rests his hand on a silver staff while smoke and flames rise from a fire pit at his right. A silver tray with offerings and a silver stand sit beside him, and a red building and greenery form the background. Swamiji (probable): the seated man wears the saffron-maroon robes, rudraksha malas, ceremonial gold necklace and long swept-back hair of a KAILASA ritual leader during the Aushada process.2017-08-31August 31 20172017-08-31A seated man in a rust-red saffron wrap and a white-and-black leopard-print headband sits cross-legged on an ornate silver throne-like seat. He wears multiple rudraksha malas, a gold necklace with a pendant, and beaded bracelets, and gestures with one hand while holding a silver ceremonial rod. In front of him, a smoking fire burns in a dark pot on the ground, with a silver tray of offerings on a silver stand nearby. Two women in colorful saris watch from the left. Red walls and a lamp appear in the background. a person: long dreadlocked hair, rudraksha malas, saffron wrap and gold necklace.2017-08-31