Skip to content
Nithyanandapedia
A standing figure with long dark hair wears a rust-brown dhoti and a red-and-white flower garland, holding a silver tray with a purple cloth and offerings during a homa-style fire ritual. Behind them, a golden-orange fire pit burns beside stacked fuel blocks and a gold-hued sacred animal sculpture. Two decorated deity figures stand in red and gold garments under a tall garland of red, yellow, green and white flowers, with a colourful painted temple backdrop showing a fierce orange deity. Five seated devotees in white clothes with red shawls sit with hands folded in prayer, and offerings of bananas, fruit, sweets and flowers lie on brass plates in front.

More like this

Open the gallery
A ceremonial homa on a decorated stage: a fire burns in a brick-lined fire pit before a golden bull (nandi) and a pair of deity murti dressed in red cloth and heavily garlanded with marigolds and multicoloured flowers. A standing woman in a red-and-gold sari with a red flower garland holds a tray with a purple cloth. Seated devotees in white and red shawls, hands folded in prayer, sit near brass vessels, bananas and flower offerings. Painted multicoloured temple pillars and a fierce painted deity figure frame the scene. No one present is clearly identifiable as a person.2013-05-19A homa fire burns in front of a colourfully decorated shrine hall with pink, green and yellow painted pillars. A standing woman in a rust-orange sari with a red and white flower garland holds a tray of offerings near the flames. Behind her, a deity murti with gold-painted ornaments and flowers stands on a golden vahana, flanked by a richly garlanded pair of figures in red and gold draped cloth, with marigold and rose garlands framing the shrine. Seated devotees in white clothes with red shawls sit with palms pressed together in prayer on the left, and ritual vessels and fruit rest on the floor in front of the fire pit.2013-05-19A homa fire burns on a raised stone platform before a golden deity murti of a bull with flower-draped figures behind it. A standing woman in a rust-brown dhoti-style garment with gold border and a red flower garland pours an offering from a silver plate into the fire. To the left, a shaved-headed man in orange robes and a second man in orange kneel and tend the ritual arrangement. Marigold and rose garlands drape the altar and offerings of flowers, fruit and brass vessels lie on the floor. A painted multi-armed deity with a trident stands in the background. Several other seated devotees in white are partly visible at right.2013-05-19May 24 20132013-05-24A temple puja scene with a golden deity murti of a seated figure with a tall crown, draped in red cloth and garlanded with multicoloured flower strands. In the foreground a figure in an orange robe with a rudraksha mala and sacred ash marks on the arm holds a flame aarti lamp toward the murti. To the left two women in white and red saris sit with palms pressed together in namaskar. Piles of red, yellow and white flowers and a brass bowl sit on a yellow-tiled platform in front. Colourful painted temple walls frame the background, with a lit oil lamp at top left.2013-05-19A standing priest in an orange-and-gold dhoti and matching shawl holds lit oil lamps and a small bell before a decorated altar, performing aarti near a visible fire pit. Behind him, ornate golden deity murti of a seated figure and a standing figure are draped in red and green silks and floral garlands of red, yellow, white and purple flowers. A golden bull figure sits between them. Seated devotees in white clothes and orange-red shawls kneel with palms pressed together on the floor. A large golden figure with a tall crown and raised arm stands painted on the back wall, and fruit and flower offerings are arranged in the lower right corner. Several fellow priests in orange robes stand at the left edge.2013-05-19A ritual homa or puja before a decorated shrine with deity murti draped in red garments and garlanded with red, purple, yellow and white flowers, and a golden bull figure at the base. A standing figure in orange-red robes, long dark hair, a red flower garland and a rudraksha-style beaded necklace holds a tray or plate near a fire burning in front of the altar. Seated participants in white clothes with red shawls press their palms together in prayer on the floor. A carved painted figure with flames behind it stands on the left, and fruit, flower offerings and brass vessels sit in the foreground. Mentions of a person on this page are not visible in the scene; the standing figure's appearance is unclear, so the identity is marked unsure.2013-05-19A homa ritual in a tented hall before a golden throne with a seated deity murti garlanded in marigolds and red flowers. A blue-rimmed fire pit burns with flames in front, topped by a tiered kalasha-like structure draped in marigold garlands. Four men in white dhotis and orange-red shawls stand around; one at left pours an offering while the men on the right hold microphones and stand near the throne. A man at left wears a purple-banded wrap and rudraksha-style malas. Brass oil lamps, flower offerings and red brick fire platform surround the scene. No individual is clearly identified as a person by appearance.2015-07-17July 17 20152015-07-17July 13 20152015-07-13July 17 20152015-07-17A photograph of a temple ritual in a decorated tent. A man with long dark hair wearing a crown-like headpiece, a rudraksha-style beaded necklace, bangles and a red cloth draped over his body stands with palms pressed together in front of a large flaming brass vessel with fire on a red cloth, with jasmine garlands around its base. To the right, a deity murti in a gold-and-orange silk setting is adorned with flower garlands, a golden backdrop and ornate fabrics. Behind him, women in cream and red saris and a man in a red garment hold brass lamps and a tray, and a brass oil lamp stands on the red-carpeted floor.2016-05-24