Skip to content
Nithyanandapedia
Close view of a homa fire ritual. A priest in red-orange robes kneels and stirs a small flame in a stone fire pit with a wooden ladle, and a beaded red-and-white bracelet is visible on the wrist. Silver oil lamps with flames stand beside the pit, and a brass deity murti stands at the right. Silver ritual vessels and a colourful striped cloth surround the scene. Only partial hands and arms of the priest are visible; the face is not shown.

More like this

Open the gallery
A close photograph of a ritual fire in a carved stone bowl, with flames rising as a hand holding a wooden ladle, wearing a gold ring and a beaded rudraksha-style bracelet and an orange-red garment, tends the fire. Lit brass oil lamps stand nearby, one beside a gold-toned brass deity figure, and covered silver vessels sit on a colourful striped cloth. Only the forearm and hand of one person are visible, so the individual cannot be identified.2017-10-08Close photo of a ritual fire being lit in a dark stone mortar-like vessel on a patterned cloth. A person in an orange-red garment with rudraksha beads on the wrist and neck feeds burning grass or straw into the flames with a dark wooden pestle-like tool. Silver ornate vessels and a silver stand stand to the right. Flames, smoke and charred material rise from the vessel. Hands and forearms are visible; the face is not shown.2018-03-03A close photograph of a ritual in progress: a priest in a red-orange garment and rudraksha mala holds a bundle of thin white wicks or sticks that is burning, sending up flame and smoke over a dark stone mortar containing a yellow-orange paste with red powder. Silver kalasha-style vessels with ornate repousse designs stand on a silver tray behind, and the ground is covered with a gold and dark patterned cloth. The scene suggests an aushadha or medicinal-preparation offering. Only the priest's hand and arm and the lower body are visible, and no face is shown.2018-03-03October 08 20172017-10-08Close view of a ritual fire offering. A person in an orange-red robe with a rudraksha mala on the wrist and red thread bangles tends a flame in a stone bowl containing green leaves and offerings. Beside it stands a tall silver lamp stand with lit oil lamps, and a brass female figure holds a lit oil lamp in an outstretched hand. Silver ritual vessels sit in the foreground on a striped cloth, with flowers in the background.2017-10-08October 08 20172017-10-08Close view of a priest's hands preparing a ritual mixture in a dark stone mortar on a patterned cloth. The priest wears a reddish-orange garment and multiple rudraksha malas on the wrist and neck. One hand holds a dark pestle, while the other rests on the rim. The mortar contains a golden-yellow paste, white powder, and a bundle of thin sticks with a burning tip. Silver vessels with engraved designs stand to the right, and an oil lamp flame is visible at the left edge. This appears to be a ritual preparation, with no people visible beyond the priest's hands and forearms.2018-03-03A photo of a ritual at a stone mortar-like vessel with a bright flame rising from its contents. A person in a deep red-orange garment with gold border, wearing rudraksha malas on the wrist and neck, holds a bundle of dried grass or straw brushing over the burning offering. Silver ceremonial pots with floral engravings stand on a pedestal to the right, and a brass lamp is at the left edge. The ground is covered with a colourful embroidered cloth in gold, navy and red. Only a torso and hands are visible, so no face is shown.2018-03-03March 03 20182018-03-03Close-up photograph of a ritual setting on a striped woven cloth in red, green and orange. A worn stone mortar-like vessel holds a dark bed of ash and a yellow paste with a lit wick flame burning in it, beside a dark wooden pestle. Two polished silver oil lamps with yellow-lit wicks stand at right, and a small engraved silver bowl sits at lower left. No people are visible, and the scene shows lamps and ritual objects only.2017-10-08October 08 20172017-10-08Close view of a worn stone bowl on a striped woven cloth holding a burning mound of dark ash, dried material and yellow residue, with flames rising from it. A dark metal ladle or stylus rests across the bowl. At left, the partially visible hand of a person wearing a beaded rudraksha-type bracelet and a gold ring reaches toward it. Behind are a dark stone block and brass oil lamps with yellow oil on tall silver stands. No full face or identifiable person is visible.2017-10-08