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Nithyanandapedia
A temple worship scene at Nithyanandotsavam, showing a shaved-headed priest bare-chested in orange-brown cloth, wearing a rudraksha mala and gold necklace, holding up a multi-tiered copper aarti lamp with a long silver handle toward a deity. The deity is an adorned murti in the Arunachaleshwara Leela Alankaram, dressed in blue and gold with a jeweled crown-like head piece, surrounded by dense garlands of yellow marigolds, red flowers, white blossoms and green leaves. Ornate gold and jeweled decorations frame the altar. The priest performs an aarti during the temple ritual.

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ADIKAILASA on 12/29/20212021-12-29A photograph of a temple deepaaradhana ritual. A priest with a bare torso, rudraksha mala and white sacred markings on his arms and chest holds a multi-tiered silver lamp stand with lit oil lamps toward a deity murti. The murti wears a tall red and white crown with a tilak, a blue embroidered garment and gold ornaments, and is surrounded by dense garlands of yellow, red and white flowers. A brass kalasha-style figure and decorative arch stand behind it. The image is consistent with the Arunachaleshwara Leela Alankaram deepaaradhana shown on the caption, and the priest is shown from behind, so no identity is claimed for him.2021-12-29ADIKAILASA on 12/29/20212021-12-29A photograph of a deepaaradhana ritual before a richly decorated murti of Arunachaleshwara Paramashiva in leela alankaram, framed by bands of red roses, white and yellow marigolds, and green leaves. The murti wears a tall ornate crown and a purple garment with gold jewellery, and holds a lit lamp flame. In the foreground a shirtless man with long swept-back hair, a rudraksha mala and white markings on his body holds a plate with the flame toward the deity. The setting is a temple with a golden arch and jewelled blue and gold hangings. The image is captioned Arunachaleshwara Leela Alankaram Deeparadhana, Nithyanandotsavam 2021, Day 11. Whether the officiant is a person cannot be confirmed from appearance.2021-12-29ADIKAILASA on 12/29/20212021-12-29 +2 copiesA photograph of a temple deepaaradhana ritual with a shirtless priest in the foreground holding a brass plate of lamps toward a richly decorated deity murti. The murti wears a tall crown with a shiva-linga motif, a blue garment with ornate gold and jewelled collar, and is surrounded by layered garlands of yellow marigold, red roses and white flowers with inlaid gems. A second, smaller figure stands to the right in red and gold dress. The priest has long matted hair, a rudraksha mala and sacred ash on his body. The arch behind is gilded with red, blue and green ornamentation.2021-12-29A photograph of a deity murti of Arunachaleshwara Paramashiva in a flower-decorated alankaram, shown with a tall crown, sparkling jewelled necklace and a blue garment. Garlands of yellow, red and white flowers frame the figure. In the foreground at left, a man with a dark turban and bare shoulder faces the murti. A tiered brass oil lamp with multiple lit wicks stands in front, alongside a brass offering vessel. Caption text reads Arunachaleshwara Leela Alankaram Deeparadhana, Nithyanandotsavam 2021, Day 11, indicating a lamp-worship ritual.2021-12-29ADIKAILASA on 12/29/20212021-12-29A photograph of a deepaaradhana ritual before a richly decorated deity pair, Arunachaleshwara Paramashiva and Devi Parashakthi, dressed in the Leela Alankaram with jewelled crowns, blue garments and golden ornaments. Yellow and red marigold and rose garlands and white and blue flower decorations surround the murtis. In the foreground, a bare-chested priest with long matted hair and a rudraksha mala holds a lit oil lamp toward the figures, with white sacred ash marks on his skin. A golden lamp stand is visible at upper right. The image is a still of Nithyanandotsavam Day 11.2021-12-29ADIKAILASA on 12/29/20212021-12-29A photograph of a temple deity-decoration ritual. On the left, a bare-chested man with a long, twisted dreadlock-style hair bun and white sacred markings on his torso wears a rudraksha-style cord and stands in profile, his hand extended toward a richly adorned murti. The central deity murti is a seated figure in a royal blue garment with gold ornaments, a tall ornate crown with a tilak-like mark, and a large jewelled necklace, surrounded by layers of red, yellow, white and blue floral garlands and green leaves. A second decorated murti in red and gold stands at the right edge, with a gilded lamp and bright floral arrangements around the shrine. Printed gold text along the bottom reads Arunachaleshwara Leela Alankaram Deeparadhana, with Nithyanandotsavam 2021, Day 11 beneath it.2021-12-29ADIKAILASA on 12/29/20212021-12-29