A photograph of a ritual abhishekam at a shrine. A man in orange saffron robes with a rudraksha mala and ceremonial gold necklace pours water from a brass kalasha over a small tiered stone shivalingam. Another seated man in orange robes and glasses sits to the left. Gold ornamented shrine elements, purple and white flower garlands and a small brass bell are visible. - Nithyanandapedia

Nithyanandapedia

A photograph of a ritual abhishekam at a shrine. A man in orange saffron robes with a rudraksha mala and ceremonial gold necklace pours water from a brass kalasha over a small tiered stone shivalingam. Another seated man in orange robes and glasses sits to the left. Gold ornamented shrine elements, purple and white flower garlands and a small brass bell are visible.

More like this

Open the gallery

A photograph of a ritual abhishekam in a temple setting. A man in orange saffron robes with a white forehead band and red bindi pours water from a large brass vessel over a small metal yantra-like object on a tiled platform. He wears a long necklace of rudraksha beads with gold accents. Another figure in orange robes stands at the left edge, partially visible. Behind are garlands of purple and white flowers, gold ornaments and brass items on a shelf. Printed copyright text appears at the lower right.

A photograph inside a temple shrine during an abhishekam. A man in saffron-orange robes with a long gold necklace and a wooden rudraksha mala pours a golden liquid from a brass vessel over a golden shivalinga-style murti set on a stand. Two orange-robed men sit behind him, one wearing a saffron head wrap and spectacles, and white and pink flower garlands hang at right. Brass puja items, bells, a small bowl of flowers and leaves sit on a tray in the foreground, and the walls are tiled in white.

A photograph inside a temple shrine of a man in orange saffron robes and rudraksha malas pouring water from a golden vessel over a copper-coloured shivalinga-style yantra on a stand. A red vertical tilak mark is on his forehead. A second orange-robed person sits at the left edge holding a small golden dish. Garlands of white and pink flowers, a red and gold silk drape, golden arches, a brass bell and oil lamps decorate the altar. a person is pictured in an abhishekam performed on the lingam, with the appearance cues of orange robes, layered rudraksha malas and a gold ornamental necklace.

A photograph of a ritual at a temple shrine. A man with long swept-back dark hair, wearing an orange saffron wrap and a rudraksha mala with ceremonial gold necklace, is pouring liquid from a brass vessel over a golden shri yantra style meru structure on a stand. Beside him a second man in orange robes, wearing spectacles, a orange head wrap and gold beads, sits and holds a small brass bell. Behind them are garlands of purple and red flowers and gold ritual objects on a tiled wall. The scene shows an abhishekam being performed on a golden yantra. Swamiji (probable) is the man pouring the liquid, identified by long swept-back hair, saffron clothing, rudraksha mala and gold necklace.

A photograph of a temple abhishekam at a shrine. A man in orange saffron robes and a matching orange head cloth sits on the floor and pours liquid from a large brass vessel over a golden shivalingam with stacked tiers. Around his neck hang a rudraksha mala and a gold necklace. Beside him, a second man in orange robes with glasses and gold chains sits with hands folded. Before them is a silver tray with brass oil lamps, bowls, a bell and flower offerings, and red-and-white garlands hang on the right beside a gold deity frame. A few people sit in the background, and a partially visible person is at the lower right edge.

October 17 2009

A seated man in an orange saffron robe and rudraksha mala necklaces pours yellow liquid from a golden vessel over a tiered golden yantra or pedestal on a wooden tray, during an abhishekam ritual. He wears a red tilak on his forehead and has short dark hair. Behind him stands a deity murti draped in red and green brocade silk, with a yellow-clad figure to the right and a garland of white and pink flowers above. Brass puja items, a bell and incense sticks sit in the foreground. Appearance cues (rudraksha malas, saffron robe) are present but his face and hair are not distinctive enough for a firm identification, so he is described by role as the officiating priest.

A photograph of a man in an orange saffron robe and rudraksha mala necklaces pouring yellow liquid from a gold vessel over a golden shivalinga-style stepped yoni-pitha on a wooden tray. He has a tilak on his forehead and short dark hair. Behind him stand a gold-framed altar with a red and green silk cloth, white flower garlands and brass lamps. Gold ritual items, a small bell and an incense stick sit in the foreground. This appears to be an abhishekam being performed.

Photograph of a temple puja in progress. Two men in orange saffron robes sit beside a brass altar. The man on the right, with a bare upper body partly covered by orange cloth, a red mark on his forehead, a white tilak and a long rudraksha mala, is placing a white flower garland onto a tiered copper shrine structure called a meru or yantra base. The man on the left, in orange robes and glasses with an orange head cloth, holds a brass kalasha pot. Brass lamps, flowers, a white conch-shaped offering, and garlands of pink and white flowers fill the foreground, with red and gold silk cloth behind. A partially visible person sits at the right edge.

A photograph of a shrine ritual. A man seated on the floor wears an orange saffron robe draped over his head and shoulders, with a long rudraksha mala and a red tilak on his forehead. He pours liquid from a white vessel over a copper-coloured shri yantra meru-style sculpture set on a wooden stand. Red and white flower garlands hang at right, and brass puja vessels, a tray of fruit and a lamp sit in the foreground, with gilded deity images in the background. Appearance-based a person cues: long orange robe, rudraksha mala, and his role as the officiant performing abhishekam on the meru.

Photo of a temple puja in progress. A man in orange robes with a hooded orange cloth and a long rudraksha mala sits before a copper Sri Chakra meru-shaped yantra, pouring or sprinkling white powder onto its tiered base. Beside him, a second man in orange robes with a gold chain and glasses sits attentively. Behind them are gold and red garlands of flowers, brass vessels, a silver-rimmed tray, a small bell and a conch-shaped offering on the lower table, with gold-coloured ornamental panels in the background. The scene reads as abhishekam or yantra worship.

A photograph of a ritual in a temple interior. A man in saffron-orange robes with a rudraksha-style gold-beaded mala and a red tilak on his forehead pours or sprinkles white powder from a small plate onto a tiered copper-coloured yantra or shrine base. Beside him, a second man in orange robes with gold chains and wire-rimmed glasses sits with his hands folded. Brass oil lamps, a brass kalasha, flower garlands in magenta and white, and gold-toned draped fabric surround the altar. The setting suggests a puja or abhishekam at a shrine.