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Nithyanandapedia
May 03 2012

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Outdoor ritual gathering under an open pavilion. In the foreground a man in white dhoti and shawl with a rudraksha mala sits cross-legged behind a low white altar holding an open book and a microphone, gesturing with his hand. Before him sit a large crowd of devotees, many in orange shawls and white clothes, some with hands folded in namaste. A square fire pit with a black interior stands on the altar, with kalasha-like pots wrapped in cloth and decorated with marigold garlands, brass bells and a small plate of offerings nearby. A dark stone deity murti stands at the upper left edge. Bundles of dried sticks and leaves lie to the right.2012-05-03May 03 20122012-05-03Outdoor ritual scene at an ashram with orange-painted buildings and green trees behind. A bare-chested young priest in white dhoti and shawl, with a shaved head, white forehead markings and a rudraksha-style mala, stands at a white altar with a black slab, tending a yagna or homa with a small ladle and brass vessels. A microphone stands before him. Behind him, seated devotees in orange and white clothing observe, and a figure in a striped shirt stands at right beside a table of coconuts, garlands, glass jars and fruit with green leaves. Colourful tassels hang from a red pillar at top right.2012-05-03Outdoor ritual under an open thatched-roof pavilion with red-painted posts and hanging decorations, surrounded by palm trees and orange-walled buildings. In the centre, a shaven-headed priest in saffron-orange robes and a rudraksha mala kneels with hands joined in namaskar before a square fire pit bordered with white flowers. Several brass kalashas topped with orange-yellow marigold-like flowers sit on a white cloth to the right, alongside brass vessels. Two young men in saffron dhotis and garlands stand at left. Behind them, devotees in white clothes sit in rows, some holding offerings, and a woman in yellow with a rudraksha-style necklace sits near the front, reflecting a homa or puja setting.2011-07-15A photograph of an outdoor homa or yagna under a pavilion. A shaved-headed priest in white dhoti and bare upper body sits cross-legged at a fire pit, holding an open book and a small microphone stand, with a rudraksha mala around his neck. Before him stand kalasha pots with mango leaves and coconuts, plus fruit bowls and bundles of wood. Around him, a seated audience of about 30 people wears white clothing and saffron-orange shawls, some with lanyards, many with hands folded.2012-05-03A photograph of a homa or puja at an open-air ritual platform with a black fire pit. A bare-chested priest in white dhoti and shawl, holding a silver vessel, pours offerings toward the pit while a woman in orange sari and orange shawl and two other devotees in orange shawls reach forward with hands extended. Brass vessels with coconuts, mango leaves and flower garlands sit in the foreground. Behind them, more devotees in orange shawls and white clothes sit and stand under trees, and a man in a blue shirt wears a lanyard badge. No individual is clearly identifiable as a person; the visible people are a priest and devotees.2012-05-03A shaven-headed man in a white dhoti and unstitched white shawl performs a ritual at an outdoor altar, holding a brass oil lamp (aarti) in his right hand and ringing a brass bell with his left. A rudraksha mala hangs on his chest. Before him sits a fire pit of dark wood and a silver bowl with red kumkum. Behind him, orange-clad devotees sit in white shirts and orange shawls; one seated man in orange has hands folded. A red-walled building, a golden chariot or palanquin, and kalasha-like offerings with coconuts, flowers and mango leaves stand in the background.2012-05-03Outdoor homa at an ashram courtyard: a man seated behind a white square fire pit with a dark central opening, holding a brass spoon and a small bowl, wearing a saffron-orange dhoti and shawl, a long rudraksha-style mala and a gold necklace, with a tilak on his forehead and a shaved head. A younger assistant in white kneels beside him at the pit, which holds bundled dry sticks and brass vessels. Behind them, rows of devotees in white clothes sit on the ground, and a red-orange building and palm trees stand in the background. On the right, a table draped with a striped cloth holds brass pots, a kalasha-like vessel, leaves and marigold garlands.2010-12-16Outdoors under palm trees, a shaven-headed priest in saffron-orange robes and a rudraksha mala sits cross-legged at a white square fire pit, performing a homa with burning sticks and ritual offerings. Beside him stands a brass vessel and a kalasha-like pot decorated with orange marigolds, and a brass lamp sits on a saffron-coloured cloth. Behind the fire, a large crowd of seated devotees in white clothes and red-and-white lanyards with neck cords watches, some with hands folded in namaskar. Low orange-walled buildings and a yellow-painted structure stand in the background. A statue row and a red circular pole are visible.2010-12-16A photograph of a homa or yagna at an outdoor ritual site. A young shaven-headed priest in white dhoti and shawl, wearing a heavy gold necklace and a red-and-gold sacred thread, sits before a white square fire pit and tends offerings with a silver bowl. An older priest in a white shawl sits beside him. Behind them, women in white saris with gold borders sit, and a golden deity murti stands framed by garlands of flowers. Brass plates of offerings, including fruit and grains, sit on the orange floor. The backdrop has red and white stripes.2011-12-31A homa fire ritual in a courtyard. In the foreground a woman in orange robes pours ghee from a long wooden ladle into a lit fire pit made of brick, with pineapple, fruit and marigold garlands beside it. A seated man in orange robes with a beaded necklace sits behind a silver bowl of orange flowers. Around them, a large group of devotees in orange shawls and white clothes sit and stand, some with vibhuti or kumkum on their foreheads. A tall woman on the right in an orange robe holds a microphone near the fire, and a small silver kalasha sits on the mat. Counting visible people, there are more than twenty.2007-07-11A photograph of a homa being performed in a whitewashed hall. A seated figure in orange robes and a white floral garland sits centrally before a brick fire pit holding offerings, with fruit, bowls of grains and a copper vessel on the ground. A microphone stands in front of the figure. Behind, rows of seated devotees wear white and orange shawls, some with palms joined. A tall golden pillar, a trident hung on the wall and orange drapes frame the room. Strings of paper bunting hang across the top. Swamiji (probable): the central figure has long swept-back hair, an orange robe, a garland and a red tilak, which fits the page's claim that he attended the event.2007-12-25