Skip to content
Nithyanandapedia
A photograph of a woman sitting cross-legged with eyes closed in meditation on a bed of grey ash and charcoal in the open air. She wears a cream salwar-style outfit with a draped orange and cream shawl and a small red bindi. Behind her stand dark stone sculptures of deities and figures among tall palm trees under a bright, hazy sky, with a small sapling and a red-and-white structure at left. The ashy ground in the foreground suggests a fire pit after a ritual. No one else is clearly visible.

More like this

Open the gallery
August 08 20102010-08-08A woman sits cross-legged with eyes closed on a bed of grey ash or burnt residue outdoors at dawn or dusk, in a meditative pose. She wears a cream and white draped garment with a red-orange shawl over her shoulders and a red bindi on her forehead. Behind her are dark stone sculptures of figures and a row of palm trees under a pale sky. A man in a striped shirt stands at left holding a long tool, and a small figure in red sits far right near the sculptures. A red-and-white structure and a small green plant are visible at left. This outdoor practice appears to be pancha tapas, a set of sitting austerities performed in the open.2010-08-10 +1 copiesA woman sits cross-legged in meditation on a bed of grey ash or burnt material outdoors, eyes closed, hands resting together in her lap. She wears a cream and white patterned shawl over an orange-red garment and cream trousers, with a bindi on her forehead. Behind her stand dark stone statues of deities and figures among palm trees under a pale sky, and a second person in white sits further back on the right.2010-08-10 +1 copiesThree women sit cross-legged on a bed of grey ash and charcoal outdoors at sunrise, palm trees and a tall decorated pole behind them. The central woman, eyes closed, wears a white garment with a yellow shawl, a dark bead mala and a red pendant, her hands in a meditation mudra. To the left, another woman in a white and yellow dress sits with eyes closed, and a third in yellow and white sits at the right edge. Wisps of smoke rise from the ash.2010-08-10 +1 copiesA woman with a red bindi and a wooden rudraksha mala sits cross-legged on a bed of grey ash, eyes closed and hands joined in her lap, meditating. She wears a white top and white skirt with a yellow shawl draped over her shoulders. Behind her, a second woman in white with a yellow shawl sits in similar stillness. Smoke drifts across the ash, and tall coconut palms and a bright dawn-like sky frame the scene. On the left, a person in white with a tool stands near the palms. The ground is dusty earth strewn with charred embers.2010-08-10 +1 copiesOutdoor photo of devotees seated in meditation on bare ground beside a white-washed shrine platform. In the foreground a young woman with long dark hair wears a white garment with an orange-red shawl and sits with eyes closed, hands in a mudra on her lap. Behind her a woman in cream and light-brown wrap sits in a circular bed of grey ash. A large black Nandi bull statue draped with a yellow and red marigold garland stands on the white platform, with palm trees and a small shed behind. Several more seated devotees in white and orange clothing and a standing attendant appear in the background, with the ash-marked circles of a pancha tapas fire ritual.2010-08-10 +1 copiesAugust 08 20102010-08-08 +1 copiesAugust 03 20102010-08-03Outdoor ritual scene at dusk beside a row of large grey stone deity murtis and naga-hooded serpent sculptures among palm trees. A bonfire of stacked logs burns at center, sending up smoke. Three women sit cross-legged in meditation within circular ash rings on the bare earth. The woman at center wears a white sari with a red shawl, the women on either side wear white with yellow shawls. Two men in white clothing stand in the background near a tall dark statue, one holding a small object. The scene suggests a fire ritual with offerings.2010-07-11Outdoor photo of a group of about ten people seated cross-legged in meditation on circular concrete platforms ringed with pale pebbles, on sandy ground beside white stepped structures and palm trees. Most wear white dhoti-style clothing and orange or red shawls; several in front wear yellow sleeveless vests over white. A woman in the foreground with orange shawl has her hands folded in her lap and eyes closed. Dark stone statues stand at the left edge.2010-07-10Outdoor photo of several women seated cross-legged in a ring of fire pits on bare earth, each within a circular bed of grey ash and charred embers. Most wear white dhotis or saris with yellow shawls, and one woman in front wears a white sari with an orange-red shawl. Behind them stand large dark grey stone deity murtis, one with multiple arms holding a trident-like weapon, plus a small pile of logs and palm trees under a cloudy sky. Smoke rises from the fire pits. A red sign or banner stands at left. The setting suggests a pancha tapas fire-meditation practice.2010-08-04August 08 20102010-08-08 +1 copies