December 16 2009 - Nithyanandapedia

Nithyanandapedia

December 16 2009

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A photograph of a long, narrow trench dug into reddish-brown earth, filled with a thick red liquid that looks like dyed water or paint. Scraps of crumpled newspaper, a broken brick, loose stones and short wooden sticks lie scattered on the ground around it, with more newspaper along the edge of the trench. No people or deity forms are visible; the scene reads as a worksite or ground-level channel.

A photograph taken from above of a shallow pit dug into red earth, lined with torn cardboard. Inside, a dark red molten metal glows and steams, and a wooden or charred stick lies at its edge. Bits of debris and scraps lie on the ground around the pit, and a dark metal vessel edge appears at the upper left. A pair of sandals is visible at the lower left corner, with no people visible in the frame. The setting suggests metal casting work at a sacred arts workshop.

Overhead photograph of a square reddish stone block with a central cup-shaped depression filled with a brownish paste, into which a dark cylindrical wooden pestle or rod is inserted. Light smears of white paste and a red-brown stain sit on the stone. Around it lie burlap sacks, a small metal trowel or spatula, a plastic bag of pale granular material, and a folded white cloth with red edging. No people are visible. The scene suggests a ritual preparation with a stone mortar.

October 22 2011

December 16 2009

A photograph of a large black iron pot resting on a bed of ash and embers outdoors, filled with glowing red-orange molten metal. A long wooden stick or ladle lies across the pot's surface, and a small handle is visible at the rim. Dry grass, dirt and scattered debris surround the fire base. No people are visible in the frame, so this shows the metal melting step of the sacred arts metal casting work described on the page.

A photograph of a large irregular lump of copper-toned metal sheet, partially shaped into a mound, resting on a concrete or dusty floor. The metal shows a textured, blue-and-orange oxidised surface and a folded flap on top. Its base is embedded in grey plaster or cement set over newspaper fragments. A white plastic bag lies at the bottom edge. No people are visible.

A photograph of an outdoor work area on bare red earth, with two long metal strips lying on the ground. The left strip is a copper-coloured channel with a raised ornamental edge and tarnished patches. The right strip is a flat sheet covered in thick red paste, with four grey stone blocks placed along it. Scattered litter, a discarded metal container and a rusted iron box sit in the background. No people are visible.

Outdoor photograph of reddish-brown earth with two freshly poured grey concrete slabs set into shallow excavated trenches, their edges lined with old newspaper pages that serve as formwork. A thin wooden stake or rod runs diagonally across the upper left. Partial newspaper scraps and a leftover concrete edge appear in the lower corners. No people or ritual activity are visible; the scene looks like ground preparation or foundation work at a construction site.

A photograph of a shallow mould or depression lined with crumpled newsprint, filled with wet grey clay or concrete-like slurry with a smooth glossy surface and ridged pattern. The mould sits on reddish-brown earth. No people, deities or ritual objects are visible.

Close overhead photograph of a square stone grinding slab with a dark cylindrical stone pestle in the centre. The pestle is surrounded by a thick reddish-brown paste, possibly sandalwood or turmeric-type ground material, with scattered white residue on the stone surface. Rough burlap or sackcloth lies beneath the slab at the edges. No people are visible.

A person in a white dhoti with a red thread on the wrist kneels on red earth, shaping wet grey clay inside a cardboard and newspaper mould. Torn cardboard pieces, a flat grey clay slab and a cardboard box lie around the scene. Newspaper wrapped around the mould shows Tamil print and a small photo. No ceremony, deity or a person is visible; this appears to be a craft process of preparing a clay mould.