Uploads from Ganga108 Ganga108, tagged puja

Agni is invoked, the fire is lit.

nobody@flickr.com (Ganga108 Ganga108) — Sat, 21 Aug 2010 02:27:47 -0700

Drawing Rangoli at 4am. Tiruvannamalai, India.

nobody@flickr.com (Ganga108 Ganga108) — Tue, 01 Jun 2010 15:46:36 -0700

Welcome back to India.

Early morning is a popular time in the temples of South India, and being there as the gods are awakened and paraded around the temple is wonderful. The noise and the incense, the dark and the large lamps - all designed to attract the attention of the gods and bring blessings to the devotees.

It was much darker than this photo implies. Patiently she draws a rangoli with rice flour. It is very meditative and the design is auspicious. I prepare to walk barefoot for the 15 or so kilometers around Arunchula.

Part of the Beloved India series, and also of Tiruvannamalai.
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A reworking of this photo.

South Indian Priest Performs Homa before Sunrise. Tamil Nadu.

nobody@flickr.com (Ganga108 Ganga108) — Fri, 14 May 2010 21:43:48 -0700

Ganga108 Ganga108 posted a photo:

I hope you don't mind, I need a break from processing photos of Angkor temples. I need some colour and some people again. And hence I am jumping ahead to my Beloved India. There are still a bunch of Cambodian photos, and I will return to them later.

View is Better Large (for Sal).

Hindu priests and Hindu monks, swamis and gurus are different. Priests are trained to perform the rites of the temple and are often trained from a very young age. They know by heart thousands of chants, mudras and rituals. Part of their job is, through their rituals, to bring the presence of the deity into the murti (statue or representation of the god) during the puja. Often they perform other duties, such as jyotisha or Vedic astrology calculations for devotees, feeding of the poor etc. But they are not responsible for pastoral care of the temple attendees as are christian priests and ministers. Priests are generally married and their wife and family also play a part in temple life.

It is the Monks, Swamis and Gurus who teach the philosophy and way of life of Hinduism. They are celibate and strive for achieving and maintaining enlightenment.

Navrathri Puja

nobody@flickr.com (Ganga108 Ganga108) — Sat, 20 Oct 2012 09:20:24 -0700

Ganga108 Ganga108 posted a photo:

It's Navrathri time! 9 days dedicated to the Goddess.

Many Yagnas.

nobody@flickr.com (Ganga108 Ganga108) — Tue, 06 Mar 2012 01:04:03 -0800

Ganga108 Ganga108 posted a photo:

The Yagna fires for powerful pujas are lit. There will be over 16 of them! Chanting continues, loud, long and wonderful.

Every Hindu Temple is reconsecrated every 12 years. It is called a Maha Kumbhabhishaigam. The rituals and activities continue for days.

Leading up to the Mahakumbhabhishaigam, repairs are conducted, renovations, repainting and re-beautifying all seen to. During these activities, the deities are removed to another room temporarily and pujas continue as normal using this room until the renovations are complete and it is time to reinstall the deities and renew the spiritual energy in the temple.

At the Adelaide Ganesha Temple major renovations were carried out. Then commenced five days of intense rites and rituals, fire ceremonies and chanting. It is a loud affair, with the Nagaswaram (Temple Band) playing at full volume, and the chanting's continuous. There were 10 priests in attendance from India, Malaysia and Adelaide. It was a truly amazing event with thousands attending. The energy was palpable.

I took a few pics on the first two days then got caught up in the rituals and didn't take any more. But if you are interested, the last day, the blessing of the temple with holy water, rose petals and other substances, can be seen on YouTube. The first of four videos is here .

See where this picture was taken. [?]

The Yagna Fires are Lit

nobody@flickr.com (Ganga108 Ganga108) — Mon, 05 Mar 2012 01:44:09 -0800

Ganga108 Ganga108 posted a photo:

The Homa Rituals Begin.

nobody@flickr.com (Ganga108 Ganga108) — Sat, 21 Aug 2010 04:33:00 -0700

Ganga108 Ganga108 posted a photo:

The Satguru waits for the Homa to begin.

nobody@flickr.com (Ganga108 Ganga108) — Fri, 20 Aug 2010 23:35:56 -0700

Ganga108 Ganga108 posted a photo:

Deep deep inner silence.

The Pujari Readies Himself for the Homa.

nobody@flickr.com (Ganga108 Ganga108) — Sat, 14 Aug 2010 04:32:29 -0700

Ganga108 Ganga108 posted a photo:

Before the Homa begins and the fire is lit, the priest prepares himself for the puja and the task he is to perform. Cleared and sanctified, he goes within, and within, and within.

The Homa Continues as Dawn Arrives. Tiruvannamalai, India

nobody@flickr.com (Ganga108 Ganga108) — Wed, 02 Jun 2010 05:25:33 -0700

Ganga108 Ganga108 posted a photo:

Dawn brings a beautiful light. A homa ceromony is performed in the ancient Tiruvannamalai Temple.

Part of the Beloved India series, and also of Tiruvannamalai.
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Kumbhas at Tiruvannamalai Homa. India

nobody@flickr.com (Ganga108 Ganga108) — Wed, 02 Jun 2010 02:36:35 -0700

Ganga108 Ganga108 posted a photo:

In some Hindu ceremonies which are performed away from the central shrine, kumbhas are used as the deity. I was going to write "represent the deity" but that is not quite right. The energy or presence of the deity is transferred to the kumbha for the period of the ceremony, and then returned to the main deity at the end.

Kumbhas are made from a pot which is filled with water and wrapped in sacred thread. Mango leaves and fresh coconuts are placed atop the pot, and then it is garlanded with flowers, leaves and special grasses. Auspicious symbols and sacred substances are added.

Part of the Beloved India series, and also of Tiruvannamalai.
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Nandi with a Flower, Full of Devotion. Tiruvannamalai, Tamil Nadu

nobody@flickr.com (Ganga108 Ganga108) — Wed, 02 Jun 2010 02:19:02 -0700

Ganga108 Ganga108 posted a photo:

Nandi, Siva's ardent devotee and his vehicle, is adorned with a flower for an early morning homa at Tiruvannamalai temple.

Part of the Beloved India series, and also of Tiruvannamalai.
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Worship at 4am. Tamil Nadu. India.

nobody@flickr.com (Ganga108 Ganga108) — Fri, 14 May 2010 22:22:24 -0700

Ganga108 Ganga108 posted a photo:

The temple buzzes from 4am. Devotees attend after bathing but before eating to worship their god and gather blessings for the day. It is a very special time of day in the temple. The Earth's energies are still quiet and the energies of the gods are strong and undisturbed.

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