Uploads from Ganga108 Ganga108, tagged worship

The Yagna Fires are Lit

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

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 .

Monk Worships at the River of a Thousand Lingams. Cambodia.

nobody@flickr.com (Ganga108 Ganga108) — Wed, 12 May 2010 04:39:15 -0700

Ganga108 Ganga108 posted a photo:

A Hindu Monk worships the Unmanifest God as Sivalingams in the River of a Thousand Lingams.

A very sacred place in Cambodia is high in the hills outside of Siem Reap. Here, the 9th Century king placed 1008 Sivalingams in the river over 2 kilometers. As the water rose from springs and rain to form the river, it's blessed by Siva as it cascades over the lingams and brings abundance to the people, the animals and the crops.

The site is so beautiful and gentle, the energy is definitely sacred. We had a beautiful meditation by the river. Visiting this place was one of the highlights of my trip, in spite of the climb.

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Worship: Views on a Street in Pondicherry, India.

nobody@flickr.com (Ganga108 Ganga108) — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 05:13:22 -0700

Ganga108 Ganga108 posted a photo:

A woman worships in the street, praying maybe to the day and to the sun, centering herself and invoking Lord Ganesha to provide abundance.

These photos are from the Beloved India set.

Best viewed large: View On Black

Many Yagnas.

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

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Ganesha in Thailand #2

nobody@flickr.com (Ganga108 Ganga108) — Sat, 25 Jun 2011 04:15:51 -0700

Ganga108 Ganga108 posted a photo:

The people of Chiang Mai in Thailand love Ganesha and have brought him with open arms into their Buddhist beliefs and practices. He can be seen everywhere throughout the city.

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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Worshipper. Ramanathaswami Temple, Tamil Nadu

nobody@flickr.com (Ganga108 Ganga108) — Thu, 20 May 2010 05:30:47 -0700

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Worship with Incense. Angkor Wat Complex, Cambodia.

nobody@flickr.com (Ganga108 Ganga108) — Tue, 11 May 2010 04:37:46 -0700

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Worship with Candle and Incense. Angkor Wat Complex, Cambodia.

nobody@flickr.com (Ganga108 Ganga108) — Tue, 11 May 2010 03:52:16 -0700

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