Tootfinder

Today is the start of "chaathurmaasa" in the Hindu luni-solar calendar. It's a 4-month period with prescriptions and proscriptions on food to be eaten and rituals to be performed.
On the first day, in addition to fasting, some Waishnawa sects have a tradition of branding their body ("mudraadhaarane") with icons of Wishnu's chakra (disc) and shankha (conch) to show their commitment to the faith:
1. Preparing branding "irons" (at Puthige Matha)
2. Branding a devotee (at Krishna Matha)
3. Chakra (disc) on right arm (a few hours after branding)
4. Shankha (conch) on left arm
Video 👇
#Hindu #tradition #branding #ritual #India

Had the best seat to view the entire 90 mins of the annual ritual bathing of the idols at Kaniyooru Matha #Udupi #India. I chose not to take my own pictures during the ritual so I can be there fully in the moment. I did take some pictures after 👇.
The pictures here are from the matha, just to give an idea.
Video: #Hindu #temple #ritual

Views of the brilliant gilded pavilion and the decorated altar at the end of the Adamaaru main service. The last pic is of the "uthsawa moorthi", the idol used away from the altar. 🛕
Humbly: Such clear, closeup pics of the ritual and the idols are quite rare. 🙇‍♂️
#photography #FotoMontag #PhotoMonday #Hindu #ritual #art #sculpture #travel

Bathing idols in milk, yogurt, honey, ghee, coconut water looks, feels good but the idols need thorough cleaning after. And they've so many idols. 😲
These pictures are mine:
1. 700 year old idols, hand cleaned by the Swamiji
2. About 25% idols cleaned
4. Cleaning crew
#photography #amateur #sculpture #ritual

Wednesday: Superb day trip to Mysuru #India to participate in "chaaturmaasa" observance by Kaniyooru Swamiji and junior Adamaaru Swamiji. 🙇‍♂️
Adamaaru service pics: As in other mathas, the altar starts simple and progressively enriches. Last pic (not mine) is of the main idol "the 4-armed Krishna subduing the Kaalinga serpent".
More pics 👇
#photography #FotoMontag #PhotoMonday #Hindu #ritual #art #sculpture #travel

Before putting away the main idol, the Swamiji performs on it a "kanakaabhishaeka", which is "bathing" the idol with gold (coins).
"kanaka" in Sanskrit means gold; "abhishaeka" means to bathe or to pour on, specifically as part of a ritual service.
#Hindu #ritual #gold #bathing #Sanskrit #video

An expert in gana homa was the main priest. (A very nice and an exceptionally tall man.) First order of business, he "swore" us in to be the main performers of the homa.
The proportion of fire and smoke changes throughout the ritual depending on what's being added to the fire pit. In these pictures, it's mostly fire, thanks to ghee.
*"Swearing in" is actually done through a process called "sankalpa". #ama
#photography #fire #ritual #Hindu #India

At end of service:
1. The Swamiji holds up each idol for all to see (as someone announces the idol),
2. wraps the idol in silk cloth,
3. appreciates the idol and places it in a wooden box covered in deer skin [such a box is on the floor, in front of the Swamiji].
4. An assistant puts the boxes in a silver trunk.
#photography #amateur #photoMontag #FotoMonday #Hindu #ritual

RE: #India I attended a "Gana Homa" which is an offering into fire to invoke Ganesha to seek his blessings. (Gana ≈ gaNa; see the earlier post. Similarly, Homa ≈ hoama.)
Some pictures and videos from today's hoama. 👇
(there was also a feast but no pictures).
#photography #ritual #festival #ama

Aug. 8: Lucky to attend the main service at Sripadaraja ("shree-paada-raaja") Matha, Bengaluru #India. The service is (must be) performed by the Swamiji himself.
1. An assistant prepares the altar
2. Swamiji places idols on the altar
3. Rituals enrich the altar
4. Service ends with the grand "aarathi" (showing flame).
#photography #amateur #photoMontag #FotoMonday #Hindu #ritual

An illustrative video showing thick smoke during the homa.
The pancha kajjaaya offering to the fire asks Ganesha for "kshipra prasaada" (quick result).
#photography #fire #smoke #ritual #Hindu #India

An illustrative video showing blazing fire during the homa. This was towards the end by when a lot of ghee had been added.
PS: The entire homa is performed *indoors*.
#photography #fire #smoke #ritual #Hindu #India

No homa is always nice fire (think moisture). At some point, we added a food item called "pancha kajjaaya" [Kannada] to the fire which caused much smoke. Teary eyes and coughs ensued, but everything smelled good.
(We added about 36 bowls of pancha kajjaaya to the fire.)
After the homa, we offered "puje" (service) to a clay idol of Ganesha. The puje was simple; not elaborate as it tends to be in the "plains" part of Karnataka.
Videos 👇
#photography #fire #smoke #ritual #Hindu #India #sculpture