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1 www.lexpress.fr/culture/livre/le-mahabharata_811258.html
"Le Mahâbhârata" .
2 www.youtube.com/watch?v=3VJXZSxp9PM
"Les Vimanas : Vaisseaux des Dieux" avec Fabrice Bianchin - NURÉA TV .
Enjoy your Weekend , my Friends ...
Ellora is a World Heritage Site some 30 kms from the city of Aurangabad in Maharashtra, India.It is one of the largest rock-cut temple complexes in the world.There are over 100 caves built approximately between 6th century and 12th century A.D.34 of these caves are open to the public.Of these,17 are Hindu caves,12 are Buddhist and 5 are Jain caves.These caves contain sculptures of mythological tales and deities of these 3 religions.They were built by kings of the Rashtrakuta and Yadava dynasties.They are an example of the religious harmony which existed in Ancient India.
This photo is that of Kailashnath temple which is cave number 16 of the Ellora caves.This magnificent megalith carved from a single rock was probably built during the reign of the Rashtrakuta King Krishna I between 756 to 773 A.D.It shows traces of Pallava and Chalukya art which probably means that artists from these two powerful South Indian kingdoms were engaged to build this astounding work of art.
This freestanding multistoreyed temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva and is supposed to represent the mythical abode of Shiva - Mount Kailash.
It is notable for its vertical excavation which means work started from the top and moved downwards.Imagine the meticulous planning and execution that was involved because there was no scope of even a single mistake while carving a temple of this size and complexity from a single piece of rock.This during an age when there were no modern tools or implements!
This amazing temple was probably built within a period of 18 years and legend has it that some 200,000 tonnes of rock had to be removed to excavate it.It is 145 feet wide,195 feet long and over 100 feet high.Almost every inch contains intricate and beautiful sculptures from Hindu mythological tales and the epics Ramayana and Mahabharata.The most famous is that of the Demon King Ravana trying to lift Mount Kailash.
More images from this magnificent temple to follow.
The Kangra Fort was built by the royal Rajput family of Kangra State (the Katoch dynasty), which traces its origins to the ancient Trigarta Kingdom, mentioned in the Mahabharata epic. It is the largest fort in the Himalayas and probably the oldest dated fort in India.
Maheshwar is a town situated on the north bank of the River Narmada in Khargone District of the state of Madhya Pradesh in India. It is an ancient place and finds mention in the Puranas and the epics Ramayana and Mahabharata. In the late 18th century it served as the capital of the great Maratha queen of the Holkar dynasty Ahilyabai Holkar. She embellished Maheshwar with beautiful ghats, temples and palaces.The riverfront is extremely picturesque and many Indian movies have been shot here.Maheshwar is also a great center of textile weaving and is famous for the beautiful Maheshwari sarees.
This is the Kailashnath Temple at Ellora,a World Heritage Site in the state of Maharashtra,India.This magnificent megalith carved from a single rock was probably built during the reign of the Rashtrakuta King Krishna I between 756 to 773 AD.
This freestanding multistoreyed temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva and is supposed to represent the mythical abode of Shiva - Mount Kailash.
It is notable for its vertical excavation which means work started from the top and moved downwards.Imagine the meticulous planning and execution that was involved because there was no scope of even a single mistake while carving a temple of this size and complexity from a single piece of rock.This during an age when there were no modern tools or implements!
Legend has it that some 200,000 tonnes of rock had to be removed to excavate this spectacular temple.It is 145 feet wide,195 feet long and over 100 feet high.Almost every inch contains intricate and beautiful sculptures from Hindu mythological tales and the epics Ramayana and Mahabharata.
Might be worth a look in large.
Historic structures are fascinating because of their age and the mystique and antiquity they represent. Like the rest of Katasraj, this building has long been attributed to the time of the Mahabharata. Many myths and stories centre on the temples.
INDONESIEN, Bali ,Kungklung - Taman Gili und Kerta Gosa (Park und Gerichtsgebäude)
Semerapura war einst das Zentrum von Balis wichtigstem Königreich. Am 28. April 1908 war es Schauplatz eines puputan. Dabei handelt es sich um einen Kampf (der Balinesen) gegen die kolonialen Niederländer, bei dem der Tod jedem Aufgeben vorgezogen wurde. Der Regierungsbezirk ist berühmt für seine balinesischen Gemälde, die meist Geschichten aus Epen wie dem Mahabharata oder Ramayana darstellen. Diese Bilder im klassischen Stil entstammen den Fresken der balinesischen Paläste und sind auch im Puri Kerta Gosa (Hochgerichtspalast) in der Innenstadt von Semarapura zu finden.
INDONESIEN, Bali ,Kungklung - Taman Gili und Kerta Gosa (Park und Gerichtsgebäude)
Semerapura war einst das Zentrum von Balis wichtigstem Königreich. Am 28. April 1908 war es Schauplatz eines puputan. Dabei handelt es sich um einen Kampf (der Balinesen) gegen die kolonialen Niederländer, bei dem der Tod jedem Aufgeben vorgezogen wurde. Der Regierungsbezirk ist berühmt für seine balinesischen Gemälde, die meist Geschichten aus Epen wie dem Mahabharata oder Ramayana darstellen. Diese Bilder im klassischen Stil entstammen den Fresken der balinesischen Paläste und sind auch im Puri Kerta Gosa (Hochgerichtspalast) in der Innenstadt von Semarapura zu finden.
The craftswoman is working on a wood sculpture crafted from the roots of a tree, a widespread motif in Balinese art.
Woodcarving is one of Bali’s most beautiful traditional arts, passed down through generations and deeply rooted in the island’s Hindu culture.
The craft flourishes in villages near Ubud, where skilled artisans transform local hardwoods—like teak, mahogany, and crocodile wood—into sculptures, masks, temple decorations, and furniture.
Balinese woodcarving is not merely decorative; it carries spiritual meaning. For woodcarvers to produce such a detailed and sophisticated piece of art is a way to meditate. Many works depict deities, mythological creatures, or scenes from Hindu epics such as the Ramayana and Mahabharata.
True to its name, Purana Qila (Old Fort) is the oldest fort in Delhi. It is built on the ruins of Indraprastha of the Mahabharata fame. Existing fortifications date from the days of Sher Shah Suri or his sons, in the mid-XVI century. Humayun's Gate is the Southern gate of the fortress and its connection to Humayun (the Mughal emperor who was defeated by Sher Shah) is uncertain. One hypothesis is that the name is due to the fact that one can see Humayun's tomb in the distance through the gate.
Explored 11/11/21 at #14
Bird keeper.
Woodcarving is one of Bali’s most beautiful traditional arts, passed down through generations and deeply rooted in the island’s Hindu culture.
The craft flourishes in villages near Ubud, where skilled artisans transform local hardwoods—like teak, mahogany, and crocodile wood—into sculptures, masks, temple decorations, and furniture.
Balinese woodcarving is not merely decorative; it carries spiritual meaning. For woodcarvers to produce such a detailed and sophisticated piece of art is a way to meditate. Many works depict deities, mythological creatures, or scenes from Hindu epics such as the Ramayana and Mahabharata.
The Bhagavad Gita (“Song of God” or “Song of the Lord”) is among the most important religious texts of Hinduism and easily the best known. It is commonly referred to as the Gita and was originally part of the great Indian epic Mahabharata. Its date of composition, therefore, is closely associated with that of the epic – c. 5th-3rd century BCE.
Pointillism style painting on A4 paper card by Ganesh Kelagina Beedu Shenoy (me)
..herb's the word, spin's the verb..
Ed Sheeran & Passenger - No Diggity vs. Thrift Shop (Kygo Remix)
INDONESIEN, Bali ,Kungklung - Taman Gili und Kerta Gosa (Park und Gerichtsgebäude)
Semerapura war einst das Zentrum von Balis wichtigstem Königreich. Am 28. April 1908 war es Schauplatz eines puputan. Dabei handelt es sich um einen Kampf (der Balinesen) gegen die kolonialen Niederländer, bei dem der Tod jedem Aufgeben vorgezogen wurde. Der Regierungsbezirk ist berühmt für seine balinesischen Gemälde, die meist Geschichten aus Epen wie dem Mahabharata oder Ramayana darstellen. Diese Bilder im klassischen Stil entstammen den Fresken der balinesischen Paläste und sind auch im Puri Kerta Gosa (Hochgerichtspalast) in der Innenstadt von Semarapura zu finden.
Dvalapalas (guardian gods) at the western entrance to the sanctuary in Preah Khan. I found a photo of the same statues with heads taken in 1942 on the internet.
I think this is the most handsome architecture in Preah Khan.
If you enter inside, corridors and doorways continue almost endlessly along the east-west axis. There are also buildings one after the other, which are constructed perpendicular to the axis. The site as a whole is kept as an extensive ruin with minimal restoration works like in Ta Prohm.
Preah Khan is not modelled after Mt. Sumeru like many Hindu temples in Khmer Empire; hence it doesn't have the prang or central tower. Hindu temples are usually dedicated to a god or goddess but this temple monastery was built for the memory of the emperor's father. It is quite a deviation from the Hindu tradition of the empire.
It was converted later to a Hindu temple. The fronton of the entrance probably depicts a battle scene of Ramayana or Mahabharata. Buddha images were intentionally removed from lintels and frontons by Jayavarman VIII, VII's successor (^_^;
INDONESIEN, Bali ,Kungklung - Taman Gili und Kerta Gosa (Park und Gerichtsgebäude)
Semerapura war einst das Zentrum von Balis wichtigstem Königreich. Am 28. April 1908 war es Schauplatz eines puputan. Dabei handelt es sich um einen Kampf (der Balinesen) gegen die kolonialen Niederländer, bei dem der Tod jedem Aufgeben vorgezogen wurde. Der Regierungsbezirk ist berühmt für seine balinesischen Gemälde, die meist Geschichten aus Epen wie dem Mahabharata oder Ramayana darstellen. Diese Bilder im klassischen Stil entstammen den Fresken der balinesischen Paläste und sind auch im Puri Kerta Gosa (Hochgerichtspalast) in der Innenstadt von Semarapura zu finden.
In the Mahabharata, Arjuna's celestial chariot was called Kapi Dhwaja , which could conquer all directions. The chariot was donated to Arjuna by Agni, the fire-god and driven by Sarathi Lord Krishna.
A beautiful example of Rajasthani architecture, Vyas Chhatri as the name suggests, is dedicated to sage Vyaas, the writer of the epic Mahabharata. This local version of a cenotaph, is made up of delicate carvings that are a sight to behold.
This is also one of the most scenic spots to catch a sunset in the desert.
Summer 2020 Painting Project. Working with a slightly new method of painting this Summer I learned important things about the technique and how paintings done this way dry. This one dried on my balcony in the fierce heat of July with a fairly hefty wind blowing across it too. This caused the paint to crack or split in unforeseen ways. Completely unintentional, I was nevertheless left with something unique and quite visceral. Another of the many surprises coming out of this technique.
The title refers to a crucial moment in the Indian epic poem, "The Mahabharata", when Bhima finally makes good on his vow to destroy the evil and cruel Dushasana.
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© 2020, Richard S Warner. All Rights Reserved.
Veerabhadra temple is a Hindu temple located in the Lepakshi, in the state of Andhra Pradesh, India. The temple is dedicated to the Virabhadra, a fierce form of the god Shiva.
Built in the 16th century, the architectural features of the temple are in the Vijayanagara style with profusion of carvings and paintings at almost every exposed surface of the temple. It is one of the centrally protected monuments of national importance and is considered one of the most spectacular Vijayanagara temples.[1][2] The fresco paintings are particularly detailed in very bright dresses and colours with scenes of Rama and Krishna from the epic stories of the Ramayana, the Mahabharata and the Puranas and they are well preserved.
There is a very large Nandi (bull), mount of Shiva, about 200 metres (660 ft) away from the temple which is carved from a single block of stone, which is said to be one of the largest of its type in the world
We had been feeling a bit bored lately and decided to brave the scorching heat and take a small trip to the beautiful town of Maheshwar in central India.This shot is from a boat ride on the River Narmada early yesterday morning.
Maheshwar is a town situated on the north bank of the River Narmada in Khargone district of the state of Madhya Pradesh in central India.It is an ancinent town and finds mention in the Puranas and the epics Ramayana and Mahabharata.In the late 18th century it served as the captital of the great Maratha queen Ahilayabai of the Holkar dynasty.She embellished the town with several beautiful buildings,temples and ghats. The riverfront is exquisite and several Indian films have been shot here.
Maheshwar is also a great centre for textile weaving and is famous for the beautiful Maheshwari sarees.
Source :- Wikipedia.
Portraits from Rural Bengal
An unidentified boy dressed and disguised as hindu Lord Shiva with blue paint attends the Sonajhuri fair in the state of WB , India
Bolpur, Santiniketan, India - March 2024: Bahurupi artists in west bengal easily metamorphose into different characters during performance by painting their face.
Bahurupis in Bengal
A group of folk performers who assume several forms [In Sanskrit 'bahu' (many) and 'rupa' (form)] and playfully take on different identities. The bahurupis portray several hundred characters borrowing stories from epics like the Ramayana and Mahabharata; folk tales of gods and goddesses in disguise; stories built around common characters and inspirational stories about personalities.
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Explore #49
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Relieves murales. Historias en piedra
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De: www.worldhistory.org/trans/es/1-12950/angkor-wat/
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Angkor Wat está diseñado para representar el monte Meru, el nexo espiritual y físico en el hinduismo que es el centro de toda la realidad. Los cinco picos del Monte Meru están representados por las cinco agujas del templo. Se creía que Brahma y los Devas (semidioses) vivían en el monte Meru y es famosa la referencia que se hace en el Mahabharata cuando Yudhishthira y sus hermanos viajan a las puertas del cielo. Los hermanos van muriendo uno a uno hasta que solo quedan Yudhishthira y su fiel perro. Cuando llegan a la frontera del cielo, el guardián de la puerta le dice a Yudhishthira que puede entrar por la vida digna que vivió, pero que no se admiten perros en el cielo. Yudhishthira rechaza cualquier paraíso que no incluya a los perros y se aleja, pero el guardián lo detiene y se revela como Vishnú, que solo lo estaba probando una última vez antes de permitirle la entrada.
Historias como esta se cuentan por todo el templo, donde se encuentran escenas de las obras clásicas de la literatura religiosa hindú, como el Ramayana y el Bhagavad-Gita. La gran batalla de Kurukshetra del Gita se representa con claridad, al igual que la batalla de Lanka del Ramayana. Como la mayoría de la gente no sabía leer en el siglo XII d. C., Angkor Wat sirvió como un gigantesco libro en el que se podían relatar visualmente los importantes relatos religiosos y culturales.
...
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Wall reliefs.- Stories in Stone
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From: www.worldhistory.org/Angkor_Wat/
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Angkor Wat is designed to represent Mount Meru, the spiritual and physical nexus in Hinduism which is the center of all reality. The five peaks of Mount Meru are represented by the five spires of the temple. Brahma and the Devas (demigods) were thought to live on Mount Meru and it is famously referenced in The Mahabharata when Yudhishthira and his brothers travel to the gates of heaven. One by one the brothers die until only Yudhishthira and his faithful dog are left. When they reach the border of heaven, the gatekeeper tells Yudhishthira that he may enter for the worthy life he lived but that dogs are not allowed in heaven. Yudhishthira rejects any paradise which does not include dogs and turns away, but the gatekeeper stops him and reveals himself as Vishnu who was only testing him one last time before allowing him entrance.
Stories such as this are told all over the temple where one finds scenes from the classic works of Hindu religious literature such as the Ramayana and Bhagavad-Gita. The great Battle of Kurukshetra from the Gita is depicted clearly as is the Battle of Lanka from the Ramayana. As most people could not read in the 12th century CE, Angkor Wat served as a gigantic book on which the important religious and cultural tales could be related visually.
...
In the Mahabharata story, Karna is known as Arjuna's main enemy. Both compete to always be the best. In the arts of archery and soldiering, they are said to have comparable abilities. But, I dare say, Karna is one level above his rival. It is not easy to defeat Karna in a battle. In Baratayudha, for example, Basudewa Krisna needed to use many tricks so that his beloved disciple Begawan Parashurama could be defeated by Arjuna. Karna was successfully killed. He was killed when he was unarmed, when all his knowledge suddenly disappeared from him. At the end of his death, just as Arjuna's Gandhiwa arrow was about to be released, Karna remembered a curse that his teacher, Parashurama, had uttered. "There will come a time when all your knowledge will be lost, when the most decisive moment in your life will be on the verge of death." The curse helped Arjuna win in a most decisive battle. The war in Kurusetra, which was originally held to uphold dharma (virtue) and eradicate evil, was instead covered in the stain of dishonesty. Betrayal after betrayal was designed to prevent Karna's victory. Something that great warrior characters like Krishna and Arjuna should not do. However, in the war that was already underway, all the tactics and tricks were usually used to achieve victory. Karna's archery skills, equipped with a shield attached to his body since birth, make his opponents afraid. Not a single weapon could injure his body. He was also gifted with Pashopati, a magical weapon given by God Indra. Just by saying one name, the magic weapon can complete its purpose. Any knight as much as possible avoids open war with Karna.
However great Karna was, during his life, he never received public recognition just because of the Putrasuta (charioteer's son), the lowest caste in the Vedic era. The caste system and values in society at that time had made Vrusali's husband defeated by a narrow view of life. Where the knowledge and abilities of someone other than a Brahmin or Kshatriya are considered errors. In this era where sand is crumbling like sand, social status has become the most powerful measuring tool to determine a person's honor. Display obscures capabilities. Form trumps content. The skin submerges the core. And finally someone will be respected, looked up to, liked, approached, even loved because of their origin, lineage and social status. Not because of knowledge and ability.
Braham Sarovar temple during Gita Jayanti.
Gita Jayanti commemorates the creation of the Srimad Bhagavad Gita, the sacred text of the Hindu’s. This was the site of the epic battle of Mahabharata. Legend has it that Lord Krishna and Arjuna had an exchange on life’s truths on the battleground – the basis of the religious book….
Furniture in the house of wood carver.
Woodcarving is one of Bali’s most beautiful traditional arts, passed down through generations and deeply rooted in the island’s Hindu culture.
The craft flourishes in villages near Ubud, where skilled artisans transform local hardwoods—like teak, mahogany, and crocodile wood—into sculptures, masks, temple decorations, and furniture.
Balinese woodcarving is not merely decorative; it carries spiritual meaning. For woodcarvers to produce such a detailed and sophisticated piece of art is a way to meditate. Many works depict deities, mythological creatures, or scenes from Hindu epics such as the Ramayana and Mahabharata.
The Kurukshetra is the great, apocalyptic field of battle in India's massive epic poem ( the longest in world literature ), "The Mahabharata". Two clans of a family, in dispute over the succession to the throne and the rulership of the land, square off in one of most violent and bloody battles ever rendered in verse. The tragedy of it is that it was family members destroying each other in the most unthinkable ways over this dispute. Few survived and to this day, the site of the Kurukshetra, which is known, is still remembered for not only for the war but also as the site of "The Bhagavad Gita", a story set within the events of "The Mahabharata".
The "Gita" begins as the Pandavas gather across from the Kauravas on the plain of battle, the brave Pandava warrior, Prince Arjuna, is paralysed the existential dread. How can he and the Pandava go to war and slaughter their relatives? His chariot driver is none other than the god Krishna in human form. As Arjuna loses his resolve over his deeper questions, Krishna begins a dialogue with him that is one of the great existential/spiritual teachings of the ages.
Abstraction from straight photographs. Created July 19, 2022.
Zoom in for a more detailed and immersive view.
Explore Aug 23, 2022.
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© 2022, Richard S Warner. All Rights Reserved. This image may not be used or copied or posted to another website in any form whatsoever without express permission of the creator of this work, with whom the sole copyright resides.
Instagram: Richard S Warner.
INDONESIEN, Bali ,Kungklung - Taman Gili und Kerta Gosa (Park und Gerichtsgebäude)
Semerapura war einst das Zentrum von Balis wichtigstem Königreich. Am 28. April 1908 war es Schauplatz eines puputan. Dabei handelt es sich um einen Kampf (der Balinesen) gegen die kolonialen Niederländer, bei dem der Tod jedem Aufgeben vorgezogen wurde. Der Regierungsbezirk ist berühmt für seine balinesischen Gemälde, die meist Geschichten aus Epen wie dem Mahabharata oder Ramayana darstellen. Diese Bilder im klassischen Stil entstammen den Fresken der balinesischen Paläste und sind auch im Puri Kerta Gosa (Hochgerichtspalast) in der Innenstadt von Semarapura zu finden.
We crossed Sahasradhara (thousand streams) on the 3rd day of our trek to Satopant lake....this particular area offered us a fascinating experience...of streams coming from all around into the valley--almost flat, but surrounded by steep glacial rocks completely--and the walking through was difficult for identifying the correct path to cross those numerous water channels....the place is mythologically connected to Hindu epic, Mahabharata, where Bhima, the great Pandava, died on way to the Heaven.....path is still believed to take to the Heaven with last stairs above the lake Satopant...we could only go till the lake...taken on trek to Satopant lake in Garhwal Himalayas, India
Woodcarving is one of Bali’s most beautiful traditional arts, passed down through generations and deeply rooted in the island’s Hindu culture.
The craft flourishes in villages near Ubud, where skilled artisans transform local hardwoods—like teak, mahogany, and crocodile wood—into sculptures, masks, temple decorations, and furniture.
Balinese woodcarving is not merely decorative; it carries spiritual meaning. For woodcarvers to produce such a detailed and sophisticated piece of art is a way to meditate. Many works depict deities, mythological creatures, or scenes from Hindu epics such as the Ramayana and Mahabharata.
The elephants carved at the base of the temple seem to hold up the weight of the massive rock-cut temple.
This freestanding multistoreyed temple carved out of a single rock is in Ellora,a World Heritage Site in Maharashtra,India.It was built during the reign of the Rashtrakuta king Krishna I during the 8th century A.D.
It is notable for its vertical excavation which means work started from the top and moved downwards.Imagine the meticulous planning and execution that was involved because there was no scope of even a single mistake while carving a temple of this size and complexity from a single piece of rock.This during an age when there were no modern tools or implements!
Legend has it that some 200,000 tonnes of rock had to be removed to excavate this spectacular temple.It is 145 feet wide,195 feet long and over 100 feet high.Almost every inch contains intricate and beautiful sculptures from Hindu mythological tales and the epics Ramayana and Mahabharata.
Tungnath is the highest Shiva temple in the world and is one of the five and the highest Panch Kedar temples located in the mountain range of Tunganath in Rudraprayag district, in the Indian state of Uttarakhand. The Tunganath (literal meaning: Lord of the peaks) mountains form the Mandakini and Alaknanda river valleys. Located at an altitude of 3,680 m (12,073 ft), and just below the peak of Chandrashila, Tungnath temple is the highest Hindu shrine dedicated to Lord Shiva. The temple is believed to be 1000 years old and is the third (Tritiya Kedar) in the pecking order of the Panch Kedars. It has a rich legend linked to the Pandavas, heroes of the Mahabharata epic.
Relieves murales. Historias en piedra
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De: www.worldhistory.org/trans/es/1-12950/angkor-wat/
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Angkor Wat está diseñado para representar el monte Meru, el nexo espiritual y físico en el hinduismo que es el centro de toda la realidad. Los cinco picos del Monte Meru están representados por las cinco agujas del templo. Se creía que Brahma y los Devas (semidioses) vivían en el monte Meru y es famosa la referencia que se hace en el Mahabharata cuando Yudhishthira y sus hermanos viajan a las puertas del cielo. Los hermanos van muriendo uno a uno hasta que solo quedan Yudhishthira y su fiel perro. Cuando llegan a la frontera del cielo, el guardián de la puerta le dice a Yudhishthira que puede entrar por la vida digna que vivió, pero que no se admiten perros en el cielo. Yudhishthira rechaza cualquier paraíso que no incluya a los perros y se aleja, pero el guardián lo detiene y se revela como Vishnú, que solo lo estaba probando una última vez antes de permitirle la entrada.
Historias como esta se cuentan por todo el templo, donde se encuentran escenas de las obras clásicas de la literatura religiosa hindú, como el Ramayana y el Bhagavad-Gita. La gran batalla de Kurukshetra del Gita se representa con claridad, al igual que la batalla de Lanka del Ramayana. Como la mayoría de la gente no sabía leer en el siglo XII d. C., Angkor Wat sirvió como un gigantesco libro en el que se podían relatar visualmente los importantes relatos religiosos y culturales.
El templo se erige hacia arriba a través de una serie de galerías, lo que daba un amplio espacio a los diseñadores para explorar la historia cultural, religiosa y temporal del pueblo. La galería exterior del templo se extiende a lo largo de más de 600 m cubiertos por estos relieves. Angkor Wat fue diseñado para representar el mundo, con las cuatro esquinas del muro exterior ancladas en las cuatro esquinas de la tierra y el foso que representa los océanos circundantes. Escenas de la vida cotidiana, relatos mitológicos, iconografía religiosa y procesiones reales se enroscan en la fachada.
En la entrada occidental, una gran estatua de Vishnú con ocho brazos se ha colocado en la actualidad para recibir a los visitantes que depositan ofrendas a sus pies en señal de súplica o en agradecimiento por las oraciones atendidas. El santuario central del templo está alineado de norte a sur con el eje de la tierra, y la estatua de Vishnú se situaba en el centro, dejando claro que Vishnú estaba en el centro de todos los acontecimientos terrenales y divinos. Las galerías, según algunos estudiosos, se utilizaban para las observaciones astronómicas y se construyeron específicamente con ese fin para que los astrónomos pudieran ver claramente la rotación de los cielos en el cielo nocturno. No cabe duda de que el lugar estaba vinculado a las observaciones astronómicas, ya que está colocado con precisión para reflejar la constelación de Draco, el dragón, que representa la eternidad porque nunca se pone.
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Wall reliefs.- Stories in Stone
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From: www.worldhistory.org/Angkor_Wat/
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Angkor Wat is designed to represent Mount Meru, the spiritual and physical nexus in Hinduism which is the center of all reality. The five peaks of Mount Meru are represented by the five spires of the temple. Brahma and the Devas (demigods) were thought to live on Mount Meru and it is famously referenced in The Mahabharata when Yudhishthira and his brothers travel to the gates of heaven. One by one the brothers die until only Yudhishthira and his faithful dog are left. When they reach the border of heaven, the gatekeeper tells Yudhishthira that he may enter for the worthy life he lived but that dogs are not allowed in heaven. Yudhishthira rejects any paradise which does not include dogs and turns away, but the gatekeeper stops him and reveals himself as Vishnu who was only testing him one last time before allowing him entrance.
Stories such as this are told all over the temple where one finds scenes from the classic works of Hindu religious literature such as the Ramayana and Bhagavad-Gita. The great Battle of Kurukshetra from the Gita is depicted clearly as is the Battle of Lanka from the Ramayana. As most people could not read in the 12th century CE, Angkor Wat served as a gigantic book on which the important religious and cultural tales could be related visually.
The temple was galleried – meaning it progresses upwards through a series of galleries - giving ample room for the designers to explore the cultural, religious, and temporal history of the people. The outer gallery of the temple stretches for over 1,960 feet (600 m) covered in these reliefs. Angkor Wat was designed to represent the world with the four corners of the outer wall anchored at the four corners of the earth and the moat representing the surrounding oceans. Scenes from everyday life, mythological tales, religious iconography, and royal processions all wind themselves around the façade.
At the western entrance, a large statue of eight-armed Vishnu has been placed in the present day to receive visitors who place offerings at his feet in supplication or in gratitude for prayers answered. The central sanctuary of the temple is aligned north-south to the axis of the earth, and the Vishnu statue once stood in the center, making clear that Vishnu was at the heart of all earthly and divine occurrences. The galleries, according to some scholars, were used for astronomical observations and were built specifically for that purpose so that astronomers could clearly view the rotation of the heavens in the night sky. There is no doubt the site was linked to astronomical observances as it is precisely positioned to mirror the constellation of Draco, the dragon, which represents eternity because it never sets.
INDONESIEN, Bali ,Kungklung - Taman Gili und Kerta Gosa (Park und Gerichtsgebäude)
Semerapura war einst das Zentrum von Balis wichtigstem Königreich. Am 28. April 1908 war es Schauplatz eines puputan. Dabei handelt es sich um einen Kampf (der Balinesen) gegen die kolonialen Niederländer, bei dem der Tod jedem Aufgeben vorgezogen wurde. Der Regierungsbezirk ist berühmt für seine balinesischen Gemälde, die meist Geschichten aus Epen wie dem Mahabharata oder Ramayana darstellen. Diese Bilder im klassischen Stil entstammen den Fresken der balinesischen Paläste und sind auch im Puri Kerta Gosa (Hochgerichtspalast) in der Innenstadt von Semarapura zu finden.
Woodcarving is one of Bali’s most beautiful traditional arts, passed down through generations and deeply rooted in the island’s Hindu culture.
The craft flourishes in villages near Ubud, where skilled artisans transform local hardwoods—like teak, mahogany, and crocodile wood—into sculptures, masks, temple decorations, and furniture.
Balinese woodcarving is not merely decorative; it carries spiritual meaning. For woodcarvers to produce such a detailed and sophisticated piece of art is a way to meditate. Many works depict deities, mythological creatures, or scenes from Hindu epics such as the Ramayana and Mahabharata.
The ancient Angkor Wat temple complex in northwestern Cambodia is regarded as the supreme masterpiece of classic Khmer architecture and source of intense national pride. It was built as a mausoleum for a great medieval king (Suryavarman II, 1113-1150) whose regime had adopted some aspects of Hinduism.
The infinity POV in this remarkable southern section of the east gallery follows through a corbel-roofed colonnade with a long sequence of columns. Typically seated at the base of each column are rishis or bearded ascetics. To the left of the arcade is perhaps the most famous of the bas-relief scenes at Angkor Wat, the Churning of the Ocean of Milk. It depicts an epic chapter in the Hindu creation myth and is seen as a paragon of classic Khmer art.
It is also a story about the victory of good over evil. The devas (gods) and the asuras (demons) are portrayed in a metaphoric tug-of-war with the Naga or serpent king as their divine rope, while overhead a ubiquitous host of asparas or celestial maidens sing and dance in encouragement.
Anchor Wat contains the longest continuous series of bas-reliefs in the world with a complete iconographical record of Hindu mythology, including the Khmer version of scenes drawn from epic Indian legends of the Mahabharata and the Ramayana. The beautifully carved sandstone reliefs also depict scenes from ancient Khmer courtly and military life, including a triumphal battle march with the king and his commanders mounted on war elephants.
This grand architectural endeavour contributed to the notion that the king was an incarnation of the Hindu god Vishnu. He was depicted as a deified monarch with transcendental qualities, a divine universal ruler, hence a “god who is king.” The myth provided the religious rationale for absolute royal authority and subject obedience.
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Portraits from Rural Bengal
Bolpur, Santiniketan, India - April 2021: Bahurupi artists in west bengal easily metamorphose into different characters during performance by painting their face.
Bahurupis in Bengal
A group of folk performers who assume several forms [In Sanskrit 'bahu' (many) and 'rupa' (form)] and playfully take on different identities. The bahurupis portray several hundred characters borrowing stories from epics like the Ramayana and Mahabharata; folk tales of gods and goddesses in disguise; stories built around common characters and inspirational stories about personalities.
Shot it at Kumbha Mela 2010.Its a greatest show on Earth.
In Hindu mythology, its origin is found in one of the popular creation myths and the Hindu theories on evolution, the Samudra manthan episode (Churning of the ocean of milk), which finds mention in the Bhagavata Purana, Vishnu Purana, the Mahabharata, and the Ramayana.
The Gods had lost their strength, and to regain it, they thought of churning the Ksheera Sagara (primordial ocean of milk) for amrit (the nectar of immortality), this required them to make a temporary agreement with their arch enemies, the demons or Asuras, to work together with a promise of sharing the nectar equally thereafter. However, when the Kumbha (urn) containing the amrita appeared, a fight ensued. For twelve days and twelve nights (equivalent to twelve human years) the gods and demons fought in the sky for the pot of amrita. It is believed that during the battle, Lord Vishnu flew away with the Kumbha of elixir, and that is when drops of amrita fell at four places on earth: Prayag, Haridwar, Ujjain and Nashik, and that is where the Kumbh Mela is observed every twelve years.
First written evidence of the Kumbha Mela can be found in the accounts of Chinese traveller, Huan Tsang or Xuanzang (602 - 664 A.D.) who visited India in 629 -645 CE, during the reign of King Harshavardhana.
Source:-Wikipedia.
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Vishna riding Garuda
Woodcarving is one of Bali’s most beautiful traditional arts, passed down through generations and deeply rooted in the island’s Hindu culture.
The craft flourishes in villages near Ubud, where skilled artisans transform local hardwoods—like teak, mahogany, and crocodile wood—into sculptures, masks, temple decorations, and furniture.
Balinese woodcarving is not merely decorative; it carries spiritual meaning. For woodcarvers to produce such a detailed and sophisticated piece of art is a way to meditate. Many works depict deities, mythological creatures, or scenes from Hindu epics such as the Ramayana and Mahabharata.
Wooden couple.
Woodcarving is one of Bali’s most beautiful traditional arts, passed down through generations and deeply rooted in the island’s Hindu culture.
The craft flourishes in villages near Ubud, where skilled artisans transform local hardwoods—like teak, mahogany, and crocodile wood—into sculptures, masks, temple decorations, and furniture.
Balinese woodcarving is not merely decorative; it carries spiritual meaning. For woodcarvers to produce such a detailed and sophisticated piece of art is a way to meditate. Many works depict deities, mythological creatures, or scenes from Hindu epics such as the Ramayana and Mahabharata.
A beautiful example of Rajasthani architecture, Vyas Chhatri as the name suggests, is dedicated to sage Vyaas, the writer of the epic Mahabharata. This local version of a cenotaph, is made up of delicate carvings that are a sight to behold.
This is also one of the most scenic spots to catch a sunset in the desert
INDONESIEN, Bali ,Kungklung - Taman Gili und Kerta Gosa (Park und Gerichtsgebäude)
Semerapura war einst das Zentrum von Balis wichtigstem Königreich. Am 28. April 1908 war es Schauplatz eines puputan. Dabei handelt es sich um einen Kampf (der Balinesen) gegen die kolonialen Niederländer, bei dem der Tod jedem Aufgeben vorgezogen wurde. Der Regierungsbezirk ist berühmt für seine balinesischen Gemälde, die meist Geschichten aus Epen wie dem Mahabharata oder Ramayana darstellen. Diese Bilder im klassischen Stil entstammen den Fresken der balinesischen Paläste und sind auch im Puri Kerta Gosa (Hochgerichtspalast) in der Innenstadt von Semarapura zu finden.
Dice, nothing but a plaything,used in many a board games.The dice has a very important role to play in an Epic called Mahabharata.But, here its just an Ash tray kept on a table, opposite a window.
SHYAMRAI Temple of BISHNUPUR, which is an Archaeological Site build by the Malla King Raghunath Singh in AD 1643. It is the best example in brick of the Pancharatna type. Its Terracotta panels are also Noteworthy. Standing on a low square Plinth, this Pancharatna brick Temple was noted for elaborate Terracotta Ornamentations. The square Sanctum is surrounded by an Ambulatory pathway with a Porch open by three Multicusped Arches on four sides, of the five Sikharas. The Central one is Octagon (originally collapsed) while the others are Square resting upon the four corners of sloping roof in a 'Pida' order. The Decorative Panels are interesting to narrate the contemporary Socio-Religious theme, Political and Economic life of the People. It also includes the Scenes of Ramayana, Mahabharata and other Puranic Stories, Plants, Animals and Grotesque Figure.
INDONESIEN, Bali ,Kungklung - Taman Gili und Kerta Gosa (Park und Gerichtsgebäude)
Semerapura war einst das Zentrum von Balis wichtigstem Königreich. Am 28. April 1908 war es Schauplatz eines puputan. Dabei handelt es sich um einen Kampf (der Balinesen) gegen die kolonialen Niederländer, bei dem der Tod jedem Aufgeben vorgezogen wurde. Der Regierungsbezirk ist berühmt für seine balinesischen Gemälde, die meist Geschichten aus Epen wie dem Mahabharata oder Ramayana darstellen. Diese Bilder im klassischen Stil entstammen den Fresken der balinesischen Paläste und sind auch im Puri Kerta Gosa (Hochgerichtspalast) in der Innenstadt von Semarapura zu finden.
Woodcarving is one of Bali’s traditional arts, passed down through generations and deeply rooted in the island’s Hindu culture. The craft flourished in villages near Ubud, where skilled artisans transform local hardwoods—like teak, mahogany, and crocodile wood—into sculptures, masks, temple decorations, and furniture.
Balinese woodcarving is not merely decorative; it carries spiritual meaning. Many works depict deities, mythological creatures, or scenes from Hindu epics such as the Ramayana and Mahabharata.