India in the eighth century
India in the eighth century was marked by the growth of three important political powers in India. These were Gurjara Pratiharas in north India, Palas in eastern…
Vattakirutal – fasting facing north
Tamils who lived 2000 years ago valued good reputation and family honour. They thought that it was better to die than to live in disgrace. The practice…
Ports of ancient India
Some of the important ports of ancient India were : Barygaza — Bharuch; Syrastrene — Saurashtra; Suppara — Soppara; Muziris — Pattanam; Colchi — Korkai; Camera –…
Stupa – origin and structure
What is a Stupa? Stupa (Sanskrit for heap) is a mound-like or hemispherical burial structure containing relics of Buddhist monks. Examples: Sanchi Stupa in Madhya Pradesh is…
Prominent Buddhist centres of ancient India
There are a number of Buddhist centres and pilgrimage sites in India. Most of them owe their origin to ancient India. Four primary sites of Buddhist pilgrimage…
Four primary sites of Buddhist pilgrimage
Buddhism offers four primary sites of pilgrimage: Lumbini , Bodh Gaya , Sarnath , and Kushinagar . All of these sites are located in India except Lumbini,…
Fire temple – the place of worship for Zoroastrians
What is a fire temple? A fire temple in Zoroastrianism is the place of worship for Zoroastrians, often called dar-e mehr (Persian) or agiyari (Gujarati). What are…
Guru Gobind Singh – The Tenth Nanak
Guru Govind Singh was born as Gobind Rai on December 22 in 1666, according to the Julian Calendar. However, according to the lunar calendar, the day of…
Lingayatism – a distinct Shaivite religious tradition
What is Lingayatism? Lingayatism is a distinct Shaivite religious tradition in India. Its worship is centered on Hindu god Shiva as the universal god in the iconographic…
Architecture at Fatehpur Sikri
Sikri town ( in Agra ) was founded as the capital of Mughal Empire in 1571 by Emperor Akbar. The city came to be known as Fatehpur…