Skanda on Peacock Mount
Kdei Ang, Cambodia.
VI or VII century
Musee Guimet, Paris
The goddess Camunda (Kali) with characteristic garland of skulls (Taleju Devi temple, Bhaktapur, Nepal)
Bas-relief on a temple pillar depicting Visnu in his tortoise avatara (Ranganathaswamy temple, Srirangam, Tamil Nadu, India)
Pillar with bas-reliefs depicting some of Visnu’s avataras (Mahabalipuram, India)
The Laksmana Temple at Khajuraho is a classic example of the Nagara temple style produced by the Chandella Dynasty (Khajuraho, India)
Bas-relief of two of the Matrkas (Mothers) accompanied by Ganesa, the elephant-headed god (Ellora, India)
Bas-relief of the group of goddesses known as the Matrkas (Mothers) (Ellora, India)
Bas-relief of the Hindu river goddess Ganga at the Ellora Caves (Ellora, India)
Hindu devotees and pilgrims bathe in the sacred waters at Pura Tirta Empul on the island of Bali (Tampaksiring, Bali, Indonesia)
Bust of Annie Besant in the Theosophical Society headquarters (Adyar, Tamil Nadu, India)
Bas-relief on a temple pillar depicting a yogic posture, utilized in ascetic practice (Ranganathaswamy Temple, Srirangam, Tamil Nadu, India).
The tomb of Bhartrhari, who is here reputed to be the brother of an ancient king of Ujjain (Chunar Fort, Uttar Pradesh, India)
Visnu in his boar avatara rescues Bhu Devi, the Earth Goddess (Khajuraho, India)
Ardhanarisvara image
(Airavatesvara temple, Darasuram, Tamil Nadu)
caption
Kumari during Sirja
Mahakali leaving the Navadurga temple on Sirja
Image of Durga above the entrance to the temple with flowers and feathers from the sacrificed chicken at Gathemangal ceremon
The Nakin pouring water so the Gana may cleanse/purify themselves
The Nakin pouring water so the Gana may cleanse/purify themselves
Sacrificed sheep head placed in the temple of Nasadyo on Ganesh Chaturthi
Dance performance during Ganesh Chaturthi
The khin, ta, and kya (in order from left to right)
Image A – The Karmacharya and one of the Naya performing a ritual before the performance during Ganesh Chaturthi
Large image of Siva in Bhaktapur, Nepal
The Hindu God of Death, Yama, with his skull topped staff and buffalo mount, Pratihara period, 10th century, Rajasthan, Delhi National Museum
Large bas relief depicting Visnu reclining on the cosmic serpent Ananta during the pralaya, the period between the cycles of creation; Mahabalipuram, India
The sage Patanjali depicted according to the myth linking him with the anjali (folded hand gesture)
The Goddess Yamuna, 8th century CE, Delhi National Museum
The Kurma (Tortoise) avatara of Visnu depicted on this pillar bas-relief at Srirangam Temple in Tamil Nadu
Fresco with Visnu’s matsya (fish) avatara in a palace in Orchha, India
Statue of a Yogini, one of a cluster of 64, who would be housed in circular, roofless temples, enabling them to fly in and out; 10th century, Sackler Gallery, Washington DC
Massive bas-relief depicting how the sage Bagiratha (upper left) performed austerities to lift a curse and cause the Ganga to flow; Mahabalipuram, India
Exquisite and profuse sculptures adorn the Hoysalesvara Temple at Halebidu in Karnataka
Stone sculpture of the goddess of learning Sarasvati, holding the Vedas, a lotus, a waterpot, and prayer beads, 12th century, from Pallu, Rajasthan, Delhi National Museum
Parvati’s austerities (tapas) and her worship of Siva are depicted on this pillar at Darasuram Temple in Tamil Nadu
Bronze masterpiece depicting the goddess Parvati, consort of Siva; 14th century, Thanjavur Palace Museum
Laksmi, the Goddess of Good Fortune, being showered by elephants in a temple relief at Gangaikondacholapuram Temple
Image of the goddess Kali with upraised sword and extended tongue in a Tantric practitioner’s home in Banaras
The Goddess Ganga atop her crocodile (makara) mount on a bas-relief carved on a column at Mahabalipuram, India
Bas-relief depicting the goddess Ganga atop her crocodile (makara) mount at Kelaniya Temple, Sri Lanka
Large bas-relief depicting a domestic scene with cows, who are revered in the Hindu tradition; Mahabalipuram, India
Large bas-relief depicting Visnu in his descent as a boar (Varaha Avatara), in order to rescue the earth goddess, Bhu Devi; Mahabalipuram, India
Whimsical bas-relief depicting a cat performing a balancing and stretching posture (asana), associated with the practice of Hatha Yoga; Mahabalipuram, India
The Sun God Surya holding flowers in each of his hands with the seven horses of his chariot below; Pala Period; Asian Civilizations Museum, Singapore
Chola bronze depicting Siva as Lord of the Dance (Nataraja), his iconic form at Cidambaram Temple in Tamil Nadu
The god Siva accompanied by Kali and Ganesa, is depicted on a wall at Veeramakaliamman Temple in Singapore
Depiction of Shivaji Bhonsle in Brhadesvara Temple in Thanjavur
A Hindu goddess, probably Parvati because she holds a trident and is flanked by lions, is depicted pregnant on this wall at Veeramakaliamman Temple in Singapore
Hindu renouncers from the Vaisnava sect on their way to the Kumbha Mela in Nasik
A shrine depicting the 18 holy steps marking the final ascent to the temple of Lord Ayyapan, the destination of the Sabaraimala pilgrimage in Kerala, India
Agastya, one of the legendary Seven Rsis, Cidambaram Temple Sculpture, Tamil Nadu
Bas relief depicting Ravana trying to topple Mount Kailasa, the abode of Siva and Parvati; Mahabalipuram, India
Collossal Entry Gopura at Rajarajesvara (aka Brhadesvara) Temple in Thanjavur
Entrance to Rajaraja I’s royal palace, now the Palace Museum in Thanjavur
Image of Nandi, the bull mount (vahana) of Siva in its own shrine at Khajuraho, India
Large bas-relief depicting the god Krsna holding aloft Mount Govardhana to protect his fellow cowherds from Indra’s thunderstorm; Mahabalipuram, India
An ascetic smeared with ashes awaits the crucial bathing period at the Kumbha Mela in Nasik, India
Worshippers carry an image of the goddess Kali to the river Ganga for immersion at the end of Kali Puja celebrations in Banaras
The Jagganatha Temple in Puri, renowned for its chariot festival, known as the Ratha Yatra; Odisha, India
A pillar at Srirangam Temple depicting a Yogi performing a variation of the tree posture (vrksa-asana), commonly practiced in Hatha Yoga
Hanuman (The monkey god Hanuman serves as a guardian deity and flanks a palace entrance in Bhaktapur, Nepal)
A platter of jalebis and puris (deep fried sweets and bread) at a dhaba (roadside restaurant) in Rajasthan
Fire in the Hindu Tradition (A priest at a temple in Banaras presides over offerings into the fire, which plays a central role in many Hindu worship rites)
Ekadanta (Giant Ganesha image displaying his broken tusk, near Kolhapur, India)
Blood Sacrifice in Hinduism (Beheaded goats lie beside the yoke where they are tethered when offered to the goddess Kamakhya at Nilachal in Assam)
Black Pagoda or Sun Temple at Konark (Ruins of the great chariot temple to Surya at Konark, also known as the Black Pagoda in Odisha, India)
Funerary Pyres at Pasupatinath Temple near Kathmandu, Nepal
Indus Valley Seals and Imprints (Musee Guimet, Paris)
Indus Valley Artefacts (Musee Guimet, Paris)
Indus Valley Civilization artefacts including seals and figurines (Musee Guimet, Paris)
Bronze Masterpiece depicting Siva and Parvati (Patan Museum, Patan, Nepal)
Hindu Deity (Tile-kali-amman temple, Cidambaram)
Map of the Indian Subcontinent with Important Religious Sites
Hindu Priest at Shrine Door (Hayagriba Mahadeb Temple, Assam)
Woman appeasing Rahu (Navagraha temple, Assam)
Navagraha (Nine Heavenly Forces) Temple, Assam
Sacrificial Yoke and Goat Sacrifice (Kamakhya Devi Temple, Kamarupa, Assam)
Temple of Goddess Kamakhya (Kamarupa, Assam)
Sakta devotees at Bhuvanesvari Temple (Kamarupa, Assam)
The Goddess Bagalamukhi (one of the Ten Mahavidyas) (Temple Painting, Patan, Nepal)
Garuda Statue (Durbar Square, Kathmandu, Nepal)
The Narasimha (Man-Lion) Avatara of Visnu (Bhaktapur, Nepal)
Durga as Mahisasuramardini (Crusher of the Buffalo Demon) (Bhaktapur, Nepal)
Cow sitting amid the debris of temple flower offerings (Varanasi)
Close-up of Central Face of Anandamayi Ma image (Varanasi)
Anandamayi Ma murti (image) in Varanasi
Visnu’s Vamana (Dwarf) avatara sends the demon Bali to the underworld
Skanda (Karttikeya), 5th century, Gupta Period (Bharat Kala Bhavan, Varanasi)
The Vamana (Dwarf) Avatara of Visnu (Bharat Kala Bhavan, Varanasi)
Harihara image (Bharat Kala Bhavan, Varanasi)
Gaja Laksmi (Laksmi flanked by Elephants) (Srirangam Temple)
Gaja Laksmi (Laksmi flanked by Elephants) (Srirangam Temple)
Garuda figure (Srirangam Temple, South India)
Ganesa Statue (7-8th century), Cham Museum of Sculpture, Danang, Vietnam
The Goddess Durga on her lion battles the Buffalo Demon Mahisa (Mahabalipuram)
Bhairava Image, 13th century, Karnataka (Musee Guimet, Paris)
Large Rama Statue, Bali
Tenggerese Priest at a temple at the base of Mt. Bromo
