Tattooing is one of the oldest art forms on the planet, dating to prehistoric times and cave dwellers who often created tattoos as part of ritual practices linked to shamanism, protection, connection with their gods, and embuing them with magica powers. Early tattooing was used to symbolize the fertility of the earth and of womankind, preservation of life after death, the sacredness of...
A pagoda is the general term in the English language for a tiered tower with multiple eaves common in Nepal, India, China, Japan, Korea, Vietnam, Burma and other parts of Asia. Some pagodas are used as Taoist houses of worship. Most pagodas were built to have a religious function, most commonly Buddhist, and were often located in or near temples. This term may refer to other religious structures...
The assumption that the ancient Hindus could not read or write probably springs from the fact that no writing material was excavated on Indian soil. That pictographs await excavation in India does not undermine the importance of literary evidence to the existence of writing skills of the Vedic folks. Also, it is suggested that no script was developed in Rig Vedic India since the verb “likha...
Evidence of unexplained ancient aircraft can be found across the planet especially in areas where major civilizations once thrived. Physical evidence of alien intervention in human history is undeniable. Ancient Astronaut Theory seeks to explain alien presence in the past linked with Ancient Aircraft and purported landing strips, especially in areas like India (Vimanas), Egypt, and Mesoamerica...
Tara or Arya Tara, also known as Jetsun Dolma, is a female Bodhisattva typically associated with Tibetan Buddhism. She is the “mother of liberation”, and represents the virtues of success in work and achievements. Tara is actually the generic name for a set of Bodhisattvas of similar aspect. These may more properly be understood as different aspects of the same quality, as...
Tantra is the name scholars give to an inter-religious spiritual movement that arose in medieval India in the fifth century CE, expressed in scriptures (called “Tantras”). The historical significance of the movement lies in the fact that it impacted every major Asian religion extant in the early medieval period (c. 500 – 1200 CE): thus Shaivism, Buddhism, Vaishnavism, and...
Games such as Chess, Snakes and Ladders, Playing Cards, Polo, the martial arts of Judo and Karate had originated in India and it was from here that these games were transmitted to foreign countries, where they were further developed. Several games now familiar across the world owe their origins in India, particularly, the games of chess, ludo (including ladders and snake), and playing cards. The...
The Puranas (Sanskrit ‘ancient’, since they focus on ancient history of the universe) are part of Hindu Smriti. These religious scriptures discuss varied topics like devotion to God in his various aspects, traditional sciences like Ayurveda, Jyotish, cosmology, concepts like dharma, karma, reincarnation and many others.Sage Vyasa is credited with compilation of Puranas from age Yuga...
The Vedas are perhaps the oldest written text on our planet today. They date back to the beginning of Indian civilization and are the earliest literary records of the whole Aryan race. They are supposed to have been passed through oral tradition for over 100,000 years. They came to us in written form between 4-6,000 years ago. The Vedas are divided into four groups, Rigveda, Yajurveda, Samaveda...
The Literature regarded as central to the Vedic and Hindu literary tradition was originally predominantly composed in Sanskrit. Indeed, much of the morphology inherent in the learning of Sanskrit is inextricably linked to study of the Vedas and other early texts. Vedic literature is divided by tradition into two categories: Shruti Ð that which is heard (traditionally understood as revelation) and...