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Religion 101: Exploring Jainism: Celebrations And Teachings

Jainism Religion India

of – An artifact of significant historical and religious import, a 1st- to 2nd-century CE water tank relief panel from Mathura (Brooklyn Museum 87.188.5), shows two ardhaphalaka Jain monks holding a colapatta cloth. This depiction of the cloth, used for genital covering, provides evidence of a practice among ancient Jain monks that resonates with the tenets of the Svetambara sect. Image source: Brooklyn Museum / Wikipedia

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Malaysia 101: The Majestic Batu Caves: History, Celebrations and the Giant Lord Murugan Statue

Batu Caves Thaipusam Old Photo Religion Hindu Malaysia India

In the 1950s, was already a significant site for the community in , with the annual festival being celebrated since the late 19th century. The caves, with their stunning natural limestone formations, had been a place of worship and pilgrimage for decades. During this time, the area surrounding Batu Caves began to develop, although it was not as built up as it is today. The iconic Murugan statue that now stands at the entrance had not yet been constructed; it would become a later addition that further solidified the caves’ status as a religious landmark. Image source: Astro Ulagam

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Religion 101: Divine Hindu Deities and Their Powerful Symbolism

Batu Caves Muruigan Hindu God Gold Hindu Deities

One of the main of Nadu, Lord Murugan, also known as Kartikeya, is the son of Shiva and Parvati and is associated with war and victory. Murugan’s is rich and varied, often depicted with six heads to see in all directions and twelve hands, riding a peacock, his vahana. He carries the Vel, a spear given by his mother, symbolizing his role as a divine warrior. Image source: iStock Photo

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Religion 101: The Battle Of The Ancient Rama Temple in Ayodhya

Temple Hindu Hinduism India

The Rama in holds immense religious and historical significance for millions of Hindus around the world. The temple is believed to be the birthplace of Lord Rama, a revered in . However, the of the Rama Temple has been marred by legal disputes and controversies that have spanned several decades. Image source: vatra voda on Unsplash

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Firefighter Adib Tragedy: The Verdict is Out

Adib

(‘s death – is this supposed to be the result of going, fearing devotees? Why there was danger to fire fighters when the peace loving devotees suppose to help the fire fighters to do their job? Photo Source: NST)

It was a tragedy that should not have ever happened to a fire fighter

Who is in sound mind would have wanted to injured (in this case killed) a fire fighter rushing in to put a fire? Only a senseless evil person would have wanted to do that. Coroner’s Court on last Friday after 41 days of inquest proceeding concluded that the death of the fireman was due to “two or more persons unknown”

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World Gone Mad 2014: Being Holier than Holy

holy

(Never let the holier than holy man to do science work. The outcome will very likely to be unscientific. Image source: )

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Overseas Assignment 2012: Part 5 – Trip to Modern Oriental Paris & Ancient Temples

oriental paris shanghai trip flight

When on an overseas trip, weekends are rest days and it is the best time to catch up on sleep and when that’s done, for the rest of the day, it is time to go around town.

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Religion 101: Six Steps To Address Hindu Temple Fiasco

morib temple fiasco

Almost a year ago, I talked about the fiasco faced in the state of and the latest protest by Section 23 residents had somehow prompted me to revisit this delicate issue.

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Religion 101: Decoding The Grand Hindu Temple Architecture

morib temple hindu architecture

The of temples like this in Morib evolved over a period of more than 2,000 years and there is a great variety in this architecture but it has the same key elements.

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Religion 101: Thaipusam Scary Trip to Batu Caves 2009 Part 2

Thaipusam Batu Caves

The idea of parking the car in the industrial area for the trip to during came from my sister who has parked many times before but not at night and certainly not when creepy characters are lurking in the dark alleys. Image source: Google Map

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Religion 101: Addressing The Messy Temple Fiasco

morib temple hindu

A is a structure designed to bring Hindus and gods together through worship, sacrifice, and devotion. It is also known as mandir, devasthana, pura, gudi, kovil, kovilamu, or ambalam in various languages. A Hindu temple represents the cosmos and the essence of life and symbolizes , artha, kama, moksha, and .

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Indian Wedding 101: Colorful & Exciting Indian Wedding Part 4

Indian Wedding Attire Head Gear

In weddings, the bridegroom’s headgear, known as the pagdi or safa, is a symbol of honor and respect. It is a key element of the groom’s , reflecting the heritage of the region. The pagdi is often associated with royalty and nobility, and wearing it signifies the groom’s central role in the ceremony. Different regions in have their own unique styles of pagdi, each with its own cultural significance and . Image source: Viresh Studio/Pexels

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