Hinduism Gallery

Indian miniature, animal kindness ahimsa

An Indian Rajput style miniature dating to 19th century showing 'Ahimsa'. Ahimsa is a tenet of the Indian Religions (Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism) meaning kindness and non-violence towards living things including animals. The black buck (male and female shown here) were kept in menageries by Moguls who were also keen hunters (using cheetah amongst other animals). The mogul style headwear could also suggest that a prince attending his menagerie is a possible alternative (and less gentle) theme of the image.

© This image is copyright Paul D. Stewart 2009. Do not reproduce without permission of the photographer at Stewartpauld@aol.com.

The Churning of the Ocean of Milk, ca. 1780-90. Creator: Unknown

The Churning of the Ocean of Milk, ca. 1780-90. At the time of the great deluge aeons ago, many treasures— including amrita, the nectar of immortality—were lost beneath the primordial ocean. Gods and demons still jockeying for power decided to raise these powerful objects from the watery depths. They harnessed the serpent Vasuki as a rope to turn Mount Mandara and Vishnu assumed his tortoise avatar to support the giant pivot. The demons, tricked into pulling the head of the snake, were weakened by its poisonous breath. Here, many of the treasures have already been raised and are visible in the sky, while Vishnu is seen twice, below and atop the peak.

© Heritage Art/Heritage Images

Sculpture roof strut, Changu Narayan temple, oldest Hindu temple in Nepal, near Bhaktapur

Sculpture roof strut, Changu Narayan temple, oldest Hindu temple in Nepal, near Bhaktapur, Nepal

© Ivan Vdovin / AWL Images

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