In which Mike Rugnetta continues our unit on pantheons with the complex Indian pantheon, focusing on stories that were written in Sanskrit. We start with a violent creation story. We talk about the concept of Brahman, and the...

It's perfectly human to grapple with questions, like 'Where do we come from?' and 'How do I live a life of meaning?' These existential questions are central to the five major world religions -- and that's not all that connects these...

Many people in Indonesia believe in the spiritual power behind objects and forces, and most societies have organized ceremonies and rituals to mollify these spirits. In Indonesia, traditional animist beliefs have been combined with the...

After the Mauryan empire, the other state that came to dominate almost all of the Indian subcontinent was the Gupta empire of the 3rd through 6th centuries CE. This is viewed as India's golden age, or the height of its political power...

Angkor Wat, hidden in Cambodia's jungles for centuries, is a monumental temple complex surrounded by water-filled ditches, showcasing 1,700 artistic reliefs depicting Indian mythology and the god-like king Suryavarman II. Discovered in...

The Dambulla rock caves in Sri Lanka, a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site since 1991, house sacred shrines filled with Buddha statues, Hindu deities, and intricate wall and ceiling paintings created by generations of artists. These...

Several mythologies from around the world imagined that the world sits on the back of a turtle. Centuries later, we end up with the whimsically iconic phrase “it's turtles all the way down.” Let's explore the origins of the phrase, some...

Mahabharata Family Tree

This video provides an overview of the Kumbh Mela festival in India. The festival, which takes place every 12 years, is a significant event for Hindus as it is believed to cleanse sins and provide spiritual benefits. The video explains...

Learn all about the Holi festival, a Hindu celebration of colors in India and Nepal. This video explores the origins of Holi, its significance, and how it is celebrated.

Video Atlas of Asia: This clip introduces the Hindu religion.