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200
Reliquary Amulet
This is a reliquary amulet, an amulet most likely used to contain the ashes or remnants of a Saint. The garnets adorning the outside of the amulet, and its cylindrical shape, most likely mean that this belonged to a Bodhisattva, (enlightened-one), during the Gandhara period. These amulets were usually worn on cords, around the neck of the owner. -
462
Buddhist Shrine Antechamber
This is a picture of an ancient Buddhist shrine antechamber (entrance), that was probably used in India around 462-480 CE. Buddhism was first created by Gautama Buddha (563-483 BC), a man who left his riches to purue higher learnings, in India. Gautama became the famed figure Buddha, as his learnings and teachings created a religion known as Buddhism. Although Buddhism is now a large world religion, it started out with one man finding Nirvana, ("the cure to all ills of the world"). -
Jan 1, 600
The Five Rathas
This image depicts the east wall of the Arjuna Ratha, of the Pancha (five) Rathas. These were temples built in the honor of five brothers from a great story of Indian Mythology. These five brothers were the heroes of Mahabharata (one of the two major sanskrit epics of ancient India), along with their shared wife Draupadi. The five rathas are: Draupadi's Ratha, Arjuna's Rath, Nakul-Sahadev's Rath, Bhima Rath, and Dharamaja Yudhistar's Rath. -
Jan 1, 700
Bodhisattva in a Shrine
This is a picture of a Bodhisattva (an enlightened being of Buddhism), in a shrine. Following in the original Buddha's (Gautama Buddha), footsteps, these beings were people that had studied and learned all the ways of Buddhism and had finally found a pathway to Nirvana, ("the cure to all ills in the world"), but they were said to have stayed in this world longer in order to pass on their knowledge and help others find their own pathway to Nirvana. -
The Taj Mahal
This is a picture of the Taj Mahal (meaning Crown Palace), one of India's most famous creations, and one of the seven wonders of the world. It was built from 1631-1648 by the Mughal Emperor Shahjahan in memory of his favorite wife Mumtaz Mahal, who died in 1629. At a cost of 32 million rupees, its master architect, Ustad 'Isa, designed and built this incredible landmark. -
Prince Edward and the Maharaja of Banaras
This is a picture of Prince Edward and the Maharaja of Banaras. This picture was taken in 1877, right in the middle of British rule of India, (from around the late 1700's to 1934). British Rule in India introduced new infrastructure such as railroads, but the overall treatment of the Indians angered the populace. Like the American Colonies, they were not given a say in their own government. -
Mahatma Gandhi
This is a picture of Mahatma Gandhi (1869-1948), a man who strived for freedom and justice for India and all of its citizens. In the 1930s, the Rise of Mahatma Gandhi became almost religious for some people. Born in Gujarat, and fluent in both English and Hindi, Gandi was able to unite a fighting and chaotic nation in order to regain its freedom from Britain. Although Gandhi didn't hold any governmental or political position, he became the unofficial leader of the people of India. -
The Indian Reality
This is a picture of a slum in Dharavi, Bombay. It is the largest slum in Asia, covering more than 432 acres of land. This is the reality of what India has become. It is almost the most over-populated country in the world and home to many diseases, as well as many different types of cancer. India and its people are plagued by poverty, starvation, religious conflict, exploitation, and overwhelming issues concerning education and health care.
