Buddha statue found at Keezha Pazhayarai
A head of a Buddha statue was found at Keezha Pazhayarai near Patteesvaram in Kumbakonam Taluk, Thanjavur district. According to B. Jambulingam, Retired Assistant Registrar, Tamil University and historian, the statue was spotted during field work bring carried out along…
The Monks who embalmed themselves
True to Japanese patriarchal beliefs, no women monks were allowed to become sokushinbutsu. Sokushinbutsu shrines of Buddhist monks who transformed themselves into mummies while alive can be seen around Mount Yudono in northern Japan. Pilgrims believe they will rise to…
Sensuous sanctity and an Isaan soul
A painting of the lord Buddha on the wall of the Sim ordination hall of Wat Yang Thuang, Maha Sarakham province. (Photo by Phoowadon Duangmee) The unique Buddhist art on the walls of Isaan’s traditional ordination hall reveals the soul…
An exhibition that highlights Jainism and its ethics
A very unique exhibition on Jainism which was recently on display at the Rietberg Museum in Zürich left a mark highlighting Jainism and connecting its ethics for the first time to a very contemporary set of questions which are shared…
Buddhist Heritage Sites in Odisha that you shouldn’t miss
The epic Kalinga War won by Emperor Ashoka was one of the bloodiest wars ever fought The epic Kalinga War won by Emperor Ashoka was one of the bloodiest wars ever fought in the subcontinent. The devastating consequences of the…
From “Coal Capital” to Cultural Magnet, Historic City Gains New Life
DATONG, Shanxi, (Xinhua) – From a frontier land between agricultural communities and nomadic tribes to a major city in north China bearing the name “Great Harmony;” and from a coal-polluted industrial hub to a pristine tourist magnet with countless historical…
Tōdaiji: The Great Buddha of Nara and Historic Temple Complex
The Buddhist temple Tōdaiji in Nara Prefecture is a priceless trove of history and culture. Founded some 1,300 years ago, the UNESCO World Heritage site is home to the Great Buddha of Nara and other national treasures. We tour the…
Taliban Now Selling Tickets to Ancient Buddha Statues the Group Blew to Bits in 2001
The Bamian Buddhas are now a tourist attraction with tickets going for 58 cents for Afghans and $3.45 for foreigners The cash-strapped Taliban are so broke they have resorted to selling tickets to visit the remnants of two gargantuan Buddha…
Family heirloom Buddha turns out to be a rare 12th-century Kwan Yin
A rare Buddha statue, estimated to be from 12th century China and part of a set thought to have been lost, will be presented for auction in Paris on Tuesday, June 13, and is expected to fetch USD 1,000,000. According…