The yoginis are at once, both alluring and fearsome. They had special, circular temples built for their worship, the nature of which remained esoteric.
What’s common to the Torii of Japan, China’s Paifang and Korea’s Honsalmun? All these ceremonial gates have a shared inspiration - the toranas of the Sanchi Stupa in Madhya Pradesh. In the 1st c. BCE, the Satavahas built these magnificent gateways, inviting donors to sponsor panels on them. Their names are still inscribed on the railings around the stupa.
Did you know the first human images of the Buddha appeared nearly 500 years after his death? Before that, artists used symbols to represent him. You can see many such symbols at the Sanchi Stupa.
The Bhimbetka Rock Shelters in Madhya Pradesh are among the 10 oldest prehistoric cave painting sites in the world. Some of these paintings are at least 30,000 years old! What did our early human ancestors think and dream of?
The yoginis are at once, both alluring and fearsome. They had special, circular temples built for their worship, the nature of which remained esoteric. But about a thousand years ago, the cult of Yogini worship completely disappeared from public knowledge. What do we know about this strange cult of goddess worship in India?
Narasimha, the fierce half-lion, half-human form of Vishnu, is usually remembered for his wrath. But did you know there’s also a legend of him falling in love? In Ahobilam, he is said to have married a local tribal goddess, Chenchu Lakshmi.
In 1931, a history professor decided to explore a narrow corridor on the 1st floor of the Brihadisvara temple. There, under a layer of 300 year old Nayak murals, he accidentally discovered Chola frescoes that were over 1000 years old!
What links a quiet Andhra town to the global fashion boom of the 17th century? Kalamkari and Chintz - intricate, handcrafted textiles that once dazzled royal courts and European fashion houses alike, were born in the neighbouring towns of Machilipatnam and Pedana in Andhra Pradesh.
Is bhang legal in India? From Holi celebrations to Siva worship, bhang has been consumed in India for centuries in various forms— bhang lassi, bhang thandai, bhang laddoos... What makes it ‘sacred’?
What makes river Ganga special? After a long descent from the mountains, Ganga first enters the plains at Haridwar. The fertile Gangetic plain, home to 40% of India’s population, has shaped mighty empires and nurtured ancient civilisations.
Where does river Ganga originate? In Hindu tradition, it begins at Gangotri. But hydrologically, its main stem actually begins at Devprayag, where the Bhagirathi and Alaknanda rivers unite.
