Buddhism developed in reaction to the established religion in India at the time—Hinduism.
6th century B.C.E. - present
Buddhism developed in reaction to the established religion in India at the time—Hinduism.
6th century B.C.E. - present
Professor Julius Lipner explains that Hinduism cannot be considered polytheistic and discusses the way in which Hindu culture and sacred texts conceptualize the deities, as well as their role in devotional faith
Professor Balbir introduces the distinctive cosmology of the Jain religion, discussing how it is structured and understood by followers of the faith.
Professor Nalini Balbir introduces the Jain religion, describing its key features, practices and expressions of faith.
Professor Julius Lipner discusses the distinctive nature of Hinduism and its sacred texts, drawing on the Vedas and epic compositions.
Hindus and Buddhists share a vocabulary but differ in their interpretations of dharma, karma, and salvation.
An empty throne, footsteps, and a wheel—rather than represent the Buddha directly, sculptors relied on symbols.
An inscription on the back of this sculpture identifies this as the earliest dated Buddha from China.
Often covered with figural sculpture, these dwelling places of the gods draw worshipers to their inner sanctuaries.
Buddhism thrived in India for over a thousand years. Discover important sites in the life of the Buddha.
Described as a “museum of religions,” Hinduism encompasses many beliefs and accepts a pantheon of deities.
This video decodes the hand gestures, symbols, and styles of Buddhas from Thailand, Pakistan, Japan, and China.
Despite a princely upbringing, Siddhartha insisted he was just a man—albeit one who attained perfection.
The everyday experience of a woman is the subject of...