Buddhism developed in reaction to the established religion in India at the time—Hinduism.
6th century B.C.E. - present
All content | Hinduism + Buddhism
Hindu deities
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
Jain cosmology
Professor Balbir introduces the distinctive cosmology of the Jain religion, discussing how it is structured and understood by followers of the faith.
An introduction to the Jain faith
Professor Nalini Balbir introduces the Jain religion, describing its key features, practices and expressions of faith.
Sacred texts in Hinduism
Professor Julius Lipner discusses the distinctive nature of Hinduism and its sacred texts, drawing on the Vedas and epic compositions.
Hinduism and Buddhism, an introduction
Hindus and Buddhists share a vocabulary but differ in their interpretations of dharma, karma, and salvation.
Images of enlightenment: aniconic vs. iconic depictions of the Buddha in India
An empty throne, footsteps, and a wheel—rather than represent the Buddha directly, sculptors relied on symbols.
Seated Buddha
An inscription on the back of this sculpture identifies this as the earliest dated Buddha from China.
Hindu temples
Often covered with figural sculpture, these dwelling places of the gods draw worshipers to their inner sanctuaries.
Beliefs made visible: Buddhist art in South Asia
Buddhism thrived in India for over a thousand years. Discover important sites in the life of the Buddha.
Beliefs made visible: Hindu art in South Asia
Described as a “museum of religions,” Hinduism encompasses many beliefs and accepts a pantheon of deities.
Four Buddhas at the American Museum of Natural History
This video decodes the hand gestures, symbols, and styles of Buddhas from Thailand, Pakistan, Japan, and China.
The historical Buddha
Despite a princely upbringing, Siddhartha insisted he was just a man—albeit one who attained perfection.
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