Hinduism Beliefs

Beliefs of Hinduism

• Hindus believe in many gods, seen as manifestations of a single unity, linked to universal and natural processes.
• A preference for one deity is common, without excluding or disbelieving in others.
• Central is the belief in karma, the universal law of cause and effect, and reincarnation.
• Liberation and release (moksha) from the endless cycle of birth, death, and rebirth (samsara) is a core belief.
• Hinduism is tied to the hierarchical caste system reflecting accumulated merit in past lives (karma).
• Observance of dharma, behavior consistent with one’s caste and status, is key, with varying practices for different societal members.
• Different activities are considered appropriate for different stages of life, such as study, raising families, reflection and renunciation.
• A religious life can include worldly pleasures and rewards like material success and legitimate enjoyment, depending on one's position.
• Hindus emphasize observing appropriate behavior and rituals, aiming for moksha, liberation from the birth cycle.
• Moksha is the ultimate spiritual goal, detaching from worldly feelings to realize the unity of the soul (atman) with the universal (Brahman).
• Paths to moksha include knowledge, appropriate actions, and devotion to God.

Ideal Female Beauty

• Depicting idealized female beauty was important for temple architecture and considered auspicious, even protective.
• Texts for temple builders describe "types" of women as symbols of fertility, growth, and prosperity.
• Images of loving couples known as mithuna appear as symbols of divine union and moksha.
• Erotic images served ritual and symbolic functions, not intended to be titillating.

Lakshmana Temple

• The Lakshmana temple, dedicated in 954 C.E., was the first of several temples built by the Chandella kings in Khajuraho.
• Between the 10th and 13th centuries, the Chandellas supported artists, poets, and performers, constructing numerous sandstone temples.
• Over 80 temples once existed, including Hindu temples dedicated to Shiva, Vishnu, and Surya, as well as Jain temples.
• Yashovarman, a Chandella leader, initiated the temple to legitimize his rule.
• His son, Dhanga, completed and dedicated the temple in 954 C.E.
• The central deity is Vishnu in his three-headed form, Vaikuntha, housed in the garba griha.
• The garba griha is the symbolic and physical core of the temple.
• It is designed for intimate, individualized worship of the divine.
• The temple exemplifies Nagara style architecture, featuring a vimana and a mandapa.
• Nagara temples include a base platform and a sikhara, resembling mountain peaks.
• Devotees approach the temple from the east, circumambulating it clockwise.
• Sculpted friezes depict daily life, love, war, and historical events of the Chandella period.
• Sculptures of deities, including Ganesha, appear in niches on the exterior walls.
• Erotic images of couples appear on the exterior juncture wall between the vimana and the mandapa, symbolizing union.
• Four smaller shrines are located at each corner of the plinth.
• Devotees pass through three mandapas before circumambulating the shrine in a clockwise direction.
• This act allows devotees to physically experience the sacred space.
• The erotic images may be connected to Kapalika tantric practices which sought to overcome temptations of the senses.
• The original Vaikuntha image was politically significant.
• The Nagara style dominates temples in northern India.
• A flattened bulb-shaped topper known as amalaka is symbolic of abundance and growth.

Taj Mahal

• Shah Jahan, the fifth Mughal ruler, commissioned the Taj Mahal after the death of his wife, Mumtaz Mahal.
• The structure was referred to as the Luminous Tomb in Mughal texts.
• While Sunni Muslims favor simple burials, domed mausolea existed for Mughals before the Taj.
• The Taj is exceptional for its scale, gardens, ornamentation, and white marble.
• Shah Jahan built the Taj Mahal in Agra, on the banks of the Yamuna River.
• It transformed into a trade hub, known has a riverfront garden city.
• Entry to the complex involves passing through a red sandstone gate, revealing the Taj set on a platform.
• The rectangular complex measures 1860 feet north-south and 1000 feet east-west.
• The white marble mausoleum is flanked by identical red sandstone buildings, one being a mosque.
• The marble structure has a bulbous dome and four minarets.
• The minarets, usually functional for prayer calls, are ornamental, emphasizing balance.
• The interior follows the hasht bishisht principle, alluding to paradise's eight levels.
• It consists of eight halls connected to a main space, with Mumtaz Mahal’s cenotaph in the center.
• Shah Jahan’s cenotaph was placed beside hers after his death.
• Both are encased in carved white-marble screens, with the coffins below.
• Qur’anic verses and designs inlaid with semi-precious stones decorate the exterior.
• Floral imagery dominates the carvings.
• The Taj combines Islamic traditions with indigenous elements, like umbrella-shaped chhatris.
• While Mughals used red stone for exteriors, the Taj is primarily white marble, possibly aligning with Hindu color symbolism.
• A char bagh garden stretches in front of the Taj Mahal and incorporates waterways and fountains.
• From the Mahtab Bagh, the monument appears centrally located, showcasing the architect's vision incorporating the Yamuna River.
• By raising the Taj Mahal, the builders ensured that it could be viewed from multiple angles along the Yamuna River.
• The finest marble was sourced from Makrarna, Rajasthan. Under the designated lead architect Mir Abd Al-Karim. With Abdul Haqq chosen as the calligrapher. Under the supervisor Ustad Ahmad Lahauri.

Symbolism of the Taj Mahal

• Stories connect the Taj Mahal to Shah Jahan’s grief, calling it a “symbol of love."
• Alternate theories suggest it represents a Divine Throne on Judgment Day.
• It is viewed as a replica of a house of paradise, glorifying Mughal rule.
• Shah Jahan died a prisoner in Agra Fort, viewing the Taj Mahal from a distance.

Threats to the Taj Mahal

• The Taj Mahal is a UNESCO World Heritage Site overseen by the Archaeological Survey of India.
• Heavy visitor traffic threatens the site's integrity.
• Air pollution discolors the exterior and may cause acid rain.
• The Taj Trapezium Zone was created to regulate emissions.
• Traffic restrictions and air quality monitors have been implemented.
• The drying of the Yamuna River threatens the monument structurally.
• The river has been dammed upstream, lowering the water table.
• Cracks in the marble and structural instability have been reported and are being monitored.