Mythical Battles and Deities

Illustrations of Hindu mythology showcasing goddess Durga battling demons, scenes of Krishna, and depictions of hell from Buddhist tales with vibrant colors.

18th century Indian manuscript about the life of Krishna.

Initiation Card (Tsakalis): Bhumirgharba early 15th century Tibet Tsakali cards were used by itinerant teachers moving from one monastery to another in order to evoke Vajrayana Buddhist deities. When laid on the ground in the form of a mandala, as seen here, they functioned to create a fixed sacred space like that of a temple. The deities shown on these initiation cards include the Tathagata Buddhas, various bodhisattvas, fierce protectors, and the six possible realms of rebirth seen across the bottom. They probably were made by a Nepali artist for a Tibetan patron of the Nyingma school of Tibetan Buddhism.Tsakali cards were used individually to align a disciple with a deity from the vast pantheon. First, the disciple sought permission from the deity, either through a dream or under the guidance of a teacher. The associated ritual involved visualizing the deity as described in recited mantras (incantations) and with an imagein this case, the deity represented on the tsakali.The cards

Mural painting on the walls of a Buddhist temple, Bhutan.

Gilded representations of symbolic temple guards, Wat Souvannakhirii temple, Luang Prabang, Laos, Asia

Mural, Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, Hindu Temple, Mombasa, Kenya, Africa

Sir David Ochterlony (1758-1825) in Indian clothes surrounded by his servants in his Delhi house. History of Exploration, India, 19th century.

Mongkol Serei Kien Khleang Pagoda. Death of the Buddha. Phnom Penh; Cambodia.

Detail of a mural painting showing The Royal Chapel (Wat Phra Kaew). Ordination pavilion of King Chulalongkorn, Bangkok,Thailand.

Ancient religious rock painting art in Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka, Sigiriya, UNESCO World Heritage Site ancient frescos painted on cave walls

Yakshi semi divine in cave 2 ; Ajanta ; Aurangabad ; Maharashtra ; India

Malaysia, Penang, chinese temple, architecture detail, window,

Devonic troop, vayu, clouds, rain, homa, sage agastya, indra, artist S. Rajam, hindu belief, hindu, hinduism, art, himalayan academy art, worship, fire, vedic, warrior, warriors, helmet, lightening, priest, offering Copyright: xHimalayanxAcademy/DinodiaxPhotox

Shri Rama sitting with his wife Sita, and his devotee Hanuman holding his foot. Gouache painting by an Indian artist.

Wayang is a Javanese word for particular kinds of theatre (literally 'shadow'). When the term is used to refer to kinds of puppet theatre, sometimes the puppet itself is referred to as wayang. Performances of shadow puppet theatre are accompanied by gamelan in Java. UNESCO designated Wayang Kulit, a shadow puppet theatre and the best known of the Indonesian wayang, as a Masterpiece of Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity on 7 November 2003. Semar is a character in Javanese mythology who frequently appears in wayang shadow plays. He is one of the punokawan (clowns), but is in fact divine and very wise. He is the dhanyang (guardian spirit) of Java, and is regarded by some as the most sacred figure of the kotak (wayang set). He is said to be the god Sang Hyang Ismaya in human form.

Akbar (Urdu: جلال الدین محمد اکبر , Hindi: लालुद्दीन मुहम्मद अकबर, Jalāl ud-Dīn Muhammad Akbar), also known as Shahanshah Akbar-e-Azam or Akbar the Great (25 October 1542 - 27 October 1605), was the third Mughal Emperor. He was of Timurid descent; the son of Emperor Humayun, and the grandson of Emperor Babur, the ruler who founded the Mughal dynasty in India. At the end of his reign in 1605 the Mughal empire covered most of the northern and central India. Akbar was thirteen years old when he ascended the Mughal throne in Delhi (February 1556), following the death of his father Humayun. During his reign, he eliminated military threats from the powerful Pashtun descendants of Sher Shah Suri, and at the Second Battle of Panipat he decisively defeated the newly self-declared Hindu king Hemu. It took him nearly two more decades to consolidate his power and bring all the parts of northern and central India into his direct realm. He dominated the whole of the Indian Subcontinent and he ruled

Radha Rejecting Krishna. India, Himachal Pradesh, Chamba, circa 1760. Drawings; watercolors. Opaque watercolor, gold, and ink on paper

New Year Picture of characters in the drama, Dao xiancao (Stealing the Magic Herb) early 20th century Unidentified. New Year Picture of characters in the drama, Dao xiancao (Stealing the Magic Herb). Unidentified artist(s), Chinese, early 20th century. China. early 20th century. Polychrome woodblock print; ink and color on paper. Republic period (191249). Prints

Satguru sivaya subramuniyaswami, gurudeva, kauai aadheenam, acharyas, artist S. Rajam, saint, sadhu, swami, sannyasin, monk, devotion, meditation, hindu belief, hindu, hinduism, art, yoga, himalayan academy art Copyright: xHimalayanxAcademy/DinodiaxPhotox

New Year Picture of Paired Door Gods early 20th century Unidentified artist(s). New Year Picture of Paired Door Gods. Unidentified artist(s) , early 20th century. China. early 20th century. Polychrome woodblock print; ink and color on paper. Republic period (191249). Prints

Water and Moon Kuan-Yin, Tibetan culture

A 19th century miniature representing the king visiting the hermit, Northern India, India, Asia

Murals in a temple, Nataraja Temple, Chidambaram, Cuddalore District, Tamil Nadu, India

Mantle ("The Paracas Textile") Nasca. Mantle ("The Paracas Textile"), 100-300 C.E. Cotton, camelid fiber, 24 5/8 × 58 11/16 in. (62.5 × 149 cm). This extraordinarily complex mantle, or cloak, is one of the most renowned Andean textiles in the world. It was most likely used as a ceremonial object. The ninety figures decorating the border, created by needle knitting, have been interpreted as a microcosm of life on Perus South Coast two thousand years ago, with a particular focus on agriculture. Many of the images illustrate native flora and fauna as well as cultivated plants. Costumed figures may represent humans impersonating gods and acting as intermediaries between the real and supernatural worlds. Severed human trophy heads are shown as germinating seeds, suggesting the practice of ritual sacrifice and the interconnected cycles of birth and death. Este extraordinariamente complejo manto, o capa, es uno de los textiles andinos más conocidos en el mundo. Fue usado probablemente como

Representation of the Apsaras, celestial dancers, Temple of Ettumanur, Kerala, South India, India, Asia

Thailand, Bangkok, Khaosan Road, Wat Chana Songhram, Wall Decoration depicting Heavenly Maidens in the Chinese Pagoda

The Monkey King Vali's Funeral Pyre: Illustrated folio from a dispersed Ramayana series ca. 1780 Workshop active in the First generation after Nainsukh This complex Kangra painting illustrates multiple juxtaposed narratives. Smoke rises from the funerary pyre of the monkey king Vali, who was murdered by his brother and rival, Sugriva, with the help of Rama. In return, Sugriva pledges the support of the monkey army for Ramas war with Ravana. At upper left, Rama, seated in a cave, affirms Sugrivas new standing as the king of the monkeys. A small scene set within the mountains at right shows Sugriva, Hanuman, Lakshmana, and the monkey army returning to their golden capital to crown Sugriva as the new king. Rama does not participate in the coronation, as he must complete his fourteen-year exile to the forest, which is emphasized by the sages in thatched huts in the center of the background.. The Monkey King Vali's Funeral Pyre: Illustrated folio from a dispersed Ramayana series 72545

Rukmini Seeks Krishna's Permission to Visit her Brother Rukma, page from a manuscript of the Bhagavata Purana 1770-1780 Nepal. Opaque watercolor on paper .

Dancing with shiva, rama, sita, bow, krishna, arjuna, kannappan, eye, kannagi, madurai, vishnu, narasimha, gajendra, mareecha, golden deer, artist S. Rajam himalayan academy art Copyright: xHimalayanxAcademy/DinodiaxPhotox

Shahab-ud-din Muhammad Khurram Shah Jahan I (1592 -1666), or Shah Jahan, from the Persian meaning 'king of the world', was the fifth Mughal ruler in India and a favourite of his legendary grandfather Akbar the Great. He is best known for commissioning the 'Phadshahnamah' as a chronicle of his reign, and for the building of the Taj Mahal in Agra as a tomb for his wife, Mumtaz Mahal. Under Shah Jahan, the Mughal Empire attained its highest union of strength and magnificence. A war of succession to the Mughal throne ensued and the emperor's youngest son, the governor of Deccan, Abu Muzaffar Muhiuddin Aurangzeb, was the ultimate victor after deposing and imprisoning his father.

Wat Phumin was constructed in 1596 and is famous for its cruciform ubosoth and well preserved Tai Lue murals depicting everyday life in the 19th century. Nan dates from the mid-14th century and for much of its history was an isolated kingdom. The present day city spreads out along the Nan River's right bank.

India: The Mughal emperor Muhammad Shah with a falcon being carried in a palanquin. Atttributed to Chitarman, c. 1735

God marriage 16th century murals in Nataraja temple, Chidambaram, Tamil Nadu, India Copyright: xMxAmirtham/DinodiaxPhotox

Buddhist frescoes in cave gallery part way up Lion Rock, Sigiriya, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Sri Lanka, Asia

In Korean folklore the tiger - pictured here accompanying or guarding the mountain god - is a benevolent creature that brings news from the gods to mankind. An acolyte stands beside the mountain god, while a supplicant makes an offering.

Wat Buak Khrok Luang, located in Ban Buak Khrok Luang Moo 1, Chiang Mai - Sankamphaeng Road, Chiang Mai, is a small and typically northern Thai Buddhist temple. It is believed to have been founded in the 15th century during the time of the independent Lan Na Kingdom (1292-1558), and was extensively restored during the reign of Chao Kaew Naowarat (r.1911-1939), the last King of Chiang Mai. The temple is chiefly noteworthy for its main viharn, which is purely Lan Na in inspiration, with a four-tiered roof and elegant naga balustrade entrance. The most remarkable aspect of the viharn is its extensive mural paintings, dating from around 1835 during the reign of Chao Phuttawong (r.1826-1846), the fourth ruler of the Chiang Mai Thipchang Dynasty. The murals, which are northern Thai in style with clear elements of Shan State and Konbaung Dynasty Burmese influence, are among the best in northern Thailand. They feature the jataka stories, past lives of the Buddha, and are interspersed with vern

India, Tamil Nadu, Madurai, 'Colourful Painting On A Wall, Meenakshi Temple'

Page 158: Rama and Sita enthroned with Hanuman, Laksmana and others in attendance. Gouache drawing.

Bhagavata Purana (Ancient Stories of the Lord) Manuscript. India, Maharashtra, late19th century. Manuscripts. Ink and pencil on paper

Thai bath

Kandy is Sri Lanka's second biggest city with a population of around 170,000 and is the cultural centre of the whole island. For about two centuries (until 1815) it was the capital of Sri Lanka.

Traditional Thai mural painting of the Life of Buddha on temple wall

The Ajanta Caves in Maharashtra, India are 31 rock-cut cave monuments which date from the 2nd century BCE. The caves include paintings and sculptures considered to be masterpieces of both Buddhist religious art (which depict the Jataka tales) as well as frescos which are reminiscent of the Sigiriya paintings in Sri Lanka. The caves were built in two phases starting around 200 BCE, with the second group of caves built around 600 CE. Since 1983, the Ajanta Caves have been a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The caves are located in the Indian state of Maharashtra, just outside the village of Ajintha in Aurangabad district.

Ganesha Shrine, City Palace, Udaipur, Rajasthan, India, Asia

Wooden carved ganesh statue, andhra pradesh, india, asia Copyright: xDebasishxBanerjee/DinodiaxPhotox

Lord Subramanya with His consorts, Murals paintings in Vedagiriswarar shiva Temple ceiling at Thirukazhukundram Tirukalukundram near Mahabalipuram, Tamil Nadu, South India, India, Asia

Page 124: Lakshmi on her mount Garuda coming across an enthroned Ganesha with his rat. Gouache drawing.

Buddhist painting in the Ajanta Caves, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Maharashtra, India, Asia

Mixtec/ Aztec codex. Warrior leaders on canoe on lake with monster fishes attempt to capture island. Codex Zouche. MEXICO.

Elephant with caparison and howdah. Mahout in white robe and attendants, buildings in the background. 1780 - 1858. Drawings. The Miriam and Ira D. Wallach Division of Art, Prints and Photographs: Art & Architecture Collection. Transportation , India, Elephants in art

Painting depicting life of Buddha, Maha Wizaya Pagoda, Yangon, Myanmar

Vietnam, Colorful painting of Vietnamese women holding parasols,

Judgment of God on Sin in the form of the Whore of Babylon, with angels above and dragons and demons below in hell. Handcoloured etching drawn and etched by Thomas Fisher from his Paintings on the Walls of the Chapel of the Trinity, Stratford upon Avon, 1808.

Tojin gyoretsu no ezu ichi, A procession of Chinese., between 1711 and 1716, 1 print : woodcut, color ; 31.5 x 46.5 cm., Print shows a procession of Chinese men on horseback and on foot, some carrying a palanquin.

Sénégal, Keur Moussa, The flight to Egypt The Keur Moussa abbey church fresco was designed and painted in 1963 by Dom Georges Saget

Miniature Painting on Paper, Rag Bhairav, naltdwara school Copyright: xBhagwandasxRupani/DinodiaxPhotox

Wall painting, Ettumanoor Mahadevar Temple, Kerala, South India, India, Asia

Lord Krishna and cows miniature painting Copyright: xBhagwandasxRupani/DinodiaxPhotox

Tinh Xa Ngoc Chau pagoda. Life of Buddha, Siddhartha Gautama. Prince Siddhartha cut off his hair to renounce the worldly life at the bank of the Anoma River. Chau Doc. Vietnam.

The AKERU, a pair of lion- gods, represent Past & Present, Yesterday and Today, in the Egyptian cosmology

Ganesha, dancing with shiva, artist S. Rajam, hindu belief, hindu, hinduism, art, himalayan academy art Copyright: xHimalayanxAcademy/DinodiaxPhotox

Javanese dance is the dances and art forms that were created and influenced by Javanese culture. Javanese dance is usually associated with the courtly, refined and sophisticated culture of the Javanese kratons, such as the Bedhaya and Srimpi dance. However, in a wider sense, Javanese dance also includes the dances of Javanese commoners and villagers such as Ronggeng, Tayub, Reog, and Kuda Lumping. Javanese dance is usually associated with Wayang wong, and the palaces of Yogyakarta and Surakarta due to the nature of dance being a pusaka or sacred heirloom from ancestors of the palace rulers. These expressive dances are more than just dances, they are also used for moral education, emotional expression, and spreading of the Javanese culture.

The Codex Bodley 1521; is an important pictographic manuscript and example of Mixtec historiography. It was named after the colloquial name of the Bodleian Library, where it has been stored since the 17th century

Damarwulan is a Javanese legendary hero who appears in a cycle of stories used in the performance of wayang klitik, as well as Langendriya (female dance-opera) and ketoprak (popular theater). These stories tell of the struggles between the Majapahit and Blambangan kingdoms, in which Damarwulan gains honor. The stories are especially popular in East Java. The Damarwulan legend is associated with the Majapahit court at the time of the queen Suhita, at which time there was a war with Blambangan. However, the names of the characters Damar Wulan ('radiance of the moon') and Menak Jingga ('red knight') suggest that it may incorporate elements of an older sun-moon myth. It is uncertain when the story was first recorded and by whom.

Scenes from the Story of Abraham. Culture: British. Dimensions: H. 23 x W. 37 1/4 inches (58.4 x 94.6 cm). Date: mid-17th century.This panel was probably intended as a cushion cover. It illustrates scenes from the life of the biblical patriarch Abraham, as recounted in the Book of Genesis. The central scene shows Abraham being informed by a host of angels that his wife Sarah will bear him a son, despite her advanced age. Other scenes include Abraham banishing his servant Hagar and her son by Abraham, Ishmael (lower left corner), and Abraham's attempted sacrifice of Sarah's son Isaac, the act he was ordered by God to perform as a test of his faith (upper right corner).Biblical narratives were extremely popular subjects for seventeenth-century pictorial embroideries, and a number of other examples depicting the life of Abraham exist. The imagery of the Museum's example is derived from engravings after Maarten de Vos which first appeared in Gerard de Jode's 1579 illustrated bible Thesau

Bangkok, Thailand, Ancient fresco depicting demons and a war elephant going to battle, Ramakien Gallery, Wat Phra Kaew, Grand Palace, Temple of the Emerald Buddha

Old buddhist fresco Buddhist fresco at the wall of tibetan monastery Copyright: xZoonar.com/NatalliaxYaumenenkax 4752424

Laurak and Chanda Rest on Their Journey to a Trysting Place, Leaf from a Chandayana Manuscript Indian. Laurak and Chanda Rest on Their Journey to a Trysting Place, Leaf from a Chandayana Manuscript, early 16th century. Opaque watercolor and gold on paper, sheet: 10 x 7 11/16 in. (25.4 x 19.5 cm). Asian Art early 16th century

Thai pattern

Woman wearing a veil holding a dove and a fly swatter, fresco with natural colours, Chitrashala, Bundikalam, Palace of Bundi, Bundi, Rajasthan, India, Asia

Shiva mounted on Nandi surrounded by attendants helping Parvati to mount. Chromolithograph, 1875.

Preah Prom Rath Monastery. Life of the Buddha. The young Siddhartha Gautama and his mother during a farmers' festival.

Krishna's Earthly Ties, Page from a Dispersed Bivamangalastava 1695-1700 India (Rajasthan, Mewar) This work presents the devotional vision of Amar Singh II, who sits in the upper left. An inscription along the top, drawn from the devotional text of the Bivamangalastava, states: On earth there are in all probability only three hitching posts for the elephant called Murari a name for Krishna: the wooden mortar, the mind of the ascetics, and the budlike breasts of milkmaids. The central elements of this passage appear in the image: the blue figure of Krishna, dragging a mortar, approaches his foster mother, Yashoda, while below, an ascetic sits on the riverbank near the elephant Murari.. Krishna's Earthly Ties, Page from a Dispersed Bivamangalastava 73295

Glass mosaic depicting stories from the parables of Siaosawat, including religious activities and daily life scenes, external wall of the Red Chapel, Temple Wat Xieng Thong, Luang Prabang, Laos. (Photo by: Gunter Fischer/UIG)

Prince playing Holi in harem. Date/Period: 1800. Painting. Height: 270 mm (10.62 in); Width: 185 mm (7.28 in). Author: UNKNOWN.

Bashohli (Basoli) is a town in the Kathua district of the state of Jammu and Kashmir, India. It is situated on the right bank of the Ravi River at an altitude of 1876 ft. and was founded by Raja Bhupat Pal in 1635. The town is famous for its paintings called Basohli Paintings. They are considered the first school of Pahari paintings, which by the mid-eighteenth century had evolved into the prolific Kangra school of painting.

Ethiopian Coptic icon at the Holy Sepulchre, Jerusalem, Israel, Middle East

Accordion fold paper manuscript (Burmese parabaik) 1870s-1880s Court of King Mindon or Thibaw, or associated workshops This traditional Burmese folding paper manuscript, called parabaik in Burmese, is painted on a locally produced mulberry bark paper. Fifteen scenes are depicted, composed in a series of two, four and six page compositions, spanning a total of 66 pages. They depict scenes of court processions, ceremonies and entertainments. The painting style was developed in the reign of King Mindon and continued under King Thibaw. It displays an hybridity born of traditional Burmese religious narrative painting blended with European pictorial devices. This example is especially elaborate and lavish, with gilt lacquer covers.. Accordion fold paper manuscript (Burmese parabaik). Court of King Mindon or Thibaw, or associated workshops. Burma. 1870s-1880s. Watercolor and gold on mulberry paper, with gilt lacquered wood covers and cloth lined box. Paintings

Asceticism: a group of Mughal ascetics, (1956). Artist: Unknown

Interior of a Kabuki theatre while a performance is in progress. Colour woodcut by Kunisada I, 1858.

Erotic miniature painting, india, asia Copyright: xRupinderxKhullar/DinodiaxPhotox

Angels (Arabic: malaikah; singular: malak) are heavenly beings mentioned many times in the Qur'an and Hadith. Unlike humans or jinn, they have no free will and therefore can do only what God orders them to do. Believing in angels is one of the six Articles of Faith in Islam. Just as humans are made of clay, and jinn are made of smokeless fire, angels are made of light.

Swaminarayan temple Chhapaiya near Ayodhya Faizabad Uttar Pradesh India Copyright: xAnilxDave/DinodiaxPhotox

Wall painting, the four friends, Bhutan

At the Well (Casket), Anonymous

Maidens among clouds. 5th c. SRI LANKA. Sigiriya. Frescoes in the ancient rock fortress and palace of Sigiriya built by King Kasssapa (477-495). Hindu art. Fresco.

The proper left panel is composed of Mary in a blue shawl/cloak flanked by two archangels with swords. The Christ child in patterned yellow garment sits on Mary's proper left arm, looking at her face and holding a book. Mary has red markings on her cheeks and neck, holds a patterned handkerchief and wears white pleated cap. Date: late 17th century. Maker: Ethiopian Orthodox. Distemper and gesso on wood. Museum: National Museum of African Art.

Dancers in traditional costumes, naif painting by the Greek painter Theofilos Chatzimichail or Hatzimihail (1870-1934).

Painting depicting Buddha's birthday (Wesak) in Wat Than . Phnom Penh. Cambodia. (Phnom Penh, Cambodge)

Balarama and Jagannath holding up their hands with Subhadra between them. Oil painting by a painter of Puri, Orissa, ca. 1880/1910.

Mantle ("The Paracas Textile") Nasca. Mantle ("The Paracas Textile"), 100-300 C.E. Cotton, camelid fiber, 24 5/8 × 58 11/16 in. (62.5 × 149 cm). This extraordinarily complex mantle, or cloak, is one of the most renowned Andean textiles in the world. It was most likely used as a ceremonial object. The ninety figures decorating the border, created by needle knitting, have been interpreted as a microcosm of life on Perus South Coast two thousand years ago, with a particular focus on agriculture. Many of the images illustrate native flora and fauna as well as cultivated plants. Costumed figures may represent humans impersonating gods and acting as intermediaries between the real and supernatural worlds. Severed human trophy heads are shown as germinating seeds, suggesting the practice of ritual sacrifice and the interconnected cycles of birth and death. Este extraordinariamente complejo manto, o capa, es uno de los textiles andinos más conocidos en el mundo. Fue usado probablemente como

Man in white robe leading elephant with mahouts, green howdah, and 2 passengers. 1780 - 1858. Drawings. The Miriam and Ira D. Wallach Division of Art, Prints and Photographs: Art & Architecture Collection. Elephants in art, Transportation , India

Old Buddhist wall painting, illuminated rider in the Wat Pa Huak temple, Phu Si Berg, Luang Prabang, Laos, South East Asia, Asia

Ecuador. Famous Otavalo Market which dates back to pre-Inca times. Detailed paintings on wooden souvenirs.

Painting depicting the life of Buddha on a prayer hall wall, Shwedagon Pagoda, Yangon, (Rangoon), Myanmar, (Burma)

18th century Murals frescos paintings in Adinath Jain temple at Vidur village near Tindivanam, Tamil Nadu, South India, India, Asia

Frescoes apsaras, celestial nymph typically consort of gandharva or heavenly musician or king kassap s concubines or tara the consort of avalokiesvara Copyright: xAnilxDave/DinodiaxPhotox

Krishna, Balarama, and the Cowherders: Page from a Dispersed Bhagavata Purana (Ancient Stories of Lord Vishnu) 1800-1825 India (Orissa) Krishna and Balarama, at the lower right, join the other gopas (cowherders) in the fields of Vrindavan.. Krishna, Balarama, and the Cowherders: Page from a Dispersed Bhagavata Purana (Ancient Stories of Lord Vishnu) 37996

Restored wall murals (Ramakien) in Wat Phra Kaeo Grand Palace (Temple of the Emerald Buddha), Bangkok, Thailand, Southeast Asia, Asia

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