The monkey crocodile friendship story ( Panchatantra written by Vishnu Sharma ) carved on the temple wall of mukteshwar , Bhubaneswar.Mukteshwar Temple is a 10th-century Hindu temple dedicated to Shiva located in Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India. The temple dates back to 950–975 CE and is a monument of importance in the study of the development of Hindu temples in Odisha. For details about the sculptures portraying the said story, please go through the following article .

https://lunarsecstacy.com/2022/04/19/portrayal-of-monkey-crocodile-story-of-vishnu-sharmas-panchatantra-ein-the-sculptures-of-indian-monuments/

Hi, I'm currently working on an animated documentary on fossils and the legends that surround them. I've read in a few scientific papers written in English that the fossils found in the Sivalik Hills were initially called "lightning bones" by locals, but that information is always just dropped without real context and seems to come either from old 19th century memoirs of Scottish palaeontologist Hugh Falconer, or from George William Traill during the same period, and the romanization of the name in Hindi isn't really consistent between texts ("bijli ki har", "bijli hár" or "bijli ke har").

It's part of my research and my responsibility to look for exact, solid informations and I don't want to just quote rumors from old authors who weren't locals, so my first question is : were those fossils really called "lightning bones" ? If so, do you know why (could it be linked to the fact that fossils can be exposed after storms, to a local legend or to both) ? And what is the name of those fossils in Hindi ?

Thanks in advance !

Been hearing/seeing that it was a regional festival celebrated in Punjab that was turned into nationwide due to the influence of Bollywood. Some say it is happening from Mahabharat's time, whereas there are mentions of it being in Naradiya Purana. I am little confused on its historicity. Can you please help me with sources?

In the Ramayana, it has been portrayed that the seven mountain ranges are designated as seven ancient doors of heaven ( renowned as sapta kula giri सप्त कुल गिरी ) . Among the seven , Mahendragiri was best known as a sacred place where Hanuman jumped for Sri Lanka to look for Sita.The Mahabharata specifies Mahendragiri while depicting parshuram's repentance. Mahendragiri also finds mention in the Odia Mahabharata by Sarala Das ( a poet of the 15th century A.D.) and in the Raghuvamsa of Kalidas ( 4th century A.D.). With this much little information about Mahendragiri, I would like to suggest each one of you to go through the following article about the historical significance of the Mahendragiri.

https://lunarsecstacy.com/2024/09/04/mahendragiri-one-of-the-seven-principal-mountain-chain/

8th century Rock cut temple by Pandya kingdom..

Here is a boat skillfully crafted out of a palm tree trunk. This was a timeless tradition in Odisha, carved hollow using the trunk and roots of palm trees . This vessel serves as a vital mode of transportation & fishing and a means of livelihood for rural people living on the banks of rivers. Primarily designed for navigating in shallow rivers and lakes. This ingenious creation stands as an early testament to human ingenuity in shipbuilding , marking the inception of maritime endeavor in the history of civilization. You can go through the following article to learn all about the varieties of wood carvings of Odisha that is World famous.

https://lunarsecstacy.com/2022/03/17/artistic-glory-of-odishas-wood-sculptors/

https://lunarsecstacy.com/2021/06/07/vasco-da-gama-and-kalingan-maritime-trade/

1. The Origins and Significance of Buddhist Stupas

Buddhist stupas evolved from prehistoric burial mounds into sacred monuments that enshrined relics of the Buddha and Buddhist teachers. Emperor Ashoka played a significant role in their development, establishing stupas as important centres of Buddhist worship and devotion.

2. Sanchi Stupa: Architecture and Religious Practices

The stupas at Sanchi illustrate the development of early Buddhist architecture through their domes, stone railings, gateways, and sculptural reliefs. Ritual circumambulation, known as pradakshina, was an essential practice of worship, while the monuments reflect the artistic traditions of ancient India.

3. Bodh Gaya and Besnagar: Sacred Sites and Cultural Heritage

Bodh Gaya and Besnagar preserve important evidence of ancient India's religious and architectural traditions. Bodh Gaya is associated with the Buddha's enlightenment beneath the Bodhi tree, while the Garuda pillar at Besnagar, dedicated to Vasudeva, reflects the religious diversity and cultural interactions of the period.

Source: Buddhist Stupas in India and Southeast Asia, “The Beginning of Stūpas and Rock-cut Chaitya-Gṛha.”

Gajalakshmi (the goddess Lakshmi flanked by elephants, found seated in the Lalitasan mudra as a protective guardian motif) is the deity predominantly found on the architrave or lintel (known as the Lalatabimba) of Kalinga temples.

Here I am posting two sculptures of Goddess Lakshmi..The first one belongs to Parshurameshwar temple (6 - 7th century AD) and the second one belongs to Bramheshwar temple ( 1058 AD). Please put a comparative glance on both. If you like, you may go through the following two articles for further details.

https://lunarsecstacy.com/2021/03/26/goddess-lakshmi-not-confined-in-india-only/

https://lunarsecstacy.com/2023/11/10/bramheshwar-temple-firstuse-of-iron-beam-thousand-years-back/

Sculpture depicting battle between Sri Rama and Ravana at Sri Hoysaleshwara Temple, Halebidu.