Man holding child in ancient building fronting the famous Ghats by The Ganges River in Holy City of Varanasi, India

Buddhist shrines and prayer flags at the river's edge in a valley in Bhutan.

The Holy Chapel, Les Contamines-Montjoie, Haute-Savoie, France, Europe

Sadhu (Holy Man) at Hindu pilgrimage site, Pashupatinath, Kathmandu, Nepal, Asia

Sadhus (Holy men) at Pashupatinath Temple, Kathmandu, Nepal, Asia

Sadhu and holy cow, Rishikesh, Uttarakhand, India, Asia

Sveti Trojice (Holy Trinity) church and Citadel walls, Old Town, Budva, The Budva Riviera, Montenegro, Europe

Palm Sunday, Holy Week, La Roche-sur-Foron, Haute-Savoie, France, Europe

God and the Holy Ghost in Saint-Nicolas de Veroce church, Haute Savoie, France, Europe

Holy Family stained glass in Sainte Clotilde church, Paris, France, Europe

Bathing in the holy waters of Pura Tirta Empul, Bali, Indonesia, Southeast Asia, Asia

Holy cows on streets of Dungarpur, Rajasthan state, India, Asia

Monastery of the Holy Trinity, Meteora, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Greece, Europe

Taminda Sameba Cathedral (Holy Trinity Cathedral), the biggest Orthodox Cathedral in the Caucasus, Tbilisi, Georgia, Caucasus, Central Asia, Asia

Palm Sunday, Holy Week, La Roche-sur-Foron, Haute-Savoie, France, Europe

Disabled woman receiving Holy Communion, Lourdes, Hautes Pyrenees, France, Europe

Holy Sacrament adoration at Akepe monastery, Akepe, Togo, West Africa, Africa

Street scene in holy city of Varanasi, Benares, Northern India

Holy Trinity Column, UNESCO World Heritage Site, main square, Olomouc, North Moravia, Czech Republic, Europe

Chapel of the Holy Cross, Sedona, Arizona, United States of America, North America

Holy cows on streets of Dungarpur, Rajasthan state, India, Asia

Eucharist, Chapel of the Holy Spirit, Anglican Church of St. James, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, Pacific

Sunset on the ghats at Pushkar holy Lake, Pushkar, Rajasthan, India, Asia

Interior, Dominican Church of the Holy Spirit, Dominikonu Street, Vilnius, Lithuania, Baltic States, Europe

Holy Spirit mosaic, Vienna, Austria, Europe

Pope Paul VI kissing the Holy Land, Galilee, Israel, Middle East

Children in the Holy Sepulchre church, Jerusalem, Israel, Middle East

Holy relics on the main altar, Notre Dame Cathedral, Paris, France, Europe

Egyptian Coptic priest at the Holy Sepulchre, Jerusalem, Israel, Middle East

Holy confession, Ars-sur-Formans, Ain, France, Europe

God and the Holy Ghost, St. John the Baptist church, Xewkija. Malta, Europe

Holy Name Christian cathedral and tower blocks of the Near North of downtown, Chicago, Illinois, United States of America (USA), North America

Cathedral of the Most Holy Trinity, Hamilton, Bermuda, Central America

Holy Sacrament adoration at Akepe monastery, Akepe, Togo, West Africa, Africa

Holy confession, Ars-sur-Formans, Ain, France, Europe

The magnificent Cathedral of the Holy Ascension, Almaty, Kazakhstan, Central Asia, Asia

Holy Ghost in Saint-Nicolas de Veroce church, Haute Savoie, France, Europe

Knights of the Holy Sepulchre, Paris, France, Europe

Church of the Holy Trinity, Salzburg, Austria, Europe

Lourdes holy water, Lourdes, Hautes Pyrenees, France, Europe

Holy confession at a traditionalist Catholic pilgrimage, Paris, France, Europe

Knight of the Holy Sepulchre, Paris, France, europe

Virgin and Holy Ghost in Saint-Nicolas de Veroce church, Haute Savoie, France, Europe

Bottles for Lourdes holy water, Lourdes, Hautes Pyrenees, France, Europe

Sadhu smoking nirvana at pashupati nath temple, nepal

Aside from a life of simplicity focus on divine, many sadhus engage in a diverse array of practices both internal external in order to attain higher states of awareness consciousness. This sadhu chosen hatha yoga shows results--a well-disciplined, strong body--while holding kukkuta asana, or cock posture. India

H.h. 14th dalai lama. In early days most of individual tantric systems were kept separate from another, each regarded as a path to enlightment. here again passage of time brought about fusion cross-fertilization, a tradition of uniting various tantras emerged, at least on a simple level a daily meditation. India

Sadhus rally initiation at ujjain kumbh mela, indi

Sadhu doing yoga at hindu temple pashupati nath, nepal

A young sadhu reads holy scripture near fire. Worship is part of daily life. Some sadhus chant mantras. gayatri mantra is of several mantras that sacred incantations or mystical formulas of ancient literature. gayatri mantra given by brahma mentioned in rigveda is named after consort of brahma: o that glory- of savitri most high. Oh divine us mediate upon. it inspire understanding. goal of recitation is to attain realization. Practice lead mind into a transcendental union with deity.Pashupatinath, kathmandu, nepa

Nepal. Ritual, sonam/boom. Lobsangs cremation. Humla. traveler reached of journey! In freedom of infinite he is free from sorrow, fetters that bound thrown away, burning fever of life is no more,oesays dharmapada. Lobsang having spent whole life preparing moment of death, finds liberation on february 14, 1986. Extensive ritual follows cremation-traditionally a forty nine period, sonam lama rattles damaru. A small ritual drum to have origin in - shamanism. damaru, used as a tantric device to summon gods ward evil spirits, once made from human skull bone dreid human skin as a reminder of impermanence of body. Boom lama blows a kangling, a human thigh-bone horn. kangling is used in exorcism is capable of gods demons. Traditionally, best bones a kangling come from brahmans, particularly sixteen-year- brahman girls-or from tigers. On makeshift altar rest chhome, votive lamps filled with butter, cups of water, grains, tormas, holy food made of barley meal decorated with medallions of butter offered to gods. Alone, boom lama continues prayers of deceased

The Holy Trinity Church on the bank of the Tirnava Mare River in Sighisoara in the Transylvania region of central Romania, Europe

Nuns give out bread at Romanov Chapel of the Holy and Life-giving Cross, Yalta, Crimea, Ukraine, Europe

Guatemala catholic first communion and mass at remate, el peten. altar boy lights candles of young girls after the ceremony

Religion, ethiopia. Monk (in pink, abba gebra kidan) staying in the caves near the churches of lalibela

Guatemala catholic first communion and mass at remate, el peten. altar boy lights candles of young girls after the ceremony

Sadhu (Hindu holy man) in Kathmandu, Nepal, Asia

Sadhu (Hindu holy man) in Kathmandu, Nepal, Asia

Sadhu (Hindu holy man) in Kathmandu, Nepal, Asia

Sadhu (Hindu holy man) in Kathmandu, Nepal, Asia

Sadhu (Hindu holy man) in Kathmandu, Nepal, Asia

Sadhu (Hindu holy man) in Kathmandu, Nepal, Asia

Sadhu (Hindu holy man) in Kathmandu, Nepal, Asia

Sadhu (Hindu holy man) in Kathmandu, Nepal, Asia

Guatemala catholic first communion and mass at remate, el peten. girls during mass

Religion, bulgaria. The byzantine catholic church at plovdiv. Icons inside the church

Macedonia (the former yugoslav republic of macedonia, fyrm) saint george. 13th century frescoes inside the orthodox church of saint clement, ohrid

Macedonia (the former yugoslav republic of macedonia, fyrm) cyrilic bible, orthodox church of the monastery of saint naum. Lake ohrid

Macedonia (the former yugoslav republic of macedonia, fyrm) saint clement of ohrid. 13th century frescoes inside the orthodox church of saint clement, ohrid

Macedonia (the former yugoslav republic of macedonia, fyrm) 13th century frescoes inside the orthodox church of saint clement, ohrid

Guatemala catholic first communion and mass at remate, el peten. girl waiting to give first confession

Macedonia (the former yugoslav republic of macedonia, fyrm) saint constantin of kavasila. 13th century frescoes inside the orthodox church of saint clement, ohrid

Members of the Order of the Holy Sepulchre pausing in full dress at the Holy Sepulchre, Jerusalem Old City, Israel, Middle East

Religion, ethiopia. Orthodox archbishop gregorius visiting tullo gudo island and monastery of debre zion, lake ziway. Reading ancient parchment bible stored in church.

Forehead designs, called tilakas, show a sadhus religious and sectarian affiliations and range from a simple daub of color to complex designs involving the entire face. the application of a tilaka is usually done at the start of each day after bathing as a way to sanctify the body and prepare it to receive the divine. pashupatinath, nepal

Forehead designs, called tilakas, show a sadhus religious sectarian affiliations range from a simple daub of color to complex designs involving entire face. Vertical design of this sadhus tilaka shows to be a vaishnava, or follower of vishnu, preserver of universe. He is a benevolent gentle. gentility is reflected in worshippers devotess. application of a tilaka is usually done at start of each after bathing as a to sanctify body prepare it to receive divine. India

74 year sadhu stands on meditates. Nepal

The Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque in Muscat, the capital of Oman.

Sadhus (Hindu holy men) in Kathmandu, Nepal, Asia

Sadhu (Hindu holy man) in Kathmandu, Nepal, Asia

India. In the footsteps of saint thomas: visiting the eight churches founded by the apostle in kerala after he arrived in 52 ad. An icon of saint thomas

Guatemala catholic first communion and mass at remate, el peten

Guatemala catholic first communion and mass at remate, el peten. girls during mass

The Holy Trinity Church on the bank of the Tirnava Mare River in Sighisoara in the Transylvania region of central Romania, Europe

Religion, ethiopia. Monk (in pink, abba gebra kidan) staying in the caves near the churches of lalibela

Macedonia (the former yugoslav republic of macedonia, fyrm) frescoes in the orthodox church of the monastery of saint naum. Lake ohrid

The night sky over Machapuchare with a glow from the moon rising behind the holy peak, Annapurna Sanctuary, Himalayas, Nepal, Asia

Sadhus (Hindu holy men) in Kathmandu, Nepal, Asia

Sadhu (Hindu holy man) in Kathmandu, Nepal, Asia

Woman prostrating at the Stone of Anointing. Holy Sepulchre. Jerusalem Old City, Israel, Middle East

A Pilgrim reads his Hindu scripture. Bhaktapur, Nepal

The Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque in Muscat, the capital of Oman.

India. Kokkamamngalam syro-malabar catholic church, one of the 8 said to have been founded by saint thomas. The miraculous portrait of saint thomas. In the footsteps of saint thomas: visiting the eight churches founded by the apostle in kerala after he arrived in 52 ad

Honduras holy water font in front of catholic church. slum barrio of chamelecon, pedro sula

Guatemala catholic first communion and mass at remate, el peten. close-up of girls hands wearing lace gloves

Watatulu girl reading bible, tanzania. Mwankale

A Pilgrim reads his Hindu scripture. Bhaktapur, Nepal

Tens of thousands of buddhist pilgrims from around the world traveled to bodhgaya, a town in northern india, to hear exiled tibetan spiritual leader hh dalai lama give the kalachakra-religious teachings. Pilgrims offer holy kusha grass (amrisso). Kalachakra initiation in bodhgaya, bihar, india

The Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque in Muscat, the capital of Oman.

Sadhu (Hindu holy man) in Kathmandu, Nepal, Asia