Holy Week, Iglesias, Sardinia, Italy, Europe

Gloved hands with rosary, Holy Week, Cagliari, Sardinia, Italy, Europe

Pilgrim sits in early morning sun reading his Holy Bible at entrance doors to Bet Maryam church (St. Mary's), believed to be the oldest rock hewn church in Lalibela, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Lalibela, Ethiopia, Africa

Indian Temple in the holy lake of Grand Bassin in Mauritius, Indian Ocean, Africa

St. Stephen's Holy Right Hand Procession, Budapest, Hungary, Europe

Holy Week, Iglesias, Sardinia, Italy, Europe

Holy Week, Iglesias, Sardinia, Italy, Europe

Two Sikh pilgrims bathing and praying in the early morning in holy pool, Golden Temple, Amritsar, Punjab state, India, Asia

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

The Greek Orthodox catholicon, Orthodox Mass, Holy Sepulchre Church, Jerusalem, Israel, Middle East

The Stone of Anointing, Holy Sepulchre Church, Jerusalem, Israel, Middle East

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

Ethiopian Good Friday celebrations at the Holy Sepulcre, Old City, Jerusalem, Israel, Middle East

Catholic pilgrims worshipping at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, Jerusalem, Israel, Middle East

Pilgrims in the Holy Land walking in the Golan Heights, Galilee, Israel, Middle East

Anastasis, Holy Sepulchre Church, Jerusalem, Israel, Middle East

The Greek Orthodox catholicon, Orthodox Mass, Holy Sepulchre Church, Jerusalem, Israel, Middle East

View of Parish Church of the Holy Blood and cafes, Graz, Styria, Austria. Europe

Procession, Holy Week, Iglesias, Sardinia, Italy, Europe

Penitents bearing crosses in procession, Holy Week (Semana Santa), Seville, Andalucia, Sapin, Europe

Indian Temple in the holy lake of Grand Bassin in Mauritius, Indian Ocean, Africa

Holy Week Procession, Antigua, Guatemala, Central America

Pilgrim lighting candles in the Holy Sepulchre Church, Jerusalem, Israel, Middle East

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

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

Pilgrim doing the Kora around the holy mountain Mount Kailash in Western Tibet, China, Asia

Sikh priest and holy book at Sikh wedding, London, England, United Kingdom, Europe

Franciscan monks at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in the Old City, Jerusalem, Israel, Middle East

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

Semana Santa (Holy Week) celebrations, Malaga, Andalucia, Spain, Europe

Pope Francis walking at the end of the Pentecost Holy Mass in St. Peter's Square, at the Vatican, Rome, Lazio, Italy, Europe

Holy sacrament procession in Saint Denis Basilica, France, Europe

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

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

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

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

Holy Communion, Notre Dame Cathedral. Catholic Mass, Paris, France, Europe

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

Way of the Cross, Holy Week, Paris, France, Europe

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

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

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

Knight of the Holy Sepulchre, Paris, France, europe

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

74 year sadhu stands on meditates. Nepal

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

A Pilgrim reads his Hindu scripture. Bhaktapur, Nepal

A Pilgrim reads his Hindu scripture. Bhaktapur, Nepal

Guatemala catholic first communion and mass at remate, el peten

India the peryar river, where thomas landed before climbing mount malayattoor. Pilgrimage to malayattoor, a hill which saint thomas the apostle is believed to have climbed around 55 ad, leaving his footprints at the top. It is a major pilgrim centre for christians as well as hindus and moslems, who believe the trip can cure them of physical and mental disease. Kerala

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

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

Australia. Ukrainian greco- service at cathedral in melbourne.

Watatulu girl reading bible, tanzania. Mwankale

Ethiopia the maryam feast, feast of mary, at axum. Woman reading scriptures, inside the church of saint mary of zion

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

Watatulu tribal children at mwankale , tanzania. - girl on right is reading bible

Pilgrims at Lawkananda Pagoda built by King Anawrahta in 1059 A.D to enshrine a Holy Tooth replica, Bagan Myothit, Bagan (Pagan), Myanmar (Burma), Asia

Kailash, tibe

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

Holy man, Anjuna Market, Goa, India, Asia

Religion, bulgaria. Bible study class at pokrov parish orthodox church, sofia

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