Tamil Hindus celebrating a festival for Muruga (Ganesha's brother) in Paris, France, Europe

Seven Buddhas under a tree, Cave 12, Ellora, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Maharashtra state, India, Asia

Outdoor Hindu shrine to Ganesh, the elephant god, on the ghats below Ahilya Fort, Maheshwar, Madhya Pradesh state, India, Asia

Siva detail, Visvanatha (Visvanath) temple, West group, Khajuraho, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Madhya Pradesh state, India, Asia

Tamil Hindus celebrating a festival for Muruga (Ganesha's brother) in Paris, France, Europe

Beautiful frescoes on walls of the Juna Mahal Fort, Dungarpur, Rajasthan state, India, Asia

Preah Palilai, dating from 13th and 14th century, Angkor Thom, Angkor, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Siem Reap, Cambodia, Indochina, Southeast Asia, Asia

Ptolemaic low relief of the hawk-headed god Horus presented with offerings, Temple of Sobek and Haroeris, Kom Ombo, Egypt, North Africa, Africa

Mazu sea goddess in Thian Hock Keng Taoist temple, Singapore, Southeast Asia, Asia

Woman walking past one of the largest reclining Buddha statues in the world, said to contain 9000 Buddha images inside, built in 1991, Monywa, Sagaing Division, Myanmar (Burma), Asia

Outdoor Hindu shrine to Hanuman the monkey god, on the ghats below Ahilya Fort, Maheshwar, Madhya Pradesh state, India, Asia

The Big Buddha statue, Kamakura city, Kanagawa prefecture, Japan, Asia

Reclining Buddha, Manuha, Bagan (Pagan), Myanmar (Burma), Asia

Yungang Buddhist caves, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Datong, Shanxi, China, Asia

Detail of stone carving of the Buddha, Ellora Caves, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Maharashtra state, India, Asia

Pilgrims seated in front of the 39 ft high standing Buddha, Aukana, Sri Lanka, Asia

Statue of the Buddha, Lhasa, Tibet, China, Asia

Giant statue of the Buddha and guardian, Koh Samui, Thailand, Southeast Asia, Asia

Detail of the west facade, 8th century Buddhist site of Borobudur, UNESCO World Heritage Site, island of Java, Indonesia, Southeast Asia, Asia

Hindu shrine to Ganesh the elephant god, Maheshwar, Madhya Pradesh state, India, Asia

Beautiful frescoes on walls of the Juna Mahal Fort, Dungarpur, Rajasthan state, India, Asia

Detail of stone carvings at The Ranakpur Jain Temple at Desuri Tehsil in Pali District of Rajasthan, Western India

Beautiful frescoes on walls of the Juna Mahal Fort, Dungarpur, Rajasthan state, India, Asia

Buddhist deities at Wat Siphoutthabath, Luang Prabang, Laos, Indochina, Southeast Asia, Asia

Statues of the Buddha, Angkor Wat, dating from between 1113 and 1150 AD, Angkor, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Siem Reap, Cambodia, Indochina, Southeast Asia, Asia

The Ellora Caves, temples cut into solid rock, UNESCO World Heritage Site, near Aurangabad, Maharashtra, India, Asia

Buddha image sitting under parasol near pagodas, Salay, Myanmar (Burma), Asia

Beautiful frescoes on walls of the Juna Mahal Fort, Dungarpur, Rajasthan state, India, Asia

Daily religious puja procession with local deities in the valley with snowy mountain tops in background, Chitkul, 3460m, Baspa Valley, Kinnaur, Himachal Pradesh, India, Asia

Buddhist deity at Wat Sene temple, Luang Prabang, Laos, Indochina, Southeast Asia, Asia

Reclining Buddha, Gal Vihara, Polonnaruwa, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Sri Lanka, Asia

Hindu temple god on wall on banks of the Narmada River, Maheshwar, Madhya Pradesh state, India, Asia

Side view of Buddha image sitting in open chamber with stupas in background, Borobudur Temple, UNESCO World Heritage Site, island of Java, Indonesia, Southeast Asia, Asia

Ancient Buddha image, Kakku Buddhist Ruins, Shan State, Myanmar (Burma), Asia

Interior of the Temple of the Tooth, Kandy, Sri Lanka, Asia

Golden Buddhas inside the paya, Thanboddhay Paya built in the 20th century by Moehnyin Sayadaw, said to contain over 500000 Buddha images, Monywa, Sagaing Division, Myanmar (Burma), Asia

Outdoor shrine to Hindu god, Maheshwar, Madhya Pradesh state, India, Asia

The Ellora Caves, temples cut into solid rock, UNESCO World Heritage Site, near Aurangabad, Maharashtra, India, Asia

Quetzalcoatl serpent-god, Temple of the Warriors, Maya-Toltec site, Chichen-Itza, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Yucatan, Mexico, North America

The god Amun, from Karnak, Luxor Museum, Luxor, Egypt, North Africa, Africa

Relief of the pharaoh Ramses III and the god Anubis, Medinet Habu, UNESCO World Heritage Site, West Bank, Thebes, Egypt, North Africa, Africa

Tomb painting of the pharaoh Ramses I with the god Anubis, Valley of the Kings, UNESCO World Heritage Site, West Bank, Luxor, Thebes, Egypt, North Africa, Africa

Bodhgaya, kalachakra, india. holiness 14th dalai lama conferring giving kalachakra initiation in sarnath, india. Because of profundity, kalachakra initiation be bestowed only by most realized of tibets lamas. Rays of lightÀÜat heart of lama-inseparable from kalachakra-draw in. Entering mouth pass through center of body, through vajra path enter mothers lotus, melting into a luminous drop which dissolves into emptiness. From within emptiness arises a jewel from which arise as a deity embraced by consort mamaki.

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

Ornate gopuram with colourful Hindu deities on Sri Veeramakaliamman Temple dedicated to goddess Kali built in Tamil style, Little India, Singapore, Southeast Asia, Asia

Kalchakra initiation. holiness 14th dalai lama conferring giving kalachakra initiation in bodgaya, india. Because of profundity, kalachakra initiation be bestowed only by most realized of tibets lamas. Rays of light at heart of lama-inseparable from kalachakra-draw in. Entering mouth pass through center of body, through vajra path enter mothers lotus, melting into a luminous drop which dissolves into emptiness. From within emptiness arises a jewel from which arise as a deity embraced by consort mamaki. -instructions visualization in kalachakra tantra

A solitary mask dancer appears wearing a frightening mask and silk brocade. they circle the courtyard with sprightly leaps. called protectors of faith, or dharmapdla, the origins of figures like these can be traced back to the pre-aryan peoples of india. originally known as yaksas (literally, a wondrous thing), they were tree spirits, who were accepted by the buddhists as defenders of the faith. in nepal and tibet, as in india, local deities were converted into protectors. a devotee of an alien sect devised a means to humiliate the buddha and his disciples. the buddha discovered it and succeeded in converting him to his teaching. due to lack of wisdom, the buddha remarked, some could not realize the goodness of his disciples and he compared the ignorant to the blind and the wise to those who have eyes.nobody is condemned in buddhism, for greatness is latent even in the seemingly lowliest just as lotuses spring from muddy ponds. -the dhammapada. solu khumbu, nepal

In month of november before full moon a sacred ceremony is held in various monasteries throughout himalayas by traditional healers known as amchis. They call down spiritual deities to bless medicine. Amchis making torma, a ritual food offering. India

In month of november before full moon a sacred ceremony is held in various monasteries throughout himalayas by traditional healers known as amchis. They call down spiritual deities to bless medicine. Amchis making torma, a ritual food offering. India

In month of november before full moon a sacred ceremony is held in various monasteries throughout himalayas by traditional healers known as amchis. They call down spiritual deities to bless medicine. Amchis performing puja at potenization ceremony. Amchis performing rituals during potenization ceremony. India

Hindu deity, kathmandu, nepal

Entrance and statue of Lord Murugan, a Hindu God, Batu Caves, near Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Southeast Asia, Asia

Low angle view of statues on ornate temple dome

Tree roots surrounding face of Buddha statue

Crucifixes handing on beams in shop

Sunbeams on Buddha statue, Ayutthaya, Thailand

Statue of Buddha at sunset, Borobudur, Java, Indonesia

Silhouette of statue of Buddha at night, Borobudur, Java, Indonesia

Snow on Buddha statue

Souvenir shop, inside Rangaji Temple ( Ranganath Temple ), Vrindavan, Mathura, Uttar Pradesh, India

Buddha head in banyan tree roots at Wat Mahathat temple, in Ayutthaya, Thailand

Monk praying, in Wat Mahathat, Sukhothai Historical Park, Sukhothai, Thailand

Wat Mahathat, Sukhothai Historical Park, Sukhothai, Thailand

Monk, in Angkor Wat, Siem Reap, Cambodia

Mural paintings, in Wat Chiang Man Temple, Chiang Mai, Thailand, Asia

Monk and Buddha statue, in Angkor Wat, Siem Reap, Cambodia

Monk praying, in Wat Mahathat, Sukhothai Historical Park, Sukhothai, Thailand

Deity and offerings, in Wat Phan Tao temple, Chiang Mai, Thailand

Holy Week processions in Guatemala city. Holy Thursday. Comparsa. Holy Week in Guatemala is celebrated with street expressions of faith, called processions, usually organized by a "hermandades". Each procession of Holy Week has processional floats and steps, which are often religious images of the Passion of Christ, or Marian images, although there are exceptions, like the allegorical steps of saints.

Holy Week processions in Guatemala city. Holy Thursday. Holy Week in Guatemala is celebrated with street expressions of faith, called processions, usually organized by a "hermandades". Each procession of Holy Week has processional floats and steps, which are often religious images of the Passion of Christ, or Marian images, although there are exceptions, like the allegorical steps of saints.

Religious statue and donation at Popa Taung Kalat Temple, Mount Popa, near Bagan, Myanmar, (Burma)

A colourful Buddha statue at Shwedagon Pagoda, Yangon, (Rangoon), Myanmar, (Burma)

Wall at Shwe Yan Pyay Monastery, also known as Shwe Yaunghwe Monastery, Nyaung Shwe, Shan State, Myanmar, (Burma)

Reclining Buddha, Chaukhtatgyi Pagoda, Yangon, (Rangoon), Myanmar, (Burma)

Buddha statues inside U Min Thonze Pagoda, Sagaing, near Mandalay, Myanmar, (Burma)

Buddha statue inside U Min Thonze Pagoda, Sagaing, near Mandalay, Myanmar, (Burma)

Carved Cham stone relief exhibit at My Son, Quang Nam province, Vietnam

A carved Buddha statue on a stupa at the Shwe Indein Pagoda, Indein, Shan State, Myanmar, (Burma)

Reclining Buddha, Chaukhtatgyi Pagoda, Yangon, (Rangoon), Myanmar, (Burma)

Buddha's Sacred Hair Relic, Botataung Pagoda, Buddha's First Sacred Hair Relic Pagoda, Yangon, (Rangoon), Myanmar, (Burma)

Mural paintings, in Wat Chiang Man Temple, Chiang Mai, Thailand, Asia

Wat Mahathat, Sukhothai Historical Park, Sukhothai, Thailand

Wat Sa Si, in Sukhothai Historical Park, Sukhothai, Thailand

Buddha head in banyan tree roots at Wat Mahathat temple, in Ayutthaya, Thailand

Mural paintings, in Wat Chiang Man Temple, Chiang Mai, Thailand, Asia

Shop of Krishna images, in Gotam Nagar street (main street),Historical Center,Vrindavan, Mathura, Uttar Pradesh, India

Wat Mahathat, Sukhothai Historical Park, Sukhothai, Thailand

Monk embellishing religious sculptures, in Angkor Wat, Siem Reap, Cambodia

Wat Chaiwatthanaram, Ayutthaya, Thailand

Mural paintings, in Wat Chiang Man Temple, Chiang Mai, Thailand, Asia

Hindi Temple of Sri Siva Subramaniya Swami, Suva, Viti Levu, Fiji, South Pacific

Souvenir shop, Street scene in Gopinath Bazar, Historical Center,Vrindavan, Mathura, Uttar Pradesh, India

Wat Mahathat, Sukhothai Historical Park, Sukhothai, Thailand

Wat Mahathat, Sukhothai Historical Park, Sukhothai, Thailand

Statues of Buddha and Shakyamuni, Hanging Monastery, Heng Shan North, Shanxi province, China, Asia

Men carrying deity statues and masks after a procession, Angadehalli Belur, Karnataka, India

Marble main entrance of Academy of Athens, national research center, columns or pillars with Athena, ancient Greek goddess and patron of city, and Apollo, ancient Greek god and patron of arts and science. National Greek flag. Summer day, blue sky

MAHESHWAR, INDIA, APRIL 26: Indian woman performs morning pooja on sacred river Narmada ghats on April 26, 2011 in Maheshwar, Madhya Pradesh, India. To Hindus Narmada is one of 5 holy rivers of India

MAHESHWAR, INDIA, APRIL 26: Indian woman performs morning pooja on sacred river Narmada ghats on April 26, 2011 in Maheshwar, Madhya Pradesh, India. To Hindus Narmada is one of 5 holy rivers of India

Quadriga at the Brandenburger Tor Brandenburg Gate, Berlin, Germany, Europe