Sacred Spaces
One of the best things about humans is the beautiful structures they create to honor the divine, invite deep learning, inspire awe, and feel a connection to something greater than ourselves. Cathedrals, temples, mosques, shrines, ashrams, stupas, yoga centers, and libraries - this collection cuts across religions, philosophies, and countries to showcase the artistry, craftsmanship, and beauty of these sacred spaces. For even more, also see my Buddhapath collection.
Sainte-Chapelle in Paris, France
Machu Picchu, Peru. The "Lost City of the Incas" above the Sacred Valley.
Hassan II Mosque in Casablanca, Morocco.
Annamalaiyar Temple in Tiruvannamalai, India
View of Annamalaiyar Temple from the hike up Arunachala Mountain in Tiruvannamalai, India. Arunachala is one of the five main Shaiva holy places in South India. Ramana Maharshi said that Arunachala is Lord Shiva himself.
Prayer wheel house of the Buddha of Compassion at the Kopan Monastery, a Tibetan Buddhist monastery near Boudhanath on the outskirts of Kathmandu, Nepal.
Notre-Dame de Paris, a medieval Catholic cathedral in Paris, France.
Swayambhunath, also known as the Monkey Temple, is a sacred Buddhist pilgrimage site in Kathmandu, Nepal. The monkey in this image is sitting atop a giant vajra (thunderbolt scepter) a symbol of enlightenment. Notice the other monkey swinging on the banner, covering the Buddha's eyes at the top of the stupa.
Iglesia de la Compania de Jesus (Church of the Society of Jesus), a Catholic Church in the main square of Cuzco, Peru.
Al-Atterine Madrasa (or Medersa al-Attarine), a center of religious learning for Islamic scholars in Fez, Morocco.
Nyatapola Temple in Bhaktapur, Nepal. It is the tallest temple of Nepal. The temple is dedicated to Goddess Siddhi Lakshmi - a Tantric deity representing the most powerful female force. The stairs are lined with 5 pairs of guardians, each level more powerful than the last.
Norwich Cathedral, a cathedral church for the Church of England Diocese of Norwich.
Boudhanath Stupa on the outskirts of Kathmandu, Nepal.
The Basilica of Sacre-Coeur de Montmartre (Sacred Heart of Montmartre) in Paris, France. A Roman Catholic Church dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
Westminster Abbey in London, England. And sight-seeing monks with tech.
Qorikancha in Cusco, Peru. Qorikancha translates as "Court of Gold." "If Cusco was constructed to represent a puma, then Qorikancha was positioned as the animal's loins, the center from which all creation emanated; 4000 priests and attendants are thought to have lived within its confines." (Fodor's Peru guidebook). Note the condor, the snake, and the puma in the garden.
Shore Temple overlooking the Bay of Bengal in Mamallapuram, India.
Durbar Square in Kathmandu, Nepal.
Kopan Monastery, Kathmandu, Nepal.
Dakshineswar Kali Temple, Kolkata, India
Calcutta Jain Temple (also known as Parshwanath Temple) in Kolkata, India.
The minaret of the Grand Mosque of Chefchaouen, Morocco. Overlooking Place Outa Hammam.
Patan, Durbar Square, Nepal. Several iconic temples were destroyed in the 2015 earthquake, and many monuments are undergoing restoration.
Lumbini, Nepal, the birthplace of Siddhartha Gautama, the Buddha. The monks were conducting a dharma transmission ritual for several pilgrims. See my Buddhapath album for more images from this pilgrimage.
Cathedral Church of Christ in Liverpool, England.
Basilica and Capitoline Temple of Volubilis, Morocco. The temple was dedicated to Juno, Jupiter, and Minerva - divinities of the Roman state.
A.D. White Library at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York.
A peak into one of the world's oldest universities, in Fez, Morocco.
Mosque of the Marinid complex in the Chellah Ruins, Rabat, Morocco.
Statue of Patanjali at the Krishnamacharya Yoga Mandiram in Chennai, India. Krishnamacharya is often called the "Father of Modern Yoga". Jeremy and I studied yoga philosophy (including Patanjali's Yoga Sutras) here for several weeks.
Blue Spirit Retreat Center, Costa Rica. Jeremy and I trained here for 3 weeks with Lara Heimann (a physical therapist) for a solid grounding in anatomy & functional movement to inform our asana practice and teaching.
Temple in Chennai, India.
Stupa in Kathmandu, Nepal.
Kali shrine in the alleyways of Kumartuli, the potter's quarter in Kolkata, India.
Krishna shrine in Chennai, India
Sculpture of Arjuna and Krishna at Kurukshetra, India, where the epic battled depicted in the Bhagavad Gita is said to have taken place.
Buddha Peace Park in Nagarkot, Nepal.
Central Library, Liverpool, England. Imagine!
Bodhnath Stupa, Nepal. "The plinth represents earth, the kumbha (dome) is water, the harmika (square tower) is fire, the spire is air and the umbrella at the top is the void or ether beyond space. The 13 levels of the spire represent the stages that a human being must pass through to achieve nirvana." --Lonely Planet Nepal Guidebook
View of the Spanish Mosque, Chefchaouen, Morocco.
Siddhi Lakshmi Temple in Bhaktapur, Nepal.
Small shrine in the the middle of the shopping mall in Chennai, India. There was something striking to me about the juxtaposition of religion, consumerism, and the large glowing "escape" on the wall.
Sri Seshadri Swamigal Ashramam in Tiruvannamalai, India.
View from Kopan Monastery, Kathmandu, Nepal.
Temple in Chennai, India.
View of the Notre-Dame de Paris, a medieval Catholic cathedral, on the Seine river in Paris, France.
Patan Durbar Square, Nepal. View from our dinner spot.
Annamalaiyar Temple in Tiruvannamalai, India
Qorikancha in Cusco, Peru. Spanish conquistadors build their own Santo Domingo Convent on top of the foundation of the original Inca temple, much of which was destroyed during the war in the 16th century. Here you can see the original ashlar masonry (mortarless) of the Inca temple.
Hassan II Mosque in Casablanca, Morocco.
Inside the Hassan II Mosque in Casablanca, Morocco. One of the only mosques in Morocco that non-muslims are allowed to enter.
Young monks playing at Kopan Monastery, Kathmandu, Nepal. Proving that a cardboard box is a universally loved toy.
Virupaksha Cave, where Sri Ramana Maharshi stayed on Arunachala mountain, in Tiruvannamalai, India.
Swayambhunath, also known as the Monkey Temple, in Kathmandu, Nepal.
Bodhnath, Nepal
Prayer wheels in Kathmandu, Nepal.
Giant spinning prayer wheels in Bodhnath, Nepal.
Prayer wheel house of the Buddha of Compassion at the Kopan Monastery in Kathmandu, Nepal.
Prayer wheels in Bodhnath, Nepal.
Al-Atterine Madrasa (or Medersa al-Attarine), a center of religious learning for Islamic scholars in Fez, Morocco.
Mahabodi Temple Complex and the Bodhi Tree at Bodh Gaya, India. The Buddha is said to have attained enlightenment while sitting under the bodhi tree. See my Buddhapath album for more images of temples from Bodh Gaya.