I am a professor of Religious Studies at East Carolina University, and for the ninth year in a row, I am leading a study abroad program to India.
For more information about our program, see our website here: www.ecu.edu/religionprogram and also here: http://www.ecu.edu/religionprogram/india/ You can read previous blogs and see lots of great photos about previous trips.
This year, my assistant will be Aaron Iaquinto, who was a participant during the 2008 program. He is an artist and instrument maker: http://aaroniaquinto.com/
We hope you enjoy following our journey.
Derek F. Maher, PhD
Associate Professor, Religious Studies ProgramAssociate Dean for Undergraduate Studies
Thomas Harriot College of Arts and Sciences
East Carolina University
Office: Bate 2002B
maherd@ecu.edu
252-328-5332
Mailing address:
1002 Bate BuildingEast Carolina University
Greenville, NC 27858
Have a life-changing experience! Looking forward to reading about it. Katie O'Connor
ReplyDeleteSo when been here for days but we seen so much. Yesterday we visit The Martyrdom site of Mahana Gandhi . This is the place where he spent his the last 144 days of his life. We took pictures beside his grave how awesome. Gandhi was very educated he went to British law school. He fought without violence for the rights and freedom of the Indian people. Many great leaders follow his way such as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr
ReplyDeleteOn Thursday when headed to New Delhi to go see Swaminaryan Akshardam. This was a unit complex of Indian culture. The temple was funded by Indians all over even in the USA.It show cases Indian art, wisdom, heritage, and values as a tribute to Bhagwan Swaminaryan (1781-1830) CE, It is set on 100 acre and the temple was built in only 5 years. It was inspired and created by Pramukh Swami Maharaji . In the middle of the temple is a 11 ft high, gold plated Murti of Bhagwan Swaminaryan. There was so much detail down to the finger print of the hand. The temple had such vibrant colors, jewels, stones, pictures , and carvings of elephants and peacocks.This is a modern temple recently built and they set the bar high for temples. They have an exhibition where we watch a a film on a giant screen ,walked through various scenes of robotic figured that talk along with a narrator, and we took a boat ride similar to USA log rides. In the exhibits we learn about an 11 year old boy Yogi, Neeykanth Varni. The Swaminaryans way is peace and regardless of your religion the atmosphere set that tone.There was messages along the foot of the temple and one that stood out to me was that one small act from the heart is enough to please God .What I took from that is that it's not the size of the deed ,but the genuineness behind it. Due to high security we was not allowed to take cameras into the temple and my words can not describe the full beautiful of this site. It is a once in a lifetime opportunity.
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