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Other contemporary shrines

Harmandir Sahib
Harmandir Sahib. / shankar s., Flickr / CC BY-SA 2.0

WorldBlue Described other contemporary shrines

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WorldYellow What is included in this category?

Besides Christianism, Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism, Jainism and Judaism there are many more existing religions in world. Many of these religions have very interesting shrines and temples, which are no less impressive and sophisticated than the temples of large religions. Here are shortly outlined the specifics of sacred sites and worship structures of some of these religions, as arranged by the number of believers:

Sikhism

Sikhism is a comparatively new religion established by Guru Nanak (1469 – 1539) in Punjab (India) sometimes around 1507. Sikh faith was further developed by nine next Gurus living up to 1708. After the last human Guru there came Guru Granth Sahib – holy scripture and this is the sole and final guru. With 20 – 30 million followers Sikhism is the next largest religion after the four large religions in the world.

Sikh place of worship is named – gurdwara – literally "the doorway to guru". People of all faiths are welcomed to gurdwaras but should pay respect and follow certain rules of conduct. Gurdwaras can have different shapes – but almost all have a dome (gumbad). Sikh architects have mastered using artificially created water bodies to excel in the beauty of temples.

By far the most significant gurdwara is Harmandir Sahib (India, Punjab) in Amritsar. This gold-covered building is one of the highest achievements in Sikh architecture.

Bahá’í Faith

Nowadays Bahá’í Faith has some 7,6 – 7,9 million followers in the whole world. There are not many shrines of this religion but those few in existence are well worth mentioning. Bahá’í Faith believers try to build architectonically expressive buildings surrounded by beautiful parks. The holiest and the most important one is Shrine of Bahá’u’lláh (Israel, Acre) – it contains the remains of Bahá’u’lláh himself. Next in importance is the beautiful Shrine of the Báb (Israel, Haifa) – here is laid to rest Báb – the forerunner of Bahá’u’lláh. This shrine is special due to its beautiful terraced park.

Elsewhere in the world there are several Bahá’í Houses of Worship. Notable is the House of Worship in India (Delhi) – Lotus Temple – built in 1986 and renowned due to its beautiful architecture.

Shinto

Japan does not have single main religion and the Japanese often feel as belonging to several religions at once. Shinto has evolved from more ancient Japanese traditions and religious practices and up to this day this religion serves as a spiritual link between the stressed urban life of contemporary modern Japan and the harmony of nature. In its divination of nature, this contemporary religion has many similarities to animism.

Shinto shrines have made Japan renowned in the whole world as a culture with exquisite and sophisticated taste and great achievements in search for harmony between design and nature. Some of the most renowned ones are – Ise Grand Shrine (Mie, Japan), Itsukushima Shrine (Hiroshima, Japan) with its floating wooden gate, and Izumo-taisha (Shimane, Japan) with a very long history and once most popular pilgrimage site in Japan.

Cao Đài

In 1926 in northern Vietnam there was born new religion – Cao Đài (Kingdom of Heaven). This religion requires its followers to be vegetarians, to respect non-violence, and to venerate deceased ones.

Homecity of this religion is Tây Ninh (Vietnam, Tây Ninh). Here is also located the beautiful Holy See of Cao Đài religion – Cao Đài Temple (1933 – 1955).

Zoroastrianism

Among the contemporary religions Zoroastrianism stands out as a very ancient religion both regarding its religious practices and its actual history. It is based on the teachings of the Iranian prophet and poet Zoroaster (Zarathushtra) who lived more than 3000 years ago. Zoroastrianism could be considered to be a state religion in Iran up to the coming of Islam in the 7th century, it was widespread in the whole of Central Asia.

Zoroastrians gradually lost their influence in the 7th – 9th centuries and often were forced to migrate to different regions – to remote places in Iran and also to Gujarat in India. Nowadays there are roughly 145 – 210 thousand Zoroastrians, approximately half of them living in India.

Site of Zoroastrianism worship is called – fire temple. Most venerated fires have been extinguished long ago – but legend goes that more than a thousand years ago a group of refugees brought a sacred fire to India, Gujarat. Here it has been preserved and today is burning in Udvada Atash Behram. There are eight more fire temples of the highest degree (Atash Behram) – all in India, except for the newest one in Iran, Yazd.

Other articles

Wondermondo has defined several other categories of religious structures:

WorldViolet Top 25 other contemporary shrines

Africa

Devil’s Mountain

Western Sahara

Giant natural monolith – a rounded and very unusual mountain with a smooth surface, rising hundreds of meters above the desert. Prehistoric rock art (4 000 – 1 000 BC), sacred and even mystical place to Sahrawi people.

Devil's Mountain, Western Sahara
Devil’s Mountain / Nick Brooks, / CC BY 2.0
Kampti shrines

Burkina Faso

Site with numerous fetish statues, a center of local animists. The cult of sacrifice continues up to this day, locals have numerous stories of apparitions and unusual events.

Ogbunike Caves

Nigeria

Sacred site – impressive caves in a tropical forest. This location is sacred up to this day.

In Ogbunike Caves
In Ogbunike Caves. / Kayou Nathan, Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0
Komana of Moremi

Botswana

Important shrine of the Bapedi people. This shrine is strictly and secretly guarded by local people, and the tradition of priesthood and shamanism is still alive here.

Asia

Harmandir Sahib

India

The holiest site for Sikhs, originally built in 1574 and rebuilt in 1588 – 1604. It is a gold-covered temple, surrounded by a manmade lake.

Harmandir Sahib (Golden Temple), Amritsar, India
Harmandir Sahib (Golden Temple), Amritsar, India / K.Wieland, CC-BY-SA-2.0.
Mount Kailash

Tibet

Visually very impressive mountain, 6638 meters high. It is a very sacred site for many of the religions of Asia, including Buddhism, Hinduism, and Jainism. It is off-limits to people due to its religious significance. Pilgrims walk around the mountain on a 52 km long trek.

Mount Kailash, Tibet
Mount Kailash, Tibet / Heringf, Wikimedia Commons / CC-BY-SA-3.0
Itsukushima Shrine

Japan

This is one of the most beautiful Shinto shrines, with its design established in 1168. A famous feature of the shrine is a wooden gate (torii) that stands in the sea. This is one of the symbols of Japan.

Itsukushima, Japan
Itsukushima, Japan / , Flickr / CC BY-SA 2.0
Lotus Temple

India

Flowerlike Bahá’í temple building, built in 1986.

Lotus Temple, Delhi
Lotus Temple, Delhi / , Flickr / CC BY-SA 2.0
Fushimi Inari

Japan

The head shrine of goddess Inari, a large temple complex developing since 711 AD. An unusual feature is a path to the inner shrine covered with thousands of wooden gates (torii) donated by businessmen and individuals – as Inari is the goddess of industry and worldly success.

Torii in Fushimi Inari, Japan
Torii in Fushimi Inari / Paul Vlaar, Wikimedia Commons and www.neep.net
Temple of Heaven

China

Beautiful Taoist temple – temple of emperors of China, constructed in 1406 – 1420. The architecture and planning of the temple and even minor details are full of symbolism.

Temple of Heaven, The Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests. Beijing
Temple of Heaven, The Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests. Beijing / Maros Mraz, Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 2.5
Akal Takht

India

The seat of temporary Sikh religious authority – ornate building with gold-covered cupolas, located next to Harmandir Sahib.

Akal Takht in Amritsar
Akal Takht in Amritsar / Amarpreet.singh.in, Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0
Nikkō Tōshō-gū

Japan

One of the most beautiful Shinto temples in Japan was initially constructed in 1617. The complex of buildings includes Yōmeimon – a richly decorated gate. The incredibly ornamented buildings contain countless symbols, including the famous three monkeys who hear, speak, and see no evil.

Kataragama

Sri Lanka

Pilgrimage town, a sacred place to many cultures, including indigenous Vedda, Hindus, Buddhists, and Muslims. Main site of the veneration of Kataragama – a local deity for more than 2,000 years.

Kataragama
Kataragama. / Sasha India, Flickr / CC BY 2.0
Ise Grand Shrine

Japan

One of the holiest Shinto shrines, especially the inner shrine – Naikū. Here is worshipped goddess Amaterasu-ōmikami. It is considered that the history of this shrine goes back to 4 BC, the first shrine was built sometime around 692 AD. Wooden buildings are built in a specific style and rebuilt every 20 years.

Meoto Iwa

Japan

Shinto shrine – two rock stacks that are joined by a rope. According to Shinto, these rocks represent the union between a man and a woman. The rope needs to be replaced several times every year.

Meoto Iwa - Shinto shrine, Japan
Meoto Iwa – Shinto shrine / M.G., Wikimedia Commons / CC-BY-SA-3.0
Shimogamo

Japan

One of the oldest Shinto shrines, founded in the 6th century AD. Temple protects Kyoto from evil influence.

Usa jingū

Japan

Important Shinto shrines developed since the 8th century AD. It is possible that here in 779 AD was built the first shrine – temple of Japan was called Miroku-ji. Current beautiful buildings were built in the middle of the 19th century.

Temple of Literature

Vietnam

Temple of Confucius, the first national university in Vietnam, constructed in 1070. Temple contains many precious relics.

Temple of Literature
Temple of Literature. / David Petit, Flickr / CC BY-SA 2.0
Ateshgah of Baku (Atashgyakh)

Azerbaijan

An important center of the Zoroastrian religion, a temple that was built in the 17th – 18th centuries AD. The holy fire was extinguished in 1883 by the flow of natural gas caused by the oil industry. Shrine evolved in the site where natural gas leaves the ground and natural fires often were observed. The shrine exists since the 8th century AD at least. Today here stand massive, castle-like structures.

Bahrot Caves

India

The only Zoroastrian cave temple in India. It was established in 1351 AD when Parsi were hiding here from the Muslim invasion. The holy fire still is burning here.

Okinoshima Island

Japan

This small island between Korea and Japan served as a shrine in the time period between the 4th and the 10th centuries AD. Sacrifices were made to the gods to secure a safe way for ocean-going vessels. The island is off-limits to women up to this day.

Kumano Hayatama Taisha, Kumano Hongū Taisha and Kumano Nachi Taisha

Japan

Three ancient, most important Kumano shrines, are located some 30 – 40 km from each other. This is a sacred area since prehistoric times and is believed to have special powers, e.g. in healing. For millennia, pilgrims have traveled between these shrines.

Tây Ninh Holy See

Vietnam

Centre of Cao Đài religion – an ornate building that was built in 1933 – 1955.

Cao Đài Holy See, Vietnam
Cao Đài Holy See, Vietnam / Nguyễn Thanh Quang, Wikimedia Commons / CC-BY-SA-3.0

Australia and Oceania

Uluru (Ayers Rock)

Australia

One of the Australian symbols, an enormous and visually very impressive sandstone inselberg, 348 meters high, and 9.4 km in circumference. A sacred place to local Aborigine peoples. Here are many springs, waterholes, caves, and rock art sites. Endemic plants.

Kata Tjuta (Mount Olga)

Australia

Unusual, impressive monolithic rock formation, consists of 36 steep-sided domes up to 546 meters high. A sacred place to local Aboriginal people. Endemic plants.

Kata Tjuta
Kata Tjuta./ Rajeev Rajagopalan, Flickr / CC BY 2.0

WorldYellow Recommended books

The Zoroastrian Flame


Zoroastrianism has always commanded interest way beyond the circles of its actual adherents. Its unbroken history and distinctive beliefs span three millennia, making it one of the world’s most venerable faiths―and also a tradition whose ideas have found favor elsewhere.

A Year in the Life of a Shinto Shrine


What we today call Shinto has been at the heart of Japanese culture for almost as long as there has been a political entity distinguishing itself as Japan. A Year in the Life of a Shinto Shrine describes the ritual cycle at Suwa Shrine, Nagasaki’s major Shinto shrine. Conversations with priests, other shrine personnel, and people attending shrine functions supplement John K. Nelson’s observations of over fifty shrine rituals and festivals.


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