ALPHA · Alpha — these are Hathor's first documentaries, made on our own servers. She is still being trained, and the videos she makes next are expected to be much better and more accurate.

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Gods in Real Places: Ancient India

Exploring how rivers, mountains, springs and temples were seen as the dwelling places of deities in ancient India.

Chapters

0:07 Divine Waters
1:34 Sacred Mountains
2:43 Ritual Sites and Temples
4:10 Artistic Depictions of the Spirit World

On-screen text

0:07 Divine Waters
0:14 Divine Waters
0:31 Rigveda hymn honors river Ganga Historical record · Rigveda, Hymn 10.75
0:49 Atharvaveda calls Yamuna a purifier Historical record · Atharvaveda, Book 7, Hymn 30
1:07 Ashoka calls Narmada a tirtha Historical record · Ashoka Edict No. 13 (Narmada)
1:25 Vishnu Purana calls Brahmaputra divine Historical record · Vishnu Purana, Book 3 (c. 5th c. CE)
1:34 Sacred Mountains
1:41 Sacred Mountains
1:58 Megasthenes notes Shiva’s mountain Historical record · Megasthenes, Indica (c. 300 BCE)
2:16 Mahabalipuram shows Shiva on mountain Historical record · Mahabalipuram Shore Temple, 7th c. CE, UNESCO
2:34 Ajanta murals show Ganga’s celestial descent The Institute's interpretation · Ajanta Caves, Cave 1, 5th c. CE, art analysis by Walter Spink
2:43 Ritual Sites and Temples
2:50 Ritual Sites and Temples
3:07 Pushkar spring praised by Hiuen Tsang Historical record · Travelogue of Hiuen Tsang, 7th c. CE
3:25 Somnath temple rebuilt in 9th c Historical record · Epigraphic inscription, Somnath Temple, 9th c. CE
3:43 Sanchi torana depicts sacred river Historical record · Sanchi Stupa, Ashokan inscription, 3rd c. BCE
4:01 Ashoka dedicates pillar to Ganga Historical record · Ashoka Edict No. 13 (Bengal)
4:10 Artistic Depictions of the Spirit World
4:17 Harappa excavation, 1925 Historical record · Excavation Report, Harappa, ASI 1925
4:32 Ajanta Cave 1, 5th c. CE The Institute's interpretation · Ajanta Caves, Cave 1, 5th c. CE, art analysis by Walter Spink
5:10 Xuanzang, 7th c. CE Historical record · Travel account of Xuanzang, 7th c. CE

Sources

Historical record: Rigveda, Hymn 10.75 · Atharvaveda, Book 7, Hymn 30 · Ashoka Edict No. 13 (Narmada) · Vishnu Purana, Book 3 (c. 5th c. CE) · Megasthenes, Indica (c. 300 BCE) · Mahabalipuram Shore Temple, 7th c. CE, UNESCO · Travelogue of Hiuen Tsang, 7th c. CE · Epigraphic inscription, Somnath Temple, 9th c. CE · Sanchi Stupa, Ashokan inscription, 3rd c. BCE · Ashoka Edict No. 13 (Bengal) · Excavation Report, Harappa, ASI 1925 · Travel account of Xuanzang, 7th c. CE

Tradition / scripture: [record: Jain Agamas, Chapter on Tirthankara rites, 4th c. BCE]

The Institute's interpretation: Ajanta Caves, Cave 1, 5th c. CE, art analysis by Walter Spink

Sound: synthesized ambient (wind, drone, water) (CC0 — made by SoapBox). Made in 94 s of CPU.

Scenes Hathor has no parts for yet (3) — the next things to make

Divine Waters: Show how major rivers were revered as living deities and pilgrimage sites.
Sacred Mountains: Illustrate the identification of towering peaks with divine abodes.
A lone pilgrim kneels at the riverbank, murmuring prayers, water swirling around his feet, a subtle luminous shape hovering above.