World Religions Class Visits Hindu and Jain Temples
Source/Author: Richard Beaton
October 09, 2014
On Friday, Shorecrest's Honors World Religions class traveled to Tampa to visit the Hindu Temple of Tampa and the Jain Society of Tampa Bay.
The Hindu temple is dedicated to Vishnu, Hinduism's Protector and Preserver god and is built in the architectural style of southern Indian temples. We were guided by a member of the temple community who blended references to popular culture into his discussion of Hinduism and the stories behind the temple's friezes and statues.
The Jain temple is on a property adjacent to the Hindu temple. Jains are a small sect, approximately 5 million adherents globally, that places enormous importance on the concept of ahimsa, non-violence toward all beings. Jain monks and nuns are known for the strict asceticism of their spiritual quest for liberation from embodied existence.
The field trip comes near the end of our study of religions of South Asian origin.
The Hindu temple is dedicated to Vishnu, Hinduism's Protector and Preserver god and is built in the architectural style of southern Indian temples. We were guided by a member of the temple community who blended references to popular culture into his discussion of Hinduism and the stories behind the temple's friezes and statues.
The Jain temple is on a property adjacent to the Hindu temple. Jains are a small sect, approximately 5 million adherents globally, that places enormous importance on the concept of ahimsa, non-violence toward all beings. Jain monks and nuns are known for the strict asceticism of their spiritual quest for liberation from embodied existence.
The field trip comes near the end of our study of religions of South Asian origin.
