The Knights Templar, a military order of
monks answerable only to the Pope himself, were founded in
1118. Their primary responsibility, at least initially, was
to provide protection to Christians making pilgrimages to
the Holy Land. read more

Controversy surrounds the age old Jesuit oath, "Go ye, then, into all the world and take possession of all lands in the name of the Pope. He who will not accept him as the Vicar of Jesus and his Vice-regent on earth, let him be accursed and exterminated." read more

Sokushinbutsu (即身仏) were Buddhist monks or priests who allegedly caused their own deaths in a way that resulted in their being mummified. read more

Datsan Gunzechoinei was built in St. Petersburg between 1909-1915. The initiator of the monastery was the Buryat lama Agvan Dorzhiev (1853-1938) a teacher and close friend of His Holiness The XIII Dalai Lama Thupten Gyatso. read more

The Tian Shi Dao order of Daoism (known as the Northern Celestial Masters) found its roots an the older form of Daoism created by Zhang Daoling in 142CE. read more

Kanva Matha is one of the 24 mathas (monasteries) of the Madhva sampradaya and is headquartered in Hunasihole, Surapura Taluk, Gulbarga District, Karnataka. read more

The Kashi Matha is one of the four mathas (monasteries) which Gauda Sarasvata Brahmins follow, the others being Gokarna Matha (Vaishnava), Kavle Matha (Smarta) and Chitrapur Matha (Smarta). The Kashi Matha was founded in the year 1542 AD. read more

Sri Sringeri Sharada Pitham is one of the important Advaita monasteries. It is located in Sringeri. The heads of the monasteries are known as Sankaracharyas. According to some historical sources, it is the first of the four original monasteries traditionally said to have been established by Sri Adi Sankara. read more

The monastery was founded in 1447 CE by Gedun Drub, the nephew and disciple of the famous Buddhist philosopher Je Tsongkhapa,, who was later named the First Dalai Lama. The construction was financed by donations from local nobles. read more