10 exhibition highlights in plain English

Jainism, Buddhism and Hinduism are major religions in the world today.

All three religions started in India a long time ago.

Their pictures, statues and temples have many things in common.

1. Statue of a dancing god

This sandstone statue or sculpture is of a Hindu god called Ganesha.

He has the body of a human, but the head of an elephant and a snake tied around his waist.

The elephant and snake link Ganesha to a time when people worshipped nature.

About two thousand years ago most people in India lived in the countryside near forests and large rivers.

They believed in nature spirits, who protected them and the land.

They worshipped large stone statues and small clay figures of the nature spirits.

2. Colourful painting of Lakshmi sitting on a lotus flower

Lakshmi is the goddess of good luck and plenty.

Here, elephants are pouring water over her. It represents the way that rain brings everything to life. 

Hindus, as well as some Jains and Buddhists, worship Lakshmi.

3. Painting of the god Krishna

Some nature spirits are snakes. They are as powerful as gods.

The Hindu gods had many battles with these snakes.

This painting shows the Hindu god Krishna defeating a snake king called Kaliya.

Jains follow 24 enlightened teachers.

They believe their immortal soul will live in a state of bliss, if they lead a good life.

Jains try not to harm people, plants or animals, including accidentally squashing a fly.

4. Snake protecting a Jain teacher

This sandstone sculpture is of a Jain teacher.

An evil spirit is trying to stop him meditating by making it rain.

The teacher's assistant is a snake nature spirit. He protects the teacher from the rain by using his snake hood like an umbrella. The photograph next to the object label highlights this.

5. Queen of snakes

Padmavati is a nature spirit and queen of snakes.

She is also the assistant of a Jain enlightened teacher. 

People worship her because they believe she will protect them.

Buddhism is based on the teachings of the Buddha. His name means 'enlightened one'.

Today, millions of people across the world follow the Buddha's Four Noble Truths.

The first images of the Buddha used symbols instead of showing him as a man.

6. Different images of the Buddha

This stone carving has representations of the Buddha on both sides.

On this side, he is represented by a tree, an umbrella (or parasol), a throne and a set of footprints. The photograph next to the object label highlights these.

On the other side of this carving, made about 300 years later, the Buddha is a man.

7. Snake guarding a shrine

Snakes are often carved on the outsides of shrines.

They protect the building and the people who visit.

This snake has 5 heads and is ready for action.

Hinduism is the oldest continuously practised religion in India.

Hindus believe the spirits of the gods and goddesses live in their statutes, so look after them every day.

The gods and goddesses have different features that make them easy to recognise, such as the objects they hold.

8. The god who keeps people safe

This is Vishnu, one of the most important Hindu gods.

He has many different disguises on earth.

Here, he has the head of a wild pig and the body of a man.

9. A god and goddess team

The right side of this statue is a goddess.

The left side of this statue is a god.

The photograph next to the object label shows the different sides in detail.

When it was made, Hindus probably painted it in bright colours, dressed it in clothes and decorated it with garlands of flowers.

Buddhism and Hinduism spread along trade routes to Southeast, Central and East Asia.

The Buddhists and Hindus in each new place made their own versions of the statues from India. They created new local styles.

They kept some original features, so believers from anywhere could recognise who the pictures and statues were meant to be.

10. The goddess of rice

This poster is from a country called Thailand.

Rice is an important food in Thailand, so some of the people worship the goddess of rice.

Here, she is holding a rice plant.

Today, almost 2 billion people are Hindus, Buddhists and Jains.

These 3 religions and their art are now part of life in the UK.