This project has been funded with support from the European Commission.
This web site reflects the views only of the author, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.
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History of Religions
History of the 3 Monotheistic religions (Judaism, Christianity and Islam) and of the main different Christianity confessions (Roman Catholicism, Eastern Catholicism and Eastern Orthodoxy, Anglicanism and Protestantism)
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Pedagogical Approaches
New pedagogical approaches to teach history of religion
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Role of Religions in Civilization
How to didactically promote among students of different confessions, the capacity of a critical analysis and understanding of the role played by religions in the history of mankind
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Interreligious Students’ Competences
Set of teaching contents, to be used by teachers to highlight and valorize the universal values of tolerance and universalisms that all Monotheistic religions and religious texts contain to promote and sustain mutual understanding among students
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Managing Multi-Religious Classes
Teaching Sources to help teachers dealing with multicultural and multi-religious classes
Map
An interactive didactical map interactive didactical map giving access to sites with a religious relevance.-
Introduction
A comparative review of the liturgical celebrations, ceremonies and dietary rules existing in the different religions.
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Celebrations
Description and comparative analysis of the celebrations of different religions and confessions
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Ceremonies
Description and comparative analysis of the ceremonies of different religions and confessions
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Dietary Rules
Description and comparative analysis of the dietary rules of different religions and confessions
Events
The Pathway through Religions project has been promoted trough conferences and articles.
Conferences
The Pathway through Religions project was presented in a number of events in order to report about the activities carried out and the results achieved
Press Review
The Pathway through Religions project partnership made contacts with web sites focusing on the fields of educationPartnership
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Contractual Partners
From this section it is possible to access to a description of each contractual partner of the Pathway through Religions project.
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Schools
From this section it is possible to access to the information about the schools involved in the Pathway through Religions Project in the European countries involved.
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Associated Partners
As a result of the exploitation activity a number of associated partners officially joined the project in order to contribute to the improvement of the project impact on their target groups and to ensure the project sustainability by continuing using the project deliverables in the next years.
This section of the Pathway through Religions portal provides administrative information for the project contractual partners and for the European Commission and it is password protected.
Map
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An interactive didactical map interactive didactical map giving access to sites with a religious relevance.
Back to the Religious Sites List
Monastery (Matha) Swami Gitananda Ashram in Altare
Localita' Pellegrino, 1, Altare (Savona), ITALY
WEB SITE http://www.ashramgita.com/?lang=en
RELIGIONS Hinduism
DESCRIPTION OF THE RELIGIOUS SITE
DESCRIPTION
The Hindu monastery Matha Gitananda Ashrama is located in Località Pellegrino in the Municipality of Altare; It stands on a hill 520m high, in the inland of Savona.
Inside the monastery is a beautiful temple dedicated to the Divine Mother Sri Lalita Tripura Sundari, built in accordance with the principles established by the Vastu Shastra. It is of particular importance due to its structure (typical of southern India) and for its rich iconographic representation and yantrica.
In addition to the main deity, Devi Shri Lalita Mahatripurasundari and many other protective goddesses, inside you will find: a linga, the symbol of Shiva, weighing 1,080 kilograms, some depictions of Ganesha, the Nine Planets, the Navagraha (with function protection), Rishi and Avatara detectors of Shri Vidya.
This temple is an important reference point for Italian and faithful from India, Sri Lanka, Mauritius, etc., Who flock here for the puja and especially during the holidays. Every day, especially on Friday and Sunday mornings, you can participate in the shakti puja (Hindu ritual shakta according to tradition) during which they sing sukta stotram, bhajan and kirtan.
The activities of the temple, where the rites, the devotee may participate in several ways: by bringing offerings on special occasions or important moments in life from sanctify; expressing his devotion, bhakti, through devotional songs, meditating, doing your own practice or the study of the Scriptures.
HISTORICAL RELEVANCE
In June 1984 Swami Yogananda founded the Gitananda Ashram. With the irrepressible enthusiasm to put into practice values and ideals that Swamiji conveyed, a small group of students had started researching, inland Liguria, a place where he could retire with the guide Master in order to "live" yoga. And then Swamiji, returning from a long stay in India, arrives in Località Pellegrino in Altare, in the hinterland of Savona.
In 1992 the temple's foundation was laid. Thus arose the mandapa, no fixtures, with simple shading that outlined, of course unheated and without electricity. It has hosted for years a simple, essential worship, extremely effective for the tapas, the inner discipline. In 2000 a group of sculptors, sthapati, experts in sacred buildings, came from India to define the decorative aspect.
INTER-RELIGIOUS RELEVANCE
The interreligious dialogue is an important component of ashram life. Over the years, the monastery opened gladly its doors to the meeting with representatives of various religious traditions, as well as representatives of various currents of Hinduism itself.
The occasion of inter-religious meeting was the inauguration of the great "Peace Bell" Maha Nada Ganta, a unique work, of seven tons, a great artistic work of high spiritual value, inlaid with mantras and stotra.
RELIGIOUS INFLUENCE
The Ashram is always happy to welcome single people, groups and school groups, to offer an opportunity to experience a different cultural and religious context rooted in Italy for over thirty years. An important opportunity to introduce interculturality and dialogue, which has fostered relations with the predominant faith.
HOW TO USE WITH THE STUDENTS
- Direct visit
- Classroom activity (pre and post the visit):
Insights on some characteristic terms of Hinduism: the main Hindu deities, samnyasa, the Ashram, the mandapa, the puja.
Activity of verification of the acquired knowledge and skills
- Classroom activity (pre and post the visit):
Insights on some characteristic terms of Hinduism: the main Hindu deities, samnyasa, the Ashram, the mandapa, the puja.
Activity of verification of the acquired knowledge and skills
REFERENCE TO THE GUIDELINE
- Building Students’ Interreligious Competences in Communication and Adaptation in a Cross-Cultural Environment - Religion as a Source of Inclusion and Peace
- Building Students’ Interreligious Competences in Communication and Adaptation in a Cross-Cultural Environment - Interfaith Map of the Local Community
- Building Students’ Interreligious Competences in Communication and Adaptation in a Cross-Cultural Environment - Recognizing and Developing the Positive Potential
- Building Students’ Interreligious Competences in Communication and Adaptation in a Cross-Cultural Environment - Making Judgements – The Role of Religion and Cultural Traditions
LINKS
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International Day of Yoga
Interview with Paramahamsa Svami Yogananda Ghiri, spiritual guide of the Italian Hindu Union
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Sanatana Dharma Samgha
Site of the Italian Hindu Union, a religious institution founded for the protection, coordination, practice and study of Hindu culture and religion.
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The Hindu Paradise of Altare
Article of an important Italian newspaper, La Repubblica, on the monastery
