梵語Sanātana Dharma指的是永恆之法、永恆的秩序，強調生命自我意識，必須履行義務：誠實、不傷害眾生、純潔、善意、慈悲、耐心、忍耐、自制、慷慨和苦行等美德，終將脫離輪迴的束縛，獲得最終的解脫。
印度教三相神之一的毗濕奴（Vishnu），為宇宙的守護者、掌管秩序之神。毗濕奴在梵語意為「無處不在」，具有無限、超越、永恆不變的 （Sanātana）意涵。每當世界受到任何混亂、破壞力量威脅時，毗濕奴透過各種型態的化身，守護世界，以維持「法」（Dharma）的運行。
本展分為三個單元：「創造與重生」、「人神共存的世界」、「奉愛的實踐」。觀眾透過「翻攪乳海」的創世神話，走入印度宗教信仰的世界；了解修行在人生中的意義，發現人與神之間的互動，沒有隔閡──其實祂陪伴在我們日常生活左右，維持世界永恆的秩序。
Curatorial Statement
The Sanskrit term Sanātana Dharma refers to the eternal law and universal order. It highlights the truthful awakening of life and the obligation to practice virtues such as honesty, non-violence, purity, benevolence, compassion, patience, endurance, self-restraint, generosity, and asceticism. This path ultimately leads to liberation from the cycle of rebirth and the attainment of ultimate transcendence.
As the Preserver among the three principal Hindu deities, Vishnu is the guardian of the universe and the ruler of order. Meaning "omnipresent" in Sanskrit, His name carries the essence of the infinite and the eternal (Sanātana). Whenever the world falls into turmoil or is threatened by evil, Vishnu descends in different forms as avatars to shield existence and ensure the continued path of Dharma.
Opening a window into the heart of Hindu faith, this exhibition comprises three sections—Creation and Rebirth, A World Shared by Gods and Humans, and The Practice of Bhakti. Beginning with the ancient myth of "The Churning of the Ocean of Milk," visitors can reflect on the purpose of spiritual practice and the intimate bond between humanity and the divine. The gods often accompany us through the ordinary moments of life, maintaining the universe's eternal harmony.
印度教重要年表
Chronology of Major Developments in Hinduism
前吠陀時期：1750 B.C.以前
Pre-Vedic religions (until c. 1750 BCE)
印度本土宗教發展
Development of Local Indian Religions
公元前3300-1700年，哈拉帕文明，信仰原始多神崇拜。
The Harappan Civilization (3300–1700 BCE) Primitive polytheistic worship.
吠陀時期1750 B.C.–500 B.C.
Vedic period (c. 1750–500 BCE)
印度本土宗教發展
Development of Local Indian Religions
雅利安人遷入，帶來吠陀宗教，與在地文化融合，形成婆羅門教。崇拜因陀羅等神祇，確立祭祀儀式。
- 《梨俱吠陀》成書於1200 B.C.－900B.C.
- 《梵書》成書於1000 B.C.－800B.C.
- 《奧義書》成書於600 B.C.－300B.C.
The Aryans migrated in, bringing the Vedic religion, which merged with local culture to form Brahmanism. They worshipped deities such as Indra and established ritual practices.
- The Rigveda was written between 1200 BC and 900 BC.
- The Brahmanas were written between 1000 BC and 800 BC.
- The Upanishads were written between 600 BC and 300 BC.
沙門思潮興起600 B.C.–200 B.C.
The uprising of Sramana Movements (c. 600–200 BCE)
印度本土宗教發展
Development of Local Indian Religions
沙門思潮：反對傳統婆羅門教權威、否定種姓制度及祭祀升天說的修行流派統稱，主張眾生平等。
- 悉達多．喬達摩（公元前六世紀－五世紀）創立佛教。
- 第24位祖師摩訶毗羅（公元前六世紀）創立耆那教。
- 《摩訶婆羅多》 成書於400B.C.－200 B.C.。
- 《羅摩衍那》、《摩奴法典》成書於300 B.C. －200 A.D.。
- 孔雀王朝的阿育王（302 B.C.-232 B.C.）弘揚佛教。
The Śramaṇa movements represented ascetic traditions that challenged the authority of Brahmanism, rejected caste hierarchy and the belief in attaining heaven through sacrificial rituals, and emphasized the principle of universal equality.
- Siddhartha Gautama (6th-5th century BCE) founded Buddhism.
- The 24th patriarch, Mahavira (6th century BCE), founded Jainism.
- The Mahabharata was written between 400 BC and 200 BC.
- The Ramayana and the Manusmriti were written between 300 BC and 200 AD.
- Ashoka (302 BC-232 BC) of the Mauryan dynasty promoted Buddhism.
古典印度教時期200B.C.–1200 A.D.
Classical Hinduism Era (c. 200 BCE – 1200 CE)
印度本土宗教發展
Development of Local Indian Religions
貴霜帝國（公元30年—375年），發展佛教犍陀羅藝術。笈多王朝時期（西元319－550年），婆羅門教吸收了佛教、民間信仰，演變為現代形態的印度教，崇拜三大主神。
- 400A.D.－1000A.D.十八種《往世書》相繼問世。
- 巴克提（奉愛）運動興起於公元6世紀的南印度，運動於15世紀席捲北印度，在公元15至17世紀間達到鼎盛。
- 波羅王朝時期（公元750年—1161年），雖以大乘佛教和密宗為國教，但對印度教採取兼容並蓄的政策。
- 公元 5 世紀至 8 世紀，興建象島石窟。
- 公元7世紀至11世紀，興建埃洛拉石窟。
- 公元7世紀至8世紀，興建默哈伯利普藍古跡群。
- 公元8世紀，商羯羅系統化印度教思想（吠檀多不二論），確立「梵我同一」的學說。
- 公元10世紀初至11 世紀，興建卡修拉荷寺廟建築群。
- 大約公元1000年，朱羅王朝（Chola Dynasty）興建布里哈迪希瓦拉神廟。
Kushan Empire (30–375 CE) witnessed the flourishing of Buddhist Gandhara art. And during the Gupta Empire (319–550 CE), Brahmanism integrated elements of Buddhism and folk beliefs, evolving into modern Hinduism centered on the worship of the Trimurti (the three primary deities).
- Eighteen Puranas appeared between 400 and 1000 AD.
- The Bhakti movement arose in South India in the 6th century, swept through North India in the 15th century, and reached its peak between the 15th and 17th centuries.
- During the Pala Dynasty (750-1161 AD), although Mahayana Buddhism and Tantric Buddhism were the state religions, a policy of tolerance and assimilation towards Hinduism was adopted.
- The Elephant Caves were built from the 5th to 8th centuries.
- The Ellora Caves were built from the 7th to 11th centuries.
- The Mahabhlipuram complex was built between the 7th and 8th centuries AD.
- In the 8th century AD, Shankara systematized Hindu thought (Vedanta Nidana), establishing the doctrine of "Brahman and Atman as one."
- The Khasuraho temple complex was built between the early 10th and 11th centuries AD.
- Around 1000 AD, the Chola Dynasty built the Burihadishwara temple.
印度文化影響東南亞地區
Influences of Indian Culture on Southeast Asia
中南半島的印度教傳播
- 扶南王國（公元1世紀—550年），五世紀興建瓦普寺
- 真臘王國：三博波雷古寺（公元6世紀末—9世紀初）
- 狼牙脩王國（公元2世紀—14世紀）
- 占婆王國：美山聖地（公元4世紀—14世紀）
- 婆羅缽底王國：詩貼古城（公元6世紀—11世紀）
- 吳哥王朝：吳哥窟（9世紀末–15世紀初）
Spread of Hinduism in Java and Sumatra, Indonesia
- Funan Kingdom(1st century AD – 550 AD): Vat Phou Temple built in the 5th century.
- Chenla Kingdom: Prasat Sambor Prei Kuk (built in late 6th century AD – early 9th century AD).
- Langkasuka Kingdom (2nd-14th centuries AD)
- Champa Kingdom: My Son Sanctuary (4th-14th centuries AD)
- Dvaravati Kingdom: Si Thep (6th-11th centuries AD)
- Angkor Dynasty: Angkor Wat (late 9th-early 15th centuries AD)
中世紀與近代早期 1200A.D.–1850 A.D.
Medieval and early modern periods (c. 1200–1850 CE)
印度本土宗教發展
Development of Local Indian Religions
伊斯蘭政權的統治，傳播伊斯蘭教。
- 1206 A.D.－1526 A.D. 德里蘇丹國
- 1526 A.D.－1857 A.D. 蒙兀兒帝國
虔信吠檀多：羅摩奴闍及摩陀婆等哲學家反對不二論的抽象概念，提倡對神祇化身的崇拜（特別是黑天與羅摩），巴克提運動為之興盛。
- 公元13世紀，興建科納克太陽神廟
- 公元14世紀至16世紀，興建亨比古城
- 公元13-18 世紀馬拉王朝，在尼泊爾加德滿興建都許多印度教神廟
錫克教的創立於15世紀末，結合印度教巴克提運動及伊斯蘭教蘇菲派的思想，發展出的近代宗教。
The rule of Islamic regimes and the spread of Islam.
- 1206 A.D. – 1526 A.D. Delhi Sultanate
- 1526 A.D. – 1857 A.D. Mughal Empire
Pious Vedanta: Philosophers such as Ramanaja and Madhyamaka opposed the abstract concept of non-duality and advocated the worship of divine incarnations (especially Krishna and Rama), leading to fostering the flourishing of the Bhakti movement.
- 13th century: Construction of the Konak Sun Temple.
- 14th-16th centuries: Construction of the ancient city of Hampi.
- 13th-18th centuries: The Malla dynasty built many Hindu temples in Kathmandu, Nepal.
Sikhism was founded in the late 15th century, developing into a modern religion by combining the ideas of the Hindu Bhakti movement and Sufism.
印度文化影響東南亞地區
Influences of Indian Culture on Southeast Asia
印尼爪哇、蘇門答臘地區的印度教傳播
- 單馬令王國（公元2世紀—13世紀）
- 塔魯曼內格拉王國（公元358-669年）
- 末羅瑜王國（或稱占碑王國，公元4世紀－13世紀）
- 卡林加王國（公元6世紀—7世紀）
- 巽他王國（669-1579）
- 馬打蘭王國（732-1006），興建普蘭巴南、婆羅浮屠等神廟
- 滿者伯夷帝國（1293-1567年）：影響峇里島印度教文化
The Spread of Hinduism in Indochina
- Tambralinga Kingdom (2nd-13th centuries AD)
- Tarumanegara Kingdom (358-669 AD)
- Melayu Kingdom (or Jambi Kingdom, 4th-13th centuries AD)
- Kalingga Kingdom (6th-7th centuries AD)
- Sunda Kingdom (669-1579 AD)
- Mataram kingdom (732-1006 AD), built temples such as Prambanan and Borobudur.
- Majapahit Empire (1293-1567 AD): Influenced Balinese Hindu culture.
現代印度教1850年A.D.以後
Modern Hinduism (after c. 1850 CE)
印度本土宗教發展
Development of Local Indian Religions
印度教復興運動
19世紀末起，為對抗西方殖民文化與基督教傳播，而興起的宗教及文化振興浪潮，強調回歸吠陀傳統、種姓改革與提升民族自信。
Hindu Revival Movement
Beginning in the late 19th century, this movement emerged as a religious and cultural revival aimed at countering Western colonial influence and the spread of Christianity. It promoted a return to Vedic traditions, advocated caste reform, and sought to strengthen national self-confidence.
印度文化影響東南亞地區
Influences of Indian Culture on Southeast Asia
19世紀—20世紀英國殖民馬來亞，為開發錫礦、橡膠種植園及建設基礎設施，以契約勞工，大量移民南印度人到馬來亞，形成印度教信仰的社群。
In the 19th–20th centuries, during British colonial rule in Malaya, large numbers of South Indians migrated there as indentured laborers to work in tin mines, rubber plantations, and infrastructure construction. These people gradually formed communities that practiced Hinduism.
見證印度教的發展與傳播
The Evolution and Dissemination of Hinduism
