shrine

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shrine

religion

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July 23, 2026

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A shrine is a place considered sacred within a religion, often associated with a founder, gods, or saints. Pilgrims may travel to shrines for veneration, such as the shrine of Saint Thomas à Becket in Canterbury, England. In Shintō, a Japanese religion, shrines called jinja are places where a deity's spirit is enshrined or summoned. These can range from simple roadside prayer spots to large complexes.1234

A typical Shintō shrine features a gateway (torii), an ablution basin for cleansing, an oratory (haiden) for prayer and worship, and a main sanctuary (honden) housing a sacred symbol (shintai) representing the deity. While the honden is usually off-limits, visitors can pray and make offerings in the haiden. Shrines are not typically visited on a weekly schedule but rather at the convenience of devotees, often on specific dates or during festivals (matsuri).54

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miracle
Sacred places
Normally these are natural shrines, such as sacred groves, or temples and sanctuaries in which gods or spirits live or have manifested themselves or in which their statues, symbols, holy objects, or relics are enshrined. Holy places, such as Mecca and the Kaʿbah in Islam or the Buddhist stupas,…
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Normally these are natural shrines, such as sacred groves, or temples and sanctuaries in which gods or spirits live or have manifested themselves or in which their statues, symbols, holy objects, or relics are enshrined. Holy places, such as Mecca and the Kaʿbah in Islam or the Buddhist stupas,…
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Aegean civilizations
Religion
Some of these had small shrines in them, and shrines with one or more rooms and benches for offerings and cult statues are found in the countryside and in the towns in Crete. Parts of the palaces and of large houses there were also set apart for cult. Shrines not…
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Some of these had small shrines in them, and shrines with one or more rooms and benches for offerings and cult statues are found in the countryside and in the towns in Crete. Parts of the palaces and of large houses there were also set apart for cult. Shrines not…
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African religions
Ritual and religious specialists
…are visible in the many shrines and altars consecrated in their honour. Shrines and altars are generally not imposing or even permanent structures and can be as insubstantial as a small marker in a private courtyard. Right relations with the divinities are maintained through prayers, offerings, and sacrifices, especially blood…
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…are visible in the many shrines and altars consecrated in their honour. Shrines and altars are generally not imposing or even permanent structures and can be as insubstantial as a small marker in a private courtyard. Right relations with the divinities are maintained through prayers, offerings, and sacrifices, especially blood…
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Christianity
New forms of worship
…of saints and its related shrines and rituals. Shrines were erected in honour of local holy men and women and those who had suffered for the faith. The saints were recognized as the special representatives of God and were thought to be vehicles for his miraculous power. The shrines became…
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…of saints and its related shrines and rituals. Shrines were erected in honour of local holy men and women and those who had suffered for the faith. The saints were recognized as the special representatives of God and were thought to be vehicles for his miraculous power. The shrines became…
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healing cult
…ancient Greece the most famous shrines were at Thermopylae and near Aedepses. In ancient Rome, the springs at Tibus and the hot sulfur wells of Aquae Abulae were well known. In the Middle East, Callirrhoe, where Herod attempted to find relief from his fatal illness, was perhaps the best known;…
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…ancient Greece the most famous shrines were at Thermopylae and near Aedepses. In ancient Rome, the springs at Tibus and the hot sulfur wells of Aquae Abulae were well known. In the Middle East, Callirrhoe, where Herod attempted to find relief from his fatal illness, was perhaps the best known;…
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Hinduism
Vernacular literatures
…set aside entire rooms as shrines. New temples have been constructed with modern techniques; one temple in Varanasi (Banaras) contains mirrors onto which are etched the entire Ramcharitmanas. This same poem is the basis of the annual celebration of Ram Lila (the play of Rama) in northern India, in which…
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…set aside entire rooms as shrines. New temples have been constructed with modern techniques; one temple in Varanasi (Banaras) contains mirrors onto which are etched the entire Ramcharitmanas. This same poem is the basis of the annual celebration of Ram Lila (the play of Rama) in northern India, in which…
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Jainism
Pilgrimage
Small regional networks of shrines are also regarded as simulacra of the great pilgrimage sites.
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Small regional networks of shrines are also regarded as simulacra of the great pilgrimage sites.
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Japanese art
Painting
…small architecture of the Shintō shrine that honours the natural site. Thus, certain Buddhist traditional painting techniques revealed the sacredness of adopted territory.
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…small architecture of the Shintō shrine that honours the natural site. Thus, certain Buddhist traditional painting techniques revealed the sacredness of adopted territory.
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Pagan
…centre and contains ancient Buddhist shrines that have been restored and redecorated and are in current use. Ruins of other shrines and pagodas cover a wide area. An earthquake on July 8, 1975, severely damaged more than half of the important structures and irreparably destroyed many of them. The whole…
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…centre and contains ancient Buddhist shrines that have been restored and redecorated and are in current use. Ruins of other shrines and pagodas cover a wide area. An earthquake on July 8, 1975, severely damaged more than half of the important structures and irreparably destroyed many of them. The whole…
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architecture
Shrines and memoria
Shrines consecrate a holy place for its miraculous character or for its association with the life of the founder, gods, or saints of a cult. The major commemorative buildings of Christianity are those connected with the life of Jesus Christ (Church of…
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Shrines consecrate a holy place for its miraculous character or for its association with the life of the founder, gods, or saints of a cult. The major commemorative buildings of Christianity are those connected with the life of Jesus Christ (Church of…
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