Abstract:

"This award-winning 13-part series takes viewers on an incomparable journey of discovery to some of the world's most unique spiritual places and explores the allure of those scared spaces and vividly documents their continued powerful influence on the daily lives of countless believers. The series details the legends, mysteries, history, and facts that surround these great spiritual lands of the world. It highlights 'living faith' embodied in the architecture, expressive arts, contemporary practices, lifestyles, people, and cultures of these spiritual sites today. Located in Agra, India, the Taj Mahal is a complex of gardens, mosques, and minarets constructed as a tribute to Shah Jaban's wife, Mumtaz Mahal, after her death. In his grief, Shah Jaban vowed to build the most beautiful tomb that ever existed. The spiritual motivations behind the building of the Taj Mahal and the ghost city of Fatehpur Sikri are highlighted. Includes: 1 25-minute video; 1 Teacher's Guide with lesson plans, discussion questions, student activities, and script; 3 Blackline Masters "