Building the Taj Mahal

This is sort of a religious structure. The Taj Mahal is actually a mausoleum built by Shah Jahan in memory of his third wife, Mumtaz Mahal, in 1632, as a symbol of eternal love (I wonder how the first and second wives felt about this). The architecture is an islamic style and verses from the Qur'an form part of the decoration. The gardens around the main building reflect a mystic Islamic view of paradise.

A month ago Mariann Asanuma posted a birthday cake topper she made for an AFOL building the Taj Mahal. I love the scale mixing here.



More on microscale building at MicroBricks. More on miniland scale building at MinilandBricks.

Babel 2

Okay, I'm in a Babel mood. Previously, Steve Bishop made this vignette of the Babel story.

Tower of Babel

They said, "Come, let us build for ourselves a city, and a tower whose top will reach into heaven, and let us make for ourselves a name, otherwise we will be scattered abroad over the face of the whole earth."
The LORD came down to see the city and the tower which the sons of men had built.
The LORD said, "Behold, they are one people, and they all have the same language. And this is what they began to do, and now nothing which they purpose to do will be impossible for them.

So goes the story of the Tower of Babel, from Genesis 11. Arthur Gugick built a great microscale version.



One note, when you follow that link, Arthur has a backstory that this is based on some archaeological evidence. Despite his normal penchant for building extremely accurate versions of real structures, he's pulling our collective legs here. This is actually his own design. I have to admit that he got me on this one - I was searching around on line to find more details about the fictional archaeological findings he cites. Given that I've previously blogged a MOC of the Etemenanki Ziggurat, I figured it was all too reasonable that some other structure had been found that may have been the source for the biblical tale.

Ash Wednesday

Today is Ash Wednesday, when many Christians begin their observation of the Lenten season, a period of 40 days of contemplation and prayer in anticipation of Easter. I wasn't really sure how this could be depicted in LEGO form - maybe a minifig with a smudge of ash on his forehead. Ichabod Ishwick came up with a humorous photo, where his minifigs misheard 'Ash Wednesday' as Mashed Potato Day.

Sensō-ji

...and also the main hall, both devoted to the bodhisattva Kannon, who embodies compassion, hearing the cries of all the world. The temple grounds were largely destroyed during World War II, and the current temple is a rebuilding of the original. This photo from the LEGO pavilion at Nasu Highland Park is by Digitalbear.

Sensō-ji

Once you've past both gates (see the last two blog posts), you come to the Sensō-ji, an ancient Buddhist temple. There is a five story pagoda... (again, photo by Kelvin255).

Hōzōmon

Once you pass through the Kaminarimon (see yesterday's post), you enter the Nakamise-dōri, a street crowded with shops. After checking out the wares, you come to the Hōzōmon, or Treasure House Gate. This gate houses two statues of the Niō, guardians of the Buddha. Again, photo by Kelvin255 taken in the LEGO pavilion at Nasu Highland Park.

Thunder Gate

Nasu Highland Park is a Japanese amusement park. In addition to roller coasters and other attractions, there is also a large LEGO pavillion. Kelvin255 visited and took lots of photos, including this model of the Kaminarimon. This is the outer gate to the Sensō-ji, a 1400 year old Buddhist temple in Tokyo. In the LEGO model on either side of the great lantern you can see the statues of the Shinto gods of wind and thunder, Fūjin and Raijin.

Golgotha on your phone

Smallworks produces the Brickcase, a cover for the iPhone 4 with LEGO-compatible studs (hmm, if they start making these for other phones, I'm definitely going to get one). Lego Berean made a mosaic of Cavalry, the hill where Christ was crucified.

Do this in remembrance

"This is my body, broken for you." Christ said this as he passed bread to his disciples, and ever since Christians have repeated this ceremony as the sacrament of holy communion. However, there has been great debate over what communion actually entails. While many Protestants see this ceremony as wholly symbolic, Catholics believe that when the priest lifts the host and says hoc est corpus meum, the bread is somehow changed into the actual body of Christ, as shown here by Bruceywan.

Masjid Putra

The Putra Mosque, or Masjid Putra, is an absolutely beautiful mosque in Putrajaya, Malaysia, built only ten years ago. Even more recent is this LEGO version, built as part of Legoland Malaysia, one of the new LEGO theme parks set to open next year.

Lost Ark

Hey all. Really sorry for the two-month hiatus. I have no excuses, so let's just put up a quick MOC. Sdarrin posted this little Ark of the Covenant.

A different Christmas

Most Christians would not know it, but Jesus' birth is depicted in the Quran. As in the Christian version, Muslims hold that Jesus was the result of a miraculous conception of the virgin Mary, first announced by an angel. As he grew, he preached the word of God and performed signs and wonders. Of course, Muslims do not believe that Christ was God, but rather a prophet. Anyway, Mezba Mahtab of Teaching Kids the Holy Quran depicted the story of Maryam to celebrate the Christmas holiday.



BTW, I have to apologize to Mezba, who sent me this link a couple of weeks ago. I was busy with family etc, and so I wasn't really blogging at all for much of the past month. I had pre-programmed postings for the week or so leading up to Christmas, so the blog was kind of on auto-pilot for a bit. Otherwise I would have definitely put this up earlier.

Epiphany

Today is the traditional date of the Feast of Epiphany, or Three Kings Day. This holiday, closing out the Christmas season (note, yesterday was the twelfth day of Christmas, for you drumming drummers out there). This day celebrates the presentation of Christ to the gentile world, including the visit of the Magi and, three decades later, the baptism in the Jordan. In some countries children leave out their shoes for the Magi to fill with gifts (basically the equivalent of hanging stockings for Santa). In other places people celebrate by eating kings' cake. At my house we note this as the day to take down our Christmas ornaments. ;) MOC by jonathan_W

Boar's Head Carol

The boar's head in hand bear I,
Bedeck'd with bays and rosemary.
And I pray you, my masters, merry be
Quot estis in convivio.



I know, no religious content here, which is why I saved it for post-Christmas, but I've always loved this song. I can't say I've ever partaken of boar's head, but I guess it was once a traditional yuletide feast centerpiece. I hope that you and yours had a festive Christmas.

MOC by Tony Sava

Joy to the World!

Joy to the world, the Lord is come!
Let earth receive her King;
Let every heart prepare Him room,
And Heaven and nature sing,
And Heaven and nature sing,
And Heaven, and Heaven, and nature sing.



MOC by JETfri

O Come All Ye Faithful

Sing, choirs of angels, sing in exultation,
Sing, all ye citizens of heaven above!
Glory to God, in the highest:
Oh, come, let us adore him, Oh, come, let us adore him,
Oh, come, let us adore him, Christ the Lord.



MOC by MisaQa

Lo, How a Rose E'er Blooming

Isaiah 'twas foretold it,
the Rose I have in mind;
with Mary we behold it,
the Virgin Mother kind.
To show God's love aright,
she bore to us a Savior,
when half spent was the night.



MOC by MooseBot

Away in a Manger

Away in a manger,
No crib for His bed
The little Lord Jesus
Laid down His sweet head



MOC by Tyler Thompson

We Three Kings

Myrrh is mine, its bitter perfume
Breathes of life of gathering gloom
Sorrowing, sighing, bleeding, dying
Sealed in the stone-cold tomb



Glorious now behold Him arise
King and God and Sacrifice
Alleluia, Alleluia
Earth to heav'n replies

MOC by briXwerX