How the Land Becomes Sacred
Introduction
- The chapter explains how certain places, journeys, and natural elements in India are considered sacred (holy or special) due to their religious, spiritual, or cultural importance.
- It discusses sacred places, pilgrimages, and how they connect people, culture, and nature across India.
- A quote from the Bhāgavata Purāna says that everything in nature (like air, water, earth, trees, rivers) is part of the supreme Lord’s body, showing nature’s sacredness.
1. What is Sacredness?
Sacredness means something deeply respected, holy, or connected to religion and spirituality.
It can refer to:
- Special places (like shrines or temples) that feel divine.
- Journeys called pilgrimages (visiting holy places).
- Routes or paths taken during pilgrimages.
- The land itself, which is considered holy in India.
Sacredness is linked to:
- Religion and spirituality.
- Geography (specific locations).
- Traditions and culture.
In India, almost every religion has its own sacred places.
2. Sacred Places in Different Religions
Religions from outside India (Islam, Christianity, Judaism, Zoroastrianism):
Have sacred places where people pray or worship.
Examples:
- Dargah Sharif in Ajmer (Rajasthan) for Muslims.
- Velankanni Church in Tamil Nadu for Christians.
People from different faiths visit these places, especially during special occasions.
Religions that started in India:
Buddhism:
Sacred places are linked to Lord Buddha’s life or his relics (remains or belongings).
Examples:
- Great Stupa at Sanchi (Madhya Pradesh): A relic stupa.
- Mahabodhi Stupa in Bodh Gaya (Bihar): Where Buddha attained enlightenment; gets over 4 million visitors yearly.
Sikhism:
Sacred places are called takhts (spiritual centers).
Examples:
- Akal Takht (Golden Temple, Amritsar).
- Takht Sri Patna Sahib (Patna).
- Takht Sri Keshgarh Sahib (Anandpur).
- Sikhs aim to visit these takhts at least once in their life.
- Guru Nanak and other Gurus visited places like Haridwar, Varanasi, Puri, and Muslim shrines.
Jainism:
- Sacred places are called tirthas, linked to Tirthankaras (spiritual teachers).
- Examples: Mount Abu, Girnar, Shatrunjaya hill (Gujarat).
- Natural elements like trees, ponds, hills, or mountains visited by Tirthankaras are also sacred.
Hinduism, Folk, and Tribal Beliefs:
Nature (mountains, rivers, trees, animals) is considered sacred.
Examples:
- Rivers like Ganga, Yamuna, and Kaveri are worshipped as goddesses (devis).
- Trees like the peepul tree, animals, and plants are holy.
- The entire Earth is seen as Mother Earth or Bhudevi.
Specific examples:
- Niyam Dongar hill (Jharkhand): Sacred to the Dongria Khond tribe; home of Niyam Raja (their deity).
- Sacred mountains and lakes in Sikkim: Protected by the government.
- Nilgiris (Tamil Nadu): The Toda tribe considers mountain peaks, forests, wetlands, and stones sacred.
3. Pilgrimages in India
What is a Pilgrimage?
- A journey to a sacred place (called tirtha) that is important to a religion or belief.
- In India, pilgrimages are called tirthayātrās.
They are both:
- Physical: Traveling to holy sites.
- Spiritual: An inner journey with a code of conduct (rules like being kind, pure, etc.).
History:
- For over 3,000 years, Indians have traveled across the country for pilgrimages, even without modern transport.
- This made the entire geography of India sacred.
Examples of Pilgrimage Sites:
Hinduism:
- Char Dham Yātrā: Four sacred sites in the north (Badrinath), south (Rameshwaram), east (Puri), and west (Dwarka).
- 12 Jyotirlingas: Sacred shrines of Lord Shiva spread across India.
- 51 Shakti Pithas: Places where body parts of Goddess Sati fell; they cover India, Bangladesh, and Pakistan.
- Other sites: Kedarnath, Amarnath (Himalayas), Kanyakumari (south).
Sabarimala Temple (Kerala):
- Dedicated to Lord Ayyappa; attracts over 10 million devotees yearly.
- Requires a tough trek through forests, symbolizing the inner spiritual journey.
Pandharpur Wāri (Maharashtra):
- An 800-year-old annual pilgrimage to the Vithoba temple.
- Pilgrims walk in groups for 21 days.
Jawaharlal Nehru’s View (1961):
Pilgrimages united people from north to south, creating a sense of one country and one culture.
Example Story (from historian Dharampal):
- A group of 12 people (men and women) from villages near Lucknow went on a 3-month pilgrimage to Rameshwaram.
- They carried food supplies (atta, ghee, sugar) and earthen pots.
- After Rameshwaram, they were heading to Haridwar without stopping in Delhi, showing their dedication to the pilgrimage.
4. Sacred Geography
What is Sacred Geography?
- The network of sacred places (tirthas) across India, connected by pilgrimage routes.
- These networks make the entire land of India sacred.
How it Works:
- Pilgrims travel to sacred sites, covering India’s diverse regions.
- They encounter different languages, foods, customs, and clothing but also notice similarities.
- This creates a sense of unity despite diversity.
Examples of Networks:
- Char Dham: Located in four corners of India, encouraging north-south and east-west travel.
- Jyotirlingas and Shakti Pithas: Spread across the Subcontinent, linking regions.
Story of Shakti Pithas:
- Goddess Sati immolated herself after her father insulted her and Lord Shiva.
- Shiva carried her body, and Lord Vishnu cut it into pieces to calm Shiva.
- The 51 places where Sati’s body parts fell became Shakti Pithas, symbolizing that the entire land is the divine mother’s body.
5. Sacred Ecology
What is Sacred Ecology?
- The belief that nature (rivers, mountains, forests) is sacred and must be protected.
- Sacred places are often located near rivers, lakes, forests, or mountains, called punyakshetra (holy spaces).
Rivers:
- Rivers like Ganga, Yamuna, Godavari, Sarasvati, Narmada, Sindhu, and Kaveri are worshipped.
- The Nadistuti Sūkta (Rigveda) praises 19 ancient rivers.
- Rivers are called respectfully, like “Ganga ji” or “Yamuna ji.”
- Their sources, tributaries, and nearby places are sacred and visited by pilgrims.
Kumbh Mela:
- A major festival held every 6 years at four places: Haridwar, Prayagraj, Nashik, Ujjain.
- Legend: Drops of amrita (divine nectar) fell at these places during a cosmic battle.
Prayagraj Kumbh:
- Held at the confluence (sangam) of Ganga, Yamuna, and the invisible Sarasvati.
- UNESCO listed it as an “intangible heritage of the world.”
- In 2025, about 660 million people attended (nearly half of India’s population).
Mountains and Forests:
- Mountains are seen as gateways to heaven due to their height.
- Many tirthas and temples are on hilltops (e.g., Sabarimala, Kedarnath).
- The tough climb symbolizes the spiritual journey.
Trees and Sacred Groves:
- Trees like the peepul tree (Ficus religiosa) are sacred in Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, and Sikhism.
- Example: The Bodhi tree at Bodh Gaya, linked to Buddha’s enlightenment.
Sacred Groves:
Forests protected by communities as homes of deities.
Examples:
- Ryngkew or Basa in Meghalaya.
- Kāvu in Malayalam, Kovilkadu in Tamil, Devarāi in Marathi.
- They preserve biodiversity, water bodies, and wildlife.
- Sadly, many are shrinking due to agriculture, mining, or industry.
Example in Tamil Nadu:
Sacred groves protect fruit bats, which are considered auspicious and help pollinate plants.
6. Pilgrimage and Trade
Connection:
- Pilgrimage routes often overlapped with trade routes.
- Pilgrims needed goods (food, clothes), which traders provided.
- Some traders also became pilgrims, selling goods while visiting sacred sites.
Ancient Trade Routes:
- Uttarapatha: Connected northwest to eastern India.
- Dakshinapatha: Linked Kaushambi, Ujjain, and Paithan.
- Goods traded: Pearls, shells, gold, diamonds, cotton, spices, sandalwood.
Impact:
- Pilgrims and traders shared ideas, goods, and stories.
- This led to cultural exchange, new ideas, and unity across India.
7. Cultural Integration of the Indian Subcontinent
How Sacred Geography Helped:
- Pilgrims traveled long distances, meeting people from different regions.
- They shared languages, customs, and traditions, noticing commonalities.
- Merchants, scholars, and teachers also traveled, spreading goods, ideas, and knowledge.
- This created a shared culture across India, uniting diverse communities.
Role of Epics:
- The Mahābhārata and Rāmāyana describe pilgrimages and sacred places.
- Local communities claim heroes like Rama passed through their areas, building shrines.
- This made the epics part of every region’s culture.
8. Sacred Geography Beyond India
- Sacred geography exists worldwide:
- Ancient Greece: Had sacred mountains and groves.
- Native Americans: Saw nature as sacred.
- Maoris (New Zealand): Consider Taranaki Maunga mountain their ancestor; it has legal rights like a human to protect it.
- These beliefs help preserve nature by treating it with respect.
9. Challenges: Pollution and Conservation
Problem:
- Sacred places like rivers (Yamuna, Kaveri) and mountains are polluted due to neglect or overuse.
- Sacred groves are shrinking due to human activities (farming, mining).
Responsibility:
- It’s everyone’s duty to protect sacred places, as reminded by the Indian Constitution.
- Communities speak up when rivers or mountains are harmed, balancing development with nature.
Relevance Today:
- Sacred geography teaches us to respect nature, which is crucial for sustainability.
- It promotes a worldview where nature is divine, not just a resource.
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