Introduction
Sacredness is about places, journeys, or natural elements that are holy and deeply respected in religious or spiritual beliefs. In India, the land becomes sacred through pilgrimages, sacred sites, and the belief that nature, like rivers and mountains, is divine.
- Sacred sites and pilgrimage networks connect people across India, shaping their culture and traditions.
- Sacred geography helped unite India’s diverse regions by encouraging cultural exchange and shared values.
What is ‘Sacredness’?
Sacredness means something holy or deeply meaningful in religion or spirituality, deserving respect. It can be a special place, like a shrine, or a journey, like a pilgrimage, that feels divine. Sacredness is linked to geography (land, rivers, mountains), traditions, and India’s unique culture.
Sacred Places in IndiaEvery religion in India has its own sacred places:
- Islam: Dargah Sharif in Ajmer, Rajasthan, is visited for prayers.
- Christianity: Velankanni Church in Tamil Nadu attracts many visitors.
- Buddhism: Great Stūpa at Sanchi and Mahabodhi Stūpa in Bodh Gaya, where Buddha attained enlightenment, draw millions.
- Sikhism: Takhts like Akal Takht in Amritsar and Takht Sri Patna Sahib are spiritual centers linked to Sikh Gurus.
- Jainism: Places like Mount Abu and Shatruñjaya hill in Gujarat are sacred due to Tirthankaras’ events.
- People of different faiths visit these sites, showing India’s shared respect for sacred places.
Try yourself:What does ‘sacredness’ mean?- A.A historical event
- B.A type of geographical feature
- C.A form of government
- D.Something holy or meaningful in religion
Pilgrimages
Pilgrimages, or tīrthayātrās, are journeys to sacred sites called tīrthas, important in Indian culture for over 3,000 years.
Pilgrimages
- They are both a physical trip and an inner journey, following a special code of conduct.
- Pilgrims travel across India, from Badrinath in the Himalayas to Kanyakumari in the south, making the entire land sacred.
- An example from historian Dharampal: A group from near Lucknow traveled for three months to Rameswaram, carrying food supplies, and then went to Haridwar without stopping in Delhi, showing their dedication.
- Pilgrimages connect people, as seen in Sikh Gurus like Guru Nanak, who visited places like Haridwar, Prayag, and Puri.
- The Sabarimala temple in Kerala, dedicated to Ayyappa, attracts over 10 million pilgrims yearly, reached by a tough trek symbolizing spiritual challenges.
More Sacred Sites
- In Hinduism, folk, and tribal beliefs, nature like mountains, rivers, trees, and animals is sacred.
- Rivers are seen as devis (goddesses), and some trees, plants, and animals are holy, reflecting a belief in a divine presence in nature.
- The entire Earth is considered Mother Earth or Bhudevi.
Vishnu in boar formExamples of sacred sites:
- Niyam Dongar hill in Jharkhand, sacred to the Dongria Khond tribe as the home of Niyam Raja, where cutting trees is forbidden.
- In Sikkim, sacred mountains, caves, lakes, and hot springs are protected from damage.
- In the Nilgiris, the Toda tribe considers mountain peaks, plants, Shola forests, wetlands, and stones sacred.
Try yourself:What is a pilgrimage in Indian culture?- A.A journey to sacred sites
- B.A type of festival
- C.A form of meditation
- D.A cooking tradition
Becoming Aware of Sacred Geography
Sacred geography refers to sacred sites across India that are interconnected, forming networks. The Char Dhām Yātrā includes four sites in India’s north, south, east, and west, encouraging travel across the country.
Char Dhams
- The 12 Jyotirlingas, sacred to Śhiva, and 51 Shakti Pithas, linked to Shakti, cover India’s map, including Bangladesh and Pakistan.
- A story about the Shakti Pithas: When Sati died, Viṣhṇu cut her body, and parts fell across India, making those places sacred as the divine mother’s body.
- These networks make the entire land sacred, uniting India’s diverse regions.
- Pilgrims traveling to these sites encounter different languages, customs, and foods, but also see shared Indian values.
Sacred Ecology
Tīrthas are often near rivers, lakes, forests, or mountains, seen as sacred spaces called punyakshetra. Viewing nature as sacred helps protect it, as humans feel connected to it. Sacred ecology blends geography, culture, and spirituality to preserve nature.
Rivers and Sangams (Confluence of Rivers)
- Rivers have been worshipped since Vedic times, as seen in the Nadistuti Sūkta of the Rigveda, praising 19 ancient rivers.
- Rituals invoke rivers like Ganga, Yamuna, Godavari, Sarasvati, Narmada, Sindhu, and Kaveri.
- These rivers are lifelines, and their sources, tributaries, and paths are sacred, visited by pilgrims.
- People respectfully call rivers “Ganga ji” or “Yamuna ji” in local languages.
- Sangams, where rivers meet, like in Prayagraj (Ganga, Yamuna, and invisible Sarasvati), are especially holy.
Kumbh Mela
- The Kumbh Mela is a major pilgrimage held every six years in Haridwar, Prayagraj, Nashik, and Ujjain.
Kumbh Mela
- It comes from the legend of amrita manthana, where gods and demons churned the ocean for amrita (nectar).
- Viṣhṇu, as Mohini, took the amrita pitcher, and drops fell at the four Kumbh Mela sites, making them holy.
- A dip in the rivers during the Kumbh Mela is considered very auspicious.
- In 2025, about 660 million people joined the Kumbh Mela, showing its importance.
- UNESCO listed the Kumbh Mela as an “intangible heritage of the world” for its cultural value.
Try yourself:What is the significance of the Kumbh Mela?- A.All of the above.
- B.It is listed as a UNESCO heritage site.
- C.It involves churning the ocean for amrita.
- D.It is a major pilgrimage held every six years.
Mountains and Forests
Mountains are linked to legends and deities, seen as gateways to heaven due to their height. Many tīrthas and temples, like those in the Himalayas, are on hilltops, symbolizing a spiritual journey.
Sacred Mountains
- Pilgrims once walked tough mountain trails, testing their physical and mental strength, though roads now make access easier.
- Forests are sacred in many traditions, often seen as homes of deities.
Trees, Forests and Sacred Groves
Trees like the peepul (bodhi tree) are sacred in Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism, and Jainism, often adorned with turmeric and kumkum. The peepul at Mahabodhi Temple in Bodh Gaya is believed to be linked to the tree under which Buddha attained enlightenment
MahaBodhi Temple at Bodh Gaya
- Peepul trees have medical uses (leaves for skin, bark for stomach issues) and support birds and animals year-round.
- A Mohenjo-daro seal shows peepul leaves, proving its importance for millennia.
- Sacred groves are protected forests seen as deity homes, like Ryngkew in Meghalaya, preserving biodiversity and water bodies.
- Examples of sacred grove names: kāvu (Malayalam), kovilkadu (Tamil), devare kādu (Kannada), devarāi (Marathi), sarnā (Jharkhand).
- In Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu, sacred groves’ deities protect fruit bats, which help pollinate flowers and spread seeds, creating harmony between nature and humans.
- Many sacred groves are shrinking due to farming and industry, but some communities still protect them.
From Pilgrimage to Trade
- Pilgrims and traders often meet on pilgrimage routes, benefiting both.
- Pilgrims buy goods from traders, and some traders visit sacred sites while selling wares.
- Pilgrimage routes and trade routes often overlap, like Uttarapatha (northwest to east) and Dakshinapatha (Kaushambi to Pratiṣhṭhāna).
- Traded goods included shells, pearls, gold, diamonds, cotton, spices, and sandalwood.
- These interactions led to sharing of goods, ideas, and stories, enriching India’s culture.
Sacred Geography beyond India
Sacred geography exists outside India too.
- Ancient Greece had sacred mountains and groves.
- Native Americans saw nature as sacred.
- The Maoris of New Zealand view Taranaki Maunga mountain as an ancestor, recently given human-like rights to protect it.
- Community elders speak for sacred places to prevent harm, ensuring their preservation.
Restoring and Conserving the Sacred
- The bond between people and sacred geography sustained Indian civilization for thousands of years, creating shared values.
Pollution at Sacred Sites
- Today, this bond is strained as sacred places like rivers (Yamuna, Mahanadi, Kaveri) are polluted.
- When rivers or mountains face harm from overuse or development, people speak up to protect their deities and environment.
- Sacred geography supports sustainability, offering lessons for global environmental care.
- It is everyone’s duty to protect sacred places, as reminded by India’s Constitution.
Try yourself:What is the peepul tree known for in various religions?- A.Being used for furniture
- B.Providing shade
- C.Being a home for deities
- D.Growing fruit
Points to Remember
- All religions in India have sacred places across the land.
- In Buddhism, Jainism, and Sikhism, sacred sites are linked to great figures or events.
- Hinduism has many pilgrimage sites, supporting personal growth, trade, and cultural unity across India.
- In Hindu, tribal, and folk traditions, the land itself is sacred.
- Sacred places are polluted due to neglect, and it is our duty to protect them as part of our national heritage.
Difficult Words
- Sacredness: The quality of being holy or deeply respected in religion or spirituality.
- Pilgrimage: A journey to a sacred place for religious or spiritual reasons.
- Shrine: A holy place linked to a divine figure, relic, or spiritual person.
- Relic: A body part or belonging of a holy person kept for reverence.
- Tīrthayātrā: A pilgrimage to a sacred site in Indian traditions.
- Tirthankara: In Jainism, a supreme teacher who guides people to a higher life.
- Punyakshetra: A sacred space, like a riverbank or mountain, in Indian beliefs.
- Char Dhām Yātrā: A pilgrimage to four sacred sites in India’s north, south, east, and west.
- Jyotirlingas: 12 sacred shrines dedicated to Śhiva in Hinduism.
- Shakti Pithas: 51 sacred sites linked to the goddess Shakti.
- Nadistuti Sūkta: A Vedic hymn praising rivers.
- Sangam: The meeting point of rivers, considered holy.
- Kumbh Mela: A major pilgrimage at four sacred river sites, held every six years.
- Amrita: Divine nectar of immortality in Hindu stories.
- Sacred Groves: Protected forests seen as homes of deities, preserving nature.
- Biodiversity: The variety of plants and animals in a place.
- Sustainability: Using resources carefully to protect the environment for the future.