Sacred geography and spatial structure of Maheshwar (Also available on CD)
Lal, Sinali Ratan
Sacred geography and spatial structure of Maheshwar (Also available on CD) - 2011 - vii,129p.,CD-ROM
CONTENTS CHAPTER 1 Introduction 1.1 Abstract 2 1.2 Introduction 4 CHAPTER 2 River In A Cultural Landscape 2.1 The cultural significance of river 8 2.1.1 Rivers of India and its importance in a religious context 10 2.2 Geography of Narmada 12 2.2.1 Narmada basin 12 River through the valley between Vindhaya and Satpura ranges Physiographic regions of Narmada basin 2.3 Course of the Narmada 13 2.3.1 Shaping the land 14 2.4 Life in Narmada basin 15 2.4.1 Forests 15 Forest life Tribals Nature of inhabitants in the river basin Inter relation of the Hindus and tribes Tribal community and its influence on the settlement pattern 2.5 Narmada- sacred river of India 18 2.5.1 Etymology of the name 19 2.5.2 Puranic references 19 References about the creation of Narmada 2.6 Geography of Maheshwar: settlement on the bank of Narmada 22 2.6.1 Location 22 2.6.2 Approach of the settlement 22 2.6.3 Ancient site across the river 23 2.6.4 Topography 24 Landscape Farm lands in the surrounds Confluence of the hills Topography and Movement of Water Role of storm water The ends of the slope threshold 2.7 Geography of the hill 30 2.7.1 Hill as political centre 32 Influence of the fort on the institutions 2.7.2 Political shift 32 2.7.3 Public space in the town 33 Bazaar chowk 2.7.4 New administrative centre 33 Highway Public realm for the neighbouring villages 2.7.5 Nature of the connection spine 35 The street Impact and Contribution of the houses Influence of the two public realms 2.8 Conclusions 37 A. Nature as source of inspiration B. Nature as source of cultural productions C. Shaping the land D. Powerful events in the past E. The relation of settlement and the river F. Public space at the beginning of the settlement CHAPTER 3 Ritual And Creation Of Space 3.1 Introduction 42 3.2 Religious belief system of Narmada 44 3.3 Rituals around the river 46 3.3.1 Ritual practices - Panchkoshi yatra 46 Concept of parikrama Nature and god as a collective entity 3.3.2 Other Parikrama 50 Religious parikrama Parikrama, as a tour profane in nature 3.3.3 Impact of the geography on ritual practices 52 Parikrama within a settlement 3.4 Ritual practices and sacred time 54 3.4.1 Concept of time 55 Time is cyclic Rituals, space and time Ritual practice and space time continuum 3.5 Sacred time festival time 57 3.5.1 Festival Navratri 58 Puranic references 3.6 Mythological interpretations in ritual practices 59 3.6.1 Creation of the world 59 3.6.2 Manifesting the centre 59 Garbha Idol of goddess 3.6.3 Contemporary with the works of god 61 Continuum in ritual practice Celebration of the dance festival Dance performance 3.6.4 Manifestation of reality 62 Reflection of the universal and the specific Reflection of specific within the universal Reflection of the specific as collective belief Reflection of cultural identity through ritual practices 3.6.5 Manifestation of the end 66 Procession of the centres within the town Nature of the mobile structures to carry the deity Procession route Nature of the procession Manifesting a pause: as threshold Nature of manifestation Multiplicity and flexibility in the group Multiplicity in the manifestation of ritual practices 3.6.6 Beginning of the procession 72 3.6.7 End of the procession 72 Marking the centres on the in between realm Reflection of the self on a universal plane (how groups or individual mark spaces) 3.6.8 Visarjan 74 3.7 Conclusions 76 3.7.1 Imagination of river 76 A. The ideas of nature B. Ritual as a mediator C. Definition of nature D. Continuity of idea E. miniaturized replica 3.7.2 Objectification as a goddess 78 A. Different physical manifestation B. Physical manifestations bounded by rituals 3.7.3 Creation of spaces 78 A. New independent realms as ghats B. Spaces get connected by people C. Individual space and universal space D. Temporal and non physical space (temporary) CHAPTER 4 Ideas Of Sacred Space 4.1 Background 82 4.2 Theoretical frame work 84 4.2.1 Cosmogony 84 Cosmic order Cosmic pillar Cosmic space, cosmic pillar and temple Axis Orientation and order 4.2.2 Man and his abode 88 4.3 Religious centres on the hill 91 4.3.1 Geography 91 Puranic references Nature of the centre Marking the centre Creation of an inner realm as an inhabited group 4.3.2 Multiple relations of the man and the centre 94 Axis of the imago mundi Cardinal of the sanctuary 4.4 Case study 96 4.4.1 Temple complexes 96 Centre of the world Site Break in homogeneity of space Manifesting the sacred as one realm Dual belief system and its coexistence Reflection of social identity in dual system Complexity of multi axial plane 4.4.2 Temple in a house of a man 105 Site To settle is to repeat the paradigmatic work of the gods Orientation and connections Consecrating the universe Consecrating the centre of the universe Imitating the universe Reflection of the identity in consecrating the universe 4.4.3 Notion of centres and cosmic order 112 Sacred groves Cosmic pillar and a shelter Shelter tree, centre and sacred plant Cosmic pillar as a centre within a cluster Centre marked by a shrine Symbolic representation on the Ghats 4.5 Conclusions 118 4.5.1 Nature of sacred space 118 A. Creating a microcosm B. Realisation and the reflection of the self influence the space making C. Dual microcosm, at the level of the individual and the bigger at the level of the town D. Microcosm is manifested with a centre E. Defining the centre as a point where boundary diffuses 4.5.2 Landscape and archetype 120 A. Nature is modified B. Symbolic archetype C. Replica of the cosmogony as sacred realms D. Universal concepts in space making E. Specific and universal belief system 4.5.3 Sacred parts and sacred spaces 121 A. Objectification of nature B. Sacred spaces of temple in the house are slowly revealed and concealed C. Layers that make access to the sacred part are transcendental from physical world to the sacred wor D. House an object of worship E. Universal cosmogony F. Different ideas of public spaces G. Defining the urbanity of the Indian town CONCLUSION 123 BIBLOGRAPHY 124 ILLUSTRATION CREDITS 127 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 129
A TH-1067 / LAL
Sacred geography and spatial structure of Maheshwar (Also available on CD) - 2011 - vii,129p.,CD-ROM
CONTENTS CHAPTER 1 Introduction 1.1 Abstract 2 1.2 Introduction 4 CHAPTER 2 River In A Cultural Landscape 2.1 The cultural significance of river 8 2.1.1 Rivers of India and its importance in a religious context 10 2.2 Geography of Narmada 12 2.2.1 Narmada basin 12 River through the valley between Vindhaya and Satpura ranges Physiographic regions of Narmada basin 2.3 Course of the Narmada 13 2.3.1 Shaping the land 14 2.4 Life in Narmada basin 15 2.4.1 Forests 15 Forest life Tribals Nature of inhabitants in the river basin Inter relation of the Hindus and tribes Tribal community and its influence on the settlement pattern 2.5 Narmada- sacred river of India 18 2.5.1 Etymology of the name 19 2.5.2 Puranic references 19 References about the creation of Narmada 2.6 Geography of Maheshwar: settlement on the bank of Narmada 22 2.6.1 Location 22 2.6.2 Approach of the settlement 22 2.6.3 Ancient site across the river 23 2.6.4 Topography 24 Landscape Farm lands in the surrounds Confluence of the hills Topography and Movement of Water Role of storm water The ends of the slope threshold 2.7 Geography of the hill 30 2.7.1 Hill as political centre 32 Influence of the fort on the institutions 2.7.2 Political shift 32 2.7.3 Public space in the town 33 Bazaar chowk 2.7.4 New administrative centre 33 Highway Public realm for the neighbouring villages 2.7.5 Nature of the connection spine 35 The street Impact and Contribution of the houses Influence of the two public realms 2.8 Conclusions 37 A. Nature as source of inspiration B. Nature as source of cultural productions C. Shaping the land D. Powerful events in the past E. The relation of settlement and the river F. Public space at the beginning of the settlement CHAPTER 3 Ritual And Creation Of Space 3.1 Introduction 42 3.2 Religious belief system of Narmada 44 3.3 Rituals around the river 46 3.3.1 Ritual practices - Panchkoshi yatra 46 Concept of parikrama Nature and god as a collective entity 3.3.2 Other Parikrama 50 Religious parikrama Parikrama, as a tour profane in nature 3.3.3 Impact of the geography on ritual practices 52 Parikrama within a settlement 3.4 Ritual practices and sacred time 54 3.4.1 Concept of time 55 Time is cyclic Rituals, space and time Ritual practice and space time continuum 3.5 Sacred time festival time 57 3.5.1 Festival Navratri 58 Puranic references 3.6 Mythological interpretations in ritual practices 59 3.6.1 Creation of the world 59 3.6.2 Manifesting the centre 59 Garbha Idol of goddess 3.6.3 Contemporary with the works of god 61 Continuum in ritual practice Celebration of the dance festival Dance performance 3.6.4 Manifestation of reality 62 Reflection of the universal and the specific Reflection of specific within the universal Reflection of the specific as collective belief Reflection of cultural identity through ritual practices 3.6.5 Manifestation of the end 66 Procession of the centres within the town Nature of the mobile structures to carry the deity Procession route Nature of the procession Manifesting a pause: as threshold Nature of manifestation Multiplicity and flexibility in the group Multiplicity in the manifestation of ritual practices 3.6.6 Beginning of the procession 72 3.6.7 End of the procession 72 Marking the centres on the in between realm Reflection of the self on a universal plane (how groups or individual mark spaces) 3.6.8 Visarjan 74 3.7 Conclusions 76 3.7.1 Imagination of river 76 A. The ideas of nature B. Ritual as a mediator C. Definition of nature D. Continuity of idea E. miniaturized replica 3.7.2 Objectification as a goddess 78 A. Different physical manifestation B. Physical manifestations bounded by rituals 3.7.3 Creation of spaces 78 A. New independent realms as ghats B. Spaces get connected by people C. Individual space and universal space D. Temporal and non physical space (temporary) CHAPTER 4 Ideas Of Sacred Space 4.1 Background 82 4.2 Theoretical frame work 84 4.2.1 Cosmogony 84 Cosmic order Cosmic pillar Cosmic space, cosmic pillar and temple Axis Orientation and order 4.2.2 Man and his abode 88 4.3 Religious centres on the hill 91 4.3.1 Geography 91 Puranic references Nature of the centre Marking the centre Creation of an inner realm as an inhabited group 4.3.2 Multiple relations of the man and the centre 94 Axis of the imago mundi Cardinal of the sanctuary 4.4 Case study 96 4.4.1 Temple complexes 96 Centre of the world Site Break in homogeneity of space Manifesting the sacred as one realm Dual belief system and its coexistence Reflection of social identity in dual system Complexity of multi axial plane 4.4.2 Temple in a house of a man 105 Site To settle is to repeat the paradigmatic work of the gods Orientation and connections Consecrating the universe Consecrating the centre of the universe Imitating the universe Reflection of the identity in consecrating the universe 4.4.3 Notion of centres and cosmic order 112 Sacred groves Cosmic pillar and a shelter Shelter tree, centre and sacred plant Cosmic pillar as a centre within a cluster Centre marked by a shrine Symbolic representation on the Ghats 4.5 Conclusions 118 4.5.1 Nature of sacred space 118 A. Creating a microcosm B. Realisation and the reflection of the self influence the space making C. Dual microcosm, at the level of the individual and the bigger at the level of the town D. Microcosm is manifested with a centre E. Defining the centre as a point where boundary diffuses 4.5.2 Landscape and archetype 120 A. Nature is modified B. Symbolic archetype C. Replica of the cosmogony as sacred realms D. Universal concepts in space making E. Specific and universal belief system 4.5.3 Sacred parts and sacred spaces 121 A. Objectification of nature B. Sacred spaces of temple in the house are slowly revealed and concealed C. Layers that make access to the sacred part are transcendental from physical world to the sacred wor D. House an object of worship E. Universal cosmogony F. Different ideas of public spaces G. Defining the urbanity of the Indian town CONCLUSION 123 BIBLOGRAPHY 124 ILLUSTRATION CREDITS 127 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 129
A TH-1067 / LAL