Contents
CERTIFICATE OF ORIGINALITY I
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS II
ABSTRACT Ill
TABLE OF CONTENTS V
LIST OF FIGURES IX
LIST OF TABLES XIV
CHAPTER ONE 1
1.1 RATIONALE 2
1.2 SPIRITUAL BACKGROUND TO THE RESEARCH PROJECT 5
1.3 RESEARCH AIM AND QUESTION 13
1.4 METHODOLOGY 14
1.5 STRUCTURE OF STUDY 18
1.6 CHAPTER OUTLINE 19
1.6.1 Chapter One 19
1.6.2 Chapter Two 19
1.6.4 Chapter Three 19
1.6.5 Chapter Four 20
Chapter Five 20
CHAPTER TWO 22
2.1THE UNDERSTANDING OF SACRED AND A SACRED PLACE. 23
2.1.1The Meaning of Sacred and Sacred Place. 23
2.1.2 Types of Sacred Places 25
2.1.3 The Making of a Sacred Place. 26
2.1.4 Religious based Sacred Places 29
2.2 UNDERSTANDING PILGRIMAGE 32
2.2.1 Concept of Pilgrimage 32
2.2.2 Pilgrimages in Different Cultures. 35
2.2.3 Components of Pilgrimage 37
2.2.4 Difference between Tourism and Pilgrimage 39
2.3 ECOLOGY AND HUMAN INTERRELATIONSHIP: THE PERCEPTIONS AND RESPONSES 40
2.3.1 Terminologys and their use to define the relationship between Humans and Ecology 41
2.3.2 Cultural Landscapes 44
2.3.3 Cultural Ecology 45
2.3.4 Inferences 47
2.4 ECOLOGY, SACREDNESS AND PILGRIMAGE IN INDIAN TRADITIONS. 49
2.4.1 The Vedantic Philosophy of Indian Traditions 49
2.4.2 Origin, Nature & Spread of Sacred place and Pilgrimage in India 51
2.4.3 Inferences 53
2.5 KRISHNA - AN ENVIRONMENTALIST. 55
2.5.1 Brief Introduction to Various Gods and Related Sects in Hinduism 55
2.5.2 Introduction to Krishna. 56
2.5.3 Myths, Stories and Verses of Krishna. 57
2.5.4 Inferences 60
CHAPTER THREE 62
3.1 INTRODUCTION 63
3.2 MYTHOLOGY OF BRAJ 66
3.2.1 The Scriptural Sources. 67
3.2.2 The Story of Krishna - A brief mythological outlook 68
3.2.3 The Evolution of Mythology within Braj. 69
3.3 THE PHYSICAL/SPATIAL BRAJ 71
3.3.7 The Extent of Braj 71
3.3.2 Components of Braj. 72
3.3.3 Physical Features 72
3.3.4 The Landscape. 73
3.4 BRAJ THROUGH HISTORY 77
3.4.1 The Pre 14th Century Braj. 77
3.4.2 Brai in the 14th Century upto 1668 79
3.4.3 Brai during the Mughal times (15'- 17th century) 81
3.4.4 Brai from 1668-1803. 82
3.4.5 Brai during the British Raj. 83
3.4.6 Revival of Religious Activity in Brai in the 1800s. 83
3.4.7 Brai Today 84
3.5 THE THEORY & PRACTICE OF WORSHIP IN BRAJ. 85
3.5.1 Manifestation of Worship 88
3.6 SACRED PLACES IN BRAJ 90
3.6.1 Sacred Geography of Brai 91
3.7 PILGRIMAGE IN BRAJ: 94
3.7.1 Motivation for Pilgrimage. 96
3.8 CULTURAL HERITAGE OF BRAJ: 98
3.8.1 Architecture: Development of Building Typologies. 98
3.8.2 Art and Craft 100
3.8.3 Fairs and Festivals 102
3.9 THE LOCAL INHABITANTS 103
3.10 BRAJ A DISTINCT CULTURAL ENTITY 105
CHAPTER FOUR 109
4.1 INTRODUCTION TO THE PARVAT. 110
PART A - GOVARDHAN - THE SACRED HILL 113
4A.1 Location. 113
4A.2 Govardhan Myth. 114
4A.3 The Physical Features. 118
4A.3.1 Topography. 118
4A 4 The Natural Environment. 122
4A.4.1 The Forests of Govardhan. 122
4A.4.2 Water Systems of Govardhan 123
4A.5 Sacred Sites. 125
4A.6 Pilgrimage of Govardhan 129
4A.7 Religious Rituals and Festivals in Govardhan: 130
4A.8 Built Heritage 133
4A.8.1 Kunds, Sarovar - Types of tanks. 133
4A.8.2 Temples 133
4A.8.3 Samadhis 134
4A.8.4 Wells 134
4A.9 Social Setup of Govardhan. 135
4A.9.1 The Social field at Radhakund.135
4A.9.2 The social field at Jatipura.136
PART B: SPECIFIC SITE ANALYSIS 136
PART B: SPECIFIC SITE ANALYSIS 137
4B. 1 Radhakund Precinct 138
4B. 1.1 Introduction: 138
4B. 1.2 Mythological and Historical Significance 138
4B.1.3 Site Characteristics: 140
4B.1.4 Functional Characteristics. 141
4B. 1.5 Inferences 143
4B.2 Kusum Sarovar Precinct. 144
4B.2.1 Introduction 144
4B.2.2 Historical and Mythological Importance 145
4B.2.3 Site Characteristics: 146
4B.2.4 Functional Characteristics 147
4B.2.5 Inferences: 149
4B.3 Govardhan Town Precinct 152
45.3.7 Introduction: 152
4B.3.2 Historical and Mythological Significance: 153
4B.3.3 Site Characteristics: 153
4B.3.4 Functional Characteristics 154
4B.3.5 Inferences: 156
4B.4 Govindkund Precinct: 158
4B.4.1 Introduction 158
4B.4.2 Historical and Mythological Importance: 158
4B.4.3 Site Characteristics: 159
4B.4.4 Functional Characteristics 161
4B.4.5 Inferences: 162
4B.5 Poonchari ka Lota Precinct 163
4B.5.1 Introduction 163
4B.5.2 Historical and Mythological Importance: 163
4B.5.3 Site Characteristics: 164
4B.5.4 Functional characteristics: 166
4B.5.5 Inferences: 171
4B.6 The Summary of Analysis 773
46.6.7 The Past... 174
4B.6.2 But Today..... 175
4B.6.2.1 Ecological Problems: 176
4B.6.2.2 Social and Economic Problems. 177
4B.6.2.3 Economic problems 178
4B.6.2.4 Political problems 179
PART C: ANALYSIS OF INTERVENTIONS 181
4C.7 Perceptions and Interventions of various agencies and their impact 182
4C.1.1 Central and State Government 182
4C. 1.2 Archaeological Survey of India (ASP 183
4C.7.3 Public Work Department (PWD): 184
4C.1.4 Local authorities ie Municipal Corporations and other Local bodies: 184
4C.2 Professionals and Individual Efforts: 186
4C.3 What is the right Approach? 187
CHAPTER FIVE 189
5.1 INTRODUCTION 190
5.2 SEARCH FOR THE RIGHT APPROACH 191
5.3 POSSIBLE APPROACH 193
5.4 THE DESIGN PROCESS FOR THE GOVARDHAN REGION 195
5.5 THE MANAGEMENT PRINCIPLES 196
5.5.1 The Principle of Organic Order: 198
5.5.2 The Principle of Participation: 200
5.5.3 The Principle of Piecemeal Growth: 202
5.5.4 The Principle of Patterns 204
5.5.5 The Principle of Diagnosis: 212
5.5.6 The Principle of Coordination: 214
5.6 THE ACT OF DESIGN 216
5.6.1 Demonstration Area 217
5.6.2 Design Requirements 219
5.6.3 Design Proposal 220
5.7 VALIDITY OF THE DESIGN APPROACH 227
5.8 THE BEGINNING OF LEARNING: 233
BIBLIOGRAPHY: 235
APPENDICES 1 241
APPENDICES II 244
GLOSSARY 247