Hindu Places of Pilgrimage in India: A Study in Cultural Geography

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University of California Press, Jul 8, 1983 - History - 258 pages
"Dr. Bhardwaj's in-depth study of the various aspects of the institution of pilgrimage shows that instead of being a simple practice it has been a gigantic phenomenon affecting all aspects of Indian life. . . integrating diverse forces, various cults, and numerous traditions over the ages."--Asian Student "This is the best general survey of a major religion's total pilgrimage system and the best intensive investigation of one of its subsystems. . . . Dr. Bhardwaj's book is an important step towards the recognition of a social phenomenon which has for millennia played a crucial role in the integration of religions, nationalities, and international communities. And, not least importantly, it is highly readable."--Journal of the American Academy of Religion "Detailed, accurate, and generally informative; he has succeeded in tracing, for the first time, the relationship of the rank-order or 'level' of a sacred place. . . to its degree of sanctity, type of deity, and caste and motivation of the pilgrim. . . .The implications of Mr. Bhardwaj's study are profound and necessary to the understanding of Indian religion. . . it is fascinating."--Times Literary Supplement "Here is a fine example of what the geographic study of India needs: disciplined work that shows full awareness of Indian cultural meanings. . . .it sets a worth standard."--Professional Geographer
 

Contents

INTRODUCTION
1
A GENERAL SURVEY OF THE LITERATURE
14
DISTRIBUTION OF HINDU PLACES
29
A GRAND PILGRIMAGE OF INDIA
43
SACRED PLACES ACCORDING TO
58
THEIR RELATIVE IMPORTANCE
80
PERCEPTION OF THE RANKS OF SACRED
97
to Caste
105
THE LEVEL OF SACRED PLACE AND
148
56
156
73
187
PILGRIM INTERACTION AT SACRED
216
SUMMARY OF CONCLUSIONS
225
BIBLIOGRAPHY
233
75
240
79
249

Conclusions
115
43
138

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About the author (1983)

Dr. Surinder Mohan Bhardwaj is Professor Emeritus. He teaches about Pilgrimage Geography at Kent State University in Kent, Ohio.

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