Saturday, May 20, 2006
God and heights
I am an avid trekker and on many of my treks I have noticed a pattern. So very often, why are there famous temples at the peaks of hills and mountains? Devotess throng these places by the hundreds. Think Tirupati, Badrinath, Tungnath, Kedarnath, Bhimashankar or Vaishnodevi, to name a few across India.
I've got a really wacky theory about why temples were constructed only at the peaks. Why never at the base? The really beautiful ones are reached only after a tiring struggle. I am not religious so I am never overcome by strong feelings of devotion and faith as some people experience.
I think it has something do with very smart application of some common facts.
Think how you feel after a nice round of cycling, swimming or when you are back from a jog. Feel-good factor reigns high, right? Well, today, science shows that endorphins are (a type of chemical) released into your bloodstream when you indulge in vigorous physical activity. These are responsible for that high/kick that you experience.
Given this context, what better place to build a temple than at the top of a hill? The devotee huffs and puffs his way up, straining every muscle to reach elevation and seek happiness and release (side-effects of believing in God). Nature is already helping out halfway in achieving a very conducive state of mind. The other half is the devotee's faith kicking in and delivering a knockout punch!
Might seem really blasphemous and outrageous, but I feel its an angle worth exploring!
Feel free with your comments, I really am interested in some discussion on this.
I've got a really wacky theory about why temples were constructed only at the peaks. Why never at the base? The really beautiful ones are reached only after a tiring struggle. I am not religious so I am never overcome by strong feelings of devotion and faith as some people experience.
I think it has something do with very smart application of some common facts.
Think how you feel after a nice round of cycling, swimming or when you are back from a jog. Feel-good factor reigns high, right? Well, today, science shows that endorphins are (a type of chemical) released into your bloodstream when you indulge in vigorous physical activity. These are responsible for that high/kick that you experience.
Given this context, what better place to build a temple than at the top of a hill? The devotee huffs and puffs his way up, straining every muscle to reach elevation and seek happiness and release (side-effects of believing in God). Nature is already helping out halfway in achieving a very conducive state of mind. The other half is the devotee's faith kicking in and delivering a knockout punch!
Might seem really blasphemous and outrageous, but I feel its an angle worth exploring!
Feel free with your comments, I really am interested in some discussion on this.
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you night be right. :)
But i think the seffect also lies in the fact that the peaks are relatively unspoilt and cleaner. One look at tungnath and you're looking less at the temple and more ot the spectacular scenery.
But i think the seffect also lies in the fact that the peaks are relatively unspoilt and cleaner. One look at tungnath and you're looking less at the temple and more ot the spectacular scenery.
very true...
a good workout at the gym gives the same peace & calm that you get after a trip back from kamakhya :)
a good workout at the gym gives the same peace & calm that you get after a trip back from kamakhya :)
OR look at it this way...
Once upon a time,a religious intrepid adventurer started out on his own to seek his God. When he reached the peak of his mountain, under the influence of endorphins(right?) and nature's spectacular beauty, he believed it to be the abode of his God. And with no ulterior motives but out of simple love and devotion, constructed a little temple for his God!
Or another theory could be that most people like to have a proof of any extraordinary activity they do. In the older days, building temples served the dual purpose of leaving a mark and showing one's devotion to God. And the people who eventually followed would tie a thread or plant a flag or write on the walls and more recently, click pictures!
wat say ;)
Once upon a time,a religious intrepid adventurer started out on his own to seek his God. When he reached the peak of his mountain, under the influence of endorphins(right?) and nature's spectacular beauty, he believed it to be the abode of his God. And with no ulterior motives but out of simple love and devotion, constructed a little temple for his God!
Or another theory could be that most people like to have a proof of any extraordinary activity they do. In the older days, building temples served the dual purpose of leaving a mark and showing one's devotion to God. And the people who eventually followed would tie a thread or plant a flag or write on the walls and more recently, click pictures!
wat say ;)
# posted by 
: May 24, 2006 11:48 AM
: May 24, 2006 11:48 AM
Forget this...a lot of things in Hinduism in its pure form had scientific rationale...this just cld be one of those...
Real interesting thought... I seem to be stunbling upon weird but logical theories about god and religion, these days!!!
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