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8/3/2019 Mtn Geog Sacred Mts
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1.1. Symbolism of the mountainsSymbolism of the mountains
2.2. Mountain worshipMountain worship3.3. Threats to sacred mountainsThreats to sacred mountains
Climate changeClimate change
TourismTourism4.4. Ways for conservationWays for conservation
Sacred mountains
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1. Scientific definition:
point of view of the geologist,
ecologist,or geographer;
objective set of criteria
elevation local relief
Climate
Steepness
geology
What is a mountain?What is a mountain?
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2. Subjective definition:
³To a large extent, a mountain is amountain because of the part it plays in
popular imagination.´
(R oderich Peattie)
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Why is a mountain sacred? Morphology of the mountain plays an
important role in defining the mountain
as sacred ± Shape
± Color of the rock
± Elevation
± Local relief
± Snow
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Sacred mountain
³There are mountains which are just mountains and
there are mountains with personality. The personality of
a mountain is more than merely a strange shape that
makes it different from others-just as a strangely shapedface or strange actions do not make an individual into a
personality.
Personality consists in the power to influence others, and
this power is due to consistency, harmony, and one- pointedness of character . If these qualities are present in
a mountain, we recognize him as a vessel of cosmic
power, and we call it a sacred mountain [«].´
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Symbolism of the Mountains:Symbolism of the Mountains:
Mircea Eliade, comparative religionMircea Eliade, comparative religion
1.1. The mountain as sacred center The mountain as sacred center
2.2. Mountain as Places of R evelationMountain as Places of R evelation
3.3. Mountain as GodsMountain as Gods
4.4. Mountains charged with Divine power Mountains charged with Divine power
5.5. Mountains as life and death placesMountains as life and death places
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1. The mountain as sacred center 1. The mountain as sacred center
³Axis mundi´ = center of the world
Cosmic mountain- image of stability and permanence
Mythology: Mt.Meru, center of the world for Hindus,
Buddhists and Jains
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Mt.K ailas, Tibet- World¶s most
sacred mountain
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Morphology features that make
K ailas a sacred mountain
Shape: perfect dome
Color: white (snow)
Source of 4 rivers in 4 cardinal directions
Local relief: contrasting with the vast
plateau surrounding it
R emoteness (W Tibet very sparsely
populated)
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What can happen when you hitch-hike
on trucks in Tibet«?
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R ongbuk Monastery
Everest Base Camp,
North (Tibetan) side
Cosmic mountain represented
in temple architecture:
³Stupa´ (Buddhist temple)
shaped in form of a dome
with gateways to the four
directions
Stairs symbolize way to
heaven (the ascent)
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Hindu temple in Durbar Square,
K athmandu ( Nepal)
Shape of mountains
represented in temple
architecture Steps represent
spiritual ascent
Link between heaven
and earth
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Buddhist mountain worship
Prostration
Prayer wheels Offerings: juniper incense
´Sky burialµ ceremony
CIRCUMAMBULATION (Korra)is the way to worship:
´ to see the greatness of a mountain, one must
keep one·s distance; to understand its form, one must move around itµ
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2 . Mountains as Places of Revelation 2 . Mountains as Places of Revelation
MountaintopMountaintop-- revelatory placerevelatory place
Height of the mountain is importantHeight of the mountain is important
Mountain ascentMountain ascent ± ± spiritual, transformingspiritual, transforming
experienceexperience
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Swayambunath Temple, K athmandu ( Nepal)Swayambunath Temple, K athmandu ( Nepal)
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Snow capped mountains are
importantVerticality/local relief
R emoteness
Abode of the DivineGuardian Gods for local people
3
.Mountains as Gods: Himalayas
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Mountain rituals: the Himalayas Mountain top=off-limits
Hindu mountain worship: pilgrimage to the base of the mountain
bathing in the lake
Incense burning
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Mt. Numbur (Shorong Yul-lha), Nepal Himalayas
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Dudh K unda (³Milk Lake´) at the base of Numbur Mt.
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Andes: Mountain as source of Water and
Fertility
Verticality is important
Source of water
Gods of meteorological phenomena,
controlling crops and cattle
Places of astronomical observations
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Mt.Mismi, Peruvian AndesMt.Mismi, Peruvian Andes
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Archaeological sites andmummies have been found inthe Andes at altitudes up to20,000ft
Incas constructed the sites inthe 15th century to appease themountain gods
Human sacrifice: CapacCocha ritual
Mountain worship in the Andes
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Sacred Volcanic peaks on the
Peruvian Altiplano
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Mt.Coropuna, sacred mountain
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Volcano Llullaillaco, Argentina,
highest archeological site (~21,000ft)
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Peaks in the Andes are still worshipped to
this day, eg. Mt.Ausangate
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Present day pilgrimage to Qoyllur Rit¶I, PeruPresent day pilgrimage to Qoyllur Rit¶I, Peru
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Sinaqara Glacier, pilgimage site
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Qoyllur Rit¶I,Qoyllur Rit¶I,Sinaqara Glacier,Sinaqara Glacier,
S.PeruS.Peru
Taking ³medicinal´ Taking ³medicinal´ ice from the glacierice from the glacieras a symbol of wateras a symbol of water
sources and fertilitysources and fertility
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Threats to sacred mountains Tourism:Tourism:
± ± Climbing permitsClimbing permits ± ± Pollution of sacred spacePollution of sacred space
Nepal, 2001: 103 more peaks opened for mountaineering
in the area of Everest and Kangchenjunga
Climate change:Climate change: ± ± glacial meltglacial melt ± ± Changes in vegetationChanges in vegetation ± ± Water resourcesWater resources
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Tourism: climbing andTourism: climbing and
dede--sanctification of sacred peakssanctification of sacred peaks
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Mt.Macchapuchare
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World Tibet Network News
Thursday, May 17, 2001
Mount Kailash Desecrated
Some press agencies and specialized magazines have recently
spread the news that a Spanish mountaineering expedition led by
Mr . Jesus Martinez Noves had applied for and was granted
permission by the Chinese authorities to attempt the climb of Mount K ailash in Tibet.
Wedne sday, May 30, 2001
Climber calls off ascent of sacred peak amid protests (ST)
INTER NATIONAL protests by mountaineers have halted what
would have been the first ascent of Mount K ailash, a Tibetan
mountain held sacred by Hindus and Buddhists.
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Climate changeClimate change
Glacier ablationGlacier ablationat Shorong Yulat Shorong Yul--lhalha(Numbur),(Numbur),
Nepal HimalayasNepal Himalayas
Glacier AX010Glacier AX010estimated toestimated todisappear by yeardisappear by year2060.2060.
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Everest Melting?
High Signs of Climate Change
Stentor DanielsonNational Geographic News
June 5, 2002
A team sponsored by the United Nations Environment Programme(UNEP) has found signs that the landscape of Mount Everest haschanged significantly since Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgayfirst conquered the peak in 1953. A primary cause is the warming
global climate. But the growing impact of tourism is also taxing theworld's highest mountain.
The team found that the glacier that once came close to Hillary andNorgay's first camp has retreated three miles (five kilometers). Aseries of ponds that used to be near Island Peak²so-called because
it was then an island in a sea of ice²had merged into a long lake.
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ASTER Image courtesy of: NASA EROS
Data Center, Sept. 9, 2001
Indian HimalayasIndian Himalayas::
Glacier ablation atGlacier ablation atGangotri,source of Gangotri,source of the holy Gangesthe holy Ganges
1% of Ganges water comes1% of Ganges water comes
from Gangotri glacierfrom Gangotri glacier
millions of people dependentmillions of people dependenton water from runoff on water from runoff
glacier terminus retreated byglacier terminus retreated by3km3km
M d i ti ´ i Tib t?M d i ti ´ i Tib t?
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Modernization´ in Tibet?Modernization´ in Tibet?
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THE END OFTHE END OF
A LEGEND?A LEGEND?
Aug 2000: Another cable car project
is being proposed for Macchu Picchu
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MACHU PICCHU TODAY
AFTER THE PROJECT
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Sept 11, 2000: ³The Intihuatana,
considered by
archaeologists tobe the most sacredobject in MachuPicchu has been
damaged in thefilming of a beer
commercial.́
Beer vs. Sacred Mountains?Beer vs. Sacred Mountains?
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Summary: Mountain cultures at riskSummary: Mountain cultures at risk
Mountain rituals: a way for local cultures to maintainMountain rituals: a way for local cultures to maintainglobal and local awarenessglobal and local awareness
Balancing sanctity of the mountains with resource useBalancing sanctity of the mountains with resource use
and conservation in the mountainsand conservation in the mountains
Global action:Global action:
address issue of climate change in the mountainsaddress issue of climate change in the mountains
help maintain traditional worship practiceshelp maintain traditional worship practices
Scientific research: need to respect local traditionsScientific research: need to respect local traditions
³Mountain to mountain´ exchange and collaboration³Mountain to mountain´ exchange and collaboration
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S ummary: Why is a mountain sacred?
Glacier-topped peaks=venerated as abode of
heavenly enlightened (Devi and Deva,Gods of weather and crops)
Highest prominent feature in a village landscape
Extreme beauty (Macchapuchre, Ama Dablam)
Clouds: creative power of mind (Tibetan Buddhism)
Source of water (Andes) Healing power and energy (Huaringas- Peru, Kalincok,
Nepal)
Color of the rock: white=purity
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Pilgrimage as a means for
conservation Encourage local beliefs about sanctity of the
mountains
Sacred space needs to be clean and not
polluted
Local people¶s concern not to upset the
mountain Gods helps maintain the pilgrimage practice
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Example: Garhwal Himalayas
(India)
Most important pilgrimage site in Indian
Himalayas
Shrines at the source of the Ganges
Seedling ceremony to plant trees to preserve
the sacred forests
Priests blessed the seeds
Pilgrims helped in planting the seeds
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Ama Dablam, Nepal Himalayas
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Summary: Three ways to worship
sacred mountains
Buddhism: circumambulation (circling) of
sacred mountains
Hinduism: pilgrimage to the base of the
mountain
Andean culture: human sacrifice on top of
the peaks to appease the mountain Gods(Inca Empire)
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...A Way for Conservation...A Way for Conservation
acred mountains...acred mountains...
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