Pañcakrośī Yātrā of Varanasi: Symbolic Manifestation of the Spatial to the Spiritual

Abstract

This chapter explains and explores the phenomenon and experience of sacred environments. The perception of a believer, who relates to the traditional philosophy, sees the built structures, absorbs and understands the symbolism that they represent and perceive the intangible through them. The Pañcakrośī Yātrā is a circumambulation around Kāśī kshetra which, according to ancient text, is based on a Mandala that alludes to the universe. Pilgrims perform this ritual, which is formed of a series of smaller rituals. The sheer act of the ritual overtakes the basic facts like the simplicity of the sacred shrines and arduous journey transporting him to a higher realm. An analysis on the basic activity pattern helps understand the whole cycle of the Yātrā and the cycle of the spatial environment transform to symbolic and eventually to a spiritual realm. With a basic background of the Hindu philosophy, this paper explores the linguistic aspect of finding meaning in sacred territories from macro to micro scale. The traditional architecture imbibes and reflects some of the philosophical concepts through their form, juxtaposition, embellishments, but their comprehension and perception are due to the archetype ‘deep structures’ that make a spatial realm spiritual through symbolism.