Abstract

People form a sense of themselves and their environmental surroundings at a variety of scales (spatialities), time frames (sequentialities), functions (activities), mobilities (e.g., pilgrimages), quests (sacrality), and mental states (belief systems) (Singh & Rana 2020a: 137). It is at the local scale that people first experience the spirit and power of places (genius loci) and from there proceed to experience this spirit and power at larger scales (Singh & Rana 2020b: 97). The idea of sacred space is a universal theme in both sacred and secular settings. This chapter focuses on the interface between the natural environment and sacrality in the context of Hinduism, which has a long history of creating cosmic landscapes and places (Baindur 2009). After discussing how the natural environment is tied to Hindu theology and cosmology, attention is turned to different pilgrimage traditions (tīrtha-yātrā) in India that lead to spiritual and religious advancement, followed by a broader discussion of the environmental issues in Hindu pilgrimage traditions and how pilgrimages can lead to better human–nature relationships and greener pilgrimage practices (see also Chapter 9, this volume).