“The journey to sacred places is the most common way that people travel in India. They are always going on pilgrimages to sacred places. They are always undertaking spiritual journeys to visit the great shrines in the Himalayan tier of pilgrimage places; these places are called tirthas, a word that means "crossing place," a place where you can cross the river to the far shore but also cross over into another dimension of life. Cross over to heaven, in one sense it's used.” PeopleWayMeanSpiritualUsedHeavenCommonJourneyRiversCrossesIndiaSacredDimensionsShoreCrossingsUndertakingsPilgrimageSpiritual JourneyShrinesSacred Places Author:Diana L. Eck
“If you went to the headwaters of most rivers of the United States, you'd have a wonderful naturalistic hike or trek, but you wouldn't find a shrine there. At the headwaters of the rivers of India, they are pilgrimage places.” IfsStatesUnitedUnited StatesWonderfulRiversIndiaPilgrimageShrines Author:Diana L. Eck
“I grew up going around with family, camping and living in a very beautiful mountain valley, knowing the names of the mountains and the rivers. I think it's no accident that I ended up studying the geography of India and knowing the names of the mountains and the rivers and all of that. I loved it. I think it gives a sense of space and a can-do-ness that was very powerful.” ThinkingGivingBeautifulNamesCan DoSpacePowerfulKnowingStudyGrewMountainGrew UpRiversIndiaAccidentsValleysGeographyVery PowerfulVery BeautifulCamping Author:Diana L. Eck