Hindu Places of Pilgrimage in India: A Study in Cultural Geography (Center for South and Southeast Asia Studies, UC Berkeley) (Volume 14)

"Dr. Bhardwaj's in-depth study of the various aspects of the institution of pilgrimage shows that instead of being a simple practice it has been a gigantic phenomenon affecting all aspects of Indian life. . . integrating diverse forces, various cults, and numerous traditions over the ages."

--Asian Student

 

"This is the best general survey of a major religion's total pilgrimage system and the best intensive investigation of one of its subsystems. . . . Dr. Bhardwaj's book is an important step towards the recognition of a social phenomenon which has for millennia played a crucial role in the integration of religions, nationalities, and international communities. And, not least importantly, it is highly readable."

--Journal of the American Academy of Religion

 

"Detailed, accurate, and generally informative; he has succeeded in tracing, for the first time, the relationship of the rank-order or 'level' of a sacred place. . . to its degree of sanctity, type of deity, and caste and motivation of the pilgrim. . . .The implications of Mr. Bhardwaj's study are profound and necessary to the understanding of Indian religion. . . it is fascinating."

--Times Literary Supplement

 

"Here is a fine example of what the geographic study of India needs: disciplined work that shows full awareness of Indian cultural meanings. . . .it sets a worth standard."

--Professional Geographer

Dr. Surinder Mohan Bhardwaj is Professor Emeritus. He teaches about Pilgrimage Geography at Kent State University in Kent, Ohio.