Q) Sacred complex as a dimension of Indian civilization (2015 Mains)

Def: Sacred Complex is happy synthesis of sacred geography, sacred specialist and sacred performance of hindu place of pilgrimage reflecting the compromise, continuity & combination between great and little tradition.

Sacred Complex consists of three elements:

1. Sacred Specialist
2. Sacred Performance and 
3. Sacred Geography

Sacred specialist:-

• Maintain distinct lifestyle
• transmit various elements to rural population while officiating different rituals and practicing certain performances. 
• Play important role in popularising certain texts and demeaning certain others. —> Way of modification of texts —> Changes in Society

According to L.P.Vidyarthi, Sacred Specialists are three types:

• Sanskritic Priests
• Feudalistic Priest and 
• Local Priests 

Sanskritic: Their life style is highly ritualised, orthodox and rigid to customs and rituals. 

Feudalistic: Over the period of time, these position of sanskritised priests become hereditary and gets the huge income. At that incident, These priests appoint number of disciples and continue sacred performances and get the high fees. They come out and attend sacred performances, which are important in nature. 

Local: For Folk people, who are not knowledgable  enough go to local Priests. 

Sacred Geography:- 

Sacred Centre is the place of sanctum Sanctorum, where chief deity resides, around which other deities representing folk/little traditions. For example, In Gaya Sacred Geography, there are number of other temples are found by L.P.Vidyarthi.

In the premise of Great Tradition, one ca observe Little traditional continuity in term of plants, animals and snake worship. For example— In Nepal- Janakpur, there is a temple of Rama but within the same temple complex another temple of Rajarajeswar is present where animal sacrifices are undertaken. 

Sacred Performances:- It Includes, Aarati, havan, Japam, Yagna, Recitation, e.t.c., It also includes flora worship, meditation, e.t.c., Apart from these great traditions, Little traditions of folk songs, Bajana, Tallam, e.t.c., are also part of sacred Performances. 

According to SARASWATI[ Holy circuit of Nimsar(1965), The temple Organisation in Goa(1962), Kashi: Myth and relaity of classical cultural tradition], Concept of Sacred is essentially based on man;s desire to communicate with Spiritual World usually inorder to attain Moksha. In significant study of kashi, sarawsati has concluded that although sacred complex of kashi may appear as predominantly a bramhin complex, it is indeed a complex of a much bigger civilisation, which makes the bramhanic temple of viswesra and non-bramhanic shrine of AGIYABEER to co-exist, the textually learned bramhanic karmakandi and illiterate untouchable DOMTO conduct sacred performances together and a Nashik Bramhin touch the feet of an AWADHOOT, who eats carcasses.  This king of arrangement at sacred place of pilgrimage demonstrates and reminds the pilgrimage coming from different cultural traditions again and again that they must not be too egoistic in upholding their own traditions as their superior most. 

In this way we can say, Sacred Complex is a dimension of Indian Civilisation, which is too diverse and have so many traditions and rituals continued from generations to generations.