Vol. 1, Issue . 1 / February 2011, pp.154-163 Research Paper - Geography Spatial Organization of Holy Places In Maharashtra - Dr. K.A. Mali Associate Professor - S.G.K. College, Loni Kalbhor, Pune Spatial organization lies very discussion and analysis is directed to much the heart of most geographical spatial pattern and distribution of holy investigation. Geographer study mans places in Maharashtra. The study is also reaction to space and gives more directed to identify central tendency and attention to fact of distributional dispersion of holy places in phenomena. The common concern of Maharashtra. issue in cultural and religious studies is Key Words: Holy place, central the distribution of sacred sites; while tendency, sacred and profane space, there is a tendency to think of sacred spatial organization, space in term of site and location; dispersion, religious routs bear analysis as well. Maharashtra has a long tradition of INTRODUCTION: tolerance and symbiotic interaction with different region faith. The imprint Geography examines the man of region on the landscape of made environment from a spatial point Maharashtra is visible in the form of of view, whether it is to examine spatial shrines belonging to various creeds and distribution or association of element, castes. In this present state they also the organization of phenomena over reflect the cultural impact of the various space or the integration of divine periods of history. phenomena in place. Within the The spatial pattern of holy places worldwide ecosystem of which man is is characterized by their uneven the dominant part; man creates for distribution in Maharashtra. himself many environments. These Physiographic; social; cultural as well environments are not studied in their as political elements are influenced on totally by geographer; only in their the distribution of holy places in spatial facts and orientation. Maharashtra. Mainly the concentration Geographic fact usually will be of holy places has seen in the Bhima and one of observation, either of the same the Godawari river basin and dispersion characteristics at a series of place or of a is seen in Vidharbha. In this paper the series of characteristics at the same place. Spatial distribution is defined as Indian Streams Research Journal / 154 Spatial Organization of Holy Places In Maharashtra Vol. 1, Issue . 1 / February 2011 a set of geographic facts representing cultural and religious influence of the the behavior of a particular Northern Aryan and Southern phenomenon or characteristics of many Dravidians. Thus both the Vaisnavism places. Three elements that all spatial and Shaivism Flourished in distribution shares are; pattern density Maharashtra. In Maharashtra alone and dispersion. Arial association is have five out of the twelve Jyotirligngas defined as the similarity within the same located. Many other worship centers of study area between two or more spatial God Shiva are famous in Maharashtra. distribution determined by information The influence of Vaisnavism also found collected for the same unit area. in Maharashtra. Pandharpur is known The common concern of issue in as the Spiritual capital of Maharashtra. cultural and religious studies is the Among the other deities Mother distribution of sacred sites. Many of the Goddess (Devi), who rose to prominence universal religious give more emphasis in Maharashtra. Three and half Shakti on the sites related to the life incidences Pitas are located in Maharashtra, which of the founders of the faith, but in are Saptshrungi at Wani, Mahalaxmi of Hinduism the case is different, Kolhapur, Bhavani of Tuljapur and Hinduism is more complex in terms of Renuka at Mahur. God Ganesh is one of varieties of sects, believers, varieties of the most popular deities worshipped by deities and related systems. While there the people in Maharashtra. is a tendency to think of sacred space in Asthavinayaka or eight important terms of site and locations, religious Ganesh Shrines ensures for the Pilgrims routes bear analysis as well. In ever lasting bliss. geographic context, Stoddard (1966) A Majority of the people of all firstly raises the fundamental question castes worship as family deity one or of distribution, in his pioneering two. Khandoba, Jotiba, Bhairoba or dissertation: Hindu Holy sites in India. Devi these are the family deities. Bharadwaj(1973), Schwartzberg (1978); Khandoba of Jejuri is the family deity Bharati (1970); Feldhaus (1986) has worshipped by most of the south and also studied the spatial distribution of western Maharastrian people. Besides holy places. these gods holy persons (Saint); whom does Marathi people worship. The present study has been analyzed Maharashtra is known as a land of the spatial pattern and distribution of Saint. Mahanubhavas have made of worship- (holy) centers in Maharashtra. Maharashtra a vast network of It have been also examine the central pilgrimage places, each sanctified by the tendency and dispersion of holy places former presence of Cakradhar, Gundam in Maharashtra. Raul or another of the human STUDY REGION: incarnations of god (Feldhaus, 1986); Maharashtra imbedded the Maharashtra is the play ground of god, Indian Streams Research Journal / 155 Spatial Organization of Holy Places In Maharashtra Vol. 1, Issue . 1 / February 2011 and microcosm of India. Maharashtra Where, SD - Standard distance has positive religious value. C - Class internal OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY: f - Frequency of class 1) To find out central tendency and d - Distance of each dispersion of holy places in centre from mean centre Maharashtra. n - Number of worship 2) To analyze the spatial distribution centres pattern of holy places in Maharashtra. LIMITATION OF THE STUDY: METHODOLOGY: To analyze the distribution For the present study selected pattern, central tendency and 170 holy places in Maharashtra which dispersion with in a spatial distribution are well known and popular in the apply the Centrographic technique. To Panchkroshi. The places which are measure the central tendency and known as Tirthaksetra. dispersion calculate the mean center DISCUSSION: and standard distance. The mean center is a measure of Central Tendency and central tendency within a spatial Dispersion of holy places in distribution, and it is calculated in a Maharashtra. similar way to the mean of numerical distribution. The standard distance The spatial pattern of holy places appears to be the simplest measure of is characterized by their uneven geographical dispersion to be associated distribution in the region. Figure-1 is with the center. This index is the illustrates the spatial distribution of all equivalent of standard deviation in a selected holy places, which are shown in numerical distribution and measures point pattern. The mean center of this the degree of dispersion of points about distribution is located near bout central the mean center. Where standard part of Maharashtra in the Godawari distance, it can be calculated using the basin. Circle has been drawn taking the following formula. radius, which is equal to the standard distance. A feature of standard distance 2 2 Sfd 2 ´ i æ Sfd ´ i ö Sfd 2 yi æ Sfdyi ö SD = D - ç ÷ + - ç ÷ is that this circle will contain n è n ø n è n ø approximately 2/3 in fact (68.27%) of the total number of the points provided that these are normally distributed Indian Streams Research Journal / 156 Spatial Organization of Holy Places In Maharashtra Vol. 1, Issue . 1 / February 2011 about the mean center. In this case the fraction is slightly lower, with 112 out of 170 centers (65.8%) located within the circle marked it is clearly shows that the pattern of distribution is not normal, which is influence by terrain elements mainly drainage and altitude. Most of the holy places are located either along the river site or hill tops. Concentration of the holy places is shown in the Bhima and the Godawari basin and dispersion is shown in the Wardha and the Wainganga basins. A normal spatial distribution may be defined as one in which there is a symmetrical decrease in the frequency of points with increasing radial distribution from a central modal area. But in this case symmetrical decrease is found toward east other hand towards west centers are Central Tendency and increases from central point because of Dispertion of Holy Places of Specific impact of terrain, on the distribution of Deities: holy places. It is clearly indicate that the Holy places in Maharashtra are Maximum dispersion shows in plain associated with a specific chief or region towards east. Comparatively presiding deity. Association of holy concentration of centers has shown in places with presiding deities can be the Bhima, the Godawari and the useful initial step for the understanding Krishna basin. of a spatial aspect of cultural and religious evolution in Maharashtra. All the selected centers for the present study to be classified on the basis of their presiding deities. It is also important to find out tendency of spatial distribution and spatial pattern. Table 1 shows the number of holy places of each Indian Streams Research Journal / 157 Spatial Organization of Holy Places In Maharashtra Vol. 1, Issue . 1 / February 2011 deity. Amgaon, and Kelazer. Four centers are Table -1 located in Marathwada namely Rakshasbhuwan, Rajur, Namalgaon Sr. No. Name of Deity No. of holy places and Trikut. 1. God Ganesh 24 Spatial pattern of places shows 2. Mother goddess 26 3. God Shiva 40 that the eighteen places out of 25 4. God Vishnu 19 located within the circle marked with 5. Khandoba/Jotiba 12 using standard distance from mean 6. Holy persons 37 7. Jain and other 12 center. It is clearly indicate that the 72% Total 170 places are located within circle hence the distribution of places of God For the study of central tendency Ganesha is not normal. Most of the and dispersion of spatial distribution of places are concentrated in western poly places each deity calculate the Maharashtra, Particularly in the Bhima mean center and standard distance.