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Why did people make pilgrimages to mountain altars and shrines?
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Nature worship
Detail of Religion, mural in lunette from the Family and Education series by Charles Sprague Pearce, 1897; in the Library of Congress, Thomas Jefferson Building, Washington, D.C.
People have historically made pilgrimages to mountain altars and shrines because mountains are widely perceived as sacred spaces that provide privileged access to the divine or transcendent sphere.12
The motivations for these journeys are diverse, rooted in both spiritual and earthly concerns:
- Abodes of the Divine: Mountains are frequently viewed as the dwelling places of gods, spirits, or ancestors. For example, they are seen as "heavenly ladders" close to the sky, or as gateways to the earth's interior. In Hinduism, Mount Kailash is revered as the home of the god Shiva.13
- Cosmological Significance: Many cultures view mountains as the center of the universe or the "middle pillar" that upholds the sky, connecting heaven and earth.14
- Ritual Efficacy: Pilgrims often visit these sites to seek rain, healing, or spiritual guidance. In some traditions, mountain sanctuaries are associated with oracles or the burial places of medicine men.1
- Personal Devotion: Pilgrimages are often undertaken to fulfill vows, perform penance, seek salvation, or foster spiritual development.25
- Natural Power: Mountains are often part of a "sacred landscape" where the presence of water, stone, and trees creates a site believed to possess curative or miraculous powers.42