AP 7th Social Textbook Solutions – 7. How the Land Becomes Sacred? (2026-27)

7 How the Land Becomes Sacred?

QUESTIONS, ACTIVITIES AND PROJECTS

• 1. If your friend is going to Amritsar, which famous temple does she\he visit?
  A) Akshardam Temple

  B) Golden Temple

  C) Vaishno Devi Temple

  D) Amarnath Temple
  Answer: B) Golden Temple
• 2. A temple near a river receives thousands of visitors daily. Waste from shops and devotees affects the river. Which action best shows responsible behavior?
  A) Continuing daily activities without changing practices

  B) Waiting for the river to clean itself naturally

  C) Setting up dustbins, awareness boards, and cleaning groups

  D) Closing the temple to prevent visitors
  Answer: C) Setting up dustbins, awareness boards, and cleaning groups
• 3. Why do you think natural elements like rivers, mountains and forests are considered sacred for the people? How do they contribute to our lives?
  Natural elements are considered sacred because of the perception of a divine presence in all of nature, viewing the earth as Mother Earth or Bhudevi. They contribute to our lives by sustaining civilizations, providing water, air, food, shelter, medicines, and maintaining ecological balance and biodiversity.
• 4. Why do people visit a tirtha or other sacred sites?
  People visit a tirtha or sacred sites to undertake an inner and physical journey of spiritual significance, seek connection with the divine, fulfill religious aspirations, and participate in an ancient tradition of pilgrimage.
• 5. How did the ancient pilgrimage routes help in fostering trade during those times? Do you think the sacred sites help in developing the economy of the region?
  Pilgrimage routes fostered trade because pilgrims encountered traders and merchants along their journeys, causing pilgrimage and trade routes to overlap as travelers purchased necessities and exchanged goods. Yes, sacred sites help develop regional economies by attracting millions of visitors who support local commerce, services, and tourism.
• 6. How do sacred places influence the culture and traditions of the people living near them?
  Sacred places influence culture and traditions by fostering shared values, promoting interaction among diverse communities, inspiring literature, art, and festivals (such as the Kumbh Mela), and instilling a collective reverence for nature and heritage.
• 7. What is the two-fold significance of a tirthayatra? or a pilgrimage?
  A pilgrimage has a two-fold significance: it is simultaneously an outer physical journey across the geography of the country and an inner spiritual journey of self-discovery and transformation that requires a specified code of conduct.
• 8. Read the following statement by a well-known environmental thinker, David Suzuki: "The way we see the world shapes the way we treat it. If a mountain is a deity, not a pile of ore; if a river is one of the veins of the land, not potential irrigation water; if a forest is a sacred grove, not timber; if other species are biological kin, not resources; or if the planet is our mother, not an opportunity then we will treat each other with greater respect. Thus is the challenge, to look at the world from a different perspective." Discuss in small groups. What do you think this statement means? What implication does it have for our actions with respect to the air, water, land, trees and mountains around us?
  This statement means that our ethical and moral treatment of the environment depends entirely on our underlying worldview and perception of nature. If we view elements of nature as living entities, sacred spaces, and kin rather than mere commodities to be exploited for economic gain, we will act with greater care, reverence, and sustainability towards air, water, land, trees, and mountains.
• 9. List the sacred sites in your region. Enquire into why they are considered sacred. Are there stories connected with these sacred places? Write a short essay of 150 words. (Hint: You could speak to elders in your family and community, discuss with your teacher, read books and articles, etc., to gather relevant information.)
  [Student-centric field inquiry and essay writing assignment focusing on local sacred sites, their histories, and associated traditions.]
• 10. From the various sacred sites of India, select two of your choice and create a project explaining their significance.
  [Project-based task where students select two sacred sites of India—such as Bodh Gaya, Varanasi, Rameshwaram, or Tirumala—and detail their religious, cultural, and geographical significance.]
• 11. Identify the well known sacred sites in below India map.
  [Map-reading and identification activity based on the traditional tirthas and sacred geography map provided in the textbook.]

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