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The Saptapuri Model: Sacred Urban Anchors, Fluvial Symbiosis, and Circular Economy in India's Saptapuri

Author Affiliations

  • 1Department of Geography, Acharya Narendra Dev Kisan P. G. College, Babhnan, Gonda, 271313, Uttar Pradesh, India

Int. Res. J. Social Sci., Volume 15, Issue (3), Pages 18-24, July,14 (2026)

Abstract

The present study formulates and validates the Saptapuri Model, a new analytical framework to understand the form of seven holy cities of India. Based on the Indian knowledge system, this model identifies the three foundational principles, i.e., a Sacred Urban Anchor (the central temple), Fluvial Symbiosis (a sacred river), and a Circular Pilgrimage Economy. These three principles ensured the historical resilience of the cities. The research confirms the presence of this triad across all seven cities, i.e., Saptapuri, arguing their millennia-long endurance reveals it is a result of this symbiotic structure. However, in today's time this model has a threat from urban crisis, including environmental degradation, population pressure, and the breakdown of the sacred-river relationship. This study shows that the Saptapuri model doesn't just helps us to understand the past but also it offers a way to advance in the present. When we bring together sacred rivers, and pilgrimage economies, we find a framework deeply rooted in culture. This concept helps us to imagine urban futures that embrace sustainability while preserving tradition.

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