International Science Community Association International Research Journal of Social Sciences 15 3 2026 07 14 The Saptapuri Model: Sacred Urban Anchors, Fluvial Symbiosis, and Circular Economy in India's Saptapuri 18 24 EN Nadaf Ayisha 1 Basaveshwar Commerce College, Bagalkot, Karnataka, India Fernandes Evelyn Savia 1 Department of Sociology, Government College of Arts, Science & Commerce, Quepem– Goa, India Gaunkar Sayali Krishnanand 2 Department of Sociology, Government College of Arts, Science & Commerce, Quepem– Goa, India Dashwant Urmila P. 1 Yashwantrao Chavan School of Rural Development, Shivaji University, Kolhapur, Maharashtra, India Shukla Rashmi 1 Department of Geography, Acharya Narendra Dev Kisan P. G. College, Babhnan, Gonda, 271313, Uttar Pradesh, India > Research Article 2026 1 25 2026 07 14 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. Copyright@ International Science Community Association