Besides the devotional practices at dedicated places like temples, home or public shrines, a striking and environmental sensitive and gratifying feature of Hindu worshipping practices and reverence is the deification of natural landmarks like rivers, lakes, and mountains. There is divinity in all elements of nature as well as in plants and animals. The belief is that gods and goddesses manifest in them. And their adoration is part of Hindu ritualistic practices.
Promod Puri.com 
I see a river as a constant running stream. Never stagnant, neither on the mountains nor in the planes. Once it is stagnant, it is not a river. The stagnant water starts giving a bad smell. Even after reaching the Ocean, its water becomes salty and unpotable. The clean water Lakes, (Jheels) though not as deep as the Ocean, they represent depth and clarity. They quench the thirst of people, birds and animals without any discrimination. Mountains also stand for height and not a low thinking persona. These send a message to look up and think high. Trees are an example to giving shelter, shade, fruit and furniture. Today, religions are stagnant, bigoted, dogmatic and formalized. There is a price to be a religious person. Nothing is free. In religious places, after bowing, if you do not put money in the Dan Patra or in Thali of Aarti, you are watched very surreptitiously. Watch, there is a hidden camera! Instead of a Dan Patra, there should be a “Dhyan Patra”. Do not give Dan but give Dhyan. The timely change, inner depth, high thinking and selflessness are the essence of any religion. Religion cannot be written. It is unwritten, unborn, beyond death, nirvichar, nirvair and self-emerging. It cannot be bound in Books. Today’s religions are Despotic, not Democratic. History stands witness that the Founders of all religions were the irreligious persons of their time. They realized and professed something new against the established norms of their religion.
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Great explanation about the virtues of nature, mountains, rivers, lakes, etc. They represent the true spirit of divinity.
Essentially, religion is a code of conduct for a civil society. It all started from here. With society’s progression, the code of conduct also evolved resulting in its expansion and formalization. As civilization started taking roots management of the society began. Origin of religion can be traced as part of human evolution. Ancient religious orders basically were a set of laws and principles for some acceptable behavior in an emerging civil society.
Thanks for your comment.
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