Threads of Faith: A Psychological Reflection on Hangerekatte Temple

 Yesterday, as I stepped into Hangerekatte Temple in Shivamogga district, I was struck not only by the serene rural landscape but also by the intensity of belief that lives within this sacred space. What makes this place even more unique is that it is not just a Hindu temple, it is also revered as a dargah by Muslims. People from both religions visit here, pray together, and share the same tree of hope. In a world where divisions often make headlines, this small village shrine quietly tells a different story, one of unity, faith, and shared humanity.

At the heart of this sacred site stands a tree. Its trunk and branches are layered with hundreds of colorful threads tied by hopeful hands. Alongside, I saw nails hammered into its bark, each one carrying a silent cry, a desperate prayer, a hidden wound of the heart. Men and women, young and old, Hindus and Muslims alike, came forward with folded hands or whispered duas, fastening their threads or striking nails. It was as if the tree had become a collective diary of human suffering and hope, a place where boundaries of religion dissolve in the face of shared struggles.

What I witnessed is not unique to Hangerekatte alone. Across cultures, sacred rituals often emerge when people feel powerless before life’s uncertainties, illness, financial struggles, family conflicts, heartbreaks. Psychology tells us that in such moments, faith becomes a powerful coping mechanism. Tying a thread or nailing into the tree externalizes inner pain, it is like “pinning the problem outside me” so I feel lighter. Even when reality feels uncontrollable, rituals provide a sense of agency. Watching others do the same strengthens conviction: “If it worked for them, maybe it will work for me.” This is very similar to what psychologists call the placebo effect, belief itself can trigger real changes in mood, stress, and even health.

Another fascinating psychological concept that emerges here is synchronicity, a term introduced by Carl Jung. Many devotees believe that after tying a thread or making a vow at this tree, something in their life begins to shift, an opportunity arises, a problem starts to resolve, or unexpected help arrives. These events are often interpreted as signs that their prayers have been answered. From a psychological lens, synchronicity highlights how people attach meaning to coincidences. A sudden job call, financial relief, or even meeting the right person at the right time may feel like a direct response from the divine. Whether coincidence or connection, these experiences give people strength and reassure them that the universe or God is listening.

Yet, as I stood there, another thought lingered. Is belief always helpful? Faith can heal, but over belief, when one completely hand over responsibility to rituals, can become problematic. If every problem is transferred to a tree, a thread, or a nail, people may stop seeking practical solutions. Imagine someone battling debt, illness, or abuse, they may spend years in ritualistic hope instead of seeking medical, financial, or psychological help. Psychology connects this to external locus of control (depending only on outside forces), magical thinking (believing that symbolic acts alone change reality), and learned helplessness (feeling powerless to change one’s life except through divine intervention).

So how do we reconcile this? Should we stop such practices? Absolutely not. Faith gives people strength, comfort, and unity, qualities deeply needed in our fragmented lives. But the key is balance. One must believe but also act. Tie a thread but also take real steps toward solving the problem. Hold on to hope, but with responsibility, faith should motivate, not paralyze. Along with prayer, open doors to counseling, therapy, or practical problem-solving. The beauty of psychology and spirituality is that they don’t have to cancel each other out. One soothes the heart, the other guides the mind.

Walking away from Hangerekatte Temple, I felt both humbled and heavy-hearted. Humbled by the deep faith people carry, and heavy because behind every knot and nail lies a story of suffering, we often don’t see. But I was also moved by the sight of Hindus and Muslims praying side by side, tied together not just by threads but by a shared human longing for peace and healing. Perhaps the lesson this temple whispers to us is simple: have faith, but not blind faith. Seek healing in the sacred, but also in yourself. Tie your hopes to the tree but also plant seeds of action in your own life. And when life answers with strange coincidences, cherish them as synchronicities, but remember that your own effort is part of that mysterious design. 

The true strength lies not just in asking for miracles, but in becoming part of them.

By, 

Mr. MANJUNATH S

Founder, Manokarma Inspiring Minds Foundation