FAMOUS PILIGRIMAGES IN INDIA

FAMOUS PILIGRIMAGES IN INDIA

Religion is embraced as the relieving source of peace, fulfillment and protection, by the searching soul, which ardently longs for "Bliss". This overwhelming Mantra of Benediction - "SHANTI" inspires a devout individual to resort to pilgrimage. India demonstrates a plethora of pilgrimage-sites.
India celebrates "Unity in Diversity" in all aspects of life, be it religion, society, culture, education, economy and so on. Its awesome air of spirituality is marked by the multiplicity of gods and diverse religious beliefs, generating numerous strands, all wrought together into a knot of sameness in fundamental concepts. Hinduism, Islam, Christianity, Buddhism, Jainism, Sikhism and Zoroastrianism have respective distinctness, and yet they share a commonness of principles that communicate the basic purpose of religion. Every religion has its own places of worship spread over the land. The confluence of religions adds variety to the kind of pilgrimage-spots, which attract pilgrims from all around the world.
The majestic peaks of the mighty Himalayas are invested with a heritage of holiness. The Himalayas serve as the exotic abode of the popular "Chardham" or four pilgrimage centers of Hinduism - Gangotri, Yamunotri, Kedarnath and Badrinath. The Hindu Holy Scriptures affirm that journey to these sacred sites purge the pious pilgrim from the burden of sins and assuredly release him from the cycle of birth and death. The Hindu ritual of Parikrama recommends a route from left to right for the Chardham Yatra. Starting from the westernmost shrine of Yamunotri, one should progress into Gangotri, and then Kedarnath, before he reaches the finality of his spiritual voyage at Badrinath.

Yamunotri is the origin of the venerated river Yamuna, which flows from the Champassar Glacier, lying 1km ahead of the shrine, at a height of 4421 mts. The Temple, dedicated to the Goddess Yamuna is situated on the Bandar Poonch peak. A holy dip in the nearby hot springs and the offering of cooked rice and potatoes to the Deity is the prevalent tradition.

The pilgrimage to Gangotri explores the Hindu legend of the supernatural descent of Goddess Ganga, in the form of a river from heaven to absolve the sins of King Bhagirath`s forefathers. Bhagirath acquired this boon from Lord Shiva after centuries of penance. Hindu Mythology proclaims that the geographical source of the river Ganga, Gangotri is the significant place where Lord Shiva received the turbulent Ganga in his matted locks. It is amazing to watch the submerged Shivling (Rock symbol of Lord Shiva) , visible in the early winters when the water level goes down.

Amidst the picturesque Kedarnath range, stands one of the twelve "Jyotirlingas" of Kedar or Lord Shiva. Positioned at an altitude of 3584 mts, the Kedarnath shrine lies on the head of the river Mandakini. The present temple, erected by Adi Sankaracharya, is beside the old temple built by the historical Pandavas (characters of the epic, Mahabharata). The temple has a conical rock formation revered as Lord Shiva in his Sadashiva form. There is a "Garba Griha" for worship and also a Mandap for pilgrims and visitors. According to mythology, Lord Shiva assumed the appearance of a bull before the war-stressed Pandavas, seeking penitence for their sins .Bhima, the strongest of the Pandavas, identified Him. Lord Shiva plunged into the ground, leaving His tail in Bhima`s hands.The rest of Shiva`s body is spread to four other places in Garhwal- Tuganath, Madhyamaheswar, Kalpeshwar and Rudranath. These Five parts are worshipped as Panch Kedars.

Nestled in the twin mountain ranges of Nar and Narayan is the shrine of Badrinath, along of the left bank of river Alakananda. The main idol is of Lord Vishnu`s in a meditative posture. Legend reports that when Ganga was entreated to come down to earth, Her immense volume was split into twelve channels. Alakananda, is one of them, which later became the haven of Vishnu.

The celestial ice Shivalinga of Amarnath (145 km east of Srinagar in Kashmir) is a wonder for the amazed pilgrim who reaches the glacial cave to experience the ethereal sublimity of the vision. The Shivalinga changes size with seasons, and lunar impacts. On the full moon day of July-August, when the Linga attains maximum height ( 6 feet), a festival is held in the cave-temple. Other ice-formations of the figures of Parvati (Shiva`s Wife), Ganesha (Son of Shiva and Durga) and a few others are present. The related mythology informs that Lord Shiva recounted to His wife, Parvati, the secret of creation and immortality in this very cave.

The shrine of Vaishno Devi, cradled in the Trikuta Mountains of Jammu and Kashmir, is one of the most famous pilgrim-locations of India. The shrine consists of one of the holy Pindis or body remnants of the Female Creative Power of the Universe, called Shakti by the ancient Vedic scriptures.

Haridwar, standing on the foothills of the Shivaliks, is considerd as the gateway to the four pilgrimages in the Uttarakhand region. The Ganga River leaves the mountains and enters first the plains of Haridwar. The general belief is that the Holy Trinity of Lord Shiva, Brahma and Vishnu blessed this place. Thus the River Ganga is the pleasant Purgatory for the sinners, who undertake a bath in the cleansing waters.
Rishikesh, situated in the northern part of Uttar Pradesh, is known as the Tapo Bhumi or Place of Meditation. Mythologcal sources speak about the severe penance of Rishi Raibhya and his meeting with God, as the gift of his devotion. Again, Lord Vishnu is said to have demolished the demon, Madhu, here.
Mathura, in Uttar Pradesh, is the birth-place of Lord Krishna, a history which gives a sacred character to the pilgrimage of Mathura.
Vrindavan is the nucleus for the Krishna cult. It is believed to be the land of love. People narrate that it was in the woods of Vrindavan that Lord Krishna reveled with the Gopis and passionately wooed His beloved, Radha.
The ancient city of Varanasi, beside the river Ganga, is the epicenter of Hinduism. We come across a rare but splendid synthesis of past and present cultures in Varanasi. The most important temple is the Vishwanath Temple dedicated to Lord Shiva. Along with this main religious location, there is the Durga Temple, committed to the consort of Lord Shiva, Devi Durga or Parvati.
Climbing down to south of India, we have the microcosm of South Indian religious activity in the temple of Tirupati Balaji. It is on the southern banks of Swami Pushkarani, in Tirupati of Andhra Pradesh. The presiding God is Lord Venkateshwara. Varaha Purana states that Adi Varaha revealed himself as Swami Pushkarani, while Vishnu emerged in the shape of Venkateshwara, on the southern bank of the Swami Pushkarani. It is a widely acclaimed belief, propagated by the Sastras, Puranas and the Alvar Hymns, that worship of Venkata Nayaka or Sri Venkataswara is the only Path of achieving salvation in the Kali Yug or Dark Age. Everyday thousands therefore, flock to the temple. The immensity of pilgrimage and enormous tributes to the Tirupati has turned it into the richest temple of the world.
Kanchipuram is regarded, as one of the Seven Sacred Cities of India .It was the historical capital of the Pallavas, the Cholas and the Rayas of Vijaynagar. This is the Golden City of thousand of temples. Kamakshi Amman Temple is a significant Shakti-reverence site, which caters to the worship of Goddess Kamakshi. The temple is a Golden Chariot Temple. Again, the Kailashanathar Temple and the Ekambareshwar Temple, dedicated to the Lord Shiva, deserve mention among the many pilgrimage-centres.
Mahabalipuram, globally recognized for its shore temples was the second capital of the Pallava kings of Kanchipuram. In the Shore Temple, built on a rocky outcrop, both Shiva and Vishnu are enshrined under one roof. Unique is the structure of each of the Rathas or Chariot Temples, carved out from the single boulders. Of the eight Rathas , five are named after the Pandavas, the mighty heroes of the epic , Mahabharata, and even their wife, Draupadi.
Chidambaram is the spiritual hive of the Shaiva (follower of Lord Shiva) and Vaishnavaite (follower of Lord Vishnu) pursuers. The temple shrine called Thirumoolanthar is associated with the legend of the wholehearted meditation of the two sages, Vyagrapada and Patanjali, who worshipped it, with the utmost devotion. They were rewarded with the revelation of Lord Shiva`s Cosmic Dance. This temple town, Chidambaram is a marvelous expression of devotion for Nataraj (Shiva in his posture of Cosmic Dance) and Vishnu.What is remarkable about this temple is that it is open to a person, from any caste or creed.
 The Rameshwaram Temple, at the island of Rameshwaram in Tamil Nadu, is perched on the Gulf of Mannar. It is an architectural masterpiece, beautified by its lengthy and ornate corridors. The worshipped deity is the Linga of Sri Ranganatha, a manifestation of Lord Shiva, and one of the Twelve Jyotirlingas of India. Rameshwaram is the place, from where Lord Rama, constructed a bridge to cross the sea, in order to save his dear wife, Sita from the clutches of the abductor, Ravana. It is rooted in our traditional belief that without a pilgrimage to Rameshwaram, the mission of attaining Moksha or much- coveted salvation during a visit to Varanasi is never accomplished.

Arriving to the east of India, one is bound to yield to the religious sentiments of "Darshan" or perceiving God`s aura in the resplendent beaches of Puri, in Odisha. Puri`s Jagannath Temple is the consecrated seat of Lord Jagannath(Lord of the Universe and one of the Shades of Krishna), His Sacrosanct Sister, Subhodra, and His Brother Balaram, Who is Virtue personified. The popular idea revolving around the pilgrim-center of Puri is that a sojourn for three days and nights here, leads one to the procurement of "Moksha" or Salvation from the painful cycles of birth and rebirth.
The Sun Temple of Konark, spotted in the state of Orissa, is in vicinity to Puri .The Temple is the Holy Home of the Sun God or Surya. It is a splendid medieval construct, crowned as a world heritage site by the UNESCO. It is said that Samba, Krishna`s son was racked with leprosy, being cursed by his Father. He then sought "Mukti" or Cure from Surya, at this place after twelve years of rigorous penance.
The title "Cathedral of the East" is conferred upon the capital of the Orissa, Bhubaneshwar, for the abundance of shrines there. The Lingaraja Temple, built in the 11th Century, projects a half Shiva and a half Vishnu Linga, called the Hari-Hara Linga. This presiding deity is the Tribhubaneshwara, meaning the Lord of the Three Worlds. Other major attractions are the Muktesvara Temple, the Parsurameshwara Temple, Raj Rani Temple, the Brahmeshwara Temple and the Iskcon Temple.
Bengal is the hallowed seat of religious pursuit. Its metro-capital Kolkata sustains the flame of spirituality through the number of temples, mosques and churches that the city is decked with.
 The Shaktipeeth of Kalighat, the Temple of Kalighat in Kolkata, is present on the venue where the finger of Sati (a form of Shakti), fell. Again, in the outskirts of the city, across the Hooghly River, is the famous Kali Temple of Dakshineshwar. Here lived the Divine Incarnation, Sri Ramkrishna, a buzzing and enchanting truth that invites people from all directions. On the other side of the River Hooghly or Ganga, is the spiritual serenity of Belur Math, renowned for its association with saints like Ramkrishna, his venerated wife, Maa(Mother ) Saroda and his devoted disciple, Swami Vivekananda.
The Chitpur road of Kolkata is radiant with the dazzling Nakhoda Masjhid. It is modeled on the tomb of Akbar in Sikandra. It can accommodate 10,000 devotees at a time.
The tranquil atmosphere of the Gothic style monument of St. Paul`s Cathedral is the Healer of Agony, amidst the hustle-bustle of Kolkata.
The Parashnath Jain Temple, set in the Shyambazar area of Kolkata, is a 150years old spiritual world, dedicated to the Sital Nath, the 10th of the 24 Jain Tirthankaras or Prophets.
Birthplaces of prophets like Nabadweep of Sri Chaitanya in the Nadia district, Jairambati of Saroda Maa and Kamarpukur of Sri Ramkrishna in the Hooghly district of Bengal continue to cast a spell of spiritual regeneration on the pilgrims who feel the touch of the holy soil.
Bodhgaya in Bihar has an eternal appeal to spirituality. It is the under the worshipped Bodhi Tree, where the hermit Gautama realized the Ultimate Truth and was spiritually reborn as Buddha, with the Enlightened Soul. The Mahabodhi Temple located in this particular site is of prime religious eminence, not only for the Buddhists, but also for the Hindus, who worship him as the ninth Avatar (incarnation) of Lord Vishnu.
Nalanda is glorified with the history of Buddha`s visit to the place and the establishment of the Buddhist University there.
Situated 10 km away from Varanasi, is Sarnath where Buddha delivered his treasured Teachings regarding the Middle Path to Nirvana, to his five devoted disciples. The Sarnath Museum, the huge Dharmek Stupa ,are the places for cultivating the essence of Buddha`s teachings.
North of India, in Punjab, is the nerve center of Sikhism- the Golden Temple or Harmandir Sahib of Amritsar. Sikhs from all over the world, regularly visit, to fervently pray the Ardas utterances before Sri Harmandir or Darbar Sahib. It is an embodiment of religious tolerance, which is the crux of Sikhism.
The high altitude Lokpal Lake in Uttar Pradesh is the reverend Hemkund Sahib. There on the banks of the lake, the immortal tenth Guru, Guru Gobind Singh, meditated on his earlier birth.
Muslim religiosity flowered with its soothing impact on the minds of the pilgrims, forging ahead for pilgrimage. The Dargah or final resting place for "Gharib-Nawaz", Khwaja Moinuddin Chisti , is located in Ajmer. The Khwaja or the Recluse left for the Divine`s Dwelling, in 1265A.D. after a six-day prayer in solitude. This occasion is celebrated every year. The shrine is believed to be a source of wish-fulfillment for those who pray with pure hearts. It is said Emperor Akbar , pledged for Divine Grace, here.
Jama Masjhid, a Mughal architectural testimony, is inundated with spiritual surge. It stands in the city of Delhi, on the road, across the Red Fort.
The history of Fatehpur Sikhri or the House of Common Worship attests it as the concretization of Akbar`s aspiration to promulgate the fantastic religion, Din-i-illahi, a harmonious fusion of the basic laws of all religions, namely Hinduism, Islam, Christianity, Buddhism, Jainism, Sikhism and Zoroastrianism . Akbar`s Din-i-ilahi , could be hugged by anyone , irrespective of caste and creed. What Akbar aimed at was the ushering of an all-tolerant religion, which is the dream of today`s world also.
Christianity is not aloof from the practice of pilgrimage. Devout Christians make their ways to churches, in order to inculcate in themselves the true spirit of Christianity, and to amend for their errors, which chastises the soul.
Goa is the repose of Christian beliefs. The Church of Bom Jesus, "Good" or "Infant" Jesus, a rich chapel of Goa is a must-visit stop. It houses the tomb of St. Francis Xavier. In 1946, it became the first Indian Church to be promoted to the honorable status of Minor Basilica.
The Church of St.Cajetan, has an architectural pattern, which is the shadow of the St.Peter`s Church in Rome. Other churches of reputation in old Goa are Church of St. Francis of Assisi, Church of St.Augustine ruins, Church and Convent of St. Monica, Church of Our Lady of Rosary, Chapel of St. Anthony and Chapel of St. Catherine. In Panaji, the capital of Goa, the church dedicated to our Lady of Immaculate Conception, the Chapel of St. Sebastian and the statue of Abbe Faria quenches the spiritual thirst of any religious traveller.
Mumbai, near Goa is seeped in the Gospel of Christianity. The Cathedral Church of St. Thomas, Mumbai, proves the fact.
The Roman Catholic Church of the Sacred Heart in Delhi and the Cathedral Church of Redemption, affirms Christian spirituality.
Little Mount in Saidapet, Chennai, arrests crowds of Christian Pilgrims to its sanctified sphere.
Kerala is perfumed with the ideology of Christianity, emitted by the Malayatoor Church, Valiya Palli Church, Santa Cruz Basilica and St. Francis Church