Our sacred travels

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Dr Venganoor Balakrishnan [1]

Taarayitum samartha ithi teertha (A pilgrim centre is a place where one can learn cross the ocean of life)

Since ancient times, Indians have gone on pilgrimages seeking the meaning of life and to know more about the Supreme Power. The journey may be difficult but it offers unique chances of interacting with people with varied experiences.

Pilgrim centres are generally blessed with natural beauty, often situated on the banks of a river, near the sea or on hilltops. Most are awe-evoking, quiet places. The pilgrims, away from home and rid of everyday challenges of life, feel free to exchange ideas, learn and share their ways of relating to God and form a better vision of life. The term “pilgrimage” implies that one can learn to swim in the vast river of life through noble thoughts and deeds and in the company of virtuous people. Pilgrim centres are places where one can experience positive energy and strong vibrations emerging from the Supreme Power, saints and ascetics.
In the Vanparv of Mahabharata, we come across the shloka:
“Pushkare tu kurukshethra
gangaayaam magadheshucha
Snaatwa taarayathe janthu
sapta saptaavaraam statha”
(Whoever takes a bath at the holy pilgrim centres at Pushkar, Kurukshethra, Ganga and Magadh benefits his seven generations of forefathers and successors.)
However, pilgrimage without complete submission to God and the genuine spirit to learn more about oneself and the Almighty is of no use.
Pseudo-piety and a mere journey to holy centres will yield no results. Towards the end of Mahabharata, Yudhishtira went on a pilgrimage accompanied by Bhim, Arjun, Nakul, Sahadev and Draupadi. When Krishna came to know of this, he handed to Yudhishtir his kamandal, the wooden pot used by mendicants, and asked him to dip it in all the holy rivers or lakes at the pilgrim centres they would visit.
After the pilgrimage, Yudhishtir and others visited Krishna. They returned the kamandal, saying that it had been dipped in all holy bathing places. Krishna took it, smashed it on the floor and broke it into pieces. He started handing out these pieces as if they were prasad. But whoever put the prasad in their mouth spit it out immediately because it tasted bitter. Now Krishna asked Yudhishtir why the wooden kamandal had not lost its bitter taste in spite of being dipped in holy waters where they themselves bathed.
The Lord’s question opened Yudhishtir’s eyes. He realised the futility of pilgrimages without purity of mind. If a pilgrimage does not effect a true cleansing of the mind, it is of no use.
Places of pilgrimage in fact offer opportunities for personal and spiritual growth. The natural and peaceful environment, the company of learned sages and spiritually elevated people — interactions with them are inspiring. If pilgrimage is sought as a short cut to attaining material and spiritual gains, it will be a mere waste of time and effort.

Dr Venganoor Balakrishnan is the author of Thaliyola, a book on Hindu beliefs and rituals. He can be reached at drvenganoor@yahoo.co.in