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The Essential Pilgrimage And Holy Company-Part II
Pilgrimage
What makes a place a site for pilgrimage?
Holy places of pilgrimage are either the birthplaces of prophets and saints or the places where they practiced spiritual austerities and attained perfection. It is not the waters or idols of a place, or its temples or sanctuaries or architecture, or the natural scenery that makes the place holy. A place becomes holy by the deposits of spiritual vibrations left by prophets and saints who lived or visited there, and the spiritual memories and history associated with that place.
What is the meaning of pilgrimage?
Pilgrimage has two aspects: a visit to the external place of pilgrimage and the internal place envisioned by the pilgrim. Varanasi, the great place of pilgrimage for Hindus, is not the geographical city of Varanasi but the golden Varanasi illumined by the presence of the Lord and the holiness of prophets and saints. Visiting that golden Varanasi is more internal than external. Sri Ramakrishna had a vision at Varanasi"s Manikarnika Ghat, where bodies are cremated. He saw Lord Shiva breathing into the ears of the departed the word of liberation and Mother Kali untying their material bonds and sending their souls to the abode of freedom. The pilgrim should think of this golden Varanasi, see it, and feel it.
Visiting
the
Dakshineswar
Temple
in
Calcutta
is
more
than
a
visit
to
the
geographical
site
where
the
temple
is
situated.
It
is
internally
visiting
the
golden
Dakshineswar
Temple
where
Sri
Ramakrishna
lived,
practised
great
spiritual
austerities
and
communed
with
God,
and
feeling
his
eternal
presence
there.
Making
a
pilgrimage
to
Vrindavan
is
not
just
visiting
the
city
of
Vrindavan,
but
mentally
visiting
and
commun-
ing
with
the
spiritual
Vrindavan,
illumined
by
holy
memories
of
the
life
and
teachings
of
Sri
Krishna.
If
a
person
makes
a
pilgrimage
to
any
holy
place
without
having
previous
knowledge
of
the
sacredness
of
the
place
or
fails
to
commune
with
the
thoughts
and
vibrations
of
holiness
of
the
place,
he
derives
no
spiritual
inspiration.
Many
people
are
not
benefited
by
pilgrimage
because
holy
associations
are
not
awakened
in
them.
It is believed that the Lord or an incarnation of God leaves a part of his being in the places where he lives to inspire seekers of God and draw them to him; that he is ever present in those places, and fortunate souls perceive his presence there vividly. Pilgrimage to a holy place becomes spiritually rewarding when the pilgrim is able to transport himself to the historical time of the prophets and saints associated with the holy place and, inspired by spiritual longing, is able to reflect upon and commune with their lives and actions, witness through his eye of devotion the events that happened there, and bathe himself in the holy memories of the place. For a person devoid of spiritual longing and devotion, a mere visit to a holy place does not become a pilgrimage. As Sri Ramakrishna says:
Pilgrimages, without love and devotion to God, carry no reward. With devotion within your heart, it is not absolutely necessary that you must visit holy places…. As cows after eating their fill of fodder lie quietly down at a place and chew the cud, so after visiting a holy spot or a place of pilgrimage, you must take hold of the holy thoughts that rise in the mind there, sit down in a solitary spot and think of them till you become immersed in them. You must not let them slip off from your mind as soon as you turn away from those places, and attach yourselves to sense-pursuits. In that case the divine thoughts bring no lasting effect on the mind.
To be continued
About the author
Swami Adiswarananda (1925-2007) was the Minister of Ramakrishna-Vivekananda Centre, New York. His books include 'Meditation & Its Practices' and 'The Vedanta Way to Peace and Happiness', among others. The present article, hitherto unpublished, was found among his papers at the Ramakrishna-Vivekananda Centre, New York and was sent to us by Swami Yuktatmananda, the present Minister of the Centre.
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