Just In
- 5 min ago Aditi Rao Hydari's Double Diamond Engagement Ring Is Unique, Celebrity Wedding Rings That Are Bookmark Worthy!
- 3 hrs ago Navratri 2024 Date In April: When Will Chaitra Navratri Festival Start? Significance Of 9 Days, Deets Inside!
- 4 hrs ago Ramadan 2024: 6 Bollywood-Inspired Outfit Ideas To Shine During The Holy Month
- 6 hrs ago Personality Traits Of April Born Babies: From Being Witty, To Charismatic And More, They Are Full Of Sheer Joy
Don't Miss
- News BJP Slams Opposition Over Mukhtar Ansari's Death, Akhilesh Yadav Seeks SC-Monitored Probe
- Sports RCB vs KKR IPL 2024: 'Virat Kohli will be fired up just looking at Kolkata dugout,' claims former India pacer
- Education National Management College begins admissions for CA and CMA courses
- Movies Shark Tank India 3 Episode Update: THIS Brand Aims To Help IIT-JEE, NEET Students In India In Special Way
- Technology Samsung Galaxy M15 5G Launch in India Teased; Could Be Priced Under Rs 15,000
- Finance 1 Share Split To 5 Shares: Luggage Stock VIP Turns Rs 4 Lakh To Rs 13 Lakh; Prabhudas Upgrades To BUY
- Automobiles Ather Rizta Pre-Bookings Now Open – Ola S1 & TVS iQube Rival
- Travel Explore Tamil Nadu's Diverse Wedding Venues
The Essential Pilgrimage And Holy Company
Pilgrimage consists of visiting holy places where a great prophet or saint was born or lived; visiting temples or sanctuaries where the spirit of God is considered most manifest; taking a ceremonial dip in the waters of a river looked upon as sacred; and visiting holy mountains or mountain caves where prophets and saints have practiced austerities from generation to generation. Each religion has designated places of pilgrimage where seekers of God go to perform ceremonial worship and austerities, such as fasting, chanting of sacred texts, contemplation, meditation, and prayer. It is believed that a visit to such holy places awakens and purifies a pilgrim's mind. Faith traditions believe that there is a presiding spirit in each such holy place that out of compassion removes doubt from a pilgrim's mind and frees the pilgrim from all sins and imperfections.
Association with holy persons is regarded as indispensable for a seeker of God. Faith in God is difficult to achieve. God's existence cannot be proved or disproved by reason. Scriptures fail to describe the nature of God. Philosophy is mere speculation about God. Those who know God fall into silence. Unless one meets and associates with a knower of God, one cannot have real faith in God and God's divine grace. The 'Uddhava Gita' (21.26-31) states that association with illumined souls is one of the means to attain devotion and knowledge. Knowers of God are regarded as moving temples because they carry the Lord in their heart. Therefore worship of these great souls pleases the Lord. Just as the sun dispels eternal darkness, the company of knowers of God dispels the darkness of the mind and illumines the soul.
The questions that often trouble the mind of a spiritual seeker are the following: Do pilgrimage and holy company really bring spiritual awakening and devotion to God? Is pilgrimage just physically visiting a holy temple, a holy mountain, or a holy river? Do mechanical observances of rituals and ceremonies generate spiritual longing and intensify knowledge and devotion? What does holy company really mean? Is it merely meeting and conversing with a holy person?
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.
- yoga spiritualityPancha Kedar Darshan in Sawan: A Spiritual Journey To The Five Sacred Temples of Lord Shiva in The Himalayas
- yoga spiritualityHemkund Sahib: The Sikh Pilgrimage in the Himalayas! Introduction, Significance, Time to Visit and Much More
- insyncAmarnath Yatra 2022: Date, Registration, Helicopter Booking Cost, Medical Form, Age Limit - Everything To Know
- festivalsAshadhi Ekadashi 2019: The Religious Significance Of Pandharpur Yatra
- festivalsHajj And Umrah 2022: Hajj Pilgrimage Date, History And Significance
- pulseA Man Who Burned The Remains Of Hitler
- paramahamsa nithyanandaShankara's Boundless Consciousness
- faith mysticismThe Essential Pilgrimage And Holy Company-Part III
- faith mysticismThe Essential Pilgrimage And Holy Company-Part II
- marriage and beyondHow To Make Your Family Members Organized?
- faith mysticismAlathur Temple: Divinity, Where The Gods Fold Their Hands
- faith mysticismHindu Symbols And Their Significance