Page 11 - OPIHI (English)
P. 11

Çréla Prabhupäda on Visiting Places of

                                         Pilgrimage



            The following is a selection from the many statements of Çréla Prabhupäda
                                            on this subject.

           In the land of Bhäratavarña there are many hundreds and thousands of
           places of pilgrimage distributed all over the country, and by traditional
           practice the common man visits such holy places during all seasons of the
           year. (Çrémad-Bhägavatam 3.1.17, purport)

           There are four dhämas, or kingdoms of God, which represent the planets of
           the spiritual sky, which consists of the brahma-jyotir and the Vaikuëöhas.
           These  are  Badarikäçrama,  Rämeçvaram,  Jagannätha  Puré  and  Dvärakä.
           Faithful Hindus still visit all these holy places for perfection of spiritual
           realization, following in the footsteps of devotees like Uddhava. (Çrémad-
           Bhägavatam 3.4.22, purport)

           Places  of  pilgrimage  yield  a  special  advantage  for  a  devotee  in  quickly
           advancing  his  spiritual  life.  Lord  Kåñëa  lives  everywhere,  but  still  it  is
           very  easy  to  approach  Him  in  holy  places  of  pilgrimage  because  these
           places  are  inhabited  by  great  sages.  Lord  Çré  Kåñëa  says  that  He  lives
           wherever  His  devotees  are  chanting  the  glories  of  His  transcendental
           activities.  There  are  many  places  of  pilgrimage  in  India,  and  especially
           prominent  are  Badaré-näräyaëa,  Dvärakä,  Rämeçvaram  and  Jagannätha
           Puré. These sacred places are called the four dhämas. Dhäma refers to a
           place  where  one  can  immediately  contact  the  Supreme  Lord.  To  go  to
           Badaré-näräyaëa  one  has  to  pass  through  Hardwar  on  the  path  to  the
           Supreme Personality of Godhead. Similarly, there are other holy places
           of pilgrimage, such as Prayäga (Allahabad) and Mathurä, and the topmost
           of them all is Våndävana. Unless one is very advanced in spiritual life, it
           is recommended that he live in such holy places and execute devotional
           service there.(Çrémad-Bhägavatam 4.8.42, purport)

           The gåhastha should also visit the holy places of pilgrimage mentioned in
           the Puräëas. In this way he should fully engage in worshiping the Supreme




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