Page 12 - OPIHI (English)

x ÇrélA prABhupädA on Visiting plACes of pilgrimAge

Personality of Godhead for the benefit of his family, his society, his country,
and humanity at large. (Çrémad-Bhägavatam 7.14, summary)

It is stated in the Puräëas, “Persons who attempt to visit the holy places
of pilgrimage, like Våndävana, Mathurä or Dvärakä, are actually glorified.
By such traveling activities, they can pass over the desert of material
existence.” (Nectar of Devotion, chapter 9)

Visiting the temple of a devotee and looking at the profusely decorated
forms of the Lord well dressed in a well-decorated, sanctified temple
naturally infuse the mundane mind with spiritual inspiration. People
should visit holy places like Våndävana where such temples and worship
of the Deity are specifically maintained. Formerly all rich men like kings
and rich merchants constructed such temples under the direction of
expert devotees of the Lord, like the six Gosvämés, and it is the duty of the
common man to take advantage of these temples and festivals observed in
the holy places of pilgrimage by following in the footsteps of great devotees
(anuvraja). One should not visit all these sanctified pilgrimage places
and temples with sightseeing in mind, but one must go to such temples
and sanctified places immortalized by the transcendental pastimes of the
Lord and be guided by proper men who know the science. This is called
anuvraja. Anu means to follow. It is therefore best to follow the instruction
of the bona fide spiritual master, even in visiting temples and the holy
places of pilgrimage. One who does not move in that way is as good as a
standing tree condemned by the Lord not to move. The moving tendency
of the human being is misused by visiting places for sightseeing. The best
purpose of such traveling tendencies could be fulfilled by visiting the holy
places established by great äcäryas and thereby not being misled by the
atheistic propaganda of moneymaking men who have no knowledge of
spiritual matters. (Çrémad-Bhägavatam 2.3.22, purport)
The purpose of pilgrimages is to remember the Lord constantly, and
therefore the Lord is known as tértha-kérti. The purpose of going to a place
of pilgrimage is to get the chance to glorify the Lord. Even today, although
times have changed, there are still pilgrimage sites in India. For example, in
Mathurä and Våndävana, where we had a chance to stay, people are awake
from early in the morning at 4 a.m. up until nighttime and are constantly
engaged, some way or other, in chanting the holy glories of the Lord. The