Why Do We Go on Pilgrimage

Why do we go on pilgrimage:-

- It is Maharaj’s aagna in the Shikshapatri that all devotees should go to pilgrimage and perform due religious rites in that place. - One can come across a true saint or a devotee who can guide them towards moksha.

Pilgrimage should be performed according to the procedure and personal capacity. A person or a group of people who goes on a pilgrimage are known as pilgrims (yatraru).

Preparations for pilgrimage:-

- Get permission and ashirvad from the parents or any elder person in the house before going on a yatra. - Do upavas (fast) prior to the day of leaving for yatra and perform puja of Ganpati, pitrus (ancestors), sadhu and Brahmins. Next day, break the fast with yogurt or fruits, and then leave for yatra.

What should be done when on pilgrimage:-

- Follow dharma. - Control senses (shabda, sparsh, roop, raas, gandh). - Control inner enemies like anger, ego etc - Eat your own food. Do not eat any food from outside as stated in the Shikshapatri. - Spend time doing bhakti eg. listening to katha, kirtans, chanting God’s name etc. - Detach from worldly desires and passion. - Follow Brahmacharyavrat.

Certain percentage of your punyas are destroyed if a pilgrim :- - Eats food twice a day from the same tirth. - Does sort of trading while on a pilgrimage. - Accepts donation or alms at a pilgrimage place. - Uses a vehicle to perform a pilgrimage. - Uses footwear or an umbrella.

What should be done at the tirth:-

- Do darshan with faith and devotion. - Believe and understand the mahima (greatness) of that tirth. - Mahapooja should be offered to God at such shrines. - Give donations. - Be compassionate and charitable towards the poor, diseased or misfortunate. - Sadhus and Brahmins should be served with food, clothing etc. - Festivals should be celebrated.

Shraadh (remembering our deceased ancestors) can be performed in yatra. It can be conducted at any preferable tirth or holy rivers. It can be done by ways of donations, feeding sadhus, Brahmins etc.

Benefits of going on a pilgrimage:-

- Can have darshan of holy places and feel the sacred atmosphere. - It allows one get closer to God. - Can remember and visualise these places when reading or listening to katha. - Focus our mind on Bhagwan and become free from kaal, karma and maya. - Get punyas and paap can be washed away. - Never takes birth in the class of birds (pashujyoni). - Never take birth in evil regions (adharmic countries). - Never suffer pain and becomes happy. - At the time of one’s death, remembrance of these darshan would be beneficial to one’s soul. - Akshardham becomes closer to them. Who does not benefit from going on a pilgrimage:-

- Those who insult or say anything bad about any tirth. - Adharmic person (person who does not follow dharma / unrighteousness person). - Those who do ninda (gossip or say bad about others).

The sins committed elsewhere are destroyed in the holy shrine (tirth), but the sins committed at the holy shrine become everlasting and undestroyable.

Story of devotee Pundalik

Pundalik was a devoted son to his parents Janudev and Satyavati. They lived in a forest called Dandirvan in Pandharpur, Maharashtra. But after his wedding, Pundalik began ill-treating his parents. Tired with their son’s misbehaviour and ill treatment, the elderly couple decided to leave for Kashi but couldn’t escape their suffering so easily. Upon hearing his parents' plans, Pundalik and his wife decided to join them on pilgrimage. The ill treatment continued. While the youthful son and his wife rode on horseback, the frail old couple walked in bad weather. Pundalik even made his parents work to make his and his wife’s journey comfortable. Every evening when the pilgrims camped for the night, Pundalik forced his parents to groom the horses and do other jobs.

On the way to Kashi, the group reached the ashram of the sage Kukkutswami. Everyone was exhausted and decided to spend a few days there. That night everyone was asleep except Pundalik. He saw a remarkable vision just before dawn, a group of beautiful young women dressed in soiled clothes entered the ashram; they cleaned the floor, fetched water and washed the venerable sage’s clothes. After finishing their chores, they went to the prayer-room. When they come out, their clothes were spotlessly clean and then they vanished.

Pundalik felt a deep sense of peace witnessing the scene. It stuck to his mind and he was very curious to resolve it. The next night, he approached these beautiful women and asked who they were. They replied that they were Ganga, Yamuna and other holy rivers and pilgrims take a dip in their holy waters to wash away sins, but soil their clothes. The women told Pundalik about his bad behaviour towards his parents and that he was the greatest sinner of all. Pundalik was utterly shocked and his consciousness changed. He realised his misdeeds, he became entirely devoted to his parents and ensured their comfort, even risking his own.

Lord Vishnu was impressed by Pundalik's devotion and came down on earth to bless him. He knocked at Pundalik’s door but at that time Pundalik was busy serving his parents. Pundalik realised that it was God at his door, but he wanted to complete his duties towards his parents first and then attend to God. Pundalik did something strange but out of real devotion, he threw a brick outside for God to stand on and wait for him until he finished attending to his parents. Seeing this act, Vishnu was extremely impressed and the ever-loving God waited for his devotee. When Pundalik came out, he apologised to Lord Vishnu for asking Him to wait. Lord Vishnu was pleased with Pundalik's love for his parents and granted him a boon. Pundalik requested Lord Vishnu to stay on earth and bless all his true devotees. Lord took the form of Vithoba (God who stood on a brick). He is also known as Vitthal, Pandurang and by many other names. Along with Vithoba, Rakhumai (Rukmini) is also worshipped here.

Millions of pilgrims travel from various places on Asadhi (Shayani) Ekadashi, and Kartiki (Prabodhini) Ekadashi, have a dip in the holy river Chandrabhaga (situated at the banks of Pandharpur, and is believed to have power to wash all sins), and then go to have darshan of Lord Vithoba. Irrespective of the caste and creed, every devotee can touch the lotus feet of Lord Vithoba (Padsparsh darshan) and bow down at His feet. This is the only place in the entire country where Padsparsh darshan can be done. People living in nearby towns and villages do processions carrying decorated palkhis, singing the glory of the Lord and dancing to have darshan of Lord Vithoba on these ekadashi days.

To this day, millions of devotees have darshan of Shri Vithoba and remember Pundalik’s inspirational devotion for his parents. Morals:

- Always take permission of your parents or elderly person before going on a pilgrimage. - Ill-treating parents’ is one of the greatest sins. - Pilgrimage is the journey of taap, tyag and bhakti, not a holiday. - Serving parents with devotion gives equal punyas as going on a pilgrimage. - Bathing in a holy river cleanses the sins. - God is binded by His devotees.