Planning a Teerth Yatra? Avoid This Common Mistake
Most people who believe in God are always eager to visit places of pilgrimage, e.g: Mathura, Vrindaban, Ayodhya, Kashi, Haridwar etc. They think that a visit to these holy places, will release them from the clutches of Maya. Let us reflect on this matter, as there is a great deal of misconception about this.
Generally, all holy cities are situated either at the banks of a holy river or in the serene and peaceful surroundings of the mountains. The places where God descended and performed various pastimes to please His devotees are called ‘Teerth Sthaan’ or holy place. Each and every particle of the land in these holy places becomes divine by the grace of God.
During ancient times, a small numbers of saints and sages lived in these holy places (‘Teerth Sthaan’), to perform austerities or for the practice of devotion or meditation. Visitors to these holy places were significantly benefitted by the presence and association of these saints and seers. Philanthropic visitors offered donations towards the upkeep of these holy places and temples.
Gradually, several materialistic people with little to no faith in God, also started visiting these places, either in an effort to be called good or just to get their names included in the list of devotees. Taking advantage of the simplicity and niceness of the real devotees, some imposters also started living in these holy places and began contaminating the whole atmosphere.
But, even though some people selfishly spoil the image of the ‘teerth’, the real grandeur of the ‘teerth’ never reduces and we can continue to derive maximum benefit from visiting these places, provided we understand the true meaning of ‘teerth’ and the purpose of visiting them.
For instance, when Indians living outside India, visit India, they prepare for a long time for their visit. They plan on what to buy for various friends and relatives, taking into account their specific likes and dislikes. As soon as they land at the airport, they call their loved ones and the moment they step out of airport, their eyes start searching for their family and friends from amongst a big crowd of people. Even a slight delay in seeing their family, creates a sense of disappointment and sadness in their minds.
Contrast this to a visit to a ‘Teerth’. Our first reaction, after reaching there is to check-in into a nice and comfortable hotel. Then we look for a place where we would get good food. Then we visit all the temples with a guide, who explains the importance of that temple or other famous places where God is said to have performed various pastimes. We see these divine places with the same lens as we would see a historical monument like the Taj Mahal or Kutub Minar etc.
The only objective of going to a ‘Teerth’ should be to see the Lord. But do we really get that restless when we don’t see Shri Krishna, as we do, when we don’t see our relatives at the airport? Do we have a desire to bathe ourselves in the dust of Vrindavan where Shri Krishna’s foot prints are imprinted everywhere? Do we feel like giving up food or drink till such time as we get to see the One, who we came to see?
The only reason for this lack of interest is our lack of faith and love for Shri Krishna. It clearly proves that our love for Shri Krishna is not even equivalent to the love we have for our relatives and friends. If that is the case, there is no point in visiting holy places such as Vrindaban, Haridwar, Prayag or Pushkar etc. We go with reverence and come back with lots of malice against the ‘teerth’ losing all our devotion. So our pilgrimage proves to be not only unproductive, rather very harmful.
Akroor Ji was sent by the tyrant King Kans, from Mathura to Nandgaon to bring back Shri Krishna and Balram to Mathura. Although Akroor was well aware of Kans’ malicious intent, yet he considered himself the most fortunate soul, at the thought of seeing Shri Krishna. He was also confident that His journey to Mathura will bring an end to the miseries of the inhabitants of Mathura. Thus, all through the way Akroor contemplated on Shri Krishna’s various pastimes and virtues.
In this way, Akroora’s mind was completely absorbed in the pious thoughts of Shri Krishna.
He reached Nandgaon by the end of the day. When he reached Nandgaon, the sun was setting. As soon as he entered the boundary of Nandgaon, he saw the footprints of the cows and Lord Krishna’s footprints embellished with the signs of the flag, trident, thunderbolt and lotus flower. Upon seeing the footprints of Krishna, he immediately jumped down from the chariot, out of respect and love for his Lord. He was overjoyed and showed symptoms of love; he wept, and his body trembled. Upon seeing foot prints of Shri Krishna with trident, lotus etc, Akroora fell flat on his face and began to roll on the ground, out of extreme jubilation.
Akroor Ji’s example sets precedence on how we should think and feel when we visit a holy place. If the mind is thoroughly absorbed in loving sentiments of God, the mind will naturally enjoy divine bliss because God is the embodiment of divine bliss. The lack of devotional sentiments causes the mind to demand material comfort and happiness. The ‘teerth’ places are not meant for material pleasures. One can enjoy material pleasures in the world. ‘Teertha’ are meant only for divine happiness. So, a visit to a ‘teerth’ should be undertaken only by true aspirants of divine bliss.
If we have not reached that state yet, we must at least make a firm resolve that we are not going to the ‘teerth’ to enjoy material comforts, rather to enhance our devotion for Shri Krishna. We must increase the faith that each and every particle of this holy land is saturated with my Lord’s foot dust and having any ill feelings towards the inhabitants of these places is an evident transgression against God. We must go with pure feelings with a quest to see God and enhance our devotion. Take benefit of the saints who are living there in search of God. Only then a pilgrimage could be successful.
Jagadguru Shri Kripalu Ji Maharaj has expressed the whole idea of visiting holy places in a nut shell in these five lines -
Chalo mana! Shri vrindaban dham
O mind! Let us dwell in the divine abode of Shri Vrindaban.
Jahan viharat nagari aru nagar, kunjani aathon yaam.
Let us go, where the supreme lady Shri Radha Rani, lovingly strolls in the flowery groves with the supreme Lord Shri Krishna.
Bhookh lage to rasikan joothani, khai lahiya vishraam.
Whenever you feel hungry, be privileged to eat the food remnants of the devotees and have a good rest.
Pyas lage to tarani-tanooja, tata pivu salila lalaam.
Drink the pure water of the holy river Yamuna, whenever you are thirsty.
Neend lage to jaai soya rahu, latan kunj abhiraam.
Sleep in the pleasant shade of the fragrant shade of the trees, when you feel tired.
Braj ki renu-renu lakhi chinmaya, tanmaya rahu aviraam.
Thus perceiving divinity in each and every particle of the dust of Brajdham, remain completely engrossed in divine bliss.
Pai “Kripalu man jani yaha bhooliya, bhav rahe nishkaam.
The poet Shri Kripalu Ji suggests, “Be careful, you must not forget that you have to be completely selfless.