The true meaning of pilgrimage

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The true meaning of pilgrimage

THE PILGRIMAGE

 

Once there lived a man who had a unique pastime. Whenever he found information

about organised tours to Kshetras or Thirthas (holy places of the Lord), he

would immediately join the group. By doing so, he had visited almost all

important kshetras hundreds of times.

 

He once narrated all this to his neighbour, who was heartbroken to hear the

same. The neighbour cursed his illfate that prevented him from visiting kshetras

and thirthas. He was heartbroken and was crying inconsolably. He told his

neighbour ' How fortunate you are! You must have earned countless punyas by

your yatras.'

 

To this, he replied, 'I will give you all the punyas I earned from all these

yatras! In return, will you give me those tears of devotion that you are

shedding ?'

 

REFLECTION

 

Mere mechanical travelling to the different punya kshetras is not what matters,

....our hearts should melt in devotion when we think of the Lord and the holy

Kshetras, only then the true purpose of the pilgrimage is achieved.

 

True bhakti makes the devotee cry for the Lord in total feeling of love and

eagerness to seek HIM just like Meera or Shabari.This feeling of extreme

devotion is called laulyam, and such tears are the price for the highest

perfection.

 

The real pilgrimage is not that of the body seeking Kshetras outside, but the

journey of devotion within, to realise and become one with the Lord.

 

Hence the 3 words written at the doorstep of Lord Aiyappan's sanctum in Shabari

Malai, which a devotee sees when he reaches the top of the hill to have the

darshan of the Lord after his pilgrimage is so true, as this is what is the deep

meaning of the pilgrimage every devotee has to realise and feel within! - " TAT

TWAM ASI " ...YOU ARE THAT!

 

It does not mean that visiting the holy places is not needed, it does give us

some peace of mind and happiness, but more significant would be the journey of

pilgrimage within, and when we realise that absolute truth -'Tat Twam Asi'.