Om Etc. Blog:: Hindu | Hinduism | Hindu Gods | Yoga

Holy Sites in India - II

Some of the most famous sites of Pilgrimage in Southern India are:

Tirupati: Dedicated to Vishnu, this temple is the wealthiest place of worship in the world, and the number of visitors in a day sometimes surpasses 200,000. Although the exact age of the temple is not known, it is believed that there are references to it in literature from 500 BC.

Sabarimala: Located in the Western Ghats in Kerala, this temple is the destination of the world’s second largest annual pilgrimage (after the Haj), and attracts several pilgrims from other faiths.

Rameshwaram: Considered by Hindus to be among the holiest of places, this is where Prince Rama is believed to have prayed to Lord Shiva to appease him after he killed the demon king Ravana who was also a great devotee of Lord Shiva.

Holy Sites in India - I

Hindus have a sacred tradition of pilgrimage to holy sites, although it is not considered mandatory. Most Hindus do embark on one at some point in their lives – mostly by choice, and sometimes due to necessity, for the performance of specific religious rites. Hindus believe that the act of undertaking a pilgrimage and the considerable discipline and abstinence it often demands of pilgrims helps in the atonement of sins and ultimately leads to the eternal liberation of their souls from the cycle of life, death and rebirth.

Some of the most famous sites of Pilgrimage in Northern India are:

Kashi / Varanasi: The city of Varanasi, considered by Hindus to be the holiest of all places, is believed to be the oldest surviving city in the world. It has been a centre of culture and learning for over 3000 years. Hindus believe that by dying in Kashi, their souls will be liberated from the cycle of life and death.

Vaishno Devi: Dedicated to Shakti, the Mother Goddess, this is the most visited shrine in North India. The temple is located in the state of Jammu and Kashmir at an altitude of 5200 feet and has natural rock formations of the Goddess in the forms of Lakshmi, Kali and Saraswati.

Rishikesh and Haridwar: Located at the foothills of the Himalayas on the banks of the Ganges, Rishikesh is the gateway to the holy Himalayan shrines of

What is the meaning of "Tirtha"?

In Hinduism, a visit to a sacred place is referred to as a tirtha-yatra with tirtha referring to a holy place and yatra, a journey. A tirtha, which literally means water in Sanskrit, is a place where there is a lake, river, well, pond or sea, the waters of which are considered to be holy.

 India has many tirthas, such as Pushkar, Naimisharanya, Kedarnath, Kurukshetra, Badirinath, Nashik and Kailash Mansarovar. In fact, the shores of the holy rivers such as Godavari, Ganga, Yamuna, Cauvery, Krishna and Narmada too are considered important tirthas. One of the holiest tirthas is said to be Rameshwaram, located at the southernmost tip of India.

Indian scriptures say that those who make offerings and give gifts at such tirthas earn good karma. Long pilgrimages are made to these tirthas and, often, pilgrims impose several austerities on themselves – some even choose to walk long distances on foot to reach the tirthas.

What are dharmshalas?

Dharamshala is a Hindi word for a religious guesthouse. Dharam means religion and shala stands for sanctuary. Built near pilgrimage destinations that are commonly situated outside city limits, dharmshalas are places where people can stay when they are on a pilgrimage. These guesthouses charge a nominal fee and provide basic facilities. In India, dharamshalas can be found in every pilgrim town, such as Varanasi, Haridwar, Tirupathi, Dwaraka, Rajasthan, and many more places.

Dharmshalas are built with money accumulated by temple trusts or with resources donated by devotees for the purpose. Hindus believe that serving other devotees is equal to serving the Lord.

What is a Tikka and what is the significance of applying it on the forehead?

The tikka is a red dot of vermilion paste applied on the forehead, between the eyebrows. This spot is considered the centre of latent wisdom and concentration. It is also the spot where the third, or spiritual, eye is said to reside. All actions and thoughts are said to be governed by this spot and the act of putting the tikka signifies the desire to open the third eye. All Hindu religious functions begin with the application of the tikka, which is embellished with a few grains of rice.

While the normal tikka is but a small dot on the forehead, certain sects of Hindus cover their entire forehead with the tikka. And besides vermilion, the tikka can be made of sandalwood paste, ash or even clay. For instance, the devotees of Lord Shiva use ash and draw their tikka as three horizontal lines across their forehead.

Indian women belonging to certain sects wear the tikka as a sign of marriage. In fact, it is considered improper for them to appear in public without the tikka.