Pilgrimage

bAdarAyaNa:

mAnasAni hi tIrthAni phaladAni visheShataH |

While the physical tIrthas are indeed meritorious, puNya of a much greater magnitude is attained by association with the following mAnasa tIrthas.

mano nirmalatA tIrthaM rAgAdibhiranAkulam |
satyaM tIrthaM dayA tIrthaM tIrthamindriyanigrahaH ||
gurushushrUShaNaM tIrthaM mAtR^ishushrUShaNaM tathA |
svadharmAcharaNaM tIrthaM tIrthamagnerupAsanam ||

1. A pure mind free of rAga and dveSha
2. Truth
3. Compassion
4. Control over the senses
5. Serving the Guru
6. Serving the parents
7. anuShThAna of svadharma, as dictated by ones varNa and Ashrama
8. Worship of the sacred Fire

Temples in Kerala

2009-12-24T11:23:00.000-08:00

http://www.naturemagics.com/kerala-temples.shtm

Gallery / Iconography of Temples of India

2009-12-15T16:30:00.000-08:00

http://blessingsonthenet.com/temple/gallerymain.asp
http://indiatemple.blogspot.com/

Wonderful Indian Temples Abroad / Country Wise

2009-12-15T16:28:00.000-08:00

http://www.worldamazinginformation.com/2009/10/wonderful-indian-temples-abroad.html
http://www.indians-abroad.com/dir/dir.show?cat_id=1899

Virtual Tours

2009-12-15T16:01:00.000-08:00

http://www.360darshan.com/

Tour Reports

2009-12-15T15:55:00.001-08:00

http://www.purebhakti.com/events/tour-reports-mainmenu-64.html

Quote

2009-12-15T15:03:00.001-08:00

For the wise traveler knows that any trip worth undertaking should be as good as the destination.

Temples in Andhra Pradesh

2009-12-08T04:27:00.001-08:00

http://www.apendowments.gov.in/Pages/AllTemplesUrls.aspx

List of temples in Tamil Nadu

2009-10-29T06:43:00.001-07:00

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_temples_in_Tamil_Nadu
Shiva Temples in TamilNadu
http://www.shivatemples.com/
Vishnu Temples in Tamil Nadu
http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/nic/vishnu/index.htm
List of Temples Kumbakonam
http://www.kumbakonam.com/travelinformation.htm
Coimbatore
http://www.coimbatore.com/temples/

Chitrakuta / Travel

2009-10-29T06:36:00.000-07:00

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chitrakuta
http://wikitravel.org/en/Chitrakoot

Maa Vaishno Devi / Travel

2009-10-09T08:31:00.000-07:00

http://maavaishnodevi.org/
http://wikitravel.org/en/Vaishno_Devi

Worlds Largest act of faith

2009-10-05T10:38:00.000-07:00

http://worldslargestactoffaith.blogspot.com/

Pandharpur / Travel Guide

2009-08-16T06:44:00.000-07:00

http://vittalpath.blogspot.com/

India - Holy / Top Spiritual / Index

2009-07-26T07:20:00.001-07:00

http://www.vaisnava.cz/ind_en.html
http://www.tirthaguru.org/pilgrimage.htm
http://www.mandirnet.org/temples_list/lookupcsc.php?country=India

Bhadrachalam / Travel Guide

2009-07-11T23:29:00.000-07:00

http://www.bhadrachalarama.org/
http://wikitravel.org/en/Bhadrachalam

Mantralayam / Nava Brindhavan

2009-07-08T09:38:00.000-07:00

http://wikitravel.org/en/Mantralayam
http://shanthiraju.wordpress.com/2008/10/26/nava-brindhavan/

Vedic Thought

2009-05-01T18:17:00.001-07:00

"Every spot on earth where discourses on God are held is a place of
pilgrimage."

(Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura - Lecture in Dacca, 1936)

Holy Places In Ramayana / Mahabhatrata

2009-02-11T09:20:00.000-08:00

http://www.veda.harekrsna.cz/encyclopedia/holyplaces.htm
http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m03/m03141.htm

Narasimha

2009-02-11T02:07:00.001-08:00

http://narasimhainfo.blogspot.com/

Reasons / Activities Performed

2008-07-08T09:51:00.000-07:00

Reasons for Pilgrimage
1. To remember special people (saints)
2. To fix the mind on God and to glorify Him
3. For spiritual development and to gain spiritual merit
4. For purification and atonement of sins
5. For meeting and taking guidance from holy people
6. To perform specific religious rites
7. For self-reflection and contemplation
8. For an uplifting and memorable experience (spiritual inspiration)

Activities Performed on Pilgrimage
1. Taking darshan of specific deities (or saints)
2. Participating in worship and glorification (e.g. kirtan)
3. Charity, especially to priests and temples
4. Austerities and penance (Like shaving head,following vows such as celibacy)
5. Listening to talks and receiving advice on spiritual life
6. Specific rites (such as the shraddha ceremony in Gaya)
7. Circumambulation of holy places (shrines, towns etc.)