Pilgrimage
as a fundamental and key aspect of the Hindu community. The pinnacle act of
Hindu worship, is to stand in the presence of the deity and to look upon the
image with their eyes, so as to see and be seen by the deity. A pilgrimage
is a religious journey; people undertake pilgrimages so they can worship at
special places which are connected to their religion. Journeying to holy
places of pilgrimage are generally carried out as acts of faith and devotion
in accumulating religious merit or to atone for sins. Pilgrimages are also
regarded by Hindus as a religious duty from which darsan can be attained.
There are thousands of pilgrimage sites - tirthas (sacred, fords or
crossings) in India, where many places of pilgrimage are renowned for their
divine images. And it is the darsan of these divine images that are sought ,
because the darsan is believed by Hindus to be far greater and significant
than that which can be granted and given by holy men i.e. sadhus. It entails
then, that holy places of pilgrimages are an extension of additional darsan,
of which can be given and received by traveling on a pilgrimage.
------------------ Famous Hindu Temples in India
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