The call of God is the start of pilgrimage

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1/21

When God Calls

In India, there are many temples where it is said that one arrives when God has sent a message of some sort. In the north, it is known as "bulawa". So, does God really send out signals to a particular pilgrim that he wants to meet them in one of his abodes? Or, is it our emotional need of the moment playing a trick on our minds?

2/21

Pilgrim's Progress

In India, there are many temples where it is said that one arrives when God has sent a message of some sort. In the north, it is known as "bulawa". So, does God really send out signals to a particular pilgrim that he wants to meet them in one of his abodes, or is it our emotional need of the moment playing a trick on our minds? Let's check out the temples where God's call reigns supreme...

3/21

1. Vaishnodevi

The most popular pilgrimage destination where pilgrims only go when they feel the goddess has called, is Vaishnodevi, located in the hills of Jammu. Pilgrims go to her abode in the picturesque hilly cave, literally singing, "Mata ne bulaya hai", meaning "the goddess has called"... urging a mass of humanity to surge up steep pathways cut across the hillside, with a song on their lips and a wish in their hearts...

4/21

2. Hill-Top Shrine

Lakhs of "yatris", as the pilgrims are known, visit the temple each year, making it the second most visited religious shrine in India after Tirumala Venkateswara Temple at Tirupati. Three peaked mountains, known as Trikuta, house the holy cave in which Mata Vaishno Devi resides. The nearest airport is Jammu Airport, while a rail link from Udhampur to Katra has made the pilgrimage further easy.

5/21

The Idols Inside The Shrine

The temple contains three idols of Maha Saraswati, Maha Lakshmi, and Maha Kali, all of which are considered as forms of Mata Vaishno Devi. The Goddess is known to fulfil the wishes of her devotees, known as bhakt, but the call has to be hers...

6/21

2. Shirdi

The Sai Baba temple at Shirdi is another temple where people feel they have been called to visit. It could be an earnest desire to seek the fulfilment of a wish, or a heartfelt wish to express gratitude for having received a wish!

7/21

The Temple At Shirdi

The Sai Baba temple in Shirdi is visited by around 20,000 pilgrims a day. During religious festivals, this number reaches up to 100,000!

8/21

Baba's Eleven Assurances

Sai Baba made eleven assurances to his devotees: "No harm shall befall him, who steps on the soil of Shirdi. He who comes to my samadhi, his sorrow and suffering shall cease. Though I be no more in flesh and blood, I shall ever protect my devotees. Trust in me and your prayer shall be answered. Know that my spirit is immortal, know this for yourself. Show unto me him who has sought refuge and has been turned away. In whatever faith men worship me, even so do I render to them. Not in vain is my promise that I shall ever lighten your burden. Knock, and the door shall open, ask and it shall be granted. To him who surrenders unto me totally, I shall be ever indebted. Blessed is he who has become one with me."

9/21

Siddhivinayak, Mumbai

The Shree Siddhivinayak Ganapati Mandir is a Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Shri Ganesh. It is located in Prabhadevi, Mumbai, Maharashtra. The temple has a small 'mandap' (hall), with a shrine for Siddhi Vinayak ("the Ganesha who grants your wish").Siddhivinayak is well known as "Navasacha Ganapati" or "Navasala Pavanara Ganapati" (the Ganapati who bestows whenever someone offers a humble and genuine prayer).

10/21

Wish For Children

The original structure of the Siddhivinayak Temple was a small and square brick structure, with a dome-shaped 'shikhara'. The temple was funded by a rich Agri woman, named Deaubai, who built the temple so that other women should not be childless like her...

11/21

Temple's Fame

The temple's glory has been created not just by politicians who have frequented the temple, but also Bollywood filmstars who have continuously visited to seek the blessings of Lord Ganesha.

12/21

Jyotirlingas

Worship of the Shivalinga is considered the prime worship for the devotees of Lord Shiva. The significance of the Shivalinga is that it is the resplendent light or flame form of the Supreme - which has been solidified to make its worship easier. It represents the real nature of God - which is essentially formless but takes any form it wishes.

13/21

The 12 Jyotirlingas

This Jyoti Swarupa of God exists in all forms of the Shivalinga, which prevails in prominent abodes across India, the 12 jyotirlingas. These have been held in great esteem since ancient times. Even the Puranas talk in great detail about the glory of these abodes.

14/21

Sanskrit Shloka

There is a Sanskrit shloka that lists the 12 Jyotirlinga temples: "Saurashtre Somanathamcha, Srisaile Mallikarjunam, Ujjayinya Mahakalam, Omkarama Maleswaram, Paralyam Vaidyanathancha, Dakinyam Bheema Shankaram, Setu Bandhethu Ramesam, Nagesam Darukavane, Varanasyantu Vishwesam, Tryambakam Gautameethate, Himalayetu Kedaaram, Ghrishnesamcha Shivaalaye, Etani Jyotirlingani, Saayam Praatah Patennarah, Sapta Janma Kritam Papam, Smaranena Vinashyati"

15/21

The 12 Jyotirlingas

This Jyoti Swarupa of God exists in all forms of the Shivalinga, which prevails in prominent abodes across India - the 12 Jyotirlingas. These have been held in great esteem since ancient times. Even the Puranas talk in great detail about the glory of these abodes. Mahadev himself is said to manifest himself in these lingas.

16/21

Mount Mary Church

The Basilica of Our Lady of the Mount, more commonly known as Mount Mary Church, is a Roman Catholic Basilica located in Bandra, Mumbai. The feast of the Blessed Virgin Mary is celebrated here on the first Sunday after 8 September, believed to be the birthday of the Virgin Mary.

17/21

The Basilica

The Basilica stands on a hillock, about 80 metres above sea level, overlooking the Arabian Sea. It draws lakhs of devotees and pilgrims each year. Many of the faithful attest to the miraculous powers of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The shrine attracts people from all faiths who pray to Virgin Mary for expressing their gratitude or requesting favours.

18/21

A Mother Who Listens

The sick and the suffering choose a candle or wax figure that corresponds to their ailment and light it in Church, with the pious hope that Mother Mary will consider their appeals for help.

19/21

The Inner Before The Outer

This blog would be incomplete (in a sense) without making two points. One is that before embarking on a pilgrimage - an outer journey - it would be better if one were to identify with one's spiritual self, or - make the inner journey...

20/21

The Inner Before The Outer

21/21

Your Body Is Your Temple

The second thought is: why to go on a pilgrimage at all when the Divine exists in all of us? The Divine is just a whisper away, rather, even a thought away...so why tread those miles to meet God?

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