By S Paul
We are a very tradition bound culture. But over the period of centuries of being divided, subjugated by alien cultures and even enslaved by them we seem to have lost the real meaning and purpose of those traditions exemplified by our saintly forefathers and mothers who lived a very disciplined life, never giving in to the luxuries practiced by the kings or the affluent. In this state of self-discipline, they acquired nearness to the omniscient divinity by their meditations and received the invaluable wisdom that we call the Vedic-gyan.
We now boast of that Gyan but fail to practice it. Our Vedic traditions have been polluted by us having been exposed to alien cultures and all the social indulgences they have exposed us to. Such indulgences have polluted our spiritual traditions and have distorted them. We have now converted them into revenue generating systems. The common trusting janta is being exploited by converting such devotion into religious tourism. Have we ever thought about the sanctity of our ‘abodes of Gods’ located by our saintly ancestors in very remote difficult to access locations? Here are the spiritual, mythological, and practical reasons that emphasise devotion and detachment from the material world.
Mythological Reasons
- Abode of the Gods:Mountains and natural, secluded areas are traditionally considered the dwelling places of Gods and Goddesses, such as Lord Shiva residing on Mount Kailash. These locations are seen as pure and sacred, worthy of a divine presence.
- Closer to the Divine:The elevated locations of many sites symbolise being closer to the heavens and the gods.
Spiritual Reasons
. Conducive to Meditation: Ancient sages and Deities are believed to have chosen these peaceful, undisturbed environments for meditation, introspection, and attaining spiritual powers. Visiting these places allows pilgrims to connect with that same serene, positive energy and environment, away from worldly disturbances.
- Testing Devotion:The arduous journey itself is considered a form of tapasya (penance), which tests the pilgrim’s determination, faith, and dedication. Overcoming physical hardships is believed to help purify the mind and cleanse sins. The physical pilgrimage (Tirtha Yatra) to a remote location is for the inner spiritual journey to find God within oneself. The difficulty encourages contemplation and a break from routine life, allowing for greater focus on the divine.
Historical Reason
- Safety and Preservation: Locating temples in isolated, difficult-to-reach mountainous areas historically served as a protective measure against invasions and destruction, which often befell temples in the plains.
Practical Reasons
- Natural Factors: In ancient times, when plains were often covered with dense forests, hills and mountains served as easy and visible landmarks for travellers and communities. Also, location on higher altitudes offered protection from frequent floods and human interference.
. Energy Centres: It is likely that these locations were chosen after careful study of the Earth’s magnetic fields. As higher altitudes have unpolluted clearer reception of Cosmic energies, which are considered to enhance Psychological and Spiritual health.
Making all weather smooth wide roads connecting various important revenue generating places within the nation is wise. These not only become a safe and fast conveyance of human traffic but also manufactured goods to the consumers within the nation and for abroad. But this road-rail-air communication making mania in a part of the nation, where the spiritual nearness to our Deities is traditionally obtained with devotion and a Vedic discipline, is not conducive to our faith. How uplifted one feels when one must climb up walking to Vaishno Devi or the Amarnath Cave, to Sabarimala from Pamba, to Pandharpur, to Tirumala and after the Kanwar walk. That’s our spiritual tradition.
Summary
Traditional pilgrimages involved hardship, seen as purifying; easy access removes this spiritual test. Hotels and rapid access can turn sacred spaces into tourist spots, prioritising profit over piety. Increased infrastructure damages fragile Himalayan ecosystems (as is happening in the Char Dham region). Rushed visits (quick darshans) may not allow for deep spiritual connection. Overcrowding compromises the sacred atmosphere. Modernisation should be imposed very carefully on our spiritual traditions lest it dilutes the sanctity developed by our sages thousands of years ago with penance and Vedic wisdom.
Conclusion
I am not a seer or saint or Sadguru but a common humble knowledgeable Bhartiya endeavouring to preserve our spirituality and its purity. I feel that none of these highly revered monuments of our devotion must be exposed to the sacrilege due to modernisation. I was told in my childhood that in ancient times even before we were enslaved by alien cultures, the Chaar Dham Yatra used to start from Rishikesh itself where the entire family of the Shradhalu (pilgrims) used to come to bid them farewell. The pilgrims walked (even some crawled) all the way to the Dhams. It used to take months and years. Most could not complete and merged their atman (spirit) with Paramatma and never returned. That was their Aastha. Modernisation has made us soft and pretentious. Maybe we can find a compromise by using modern means of travel up to not less than 5 km short of the Dhams. From there the pilgrims should walk or use palanquins or ‘Kandi’ or ponies or covered stretchers. Even all the provisioning for the temple and local staff should be carried likewise. Only for grave emergencies a helipad could be made in the vicinity of the temple. It would even be better to restrict the use of cell phones and unrestrained photography at the precincts of the Dhams. Only licenced photographers should be permitted to shoot. The total number offering obeisance at the Deity’s feet and the duration of their stay should also be controlled at the 5 km base camp. Such a method would still generate income for the locals and keep our Dhams chaste and protect them from all kinds of pollution carried by us humans. Our tourism retaining Aastha would be preserved too. Authorities kindly ponder.
