Pilgrimage ::: Project ETERNITY

A pilgrimage is a journey by a religious person to a place that is sacred according to his or her religion.

Pilgrimage in Hinduism

There are several holy places with great significance to Hindus. Some of these (in India) include:

The first four sites in the list above together comprise the Chardham, or four holy pilgrimage destinations. It is believed that travelling to these places leads to moksha, the release from samsara (cycle of rebirths).

Pilgrimage in Direct Worship

Pilgrimage in the religion of Direct Worship is mandatory and involves visiting the pilgrimage site which houses the grave of the prophet of the religion.

Pilgrimage in Buddhism

Gautama Buddha spoke of four holy sites that followers may seek.

Tibetan buddhist pilgrimages include:

Pilgrimage in Judaism

Within Judaism, the Temple in Jerusalem was the center of the Jewish religion, until its destruction in 70 AD, and all who were able were under obligation to visit and offer sacrifices known as the korbanot, particularly during the Jewish holidays.

Following the destruction of the Second Temple and the onset of the diaspora, the centrality of pilgrimage to Jerusalem in Judaism was discontinued. In its place came prayers and rituals hoping for a reurn to Zion, see Jerusalem, Jews and Judaism.

There are four traditional Jewish "holy cities" in Palestine. They are Jerusalem, Hebron, Tiberias, and Safed.

Pilgrimage in Christianity

Pilgrimages were first made to sites connected with the life, birth and crucifixion of Jesus. Surviving descriptions of Christian pilgrimages to the Holy Land date from the 4th century, when pilgrimage was encouraged by church fathers like Saint Jerome. Pilgrimages also began to be made to Rome and other sites associated with the Apostles, Saints and Christian martyrs, as well as to places where there have been alleged apparitions of the Virgin Mary.

The major Christian pilgrimage sites are:

Other important Christian pilgrimage sites include:

Pilgrimage in Islam

Pilgrimage to Mecca – the hajj – is one of the Five Pillars of Islam. It should be attempted at least once in the lifetime of all able-bodied Muslims. In addition to that most of the Shiite Muslims undertake a pilgrimage to the holy city of Mashhad in northeastern part of Iran.

Pilgrimage in the Bahá'í Faith

Bahá'u'lláh decreed pilgrimage in His Motherbook (Kitáb-i-Aqdas) to two places: the House of Bahá'u'lláh in Baghdad, Iraq, and the House of the Báb in Shiraz, Iran. In two separate Tablets, known as Suriy-i-Hajj, He prescribed specific rites for each of these pilgrimages (lifting the injunction regarding the shaving of one's head for pilgrimage in the Kitáb-i-Aqdas). It is obligatory to make the pilgrimage, "if one can afford it and is able to do so, and if no obstacle stands in one's way". Bahá'ís are free to choose between the two Houses, as either has been deemed sufficient. And although women are not bound to perform pilgrimage, they are certainly not prohibited to do so.

Later, `Abdu'l-Bahá designated the Shrine of Bahá'u'lláh at Bahji (the Qiblih) as a site of visitation. No rites have been prescribed for this.

Pilgrimage in the Ancient World

Many ancient religions had holy sites, temples and groves, where pilgrimages were made.

Pilgrimage in Mesoamerica

The concept of pilgrimage was also found in Pre-Columbian Mesoamerica. Important pilgrimage sites included:

See also

Further reading

External links

Category:Pilgrimages

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