The unique yet beautiful rites associated with Hinduism are the gift from the different ethnic groups of people from India to the world, who had been following these rituals since centuries.
Interaction between the members of different ethnicities resulted in creation of "Vedism" which believes in worshipping the trinity of Rain, Sun and Fire Gods. In course of time, a wide variety of religious beliefs and customs, ranging from the simple animistic worship of nature spirits in the rock, tree and river to highly codified rituals, carved their niches in the liberal platform of Hinduism.
This interesting co-existence of two approaches has left its impact on Hindu pilgrimages. Primitive philosophy of animism can be observed in the Hindu pilgrimage sites by the presence of lakes, mountains, caves, forests and rivers.
On the other hand, observance of rigorous and complex rites at the places of pilgrimage signifies its ritualistic approach.
The modern Hindu religious beliefs center on three major Hindu gods cults - worship of Shiva, Vishnu and Shakti. Hindu pilgrimages are supposed to be sanctified with the presence of any one of these three major gods praised by the Hindus. Various forms of Lord Vishnu are praised all across India in the temples of Vrindavan , Badrinath, Kumbh Melas and Haridwar in Northern part of the country whereas these incarnations are also worshiped in the south in temples of Rameswaram and Tirupati and Puri in the east. Similarly, Lord Shiva is believed to dwell and bless the devotees visiting the sacred shrines of Kedarnath and Amarnath.
The Cave of Vaishno Devi derived sacredness from Maa Vaishno Devi who was the embodiment of "Shakti". Hanuman, who was the servant of Ram and in whose praise the poem Hanuman Chalisa was written is prayed in the temple of Balaji in western India.
Among the other sought after Hindu pilgrimage sites, the notable are Gangotri and Yamunatri, the sources of rivers Ganga and Yamuna respectively. Other popular pilgrimage destinations in India include Varanasi, the cultural capital of Hindus; Pancha Bhutha Linga temples; the Shakti Pitha temples; the Nava Graha Sthalas; the four Maths of Sri Adi Shankaracharyak and the seven holy rivers - the Ganga, the Yamuna, the Saraswati, the Godavari, the Narmada, the Kaveri and the Sarayu.
Interaction between the members of different ethnicities resulted in creation of "Vedism" which believes in worshipping the trinity of Rain, Sun and Fire Gods. In course of time, a wide variety of religious beliefs and customs, ranging from the simple animistic worship of nature spirits in the rock, tree and river to highly codified rituals, carved their niches in the liberal platform of Hinduism.
This interesting co-existence of two approaches has left its impact on Hindu pilgrimages. Primitive philosophy of animism can be observed in the Hindu pilgrimage sites by the presence of lakes, mountains, caves, forests and rivers.
On the other hand, observance of rigorous and complex rites at the places of pilgrimage signifies its ritualistic approach.
The modern Hindu religious beliefs center on three major Hindu gods cults - worship of Shiva, Vishnu and Shakti. Hindu pilgrimages are supposed to be sanctified with the presence of any one of these three major gods praised by the Hindus. Various forms of Lord Vishnu are praised all across India in the temples of Vrindavan , Badrinath, Kumbh Melas and Haridwar in Northern part of the country whereas these incarnations are also worshiped in the south in temples of Rameswaram and Tirupati and Puri in the east. Similarly, Lord Shiva is believed to dwell and bless the devotees visiting the sacred shrines of Kedarnath and Amarnath.
The Cave of Vaishno Devi derived sacredness from Maa Vaishno Devi who was the embodiment of "Shakti". Hanuman, who was the servant of Ram and in whose praise the poem Hanuman Chalisa was written is prayed in the temple of Balaji in western India.
Among the other sought after Hindu pilgrimage sites, the notable are Gangotri and Yamunatri, the sources of rivers Ganga and Yamuna respectively. Other popular pilgrimage destinations in India include Varanasi, the cultural capital of Hindus; Pancha Bhutha Linga temples; the Shakti Pitha temples; the Nava Graha Sthalas; the four Maths of Sri Adi Shankaracharyak and the seven holy rivers - the Ganga, the Yamuna, the Saraswati, the Godavari, the Narmada, the Kaveri and the Sarayu.
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