When it comes to religion and spirituality, people have long desired to deepen their faith by going on pilgrimages. This journey can be either an inward pilgrimage, or a journey to a distant place. Either way, a pilgrimage can be a way to strengthen or renew one's faith.
For centuries, people of many different religions and spiritual traditions have participated in pilgrimages and still do to this day. Let's look at some of the more famous pilgrimage sites.
Christian
Israel- Many areas of the Holy Land are regular pilgrimage sites for Christians of all denominations. Bethlehem, which is considered the birthplace of Jesus, and Jerusalem where the crucifixion and Resurrection of Jesus is believed to have happened, are two well known pilgrimage sites.
Lourdes, France- Located in the foothills of the Pyrenees mountains, the town of Lourdes is a famous Marion apparition site. In February, 1858, the Virgin Mary is believed to have appeared to a young peasant girl named Bernadette Soubirous near the Grotto of Massabielle. These appearances continued to occur throughout the same year and people who drank from the water of the grotto were said to have received miraculous cures for medical ailments.
Over the next decade, the site was mainly a regional pilgrimage site but, as reports of healings continued to grow, Lourdes came to be known internationally. Eventually a large church, seating up to 20,000 people, was built on the spot. Visiting pilgrims can bathe in pools filled with water piped in from the spring in order to receive its healing powers.
Judaism
The Western Wall- Also known as the Wailing Wall, the Western Wall is located in Israel in the Old City of Jerusalem. All that remains of the original Temple of Jerusalem, the Western Wall is one of the most sacred sites for many Jews. The base of the wall is part of the second temple, which was built in 70 AD, while the upper layers were added in later years. Below ground are what is believed to be layers of what was part of the first temple
Today, the Western Wall is a place where people come for daily prayer services and to celebrate special events such as Bar Mitzvah and Bat Mitzvah. Many people write messages or prayers on pieces of paper and slip them between the cracks of the wall or simply pray silently beside it.
Islam
Mecca- This pilgrimage, known as the Hajj, is considered by devout Muslims to be one of the Five Pillars of Islam. The Five Pillars are duties that make up the foundation of Muslim life. Located in Saudi Arabia, Mecca is considered the birthplace of the Prophet Muhammad and the center of the Islamic world. According to Muhammad, the Hajj is to be performed by all men and women at least once in their lifetime as finances and health permits. The Hajj takes place between the 8th and 12th days of Dhu-al-Hijjah, the last month of the Islamic year. Pilgrims gather for a series of rituals as a way to show submission to God and the unity of all Muslim people.
Hinduism
One of the most sacred pilgrimage sites in Hinduism is the city of Benares. Located on the banks of the Ganges river in India, the city is where over one million pilgrims visit each year. One of the most visited temples is devoted to Lord Vishwanath, who is a manifestation of the Lord Shiva. Other important temples are one devoted to Annapurna, who is the goddess of food, and the Sakshi Vinayaka temple of Lord Ganesha, who is the Lord of success and the god of wisdom and wealth.
Buddhism
Lumbini- Located in west-central Nepal, Lumbini is said to be the birthplace of the Lord Buddha. Along with numerous temples is also the Maya Devi temple, which is dedicated to the mother of Buddha. Located here is the pond where it is said she bathed shortly before the birth of Buddha, and where she had bathed her child after his birth.
In 249 BC, the Buddhist Emperor Ashoka had four stupas and a stone pillar built in Lumbini in recognition of the Buddha having been born there. Temples and monasteries continued to be built there until the 9th century when Buddhism declined with the arrival of Islam then, in later years, Hinduism.
The two main sites of interest, the Maya Devi temple and Ashoka’s pillar, are located fairly close together. Pilgrims who visit these sites often leave prayer flags and gather for silent contemplation in nearby shrines.
There are many other pilgrimage sites throughout the world and these are only a small sampling. With the proper planning, and the proper mind-set, taking part in a pilgrimage can be an enriching and rewarding experience.
