Hindu Holy Places Across India

Unity in diversity adds to the beauty of people of India and this diversity in customs and traditions followed by Indians since ages have contributed significantly in shaping up Hinduism and various Hindu rituals. Prolonged interaction among the diverse groups led to the advent of "Vedism" which introduced the worship of gods of rain, fire and the sun. Over the ages there had been a number of changes observed in the broad minded Hinduism philosophy where the simple worship of natural forces is now replaced by complex rituals.

Animism and ritual practise walk hand in hand as can be observed while making a visit to any Hindu pilgrimage. Presence of nature's best gifts like astounding caves, lush green forests , flowing rivers etc at the site of Hindu pilgrimages reflects its association with the philosophy of animism. Importance of rituals, the second important approach of Hinduism practitioners can be observed by travelling to Hindu pilgrimages.

Shiva the destroyer, Vishnu the nurturer and Shakti the creator are three main gods worshipped by the modern Hindu religious devotees. 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. Kedarnath and Amarnath derived their sanctity from their holy connection with the supreme Hindu God Lord Shiva. 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.

Gangotri and Yamunotri are also among the most sought after Hindu religious destinations frequented by pilgrims where they can enjoy bathing in the holy waters of river Ganga and Yamuna. The other major places of Hindu Pilgrimage include Varanasi, Nava Graha Sthala temples of nine planets, Maths started by Sri Shankracharya , the shakti peeth temples, Panch Bhutha linga temple and yes visit to 7 religious rivers of India namely Ganga , Yamuna , Godavari, Saraswati, Sarayu, Kaveri and Narmada.

To know more about Hindu pilgrimages and Hindu festivals, visit Prabhubhakti.