Information about Places of Pilgrimage

Information about Places of Pilgrimage (Teerth/Dhaam)

Teerths or Dhaams originated as places where revered sages worshipped or demonstrated spiritual powers, creating a legacy through their devotion. After accumulating their spiritual earnings, these saints departed for the realms of their favored deities, leaving behind these pilgrimage sites.

Visiting a Teerth or Dhaam today offers a glimpse into the past, reminding us of the great souls who once performed acts of welfare. However, these sites often lack an enlightened saint to provide guidance or updesh since the original worshippers have long since moved on.

To illustrate, consider a Teerth/Dhaam as akin to a mortar and pestle—a traditional tool for grinding materials. When someone borrows a mortar and pestle, uses it to grind aromatic substances, and returns it, the fragrance may linger temporarily. Yet, after a while, that scent fades. If someone merely smells the mortar and pestle, believing that alone will bring them fulfillment, they are mistaken. The real benefit comes from using it with the right materials.

In the same way, the holy essence left behind by a sage in a Teerth or Dhaam does not provide lasting welfare on its own. If devotees think they can achieve spiritual growth just by visiting these sites without genuine worship, it reflects a misguided approach fostered by unqualified guides. True welfare requires following the spiritual practices demonstrated by these great souls.

To attain salvation, one must seek a Tatvdarshi Saint and receive updesh, committing to a lifetime of true worship. I, this Das, possess the scripture-based path to genuine devotion, which is available free of charge.

How was Shri Amarnath Dhaam Established?

Lord Shankar imparted sacred teachings (updesh) to Parvati Ji in a secluded place, granting her partial liberation. This ensured she would not die until Lord Shiv (Tamgun) does. After the death of seven Brahma (Rajogun), one Vishnu (Satogun) will also die, and after the death of seven Vishnu, Shiv Ji will perish as well. Only then will Parvati die, but she did not attain complete salvation. Even the partial benefit Parvati Ji received came through the updesh-mantra given by an authorized person. Later, devotees preserved the memory of that sacred place, turning it into a site of pilgrimage.

Saint Rampal travels to various places to conduct satsangs (spiritual discourses). At these gatherings, kheer and halwa (sweet dishes) are prepared. A devout soul who receives spiritual instruction (updesh) attains salvation. After the satsang, everything is packed up except for the clay or brick ovens and stoves, and the group moves to the next location.

If someone later says, "Come, I’ll show you where Saint Rampal’s satsang was held and kheer was made," the visitor will find only the ovens. They won’t find kheer, hear the sacred speech, or receive the updesh that leads to salvation. To experience all of that, they must seek out the saint where the satsang is currently taking place. Only there will all tasks be accomplished.

Similarly, visiting places of pilgrimage (Teerths/Dhaams) is like merely seeing a memorial, much like viewing the unused oven. Since this practice is not mentioned in the Bhagavad Gita, it goes against the scriptures and provides no spiritual benefit (Reference: Holy Gita, Chapter 16, Verses 23-24).

Devotees, misled by saints, mahants, and aacharyas who lack true spiritual knowledge (Tatvgyan), visit Teerths and Dhaams seeking their own well-being. However, those who journeyed to Shri Amarnath have perished multiple times, buried under snowstorms, with casualties in the thousands each time. This raises a serious question: if visiting and worshipping Shri Amarnath Ji were truly beneficial, wouldn’t Lord Shiv have protected those devotees? In other words, even Lord Shiv is displeased with worship that goes against the scriptures.

How Was the Temple of Vaishno Devi Established?

When Sati Ji (Uma Devi) died by jumping into the fire-pit at her father King Daksh's ceremony, Lord Shiv, overwhelmed with grief, carried her skeleton on his shoulder and wandered like a madman for ten thousand years. To bring an end to his sorrow, Lord Vishnu used his Sudarshan chakra to cut Sati Ji's skeleton into pieces. Wherever a piece fell, it was buried, and a monument was built to commemorate the event.

To preserve the memory of this incident, a temple-like structure was erected over the place where the trunk of Sati Ji had fallen, ensuring that future generations would not doubt the accuracy of the Purans. A picture of a woman was placed in the temple, and she was called Vaishno Devi. A caretaker was appointed to maintain the site and narrate the story to visitors. Initially, the caretaker received small wages from religious people.

Over time, his descendants began accepting gifts (donations) and promoting tales of miraculous blessings, such as a man whose business was failing but became wealthy after offering 100 rupees and a coconut to the Goddess, or a childless couple who vowed to offer 200 rupees, a sari, and a gold necklace and were later blessed with a son.

How Was the Temple of Shri Jagannath Built in Puri?

In the state of Orissa, there was a king named Indradaman who was deeply devoted to Lord Shri Krishna. One night, Shri Krishna appeared to the king in a dream and instructed him to build a temple named Jagannath. Shri Krishna also specified that there should be no idol worship in the temple; instead, a saint should reside there to impart knowledge from the Holy Gita to visitors. He even showed the king the location on the seashore where the temple should be built.

Upon waking, King Indradaman shared his vision with his wife, who encouraged him to act swiftly, saying, "Why delay such an auspicious task? All our wealth comes from Him, so why hesitate to offer it back?"

The king then built the temple at the location Shri Krishna had shown him. However, after its completion, a cyclone arose and completely demolished the temple, leaving no trace. The king rebuilt the temple five times, but each time, the sea destroyed it.

The King's Disappointment and the Intervention of Supreme God (KavirDev/God Kabir)

Disheartened by repeated failures, King Indradaman decided not to attempt building the temple again. He thought, "Perhaps the sea is exacting some revenge from a past life." The treasury was depleted, and the temple remained unbuilt.

Some time later, Supreme God (KavirDev/God Kabir), as per His promise to Jyoti Niranjan (Kaal), approached the king and said, "Build the temple once more. This time, the sea will not destroy it."

The king, still skeptical, replied, "Saint Ji, I don’t believe it. I followed the command of Lord Shri Krishna (Vishnu), yet even He could not stop the sea. I built the temple five times, thinking it might be a test from God, but now I’m unworthy of any more tests. The treasury is empty, and I can’t afford to build the temple again."

Supreme God responded, "Indradaman, only the Supreme God, who has created all the universes, has the power to do everything—not lesser gods. I possess the 'word' power of that Supreme God. I can stop the sea." (Though disguised, God Kabir was speaking the truth.)

The king said, "Saint Ji, I cannot believe there is a God more powerful than Shri Krishna. If even He couldn’t stop the sea, what could someone like you do? Besides, I don’t have the resources to build the temple again."

KavirDev (God Kabir) in the form of a saint replied, "King, if you decide to build the temple, come to me. I reside at such-and-such a place. This time, the sea will not demolish the temple." With that, God departed.

That night, Lord Shri Krishna appeared again before King Indradaman, urging him, "Indradaman, build the temple once more. Seek help from the saint who visited you; he is not an ordinary saint, and his devotion is boundless."

Upon waking, King Indradaman shared the dream with his queen. She encouraged him, saying, "If God has commanded it, you must not hesitate. Build the temple for Him again." The king replied, "But my treasury is empty. If I don’t build the temple, God may become displeased. I find myself in a spiritual dilemma."

The queen reassured him, "I have some jewellery saved. We can easily fund the temple with it. Take this jewellery and fulfill God’s command." With that, she removed all her jewellery, both from her home and what she was wearing, and placed it at her husband’s feet as an offering to God.

King Indradaman then went to the location where Supreme God had instructed him to meet the saint. Upon finding God Kabir (KavirDev), he requested, "Please help us stop the sea."

God Kabir replied, "Build a platform on the seashore facing the direction from which the sea rises. I will perform bhakti (worship) there and stop the sea." The king arranged for a large stone platform to be constructed by skilled sculptors. Once completed, Supreme God Kabir sat on the platform, and the construction of the temple began for the sixth time.

At that moment, a Siddh Mahatma from the Naath tradition approached. He said to King Indradaman, "You are constructing a magnificent temple; you must also install an idol. Without an idol, what kind of temple is this? That is my order."

King Indradaman replied with folded hands, "Naath Ji, Lord Shri Krishna appeared in my dream and instructed me to build a temple without an idol and without any heretical worship."

The Naath, hearing this, retorted, "Are dreams ever reliable? Follow my orders and install a sandalwood idol." After saying this, Naath Ji left without partaking in any refreshment.

Fearful, the king ordered sandalwood to be brought and instructed a craftsman to create the idol, as per Naath Ji's command. Other gurus and saints advised the king that God cannot be alone; Shri Krishna always had Shri Balram with him, and Subhadra, his beloved sister, would not want to be separated from her brother. It was decided to create three idols. Three craftsmen were appointed, but each time the idols were completed, they broke into pieces. This happened three times, leaving the king anxious and worried, believing that this auspicious endeavor was not meant for him.

The temple was being built only to be destroyed, and now the idols were breaking as well. Concerned that Naath Ji would think he was making excuses if he mentioned the idol's destruction, the anxious king neither ate nor slept that night.

The next morning, he entered the royal court in a state of unease. At that moment, Supreme God (KavirDev) Kabir appeared, disguised as an eighty-year-old craftsman, with a bag at his waist that displayed a saw. His bag contained tools typical of a craftsman.

In this guise, God approached the king and said, "I have heard that the idols for your temple are not being completed. I am an experienced craftsman with sixty years in the trade. If you permit, I can help."

The king responded, "Craftsman, you seem to be God who has come to assist me. I was just thinking that if I could find an experienced craftsman, my troubles might be resolved. Please, make the idols quickly."

KavirDev, still in the guise of an old craftsman, replied, "King, provide me a room where I can work on the idols. I will shut the door and create them with purity. Once the idols are ready, I will open the door. If anyone interrupts while I’m working, the idols will only be completed to the extent they are formed at that time."

The king said, "Do as you see fit."

After twelve days of idol-making, Naath Ji arrived and asked King Indradaman, "Indradaman, have the idols been completed?" The king, with folded hands, replied, "Mahatma Ji, I have followed your orders, but unfortunately, the idols keep breaking before they are finished." To prove his point, he summoned the broken pieces of the idols for Naath Ji to see.

Naath Ji insisted, "The idols must be made. Let's see how they break." The king explained, "Efforts are ongoing. An experienced eighty-year-old craftsman, sent by God, is making the idols in a closed room. He stated that he would only open the door once the idols are complete. If anyone interrupts him, the idols will be incomplete." The king added, "Today marks twelve days since he began, and he hasn't come out, nor has he eaten or drunk anything."

Naath Ji suggested, "We should check on the idols. What will we know once they are finished? If they aren’t made correctly, we can have them redone." With that, Naath Ji took King Indradaman to the door of the room and called out, "Craftsman, open the door!" After several calls without response, the knocking ceased altogether.

Concerned, Naath Ji said, "You mentioned he is eighty years old; he hasn't eaten or drunk for twelve days. The silence worries me; he may have perished." They forced the door open, revealing the three idols. However, the fingers and toes were unfinished, and the craftsman had vanished.

The temple was completed, and seeing no other option, Naath Ji insisted, "Install the idols as they are. Perhaps this is what God desires. It seems that Shri Krishna himself created these idols."

Installation of Idols in Shri Jagannath Temple

The chief priest (Pandey) determined an auspicious time, and the idols were installed the next day. All the priests, the chief Pandey, the king, soldiers, and devotees gathered for the ceremony to consecrate the idols. At that moment, Supreme God Kabir, disguised as a Shudra, stood facing the temple in the middle of its main entrance, seemingly unaware of the approaching consecration procession.

The chief priest led the group, but Supreme God, in Shudra form, remained in the doorway. When they neared, the chief priest angrily pushed Him aside, causing Him to fall and sit in a solitary place, continuing to act as an ordinary Shudra. The king, priests, and devotees entered the temple, but to their shock, they saw that all the idols had taken on the appearance of the Shudra who had been pushed aside at the door.

Everyone was amazed by the sight. The chief priest exclaimed, "God is angry because that Shudra has defiled the main entrance, and now all the idols have taken on his form. This is a great misfortune." After some time, the idols reverted to their original form. They performed several purifications using Ganga water before completing the consecration ceremony.

Sea rushed to destroy the Jagannath Temple

A few days after the idols were installed, the sea rose about forty feet high, forming a powerful cyclone that rushed toward the temple. Supreme God Kabir was seated on the platform in front of the temple. He simply raised His hand in a gesture of blessing, and the sea halted, standing upright like a mountain, unable to advance.

The sea then manifested in the form of a Brahmin and approached God, seated on the platform, saying, "Lord, step aside and let me through. I have come to demolish the temple."

God replied, "This is not a temple. It is a palace (ashram) where a learned individual will reside to impart the true knowledge of the Holy Gita. It does not suit you to destroy it."

The sea insisted, "I will demolish it regardless."

God calmly responded, "Go ahead, who is stopping you?"

The sea, still in Brahmin form, said, "I am powerless against your boundless strength. Please let me pass, Lord."

Supreme God Kabir asked, "Why are you intent on doing this?"

The sea replied, "When Shri Krishna came in the form of Shri Ramchandra in the Tretayug, he threatened me with a fire arrow and insulted me, demanding I clear the way. I am here to take my revenge for that insult."

Supreme God Kabir Ji said, "You’ve already taken your revenge by submerging Dwarika."

The sea responded, "I haven’t fully submerged it yet. Half of it remains. A powerful saint intervened, preventing me from sinking the entire city. Even now, I am unable to reach it, as I’ve been restrained."

Supreme God Kabir (KavirDev) replied, "I was the one who saved the remaining part of Dwarika. You may now go and submerge the rest, but leave the memorial where Shri Krishna Ji’s last rites were performed."

Upon receiving permission, the sea submerged the remaining part of Dwarika. Supreme God Kabir Ji then said, "From now on, never attempt to destroy the Jagannaath temple. Move away from this palace."

Obeying the order, the sea bowed and retreated about one and a half kilometers from the temple. This is how the temple, or Dhaam, of Shri Jagannaath Ji was established.

No Untouchability in Shri Jagannaath Temple from the Beginning

A few days after the incident, the Pandey who had pushed God Kabir Ji, disguised as a Shudra, developed leprosy. Despite seeking all kinds of treatments, his condition worsened. Desperate, he performed religious rituals and fervently prayed to Shri Jagannaath Ji, but nothing worked.

One night, Shri Krishna Ji appeared in his dream and said, "Pandey, wash the feet of the Saint whom you pushed at the temple’s entrance, and drink the foot-nectar (charnamrit). Only through his blessings can your leprosy be cured, but he must truly forgive you."

Desperate for relief, the Pandey decided to follow the instruction, as a drowning man clutches at a straw.

The Chief Panda's Redemption

The chief Panda woke up the next morning, gathered several fellow Pandas, and went to the place where God Kabir, in the form of a Shudra, was sitting. As they approached, God Kabir stood up and said, "Panda, I am untouchable; stay away or you might become impure." The Panda moved closer, but God stepped further away.

Tears welled up in the Panda’s eyes as he pleaded, "Parvardigar, forgive my mistake." Moved by his remorse, the kind God stopped. The Panda respectfully spread a clean cloth on the ground and invited God to sit. God Kabir Ji sat, and the Panda washed His feet, collecting the foot-nectar (charnamrit) in a bowl.

God Kabir Ji then instructed, "Pandey, drink this for forty days and also add some to your bathing water. Your leprosy will be cured by the fortieth day." He also warned, "In the future, if anyone practices untouchability in this Jagannaath temple, they will face punishment."

All those present vowed that from that day onward, untouchability would never be practiced at this sacred site.

The Unique Untouchability-Free Temple

This is the only temple in India where untouchability has never been practiced from the beginning.

I (Sant Rampal Das) had the opportunity to visit this sacred place with several disciples to gather evidence. Even today, all the proofs of the events remain visible. The stone platform where Supreme God Kabir Ji sat and stopped the sea to protect the temple still exists. A dome has been constructed over it as a memorial. There is also a monastery maintained by an ancient line of Mahants (guardians).

When we inquired about the temple's protection from the sea, a nearly seventy-year-old Mahant confirmed the same story, saying, "My ancestors have been Mahants here for generations." He also mentioned that Shri Dharmdas Ji and his wife, Bhaktmati Amani Devi, gave up their bodies here, showing us their graves, which are built next to each other.

Upon entering the Shri Jagannaath Ji temple, we observed that even today, there is no idol worship, though there is an exhibition on display.

The Three Idols and Untouchability-Free Tradition

The three idols of Shri Krishna Ji, Shri Balram Ji, and their sister Subhadra Ji, installed inside the temple, have no digits on their hands; both hands are physically incomplete (stumps). These idols are not worshipped but are kept only for viewing.

I asked a guide, a Pandey, about the sea that reportedly demolished the temple five times before it was rebuilt. "Why did the sea demolish it, and who stopped it?" I inquired. The Pandey replied, "I don't know much about that. It was by the grace of Jagannaath Ji that the sea was stopped. I’ve heard that the sea destroyed the temple three times."

I then asked, "Why didn’t God stop the sea the first time?" The Pandey responded, "It is the divine leela (act) of Jagannaath."

Curious, I asked, "Is there untouchability in this temple?" He said, "Since its construction, this temple has never had untouchability. Here, a Shudra and a Panda can eat together from the same plate or leaf-plate, and no one objects."

I asked, "Why has there never been untouchability in this temple, when other temples have had it? Isn’t the God the same?" The Pandey once again said, "It is the divine leela of Jagannaath."

Pious souls should reflect on how much truth has been concealed by simply attributing everything to a "leela" (divine act) of Jagannaath. Sacred monuments are undoubtedly respectable, but self-welfare is only attainable through bhakti-sadhna that aligns with the true knowledge (Tatvgyan) as described in the Holy Gita and Holy Vedas, as instructed by Supreme God Kabir Ji. Otherwise, actions contrary to the scriptures will lead to the waste of a human life. (Evidence: Gita, Chapter 16, Verses 23 and 24)

In the temple of Shri Jagannaath, according to God's command, it is only auspicious to sing the glory of the knowledge from the Holy Gita. Self-welfare is possible only through worship in accordance with the method of bhakti mentioned in Shrimad Bhagavad Gita. Otherwise, simply visiting Jagannaath Ji or consuming Prasaad of khichdi offers no benefit because such actions, not being prescribed in the Holy Gita, go against the scriptures, as confirmed in Chapter 16, Verses 23 and 24.