Pilgrimage

Pilgrimage in the Hindus religion has proved to be an instrument used in the celebration of life for every devotee. Diana L. Eck successfully paints a picture of how a pilgrimage is built into a beautiful ceremony. She provides many images by which we can stimulate the visual power of every individual being. This information gives us the ability to live and experience the journey of pilgrimage with the characters she explains in her book, Darsan.
Eck gives details of how a temple is shaped like an image that does not depend on the construction of builders’ abilities but on the desire to create a meaningful ritual. Eck wants the reader to understand that nature is appreciated and celebrated in the construction of each temple. They are built on or in mountains. The names of temple styles are derived after names of mountain peaks which are the homes of the gods. This shows a common link between Heaven and Earth. Pilgrimage is the journey that a devotee takes to this temple-mountain. The construction of a temple is described as planting a seed in the “womb of life.” Along this journey to the center of a temple many activities are observed as “coming to life.” Statues are erected to guard the mandala.
Eck stresses that pilgrimage is a thriving business and that it has continued its importance for many years. Pilgrims climb these mountains in order to get a chance to experience the powerful energy of these sacred temples. Eck wants the reader to...

Pilgrimage

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