Gurbani Awareness Series-4
PILGRIMAGE (Tirath Yatra)
Bhai Gurdas Jee states in his first war  that Guru Nanak Sahib  found the whole mankind was burning with the fire of lust, greed and anger.
ਬਾਬਾ ਦੇਖੈ ਧਿਆਨ ਧਰਿ ਜਲਤੀ ਸਭਿ ਪ੍ਰਿਥਵੀ ਦਿਸਿ ਆਈ।
ਬਾਝਹੁ ਗੁਰੂ ਗੁਬਾਰ ਹੈ ਹੈ ਹੈ ਕਰਦੀ ਸੁਣੀ ਲੁਕਾਈ।
Without Guru there is utter darkness and he heard the cries of the common people.
Very clear from this message that people were a misguided lot and were wandering to find peace.  The different religions taught them a number of ways and one of such practices was going to the places of Pilgrimage to find solace. The Hinduism advocates pilgrimage. Sixty eight such places are treated as sacred and whosoever wanted salvation should visit these places.  Further importance was attached to particular places and also fixed particular seasons and days for the visit. This practice is followed even now.  At some places during the days of pilgrim, millions of people come and take bath.
Guru Nanak Sahib told the people  that every action becomes ritual if it does  not cleanse the mind of a devotee. In Japu Jee sahib, Guru Sahib declares:
ਤੀਰਥ ਨਾਵਾ ਜੇ ਤਿਸੁ ਭਾਵਾ ਵਿਣੁ ਭਾਣੇ ਕਿ ਨਾਇ ਕਰੀ ॥.
If I am pleasing to Him, then that is my pilgrimage and cleansing bath. Without pleasing Him, what good are rituals?
 ਤੀਰਥ ਨਾਤਾ ਕਿਆ ਕਰੇ ਮਨ ਮਹਿ ਮੈਲੁ ਗੁਮਾਨੁ ॥ (SGGS-60)
 “What is the use of bathing at sacred shrines or pilgrimages, when the filth of stubborn arrogance is within the mind? There is no use of bathing at sacred shrines because Pilgrimage cannot clean the filth of one’s ego.”
The Sikh religion does not give importance on pilgrimage. Guru Nanak Dev was asked "Should I go and bathe at pilgrimage places?" and replied: "God's name is the real pilgrimage place which consists of contemplation of the word of God, and the cultivation of inner knowledge."
The correct meaning of  Pilgrimage (Teerath). Instead of finding peace of mind from outer places, concentrate on innerself :
ਸੁਣਿਆ ਮੰਨਿਆ ਮਨਿ ਕੀਤਾ ਭਾਉ ॥ ਅੰਤਰਗਤਿ ਤੀਰਥਿ ਮਲਿ ਨਾਉ ॥
cleanse yourself with the Name, at the sacred shrine deep within.
ਪ੍ਰਭ ਕੇ ਚਰਨ ਮਨ ਮਾਹਿ ਧਿਆਨੁ ॥
ਸਗਲ ਤੀਰਥ ਮਜਨ ਇਸਨਾਨੁ ॥੧॥
Meditation on God cleans your soul and helps you get rid of sins. Guru Arjan Sahib Ji writes (SGGS Page 195), "I meditate on God within my mind. This is my cleansing bath at all sacred shrines and pilgrimages.
 Bhagat Sahibans  On Tirath Yatra:
ਤੀਰਥ ਦੇਖਿ ਨ ਜਲ ਮਹਿ ਪੈਸਉ ਜੀਅ ਜੰਤ ਨ ਸਤਾਵਉਗੋ ॥
I do not go to see sacred shrines of pilgrimage, or bathe in their waters; I do not bother any beings or creatures.
ਅਠਸਠਿ ਤੀਰਥ ਗੁਰੂ ਦਿਖਾਏ ਘਟ ਹੀ ਭੀਤਰਿ ਨ੍ਹ੍ਹਾਉਗੋ ॥੩॥
The Guru has shown me the sixty-eight places of pilgrimage within my own heart, where I now take my cleansing bath. ||3||
ਹਜ ਕਾਬੈ ਜਾਉ ਨ ਤੀਰਥ ਪੂਜਾ ॥
I do not make pilgrimages to Mecca, nor do I worship at Hindu sacred shrines.
ਏਕੋ ਸੇਵੀ ਅਵਰੁ ਨ ਦੂਜਾ ॥੨॥
I serve the One Lord, and not any other. ||2||
ਪੂਜਾ ਕਰਉ ਨ