What is a Holy Place

June 21,
2018
All glory to Śrī Guru and Śrī Gaurāṅga
What is a Holy Place?
Śrīla Bhakti Vinod Ṭhākur explains the superiority of Vaiṣṇava-sevā
over pilgrimage.
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The following song is found in the Upadeś [‘Advice’] section of Śrī
Kalyāṇa-kalpa-taru (1.14).
mana, tumi tīrthe sadā rata
ayodhyā, mathurā, māyā, kāśī, kāñchī, avantīyā,
dvārāvatī āra āchhe yata [1]
O mind, you are always attached to holy places like Ayodhyā,
Mathurā, Haridvār, Kāśī, Kāñchī, Avantī, and Dvārakā.
tumi chāha bhramibāre, e sakala bāre bāre,
mukti-lābha karibāra tare
se sakala tava bhrama, nirarthaka pariśrama,
chitta sthira tīrthe nāhi kare [2]
June 21,
2018
You want visit all of these holy places again and again to attain
liberation. All such travelling is your fantasy and is simply useless
labour. Holy places do not make your heart steady.
tīrtha-phala sādhu-saṅga, sādhu-saṅge antaraṅga
śrī-kṛṣṇa-bhajana manohara
yathā sādhu, tathā tīrtha, sthira kari’ nija chitta,
sādhu-saṅga kara nirantara [3]
The purpose of visiting holy places is associating with sādhus. Closely
associate with sādhus and beautifully serve Śrī Kṛṣṇa. Wherever
sādhus are present is a holy place. Steady your heart and constantly
associate with sādhus.
ye tīrthe vaiṣṇava nāi’, se tīrthete nāhi yāi,
ki lābha hā iyā d ra-deśa
yathāya vaiṣṇava-gaṇa, sei sthāna vṛndāvana,
sei sthāne ānanda aśeṣa [4]
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June 21,
2018
Do not go to ‘holy places’ where Vaiṣṇavas are not present. What is
the benefit of walking to such distant places? Wherever Vaiṣṇavas are
present is Vṛndāvan and is an abode of unlimited joy.
kṛṣṇa-bhakti yei sthāne, mukti-dāsī seikhāne,
salila tathāya mandākinī
giri tathā govardhana, bh mi tathā vṛndāvana,
āvirbh tā āpani hlādinī [5]
Wherever devotion to Kṛṣṇa is present, liberation is present as a
maidservant. There the water is Ganges water, the mountains are
Govardhan, and the land is Vṛndāvan. There the hlādinī-śakti is
personally present.
vinoda kahichhe bhāi, bhramiyā ki phala pāi,
vaiṣṇava-sevana mora vrata [6]
Vinod says, ‚O brother, what benefit is there in travelling? My vow is
to serve the Vaiṣṇavas.
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