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India
has been the place of origin for many major religions of the world
and has important pilgrimage spots of others. For centuries,
mythology and mystique has swept the land and there are a number
of temples, mosques, monasteries, churches and gurudwaras that
have gained a prominence amongst the most visited places in India.
The legends attached to these abode of gods are not less
interesting. Devotion to Gods and religion is a significant aspect
of the lifestyle of traditional Indians. Hindu pilgrimage tours or
'Tirtha Yatras' are considered an important way of attaining the
salvation. However, people of all faiths and religions have dreams
of visiting the revered spots as a pilgrim to invoke the blessings
of their Gods and obtain forgiveness for all their sins and escape
the divine wrath. The frequent invasions made India a potpourri of
different religions and thus there are pilgrimage sites for all of
them somewhere in India.
Hinduism is said to be the oldest religion in the world and is
related to compassion for all beings, nature worship, harmony of
inner-self and the world outside, self-enlightenment and
adaptability to circumstances. Hindus have sacred shrines all over
India where one can get enlightened by rich moral teachings and
legends and relish the architectural beauty of the past. Tathagat
or Gautam Buddha) founded Buddhism. Born in Lumbini in Nepal, he
got enlightenment in Bodhgaya and delivered his first sermon in
Sarnath. Simplicity, renunciation, moderation and empathy are the
core of all Buddhist teachings. Buddhist monasteries or Gompas in
the states of Himachal Pradesh and Ladakh are worth a visit.
Sikhism with its philosophy of simple living and no rituals or
superstitions, promotes values of duty, hard work and unity among
its followers. The important Gurudwaras (Sikh shrimes) include
Anandpur Sahib, Golden Temple and Gurudwara Bangla Sahib. It is
said that Christianity was introduced in India by St. Thomas or
Doubting Thomas in 52 AD. Indian Churches have distinct
archaeological British, Portuguese, French and Indian designs.
Similarly there are sacred shrines related to Jainism and Islam
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