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CHAPTER VIII
PLACES OF PILGRIMAGE
In almost every religious system, particularly in Jainism, pilgrimage to holy places associated with the creed is a coveted undertaking in devotee's life. It is a pious longing which one tries to fulfil as and when he gets an opportunity and his means allow. These holy places are concrete living reminders of deities, personages, events and happenings, held sacred and memorable and a visit to them is considered meritorious and purifying.
Moreover, pilgrimages satisfy an average individual's craving for change and travel. Change is the spice of life and pleasure should be the keynote of travel if it is undertaken for the sake of change. Yet, there are not, perhaps, many who can afford to travel in order to satisfy their urge for adventure, or for the mere pleasure of travelling and seeing things.
The number of those who travel for purposes of education, seeking livelihood, business, trade or commerce, is always very considerable, but in these cases, generally, a sense of compulsion and limitations of time and scope are implied. Nevertheless, going out of one's village or home-town and visiting far off places has a great educative value and broadens the horizon of one's knowledge and understanding of life and customs as they are in other parts of the world.
A religious pilgrimage has all these advantages, besides which it infuses a holiday mood in the pilgrims, as well as the feeling
