Abstract
Hinduism places high value on experiencing a place’s power through pilgrimage. It views pilgrimage as a sacramental practice that actively forges a two-way, reciprocal connection between the pilgrim and the divine. A sacred spot’s circumambulation (pradakshina) becomes the main focus of prayer and sacrifice. All of these places for circumambulation have links to sacred places or shrines, suggesting lucky symbolism.
At the confluence of India’s three largest northern states—Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Haryana—lies the sacred region of Braj, which is connected to Lord Krishna. This paper is based on the study of Barsana and Nandgaon in Braj Mandal, a Hindu pilgrimage site associated with Krishna worship in northern India. It involves circumambulation around a region made up of several locations where it is thought that Krishna conducted his holy performances. The representation of Braj’s imagined landscape is based on the Hindu God Krishna imagery, which was influenced by popular culture, literature, and visual arts.
The involvement is performed through circumambulation, which causes the human body to hold recollections of the areas where it is moving and still. Since relic, Braj is thought to have experienced a few apportionments; the foremost later one is thought to have taken put generally five centuries back after Islamic iconoclasm annihilated the nearby sanctuaries. This reclamation has been headed by charismatic saints who inspired large-scale pious movements and started pilgrimages to Braj.
Braj is mostly referred to as the “land of Krishna,” is a place with significant historical, religious, cultural, ecological, spiritual, and architectural significance that attracts thousands of tourists and pilgrims every year. This paper explores the idea of pilgrimage, its significance in Hindu mythology, as well as its effects on the pilgrimage area and its inhabitants due to the influx of pilgrims over the year. For pilgrims seeking profound tranquility and spiritual fulfillment, this location is important. Also, since Lord Krishna spent his formative years at Vrindavan, this location is significant to pilgrims in terms of gaining a deep sense of calm and spiritual fulfillment. As a result, it draws travelers from all over the world. The parikrama circuit and pilgrimage experience in Vrindavan and Govardhan have so received special attention from the authorities. Barsana and Nandgaon are two other places where Lord Krishna and Radha spent their formative years. These cities are significant as religious and tourist sites as a result of their connections to Lord Krishna. Authorities have made an effort to revive it in terms of its physical attributes and pilgrimage experience, although it is not comparable to Vrindavan and Govardhan. As a result, the Barsana and Nandgaon of Braj Mandal Parikrama’s Holistic Revival are necessary.
Keywords: – Hinduism, Pilgrimage, Braj Mandal, Physical attributes, Revival.
Ritu Gulati1*, Vandana Sehgal2, Saima Mahmood3