The merit of visiting tīrtha and kṣētra has been a well-documented and well-discussed topic. This practice has often been encouraged in our Maṇḍalī as well. However, one can never permit such pastimes to interfere with one’s Nitya-karma and japādyanuṣṭhāna. Unfortunately, trips of such a nature have lately turned to be mere means of mental and physical stress and hindrance to Nitya-karma. It is said that Paramaguru Srī Vidyābhinava Vālukēśvara Bhāratī (Mahāmahōpādhyāya Hānagal Virūpākṣa śāstrī in his pūrvāśrama) never missed his sandhyāvandanam and never needed to offer prāyaścittārghya. He rarely traveled, and when he did, it was to śr̥ṅgērī to visit his Guru Srī Saccidānanda Shivābhinava Nr̥siṁha Bhāratī or to participate in a vidvat sadas. He took a train and adjusted his travel schedule such that he would arrive at a particular station by the time of sāyaṁ sandhyā. The station master, whose daughter had been cured of epilepsy from the Nr̥siṁha bhasma that Srī śāstrī had given him, would wait for him at the station. As soon as the train stopped, Paramaguru would follow the station master, who would have pātras, etc. placed beside a well. Paramaguru would take a bath, perform sandhyā and get on the train again before it left for the next station. This incident has been recounted by several great men who were blessed to come in contact with the great man. Like his own Guru, our Guru Bramaśrī KPS had a similar view in this regard and attributed the highest priority to japa and saparyā over any other practices associated with śrīvidyā. This strict adherence to svadharmānuṣṭhāna has been visible in the lives of some great men that we have interacted with, such as Brahmaśrī Kamakoti śāStrī, Brahmaśrī Goda Venkateshvara śaāstrī, Mahāmahōpādhyāya Vasudeva Mishra, etc.
Moreover, one should never forget to ponder over the following wise counsel that comes from Bādarāyaṇa:
mānasāni hi tīrthāni phaladāni viśēṣataḥ ||
While the physical tīrthas are indeed meritorious, puṇya of a much greater magnitude is attained by association with the following mānasa tīrthas.
manō nirmalatā tīrthaṁ rāgādibhiranākulam |
satyaṁ tīrthaṁ dayā tīrthaṁ tīrthamindriyanigrahaḥ ||
guruśuśrūṣaṇaṁ tīrthaṁ mātr̥śuśrūṣaṇaṁ tathā |
svadharmācaraṇaṁ tīrthaṁ tīrthamagnērupāsanam ||
1. A pure mind free of rāga and dvēṣa
2. Truth
3. Compassion
4. Control over the senses
5. Serving the Guru
6. Serving the parents
7. Anuṣṭhāna of svadharma, as dictated by ones varṇa and āśrama
8. Worship of the sacred Fire
Tīrtha yātrā done without chyuti to the above aspects, especially to anuṣṭhāna of svadharma, is beneficial. The bottom line is: Don’t neglect your Japa. This would be our message to all members of Kāmakōṭi Maṇḍalī for the New Year.