तीर्थयात्रा
tīrthayātrā
The Sanskrit word for pilgrimage is तीर्थयात्रा (tīrthayātrā).
The term refers to a religious journey or a trip to a sacred place.
Meaning: religious journey, or one to a sacred place (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The word तीर्थयात्रा is a compound of तीर्थ (tīrtha), meaning a holy place or a ford and यात्रा (yātrā), meaning a journey or travel.
Which one should you use?
तीर्थाटन (tīrthāṭana) is a synonymous term used to describe the act of wandering through or visiting multiple holy sites. For a formal expression of a pilgrimage, one might use Tirthakshetra Gamana. Additionally, Punyayatra refers to a sacred journey undertaken for spiritual merit or purification.
How does it change in a sentence?
तीर्थयात्रा is a feminine noun.
How do you pronounce it?
tīrthayātrā
Did you know?
- In many Indian traditions, the concept of a 'tīrtha' implies that the water at these specific crossing points is inherently more purifying than water elsewhere. The pilgrimage is often centered around the act of bathing in these specific river-fords.
- The term पुण्ययात्रा (punyayātrā) focuses on the spiritual 'profit' or 'merit' gained from the trip. It treats the journey as a way to accumulate 'puṇya', which is a form of spiritual capital or good karma.
- The component यात्रा (yātrā) is used in many modern Indo-Aryan languages, such as Hindi, to mean a 'journey' or even a 'procession'. This shows how a word used for ancient Sanskrit pilgrimages remains part of everyday speech for travel today.
Examples in context
- अहं तीर्थयात्रां करिष्यामि।ahaṃ tīrthayātrāṃ kariṣyāmi.I will go on a pilgrimage.
Example conversation
Two friends are discussing their future holiday plans.
- ईशा Ishaविवान, किं त्वं तीर्थयात्रां करिष्यसि?vivāna, kiṃ tvaṃ tīrthayātrāṃ kariṣyasi?Vivan, will you go on a pilgrimage?
- विवान Vivaanआम्, अहं आगामीमासे गच्छामि।ām, ahaṃ āgāmimāse gacchāmi.Yes, I am going next month.
- ईशा Ishaत्वं कुत्र तीर्थयात्रां करिष्यसि?tvaṃ kutra tīrthayātrāṃ kariṣyasi?Where will you perform the pilgrimage?
- विवान Vivaanअहं काशीनगरं गमिष्यामि।ahaṃ kāśīnagaraṃ gamiṣyāmi.I will go to the city of Kashi.
