Braja-Vrindavan and Manipur: A Journey for Cultural Oneness

The roots of pilgrimage as an institution can be linked to the initial stages of human cultural practices, and its practice is a time-honoured aspect of human history. It began to take shape as an established custom with the emergence of major religions. The practice of pilgrimage differs across various religions. It has unique historical developments and shapes the identities of practitioners in distinctive ways. Since the volume deals with Manipuri Hindus, it will reflect on selected places of pilgrimage associated with Hinduism. In Hinduism, a pilgrimage is known as a yātrā, and individuals embark on yātrās to visit tīrthas (crossings or fords). The volume tries to revisit the journey of cultural oneness through the legacy of tīrthas yātrās of Braja-Vrindaban from Manipur, which has been initiated, promoted, and popularized by Rajarshi Bhagyachandra (1759-61 & 1763-98 AD) and the successive Mahārājās of Manipur. The present volume, which is divided into three sections, viz., spiritual, literature, and pilgrimage of the Manipuri Hindus to the sacred tīrthas of the Hindu pantheon, especially Vrindavan, which is connected with the exploits of Rādhā and Krsna.