ALRI Session III: Pilgrimages in Non-Christian Areas

Mendicant pilgrims, Japan circa 1900.

From Stoddard, John. 1901. John Stoddard's Lectures.

Pilgrimage is widespread among the various world religions, and huge numbers of pilgrimages are made by adherents of Islam, Buddhism, Shinto, Hinduism and numerous other traditions. There are far more examples than one could name in a ninety minute session let alone outline and analyze, so in this session we shall look at a few examples, including perhaps the most important single pilgrimage in todays's world, the Hajj to Mecca, cases that illustrate some of the ideas about pilgrimage we have already introduced or will examine in later sessions.

I. Some general observations about pilgrimage in various religious traditions.

1. Brief review of Session II "Sacred Sites and spaces."

2. The varying importance of pilgrimage in different religious traditions.

a. Unknown component of traditions now lost (pre-Columbian Americas).

b. Pilgrimage as largely peripheral to a tradition (Jainism, Judiasm).

c. Important, but not a central tenet (Hinduism, Buddhism, Shinto).

d. A central tenet of the faith (Islam and the Hajj).

3. Huge overall numbers of pilgrims, many millions annually.

II. Pre-Columbian (pre-contact) pilgrimages in the Americas.

1. Inca and pre-Inca pilgrimages to Lago Titicaca.

2. Aztec and pre-Aztec pilgrimages in Central Mexico.

3. Mayan pilgrimages in the Yucatan and Central America.

III. A few comments about Jewish pilgrimage.

IV. Hindu pilgrimages in India.

1. Varanasi (Benares).

2. Amarnath Yatra.

V. Japanese Buddhist and Shinto pilgrimages.

1. Tokaido.

2. Shikoku.

3. Fuji.

VI. Islamic pilgrimages.

1. Pilgrimage sites.

a. Mecca.

b. Medinah, and Jerusalem.

c. Shia pilgrimages.

d. Shrines of minor saints.

2. Pilgrimage as a central tenet of the religion.

a. The five pillars of Islam.

b. Goals of Hajj.

1. Spiritual.

2. Solidarity with other Muslims.

c. The Hajj.

1.The season of pilgrimage.

2. Preparation and attire.

3. Route and routine.

V. Concluding Observations.

1. Pilgrim identification - costumes and other symbols.

2. Seasons of pilgrimage.

3. Subsidiary activity generated by pilgrimages.