We all go on pilgrimages.
To holy teerthas such as Kashi, Prayag, Gangotri....
There are teerthas available right where you are, in human form.
These teerthas can give you the same benefits as any holy place can give you.
They are mainly six in number.
Mata teertha, Pita teertha, Guru teertha, Pati teertha, Patni teertha and Bhakta teertha.
Padma purana says -
नास्ति मातृसमं तीर्थं पुत्राणां च पितुः समम् ।
तारणाय हितायैव इहैव च परत्र च ॥
वेदैरपि च किं विप्र पिता येन न पूजितः ।
माता न पूजिता येन तस्य वेदा निरर्थकाः ॥
एष पुत्रस्य वै धर्मस्तथा तीर्थं नरेष्विह ।
एष पुत्रस्य वै मोक्षस्तथा जन्मफलं शुभम् ॥
Mother and father, for the children there is no teertha greater than him.
Why do we go to holy places?
To worship them.
You go to Ganga to worship her.
To offer her respect.
That's when you get the benefit.
You understand the greatness of Ganga, her power to purify, then take a dip in her with faith, then only you are benefited.
Your mother and father, they also deserve to be worshiped.
You should respect them. You should worship them like how you worship Gods.
This tradition is still there in many families.
You touch their feet first thing in the morning.
Or do a sashtanga namaskara before going out somewhere.
Paying respect to them can purify you like any holy teertha.
It will give you good results both in the spiritual and material fronts.
This is a dharma. This is a virtue.
This can lead to moksha.
Then your Guru.
दिवा प्रकाशकः सूर्यः शशी रात्रौ प्रकाशकः ।
गृहप्रकाशको दीपस्तमोनाशकरः सदा ॥
रात्रौ दिवा गृहस्यान्ते गुरुः शिष्यं सदैव हि ।
अज्ञानाख्यं तमस्तस्य गुरुः सर्वं प्रणाशयेत् ॥
तस्माद्गुरुः परं तीर्थं शिष्याणामवनीपते ।
Sun removes darkness during the day.
Moon removes darkness during the night.
This is outside.
Inside the house, a lamp removes darkness during the night.
Be it day, be it night, be it inside the house, be it outside, Guru keeps on removing darkness from the mind of the shishya throughout.
Makes him virtuous. Leads him towards moksha.
So, Guru is a great teertha.
Husband and wife, they are teerthas for each other.
They are teerthas mutually.
The husband purifies the wife.
The wife purifies the husband.
सव्यं पादं स्वभर्तुश्च प्रयागं विद्धि सत्तम ।
वामं च पुषकरं तस्य या नारी परिकल्पयेत् ॥
तस्य पादोदकस्नानात् तत्पुण्यं परिजायते ।
प्रयागपुष्करसमं स्नानं स्त्रीणां न संशयः ॥
सर्वतीर्थसमो भर्ता सर्वपुण्यमयः पतिः ।
If you are fortunate enough to have a husband who is noble in his deeds, thoughts and words, then you don't have to go anywhere looking for a holy place.
All holy places are right near you, right in front of you. Padma purana says that his right leg is Prayaga, his left leg is Pushakara.
Same with a virtuous wife also.
सदाचारपरा भव्या धर्मसाधनतत्परा ।
पतिव्रतरता नित्यं सर्वदा ज्ञानवत्सला ॥
एवंगुणा भवेद्भार्या यस्य पुण्या महासती ।
तस्य गेहे सदा देवास्तिष्ठन्ति महौजसः ।
पितरो गेहमध्यस्थाः श्रेयो वाञ्छन्ति तस्य च ।
गङ्गाद्याः सरितः पुण्याः सागरास्तत्र नान्यथा ॥
पुण्या सती यस्य गेहे वर्तते सत्यतत्परा ।
तस्य यज्ञाश्च गावश्च ऋषयस्तत्र नान्यथा ॥
तत्र सर्वाणि तीर्थानि पुण्यानि विविधानि च ।
नास्ति भार्यासमं तीर्थं नास्ति भार्यासमं सुखम् ।
नास्ति भार्यासमं पुण्यं तारणाय हिताय च ॥
If you are fortunate enough to have a wife who is chaste, simple minded, virtuous, then all the powerful Gods are already present at your home.
Your forefathers are present at your home blessing you from moment to moment.
If you take care of her, treat her with dignity and respect then your life's goals are achieved.
Because there is no teertha greater than your wife, there is no punya greater than your wife.
Finally, the sixth Bhakta teertha.
Srimad Bhagavata says -
भवद्विधा भागवतास्तीर्थभूताः स्वयं विभो ।
तीर्थीकुर्वन्ति तीर्थानि स्वान्तःस्थेन् गदाभृता ॥
Do you know how holy places continue to remain holy?
Because devotees are present there.
A true devotee has Bhagawan in his heart.
Wherever a true devotee is present, Bhagawan is also present. Presence of thousands of such devotees contributes towards the holiness of holy teerthas.
Proximity to genuine devotees can take you far ahead, in the spiritual path.