Kathmandu, Nepal October 31, 2024: Famous religious gurus say – Khanal has 'broken' the historical records of Jagadguru Adi Shankaracharya and Guru Nanak Dev.
Kathmandu: Who could be the person to set a world record by visiting 450 famous religious pilgrimage sites around the world? Renowned gurus of Sanatan Dharma from India say it could be either Shankaracharya or Guru Nanak Dev. About 500 years ago, Guru Nanak Dev took 21 years to visit such a large number of pilgrimage sites and gained worldwide fame.
It's uncertain how many years it took Guru Adi Shankaracharya to visit a similar number of pilgrimage sites before that.
Now, Pradeep Khanal from Nepal has claimed to be the 'first in the world' by visiting 450 pilgrimage sites in a single year. Khanal has been in the spotlight since he completed his visit to 450 pilgrimage sites in late July. Famous gurus of Sanatan Dharma are praising Khanal, calling him the third person after Adi Shankaracharya and Guru Nanak Dev. They have stated that Khanal has 'broken' the history set by Shankaracharya and Guru Nanak Dev.
India's famous Jagadguru Swami Rishipal Anand has said, "Khanal has accomplished in one year what no one else in the world has done in hundreds of years."
India's Kalki Avatar Bhagwan added, "After Shankaracharya and Guru Nanak Dev, Pradeep Khanal from Nepal has completed the journey to such a large number of pilgrimage sites. This is a rare event in history."
After his final visit to the Manikaran Shiva Temple in India and returning to Nepal, Khanal announced that he had completed his journey to the 450th pilgrimage site. He said, "As I completed this challenging journey, Sanatan Dharma gurus have been congratulating me, considering me the first person in the world to do so."
Currently, he is receiving a flood of congratulatory messages and well-wishes from Sanatan Dharma followers via phone and social media.
"Congratulations and well-wishes are pouring in. I am not the one claiming to be the first person in the world to complete this journey; it is the world-renowned religious gurus who have said so," Khanal added.
Having visited 450 pilgrimage sites in a short span of time, Khanal is now trying to register himself in the Guinness Book of World Records. "I am preparing for the necessary steps to do so; let's see if I succeed," he said.
Khanal is a religious and cultural activist. He is also the president of the International Friendship Society. To promote religious and cultural tourism, Khanal embarked on his pilgrimage from Pashupatinath, visiting 450 pilgrimage sites across six countries: Nepal, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and China's Tibet.
He began his journey in the last week of June 2023, after visiting Pashupatinath. Initially, his goal was to visit 52 Shakti Peethas and 12 Jyotirlingas. However, after visiting those pilgrimage sites, he gained additional energy. "This journey inspired me to visit all the famous religious sites in the world," he said. "After that, I focused intently on my journey."
Khanal visited four Adi Shakti Peethas, 18 Maha Shakti Peethas, 52 Shakti Peethas, 108 Siddha Peethas, the Char Dham, Saptapuri, 12 Jyotirlingas, 13 Buddhist pilgrimage sites, 11 Sikh Gurudwaras, and 300 other places. His journey took him from Kailash Mansarovar to Kanyakumari, from Parshuram Kund in Arunachal Pradesh to Amarkantak in Madhya Pradesh, and to Anil Kund at Hinglaj Shakti Peeth in Pakistan, where he performed ritual baths.
Similarly, Khanal reported visiting and bathing at the 6,000-year-old Shivling at Katasraj in Pakistan, Regarding Khanal's pilgrimage, Acharya Muktinath Adhikari, a religious guru from Siliguri, stated, "Perhaps only two or three great men have undertaken such an extensive journey, and Khanal is one of them. History will place you in the same league."
Balaji, a Hindu religious activist from Sri Lanka, remarked on Khanal's pilgrimage, saying, "Nothing is impossible. This challenging journey will be recorded in history and will become a subject of study and research for future generations. Your journey will inspire them."
Similarly, Chaman Sharma, a social worker from Delhi, mentioned that Khanal has done "something that no one in the history of Sanatan Dharma has accomplished until now."
The chief priest of Pashupatinath, Rawal Ganesh Bhatt inaugurated Khanal's pilgrimage and praised his accomplishment of visiting these pilgrimage sites. He said, "This is a commendable act for all Sanatan Dharma followers around the world to emulate."
Khanal was accompanied by members of the Shivashakti Samagam team, Mangesh Bhagwat Indore and Binita Lepcha from Shirdi, during his journey to 450 pilgrimage sites. "I can never forget their contribution, and I am deeply grateful to them," he said.
After completing his pilgrimage, Khanal is planning to organize a three-day Shivashakti Samagam ritual in Varanasi in February 2025. He has discussed this with religious gurus and leaders from India.
He plans to invite at least 52 Shakti Peethas, 12 Jyotirlingas, the Char Dham, and prominent gurus from significant pilgrimage sites around the world. "My efforts will include inviting everyone from the Prime Minister of India to the heads of Sanatan Dharma nations and religious followers worldwide," he added. the sacred pool formed from Lord Shiva's tears, Chakrateerth at Naimisharanya, and the Triveni Sangam at Prayagraj.
Khanal also claimed to have visited 116 pilgrimage sites across six countries where parts of Goddess Sati's body are believed to have fallen. There is much debate about the locations where Sati's body parts fell. Some believe there are 4, some say 18, others claim 52, 76, or even 108 such sites. However, Khanal stated that he discovered new evidence of 116 sites where Sati's body parts fell.
"What I'm claiming might be hard for everyone to believe, but during my pilgrimage, I found 116 sites where Sati's body parts had fallen," Khanal said.
Khanal stated that he undertook this pilgrimage to promote and develop Nepal's religious tourism and to raise Nepal's profile on the international stage. "In Nepal, about 80 percent of tourist destinations are religious pilgrimage sites, while the remaining 20 percent are natural attractions," Khanal said. "It remains to be seen how the government will make use of this 80 percent religious tourism."
During his travels, Khanal mentioned that he diplomatically met with the leaders of various nations to discuss the development and enhancement of Nepal's religious tourism.
"I have achieved a significant milestone by visiting the most pilgrimage sites in the world. This has been a challenging journey for Sanatan Dharma followers, and I want my contribution to be put to good use," he said.
Khanal also mentioned that he completed the one-year journey through personal investment.
He acknowledged the important support he received during the journey from Sirjana Timsina, Secretary of the International Friendship Society Nepal, and Vijay Kumar Pant, spokesperson for Rashtriya Sanskar Dham, Nepal.
Khanal expressed deep respect for the renowned Jagadguru Adi Shankaracharya and Guru Nanak Dev of India, saying that they inspired him to undertake this pilgrimage.
