Suggested Videos for Use with Chapter 12

Aghaghagogh Kareri Yergire: A Pilgrimage to Western Armenia - Archbishop Mesrob Ashjian's pilgrimage to Western Armenia.
http://www.narek.com/store/product.php?productid=17814&cat=305

Pilgrimage for Restoration - The Company of St. Rene Goupil has produced a vivid 50-minute documentary of the Pilgrimage for Restoration to Auriesville, filmed on location. They hope the presentation will strengthen the spiritual bonds of all 'veteran' pilgrims, as well as attract newcomers, and that you will share it with family and friends as a means of personally inviting them to join this unique spiritual exercise.
http://www.national-coalition.org/pilgrim/whatsnew.html

Pilgrimage to Krishna's India – A tour of many holy places in India, including Vrindavan Land of Krishna where Krishna appeared in Vrindavan, India, 5000 years ago. His places of pastimes have been beautifully captured in this film.
http://www.itvproductions.net/store/product.php?productid=71&cat=5&page=1

Pilgrimage To Ahobilam - Deep in the jungles of South India lies the remains of Hiranyakashipu's palace. In a wildlife reserve haunted by tigers, bears, cobras, and other creatures, nine holy shrines housing Deities of Lord Nrsimhadeva await the adventurous pilgrim. Dhruva, a young, spiritually ambitious Nrsimha bhakta, has visited the area extensively. He knows the trails intimately. He is your guide on the most detailed darshans ever recorded.
http://www.itvproductions.net/store/product.php?productid=76&cat=5&page=1

An Indian Pilgrimage: Kashi - follows two Telugu-speaking Brahmans and their wives who come from South India to the sacred city of Kashi (Banaras, Varanasi) on the Ganges River to perform classical rites of feeding balls of rice to their ancestors. They are instructed in the correct performance of these rites by a Brahman Telugu-speaking priest who depends for his livelihood on providing services to pilgrims such as these. The pilgrims supplement their orthodox ritual activities with shopping in the bazaars, bathing at five special points along the Ganges, and visiting Kashi's tourist attractions. They explain in their own words their reasons for making the pilgrimage and their pleasure at having finally seen Kashi.
http://www.southasia.wisc.edu/films/kashi.html

An Indian Pilgrimage: Ramdevra - follows a group of Hindus on a folk pilgrimage to the grave of Ramdev, a medieval martial hero and saint of Rajasthan. In a folk pilgrimage, devotion rather than ritual is emphasized, and pilgrims are free to worship in their own ways with a minimum of priestly intermediaries. At Ramdev's grave the Bombay pilgrims make their collective offering, including martial flags and a statue of a horse. One of the women goes into a trance as the spirit of Ramdev "enters" her. Outside the shrine, the pilgrims mingle with the crowds of shoppers at the fair, observe other pilgrims, and listen to preachers, hawkers, and devotional singers who throng the Ramdevra festival.
http://www.southasia.wisc.edu/films/ramdevra.html

Pilgrimage to Pittsburgh - in 1987 revisits the Sri Venkatesvara temple near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania to celebrate its tenth anniversary. Week-long ceremonies involving 1,001 copper pots sacralize the water they contain, water that has been collected from the Ganges river in India (as well as from the nearby Allegheny, Monongahela, and Ohio rivers). At the week's end, priests reconsecrate the temple's deities with the sacred water. Interviews with members of the Indian community, as well as with their teen-age children, illustrate the many ways in which the temple brings together Indians living in America and imparts cultural awareness to their children.
http://www.southasia.wisc.edu/films/pitts.html

Hajj 2000: A Journey of Faith - An outstanding documentary of the Muslim pilgrimage to Makkah, brought to a worldwide audience by CNN, making tv history. Riz Khan and Rula Amin bring you the story from Makkah. This fifth pillar of Islam requires all Muslims who are physically and financially capable of performing the Hajj to do so once in their lifetime and it dates back to the time of Abraham. Topics covered include: the history and significance of Hajj in Islam, the steps of circling the Ka'bah, visiting the Mount of Mercy, stoning the pillars, making the sacrifice and more. The video features inspiring personal stories from pilgrims in every part of the world, why they come, what benefit they receive and what challenges they face.
http://islamicbookstore.com/v594.html

ABC News Nightline: The Hajj - This special episode of ABC's television news show Nightline follows TV reporter and practicing Muslim Michael Wolfe as he makes his second pilgrimage to the holy city of Mecca in Saudi Arabia. An American convert to Islam, Wolfe provides a rare and intimate glimpse into the history and rituals of this extremely personal and highly spiritual journey.
http://www.videoflicks.com/titles/1133/1133710.htm?SHOW=1&TYPE=3&ASSN=20482

National Geographic: Inside Mecca - Inside Mecca presents the most intimate and three-dimensional documentation of the annual pilgrimage to Mecca and sheds light on the universal principles of Islam during the days of the Hajj. Learn the historical significance of the city to Muslim and non-Muslim populations alike. And, experience the epic journey of a lifetime, the Hajj, as we witness the personal stories of the pilgrims and the mental preparation, physical strain and spiritual ecstasy they encounter on their life-altering pilgrimage of faith.
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B0000BWVNA/qid=1128104595/sr=8-1/ref
=pd_bbs_1/104-5146158-2564760?v=glance&s=dvd&n=507846

Places of Peace and Power – Note: This is not a video. This is just a website with links to information about sacred places.
http://www.sacredsites.com/resources/sacred_sites.html

Shikoku - Sagori possesses spiritual powers which enable her to converse with the dead. After she dies at the age of sixteen, her mother attempts to bring her back from the dead. Sagori’s friends decide to investigate the history of Shikoku Island which is also known as The Kingdom of the Dead. Will Sagori’s friends be able to stop the awakening of Sagori from the dead?
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B0002IQLT4/qid=1128105468/sr=8-1/ref
=pd_bbs_1/104-5146158-2564760?v=glance&s=dvd&n=507846

Shikoku: An Island in Time - This program aims to present the dignity and charm of Japanese history by introducing "Shikoku" which is known as an island of pilgrimage. Video # 136
http://www.embjapan.dk/info/videolist.htm

Forest of Bliss - Forest of Bliss is an unsparing yet redemptive account of the inevitable griefs, religious passions and frequent happinesses that punctuate daily life in Benares, India's most holy city. The film unfolds from one sunrise to the next without commentary, subtitles or dialogue. It is an attempt to give the viewer a wholly authentic though greatly magnified and concentrated sense of participation in the experiences examined by the film.
http://www.der.org/films/forest-of-bliss.html