Many believe that sins can be erased by undertaking pilgrimages, as if sacred places alone hold the power to purify. But Guru Nanak Dev Ji, in Japji Sahib, challenges this illusion: How can one become truthful? How can the veil of falsehood be torn away? The answer lies not in rituals, but in living by the divine command (Hukam). True purity comes from surrendering to God’s will, not from external acts.

This truth was embodied by Sri Guru Arjan Dev Ji, who, even while seated on scorching hot iron plates, declared: “Tera kiya metha lagai, Har Naam padar Nanak magay”—”O Lord, all that You do is sweet; Nanak begs only for the treasure of Your Name.” Purity is not found in the waters of holy rivers or lakes but in the meditation of the Divine Name (Naam). When one accepts both joy and suffering as God’s will, the mind’s veil of illusion shatters.

Gurbani teaches that a truthful mind is cultivated through inner devotion, not outward rituals. “Hukam rahai andar hukam, bahar hukam na koi”—”The true command resides within; there is no command outside.” Real happiness comes from surrendering to the Lord’s will and embracing the gift of His Name. Without the Name, what can truly be cleansed? Even countless dips in sacred waters hold no meaning if the heart remains impure.

The journey to Sachkhand (the realm of Truth) begins within. True pilgrimage is not of the body but of the soul—cleansing the mind through devotion. Sins are washed away by the Name, not by water. As Gurbani reminds us: “Pavan guru, pani pita, mata dharat mahat”—”The air is the Guru, water the father, and earth the mother.” The Divine permeates all creation. To remember Him is the truest bath, the purest pilgrimage.