Acharya Prashant responds to a question about the spiritual significance of the Kanwar Yatra. He explains that the quality of any action, including religious ones, depends entirely on the doer's state of mind, specifically their level of understanding and clarity. Without understanding the true meaning of 'Shivatva' (the essence of Shiva) and 'Bodh' (understanding), any religious act, whether it's a pilgrimage or a ritual, is futile and can even be harmful. It becomes merely an external symbol without any benefit, and might even cause harm. The speaker clarifies that the entire field of religion and spirituality exists for the purification of the mind and to liberate it from suffering and bondage. Once that liberation is attained, religion has no further purpose. Religion is a means to bring the mind to its rightful destination. However, many people do not understand this. They become religious without knowing why religion exists, often just following tradition. For them, religion is not about inner purification but about external symbols and identity. Acharya Prashant points out that the purpose of religion is to free the mind from delusion and suffering. If the sole purpose of religion is liberation, then all associated activities and rituals should also serve this purpose. He questions whether a religious act is cleansing the mind. If it is, one should perform it with double the dedication. If not, it should be abandoned immediately. He criticizes how the meaning of religion has been reduced to external symbols, such as wearing a tilak or specific attire, which people use to identify a religious person. The true essence, which is internal, is ignored. He references Adi Shankaracharya's Nirvan Shatkam, where the declaration 'Shivoham' (I am Shiva) is made only after negating all false identities—body, mind, senses, thoughts, and emotions. This highlights that being a devotee of Shiva is not easy; it requires a life lived in 'Shivatva'. The speaker laments that religion, which is humanity's only hope, is being corrupted. It has become a tool for the worthless to gain power and respect without any self-improvement. He concludes by stating that pure religiosity is what can save humanity, and it must not be turned into a poison.