GAYA - The Pithru Kshethra (Part - 2))

Theertha Vidhi at Gaya Kshetra

(Significance of Gaya Shraaddham)
It is said that Vayu Purana prescribes elaborately the forms of
ancestral rites to be performed at Gaya Kshetra. Entire territory of
Gaya is said to be very sacred and holy for performing ancestral rites
due to the boon received by the demon Gayasura lying down on the
banks of river Phalgu on whose body the trinity of Gods Brahma,
Vishnu and Maheswara had performed sacrifices. It is believed that
it was Lord Brahma who first performed the Pinda Daan ceremony at
Gaya and the tradition has continued since then.

The entire area stretching from the foothills of Vishnu Mountain to

Uttar Manas where the river Phalgu flows is considered extremely
holy. Offering Pinda daana at this place helps the ancestors to attain
salvation. There are many other holy places capable of providing
undiminished virtues to the ancestors but the one at Gaya on the
banks of river Phalgu is capable of liberating twenty generations of a
man.

Entire area of Gaya is considered sacrosanct and performing rituals

and offering Pinda daan to ancestors at any place within the
territory of Gaya helps the departed soul of the ancestors attain to
Brahmaloka. Offering Pinda Daan at Akshayavat would not only
liberate all his ancestors but also the coming generations from the
bondage of Earth.

It is said that one should desire for more sons so that even if one of
them goes to Gaya and offer Pinda Daan his ancestors would attain
full and final satisfaction and attain salvation.
Religious scripts suggest that the sacred rites are required to be
performed for seven days at different holy centers in Gaya starting
at Prethashila and concluding at Akshaya Vat. But due to obvious
reasons majority of the pilgrims are visiting this place to complete
the rituals within a day, thereby performing only at three or four
places mostly at the banks of river Phalgu, at the Vishnu Pada
Temple, and at Akshayavat.

Though the sacred texts mentions the presence of hundreds of sites

at Gaya for performing the rites, at present there are only 45 vedis
where sacred rites are performed out of which only 12 sacred sites
are commonly visited by the sacrificers. It is also said that most of
the ancient sites are now in ruins and some of them have already
lost their identity. It is said that as per a survey less than 10% of
the people visiting Gaya perform ancestral rites at all the 12 places
whereas the majority visit only three places.

After performing sacred rites at the banks of river Phalgu the Pindas
(rice balls) are offered to the cow there, at Vishnu Pada temple the
Pindas are dropped on the Lotus foot of Lord Maha Vishnu, and at
Akshayavat they are dropped at the roots of the Banyan tree.

There is also a custom and tradition of asking Gaya Brahmins if they

are satisfied after performing the ceremony at Akshayavat.
According to the legend Brahmins at Gaya do not get satisfied easily
and it is only an attempt to make them satisfy by asking them
symbolically. As per the legend it is due to a curse given by Goddess
Sita Devi.

After the cermonies are over charity is given to Brahmins at Gaya in

the form of Hiranya Danam (in cash). Of course charity can also be
given in kind also if one is prepared in advance like Rice, Ghee,
Jaggery, Honey, Grandha (Book), Vasthra, Paada Raksha (Chappals),
Umbrella, Hand Stick, Fan, Sayya (Bedding), Phala (Fruits), Bell
(Ghanta), Paathra (brass/silver vessel), Asana (Mat), Nava Dhanya
which are called shodasa Danas. The best is Anna Danam, feeding
Brahmins. It is said and believed that feeding one brahmin at Gaya
brings the same virtue what one would get by feeding one crore
Brahmins elsewhere.

After performing ceremony under the Banyan tree, one is required to

shed for rest of the life at least three food items one sweet, one fruit
and a one vegetable (besides eating in the leaf of Banyan Tree). The
Logic and philosophy is to only get detached from materialistic
things and to begin with the food items.

One of the maxims of theertha vidhi prohibits from fasting and

getting ones head tonsured at Gaya. Similar prohibition is also
mentioned for other places like Badrinath, Kurukshetra,
Jagannathpuri (Puri). There is no time restriction on the
performance of shraddha rituals at Gaya and they can be performed
at any time.

Pinda Daana is the most important vidhi to be followed at Gaya

Kshetra. The moment one reaches Gaya one should immediately
offer Pinda Daana and then only visit the temple of Lord Gadhadhara
(Vishnu). Gaya is a place where Vedic rites are performed not only
for forefathers but also for any one (a friend, an acquaintance)
irrespective of the caste, religion or community.

Facilities at Gaya for performing rites

Some of the religious mutts, theertha purohits hailing from Gaya as
well as from other parts of the country (especially south India)
provide guidance and offer facilities to the pilgrims for performing
ancestral rites.

One such venue where facilities are available (stay, food, guide,
and Purohit) is at Karnataka Bhavan, Ram Sager, Nai Sadak Road,
Near Panch Mahalla, Gaya – 823001. Contact Person: Sri Shodshi
M.N. Bacchu Acharya s/o Late M. Narayana Acharya (Purohit),
Krishna Acharya or Raghavendra Acharya Tele No: 0631-2435432 –
Mobile No: 99318-40631, 99340-23514 (from Gaya Rly station the
auto charges will be approx Rs.75 to 100). Charge for the rituals -
Rs.750/- per family.

Another venue : Manager, Shri Vidyadheesha Bhavana, Uttaradhi

Math, Vishnupadamandir, Gaya 823001 - Phone No: 0631-2426311

How to reach Gaya?

Gaya town is well connected to the rest of India and the world by
rail and road and airways.

By Rail: Gaya is the second most important railway junction in the

state of Bihar connected to all the four metro cities (Delhi, Mumbai,
Chennai, and Kolkatta). It is also directly connected to other
important cities like, Patna, Varanasi, Allahabad, Lucknow, Kanpur,
Nagpur, Puri (Orissa), Ahmadabad etc. It is on the Delhi - Howrah
main line. While coming from Delhi, Gaya will be after Kanpur,
Allahabad and Varanasi. While coming from Kolkatta it will be after
Patna.

By Road: Gaya is well connected by Road to all important major

cities.

By Air: Gaya Airport is the only international airport in Bihar and

Jharkhand taken together. It is an international airport connected to
Colombo, Bangkok, Thailand, Singapore and Bhutan. Gaya airport is
approx 20 km from Gaya and about 5km from Bodh Gaya.

GAYA - The Pithru Kshethra (Part-3)

GAYA LEGENDS
Gaya Kshetra has acquired lot of prominence in Hindu philosophy
and it is dedicated to Pitru Devathas. In many pouranic scripts we
find its mention and reference. There are many legends related to
Gaya Kshetra and its Mahatmya. Some of them are,

Legend of Gayasura and Vishnu Padam

Once upon a time there lived a demon King called Gayasura who was
a staunch devotee of Lord Maha Vishnu. Once he did a long penance
and when Lord Vishnu appeared before him Gayasura asked him to
give a boon so that where he lives would become the most sacred of
all the theerthas and also who ever see him or touch him will attain
Mukthi (salvation) immediately. The boon was granted by Lord
Vishnu accordingly. Because of the boon everybody started attaining
Mukthi and this has intruded the jurisdiction of Lord Yama who rules
the death.

Then the Trinity Lords approached Gayasura in the guise of Brahmins and
asked him for a holy place to perform a sacred Yagna by them. They
proposed to perform the Yagna on the body of Gayasura since it was very
sacred and celestial by virtue of the boon given by Lord Vishnu which was
accepted by Gayasura. The agreement was that the yagna would be held
for seven days on the body of Gayasura during which time he was not
supposed to get up and deviation of which Gayasura would have to face
the death. This was actually a plot to kill him.

Accordingly Gayasura stretched and developed his body and slept on the
earth with his head in Gaya of Bihar (Siro Gaya), his Navel portion in
Jajpur of Orissa (Nabhi Gaya) and his legs in Pithapuram of Andhra
Pradesh (Pada Gaya). The yagna commenced and Gayasura was getting
frustrated with the heat of sacred fire but was not moving his body. Six
days have past and foreseeing the danger of Gayasura’s success of
completing seven days, Lord Shiva took the form of a rooster and crowed
at midnight. Assuming it as a wake up call in the morning Gayasura woke
up and the Yagna got destroyed. Then the three Brahmins revealed their
original form and Lord Vishnu told Gayasura that now he had to be killed
and accordingly stepped his foot on the chest of Gayasura and subdued
him.

There is also another version “As Gayasura started getting disturbed the
Deities kept a big stone called Dharmashila on the head of Gayasura and all
of them stood on it. Besides they also requested Lord Maha Vishnu to keep
his foot on the stone so that he would not get up. Accordingly Lord Vishnu
stepped on him with his foot and Gayasura started slowly succumbing to
the pressure.”

Before killing Lord Vishnu granted him Mukthi and gave him a boon that
his body would become a sacrosanct place for performing sacred rites for
departed souls and the place would get immortalized in his name. On
request of Gayasura He also gave a boon that who ever perform ancestral
rites at this place and offer Pindas on his body site their ancestors would
get salvation besides the people performing the rites and touching the
spot. There is also a belief that Lord Maha Vishnu while answering one of
Gayasura’s queries had said that the day Pindas stop falling in his mouth
that day he can get up. But since then there is a continuous flow of Pindas
falling at this spot and there is no stop to the rituals.

It is the same foot print of Lord Maha Vishnu that is being worshipped
today and on which sacred Pindas are being offered by the pilgrims after
performing ancestral rites at this place. The place became famous as Gaya
or Gayasirsha where all the Deities including the Trinity Lords reside
always.

Legend related to Dharmashila

There was a sage by name Marichi who was the son of Lord Brahma who
got married to a person by name Dharmavratha. One day she was washing
her husband Marichi’s feet after he returned from forest. At that time Lord
Brahma appeared there suddenly. Dharmavratha was in a fix as to whom
to attend first. Finally she decided to attend to Lord Brahma first. This
action angered sage Marichi and he cursed her of becoming a stone.
Dharmavratha got very much disturbed with her husband’s action and
started praying Lord Maha Vishnu who appeared in front of her.
Dharmavratha requested Lord Vishnu to reverse the curse given by her
husband.

Since Marichi was a very powerful sage, Lord Vishnu told her that the curse
could not be reversed. Instead it would be converted into a boon by
making the stone very sacred and celestial to all the Gods and also ensure
that all the Gods reside in it. This was the same stone that was kept on the
body of Gayasura when he was killed, on which Lord Vishnu had stepped
with his foot. By the presence of all Deities in it the stone became very
sacred and celestial to be known as Dharmashila. It is said that even a
touch of this Dharmashila at Gaya Kshetra in Vishnupada Temple would
result in salvation.
Legend related to Gaya Mahatmya
(Significance of ancestral rites at Gaya)

In olden times there lived a sage by name Dhaibhya who once went to
Gaya Kshetra and performed sacred rites (Pinda Pradhana) to his
forefathers with utmost devotion and after that started doing penance at
this place. One day while he was doing penance a cosmic plane appeared
before him and a divine person got down from it and asked him why was
he doing this penance? Then the sage Dhaibhya in reply asked the cosmic
person to disclose his details.

The cosmic person told the sage that he was the Brahma Manasa Puthra
and brother of Rudra called Sanathkumara who lives in one of the urdhva
lokas (Jano loka). He further said, O’ Sage “you have performed Pinda
Pradhana at Gaya Kshetra with the result the entire Brahma Vamsa got the
benefit and I have come here to bless you and show my affinity towards
you.” On further questioning by sage as to how his action had benefited,
Sanathkumara started narrating an incident related to Gaya Mahatmya.

In olden times there lived a king called Vishala who was a highly spiritual
and religious minded person ruling his kingdom in Dharma Marga. His only
shortfall was lack of children. On being advised by his purohits the king
went to Gaya Kshetra and performed sacred rites to his forefathers (Pinda
Dana, Thila Tharpana). While doing so there appeared three persons in the
sky who were in three different colours (white, red and black) and they
started glaring at the King with love and affection.

On being asked the white coloured person started telling that, “he was his
father, the red coloured person was his grand father who had committed
lot of sins while he was alive and the black coloured person was his great
grand father who also had committed similar worst sins during his life
time. Due to this they were suffering in the hell. Because of good deeds
done, I have (white coloured person) acquired the heavenly status.” Now,
due to your visit to the Gaya Kshetra and performing sacred rites (Pinda
daana) your grand father and great grand father have been released from
the hell and have joined me in the heaven. Thus you are responsible for the
liberation of your forefathers from the hell by performing Pinda Pradhana
and Tharpana at Gaya Kshetra. Now we are happily going to Pitru Loka and
have come here to see you and bless you.

After this incident the king Vishala returned to his kingdom and soon was
blessed with a son. Hence, this place (Gaya) has acquired lot of
significance and Lord Maha Vishnu holding mace in his hand is residing
here. Thus spoke Sanathkumara to the sage Dhaibhya and disappeared.

Legend of Sita Devi's Curse to Phalgu River

The story goes like this. During the Ramayana Lord Sri Rama along with his
consort Goddess Sita Devi and his brother Lakshmana visited Gaya Kshetra
for performing sacred rites to his forefathers (Dasaratha and others).
While the brothers were taking bath Sita Devi was sitting on the banks of
the river and playing with sand. Suddenly Dasaratha (father of Sri Rama)
appeared out of the sand and asked Sita Devi to offer Pindam. While Sita
Devi asked him to wait till his sons come back and offer Pindam in
traditional way, Dasaratha was not prepared to wait. Instead he asked Sita
Devi to offer him the Pindam made up of sand that was in her hand. With
no other option available Sita offered Dasaratha the Pindam made up of
Sand with five witnesses to her action. The witnesses were Phalgu River,
Akshaya Vatam, a Brahmin, a Cow and a Tulasi Plant.

In those days ancestors were arriving personally to collect their share of

sacred rites. When Sri Rama returned and started the rituals his father
Dasaratha did not appear and he wondered as to why. Sita then told him as
to what has happened and when Sri Rama did not believe she asked the
witnesses to tell the truth. None but the Akshaya Vat told the truth to Sri
Rama.In her anger Sita cursed the other four to the effect that the river
Phalgu henceforth would not have water at Gaya, the Cow would no longer
be worshipped from the front, there would be no Tulasi Plants in Gaya and
Gaya Brahmins would never get satisfied and would always crave for more
and more. Since Akshayavata revealed the truth Sita Devi blessed her that
thenceforth who ever comes to Gaya for performing sacred rites would
also perform the Pinda Pradanam at the site of Akshaya Vata.

Other stories related to Gaya

It is said that when the demon Gayasura was killed by Lord Maha Vishnu
the body was cut into three parts out of which the upper portion had fallen
at Gaya (Bihar) called Siro Gaya or Seersha Gaya, the middle portion had
fallen at Jajpur (Orissa) called Nabhi Gaya and the bottom portion had
fallen at Pithapuram (Andhra Pradesh) called Paada Gaya. As per another
script the three places are Siro Gaya (Kapali Gaya) at Badrinath, Nabhi
Gaya at Naimisharanya and the Paada Gaya at Gaya (near Patna in Bihar).

It is said that as per mythology, there are five Gaya Kshetras. They are
Pithru Gaya (Siro Gaya) at Gaya (Bihar) on the banks of river Phalgu,
Mathru Gaya at Siddhpur (Gujarat), Nabhi Gaya at Jajpur (Orissa) on the
banks of Vaitharani river, Paada Gaya at Pithapuram (Andhra Pradesh) and
Kapali Gaya at Badrinath. It is believed and said that Lord Parashurama
(Dynamic Avathara of Lord Vishnu) had performed Pinda daan to his
mother at Siddhpur.

Conclusion

Gaya is one of the great places of pilgrimage in India and has attained
special sanctity among the Hindus and Hindu religion who strongly believe
that it is incumbent on every Hindu to visit Gaya and make offerings to the
departed souls of his ancestors. Mythologically described as the last among
the three pillars in the “Holy Bridge to the Heaven” and praised as the
most sacred place for ancestral rituals, the city Gaya has existed since time
immemorial with its traditions of ancestral rites.

Vanamaali Gadee Shaarngi Shanki Chakri Cha Nandaki

SrimanNarayano Vishnur Vasudevoabhirakshathu