gaya part-1 a wonderful tour

Brief about Gaya Gaya Kshetra is an ancient Hindu pilgrimage centre located on the banks of river Phalgu in the state of Bihar about 100km from its capital Patna which was known as Pataliputra in historic days. The name Gaya is derived from the demon king called Gayasura who by his arduous austerity pleased the gods and received the blessing that the spirit of all the divinities would reside in his body. The place Gaya is known to give mukthi (salvation) to the departed souls where Lord Maha Vishnu himself is the presiding deity dwelling in the name of Gaya Gadhadhara. Since time immemorial it is regarded as the most sacred and celestial place dedicated for performing Pinda Daana to the ancestors and forefathers where its significance has been scripted in many puranas. The place is also famously known as Bodh Gaya where Lord Buddha is said to have attained enlightenment thus becoming one of the most sacred Buddhist pilgrim centers also that attracts tourists from all over the world mostly from Buddhist countries. As per Vayu Purana and Narada Purana the five hills marking the territory of Gaya Kshetra are Pretashila (north west), Ramashila (north east), Prabhas across the Phalgu river (east), Brahmayoni (south east), and Griddhrakuta (south west). Climbing up the hills for rituals is like following a ladder passing by a bridge to reach the celestial world. One of the three most important places in Gaya mentioned during the Vedic period is Samarohana literally meaning a retreat to the celestial world that is interpreted as Prethashila. It is said that Gayasura’s body has become the landscape of Gaya Kshetra. The literal meaning of Gaya “let us go to another place” refers to coming into contact with the other realm in which we are living. It symbolizes a destination linking this world of humanity with the world of divinity the realm of ancestors. As per one of the most authoritative Sanskrit text on pilgrimage and sacred places “Tristhalisetu” Gaya is said to be the eastern most of the three pillars of the bridge to the realm of the soul the other two are Varanasi and Prayaga (Allahabad) both along the banks of river Ganga. Mythological Significance of Gaya Theertha The greatness of Gaya is said to have been described in many Puranas like Vayu Purana, Garuda Purana, Kurma Purana, Padma Purana, Varaha Purana, besides in Ramayana and Maha Bharatha. Most elaborate mythology of Gaya is said to have been mentioned in Gaya Mahatmya a part of Vayu Purana. It is said that all the sacred spots and holy images of the world are manifested in the holy territory of Gaya. It is said that as per Vayu Purana, liberation (Mukthi) of the soul is achieved by acquiring the Supreme knowledge (Brahma Gnana), by performing sacred rituals at Gaya, by dying in the act of protecting a cow, or by passing a simple life at Kurukshetra. However, performing ancestral rites at Gaya is said to be the most beneficial one which has been supported by many other puranas. As per Garuda Purana it is said that the importance of performing shraaddha rituals at Gaya can be gauged by the fact that a person becomes liberated from Pitru Rina (debts towards one’s father) once he touches the sacrosanct soil of Gaya. The reason being that Lord Maha Vishnu himself dwells there in the form of Pitru Devatha and by his divine glimpse a man is freed of all his three debts. As per Kurma Purana it is said that all forefathers appreciate a pilgrimage to Gaya by their successors. Once Pinda daana is performed one achieves salvation and becomes free of rebirth. If one visits Gaya even once and offers Pinda daana the forefathers becomes free from hell and other dreadful destinations and achieve salvation. Reference to Gaya is said to be available in Mahabharatha with respect to the Pretashila where, it is described as an Altar where one gets released even from the sin committed by killing a Brahman (Brahmahatya) Holy Places at Gaya Phalgu River It is said that Agni Purana has explained the river Phalgu as a combination of Phala (merit) + Gau (wish fulfilling cow) and its etymology implies that the river manifests the highest power of piousness added with merit. It is said that as per Vayu Purana the river Phalgu is considered to be superior to the river Ganges since it is the liquid form of Lord Vishnu whereas Ganges has originated from the foot of Lord Vishnu. Two streams Lilajan (Niranjara) and Mohana originating from a hill called Korambe Pahar about 75km south of Gaya meet together to form the river Phalgu at Gaya. It is a tributary of river Ganges and most of the time it is said to remain dry due to a curse given by Goddess Sita Devi. The river is also referred to as Gupta Ganga because most of the year its bed usually appears dry but if you scoop with your hand you will at once come to clear water. There are several ghats on the banks of river Phalgu out of which presently eleven ghats along the west bank are used for rituals, bathing and ancestral rites. Devotees visit to take sacred bath in the river Phalgu and perform sacred rituals on special occasions like Karthika Pournima (October-November), Solar Eclipse, Pitru Paksha. It is said that the water in the river acts as a healer that drive away and cure all illness. Vishnu Pada Temple (Foot print of Lord Vishnu) This is one of the greatest and the most sacred temples dedicated to Lord Maha Vishnu and also the most sacred site for performing sacred rites to the ancestors (departed souls). Lord Maha Vishnu’s foot print stamped on a solid rock called Dharmashila is the object of worship here. The foot print is said to be 16 inches long and 6 inches wide with the lotus foot of the Lord in an octagonal basin is the central point of attraction in the temple. The foot print marks the acts of Lord Vishnu subduing the demon Gayasura by placing his foot on his chest. Vishnu Paada in the centre of the Vishnupada temple is regarded as the meeting point of heaven, earth and hell. Akshayavata (Imperishable Banyan Tree) It is said that as per Mythology at the time of deluge (Pralaya) when the entire earth got submerged into water Lord Maha Vishnu slept on the leaf of Banyan Tree in the form of a child. Lord Maha Vishnu is also called by name Vatapathra Sai. This banyan tree is said to be in existence since time immemorial, undecaying and perpetual. Symbolized as a link between earth and heaven where ancestral rites are performed as a part of Gaya Shraaddha. Generally once in a year every banyan tree releases all its leaves, but it is said that this Akshayavat tree does not release its leaves at all and remain green always even in draught condition. It is said that the tree has existed since Thretha Yuga when Sitadevi gave a boon that the tree would remain immortal. It is located in the courtyard of Vishnupada temple. Mangala Gouri Temple: Known to be one of the Shakthi Peetas (Ashtadasa) it is a temple dedicated to Goddess Shakthi where she is worshipped as a Goddess of benevolence. The temple is marked by two rounded stones that symbolize the breasts of the mythological Goddess Sathi. It is believed to be the place where one of the body parts (breast) of the Goddess Sathi had fallen when Lord Shiva was carrying her body. She is worshipped as a symbol of nourishment. The temple facing east is on the top of the hill called Mangala Gouri Hill. Prapithamaheswara Temple This is an ancient temple of Lord Shiva called Prapithamaheswara who is said to be a witness deity for the performance of sacred rites to ancestors at Gaya. Its reference is said to have been mentioned in Agni Purana. It is an east facing temple adjacent to two hills called Brahmayoni and Vasmakuta. Dhakshinaarka Temple (Sun Temple) It is an ancient temple dedicated to Sun God facing east, where ancestral rites are also performed at the Surya Kunda in front of the temple. It is close to Vishnu Paada Temple. Large number of devotees visit the Sun related sites in Gaya during the months of Chaitra and Karthika corresponding to March-April and October-November months in a year. It is said that Chhath festival (worship of Sun God as the Mother) is a popular festival celebrated in Bihar. It is believed that as per Mahabharatha worship of Sun God is described as a fasting ritual and the tradition has been maintained since then. Prethashila Prethashila, the hill of the ghosts is one of the three symbolic primal objects of nature at Gaya. It is lying at a distance of about 8km to the north east of Vishnupada temple where the sacred rites are required to be performed first before even visiting the temple. It is said as per Mahabharatha that by performing rituals at this site one can get released even from the sin of killing a Brahman (Brahmahatya dosha). It is said that Vayu Purana mentions that one has to offer Pindas to ancestors on its summit, take a holy bath in the Brahma Kunda at the foot of the hill and offer its water to the divinities. It is believed that Lord Brahma had performed Ashwamedha Yaga at this place. Bodhgaya Located about 15 km from Gaya town, Bodh Gaya is one of the most sacred and well visited Buddhist pilgrim centers of India. This place is dedicated to Lord Buddha considered and believed in Hindu religion as the 9th Avathara of Lord Maha Vishnu in the list of Dasa Avathara. This is the place where Lord Buddha is said to have attained enlightenment sitting under the Bodhi Tree. There is an ancient temple of Buddha believed to have been raised by the Emperor Ashoka called Mahabodhi temple dedicated to Lord Buddha. It has a gilded image of Buddha and the height of the temple’s main tower is 150 ft. It is a famous world heritage site. The Vajrasana platform where Buddha performed his penance is located below the Bodhi Tree and this spot is said to be as the centre of the Universe. The spots where Buddha spent seven weeks have seven shrines built by devout Buddhists representing several countries. Millions of people visit Bodhgaya from all over the world. Surrounding places near Bodhgaya like Nalanda, Pataliputhra (Patna), Vaishali, and Rajgir are also popular Buddhist sites which are treated as the centers of knowledge for the ancient world. Other holy Places in Gaya: Ramashila, Sita Kunda (Rama Gaya), Brahmayoni, Uttar Manas.