Gaya is an ancient and sacred city located in Bihar. It is also called ‘Moksha Nagari’ and in Hinduism it is considered the most important place for pindadan and shraddha karma during Pitrupaksha. It is believed that by offering pindadan in Gaya, the soul of the ancestors gets salvation and saves seven generations of the family, but why is it considered so important to do Pindadan in Gaya? Let’s know what is the mythology and importance behind it?
What is the religious significance of Gaya?
Gaya holds a special place in Hinduism as an ancestral pilgrimage. Gaya has been called ‘liberation land’ in texts like Vishnu Purana and Vayu Purana. It is believed that Lord Vishnu himself sits here as Pitra deity. By performing pindadan in Gaya on the banks of the river Phalgu, not only the ancestors get heaven, but the descendants also get the blessings of happiness, peace and prosperity. The glory of Shraddha Karma in Gaya is also associated with Lord Sri Rama, who did the pindadan of his father King Dasharatha here in the Treta Yuga. This place is also special because it is believed that by doing pindadan here, the ancestors up to 21 generations are liberated.
What is the mythology of this place?
To understand the importance of Pindadan in Gaya, it is important to know the story of Gaiasura. According to the Puranas, Gaiasura was a powerful and religious asura, who is considered a descendant of Bhasmasura. He was a great devotee of Lord Vishnu and pleased Lord Vishnu with his harsh penance. When Lord Vishnu asked Gaiasura to ask for a boon, he asked for a unique boon. He asked for a boon, ‘Whoever touchs my body, he will get a direct heaven, whether it is a saint or a sinner.’ Impressed by his devotion, Lord Vishnu gave this boon.
Due to this boon, every person who touches Gaiasur’s body, no matter how sinful he is, started attaining heaven. Due to this, Yamlok started getting empty and the balance of sin and virtue in the world deteriorated. Seeing this, the gods became worried and prayed to Brahma ji to solve this problem. Brahma ji went to Gaiasura and requested him to donate his holy body for the yajna. Gaiasur offered her body to sacrifice without hesitation.
Blessing of sacrifice and salvation
Gaiasura put his body on the ground for sacrifice. The gods performed a yajna on his body and Lord Vishnu himself sits on his body. Vishnu gave a boon to Gaiasura that his body would be immortal in the form of a holy pilgrimage and whoever does the pindadan with true heart, his ancestors will attain salvation. After this, Gaiasura’s body turned into stone and became famous as a pilgrimage. Lord Vishnu also announced that he himself would reside here as ancestral deity and accept Shraddha Karma performed on the banks of the river Falgu.
Pindadan has special significance in Gaya
The tradition of Pindadan in Gaya is considered the best because it receives the special grace of Lord Vishnu. Garuda Purana states that Gaya is superior among all the pilgrimages of the earth. By doing pindadan here, not only the ancestors get Baikuntha Dham, but the family gets freedom from Pitra Dosha and blesses the happiness and prosperity. Many important places in Gaya such as Vishnupad Temple, the banks of the Falgu River and various altars are considered particularly sacred for Pindadan. Here the process of pindadan can run from one day to 3, 7 or 15 days on the basis of reverence and strength of the devotee.
The footprints of Lord Vishnu are present
Gaya’s glory is also associated with Ramayana. Religious belief is that Lord Rama gave a pindadan to his father King Dasaratha on the banks of the Falgu River in Gaya with his mother Sita and brother Lakshmana. The incident further increased the sanctity of Gaya. The footprints of Lord Vishnu are still present in the Vishnupad temple here.
