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A selfie in front of Vishnupad Temple Gaya
It is believed that this place has been blessed by purificatory powers. It would be incumbent upon all sons to offer PIND (oblations) for the salvation of the soul of their ancestors. The soul could be freed from the agonies of Hell and sent to Heaven by performing Gaya Shraddha or Pind Daan in Gaya. From Hindu Mythology, Its is believed that if any person departed from the earth, her soul is wandering in earth here and there,and they did not get peace untill his any family member is not visited gaya for performing Gaya Sraddha or pind daan for him.
Devotees performing Sharadha
It is also believed that if any person sacrifice his life by any means then he or she first of all enter the Preth yoni then enter the pitar yoni and after doing Pind daan or Gaya shraddham they got moksha under the foot of Lord Vishnu in Gaya.
And it is also signifies in padma puran, Garud puran, and Shri Bhagwat Gita. It is neccesaary to perform Gaya sraddha or Pinda daan in Gaya as per Hindu Mythology.
Hindus traditionally come here to perform pind daan to honour their parents or ancestors and people also participate in the massive get together who perform the final rites of their departed family members to be freed from the agonies of Hell and sent to Heaven.
As per Hindus the King of holy place is Prayag. The Teacher of holy place is Pushkar. While Gaya is called the soul of holy place. (it is written in Bedpuran)
Gaya is only one of the places where Hindues worship their parents, ancestors with the Lord.
A Pandit Ji helping me to do offerings
A big family descretly offering worship
Devotees thronging the dieties
According to Ramayana, Lord Rama came to Gaya along with Sita for pitripaksha (or to perform pindadanam). While Lord Rama had gone to have his bath before offering this pindadanam, his father King Dasharath's hands appeared and a voice spoke to Sita asking her to offer the pindam herself, as the King was very hungry. Moved by this, Sita prepared pindams out of sand, and offered them herself to the hands that appeared to receive them. After some time, Lord Rama came back and started performing the rites. When it was time to give the pindadanam, he was surprised and pained to see his father's not receiving it. Sita then explained what had occurred. She called for the river Phalgu, a Brahman standing nearby, cow, and a banyan tree nearby as a witness to this miraculous occurrence. Except for the banyan tree that supported her, rest of them denied her story - Brahman had a greed for more money as offerings, river Phalgu in a wish to receive more offerings from Lord Rama, and the cow in awe of the Lord. So, Sita cursed the three liars. Ramayana states that on account of this curse, Phalgu River lost its water, and the river is simply a vast stretch of sand dunes.
A bridge is being built on River Phalgu which is a vast stretch of desert shown above but floods only during rains.
The immortal Banyan Tree Akshya Vat
At the same time Sita blessed a banyan tree to be immortal. This tree is known as Akshyavat. Akshyavat is combination of two words Akshya (which never decay) and Vat (Banyan tree). Once a year banyan trees shed leaves, but this particular tree never sheds its leaves which keeps it green even in times of drought.
The Pandas brought ancient books to show my lineage and in one of the books from Multan was mentioned the name of my ancestor NAND LAL written in neat Hindi and I did not believe it. He could be the same Bhai NAND LAL Goya the poet laureate of Guru Gobind Singh's fame . I am incidentally 9th descendent of great Bhai Nand Lal Goya of Multan
5 comments:
U seem to be a very learned man. Thnx for the entire post.
Partap Dhir
well written blog Preet Mohanji
You are too kind, Partap Ji.
Thanks, Rama Ji for your encouraging words.
Great Sir. I have lived so many years in GAYA during my schooling .You have written about everything which I heard & seen at this place. Thanks for very knowledgeable post.
There is a Banyan tree in our garden. When one day when I was passing near it all of us saw a big blue light on the ground and when we looked up there on the tree also was the same light we three were so astonished to see it up on the tree itself. My mom told it was a dewatha eli. Like celestial light she told us. It was a great moment I still have on my mind. I believe this writing of yours Preetmohan it is blessed to be an immortal tree. Thank you for your beautiful writing.
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