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Showing posts from March, 2009

GAYA MAHATMYA - GAYA LEGENDS

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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 several legends related to Gaya Kshetra and its Mahatmya. Some of them are... Legend of Gayasura & Vishnu Paada Once upon a time there lived a demon King called Gayasura who was a staunch devotee of Lord 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 (Gayasura) lives would become the most sacred of all the theerthas and also who ever see him or touch him will attain Mukthi (salvation) immediately. 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 the...

Theertha Vidhi at Gaya Kshethra - Significance of Gaya Sraaddha

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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 region of Gaya is considered sacrosanct and performing r...

GAYA - The Pithru Kshethra (Significance & Holy places)

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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 ov...