City-information
for Gaya
Population 300,000
Gaya is a fairly good size city between Varanasi and Calcutta. Besides the holy places in town, there is not much to see or do in Gaya. It is 456 km west of Calcutta and 91 km south of Patna. Gaya was included in the ancient kingdom of Magadha. Two or three hundred thousand pilgrims come here each year, many to do Pinda (offer funeral cakes) and the Sraddha ceremonies for their ancestors. Gaya is the train junction for Bodh Gaya.
The greatness of Gaya is described in the Mahabharata and the Padma, Naradiya, Varaha, Kurma, Garuda and Vayu Puranas.
The main temple in Gaya is the Vishnupada Temple, where pilgrims worship the lotus footprint of Lord Vishnu and perform the sraddha ceremony to liberate their departed forefarthers. Gaya is on the bank of the sacred Phalgu (Dry) River. So-called because its bed usually appears dry, but if you scoop with your hand you at once come to clear water.
It is said that Lord Ramacandra came here with Sita to perform ceremonies for His father. This is where Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu was initiated by Iswara Puri.
The city is named after Gayasura, the son of Tripurasura. The history of Gaya is found in the Gaya Mahatmaya, an appendix to the Vayu Purana, and in a shorter form in the Agni and Garuda Puranas. The asura Gaya acquired divine powers so that anyone who saw or touched him went straight to heaven. This intruded on the jurisdiction of Yamaraja, the god of death. So Lord Vishnu killed the demon, after granting him the boon that the ground covered by his body, some ten miles in extent, would become the holiest place on earth and be known as Gaya Ksetra. The ancestors of those who perform funeral ceremonies here are supposed to be sent straight to heaven.
There are 55 places in India to perform sraddha (pinda to one's ancestors to save them from hell). Of these, Gaya is the most important place, and the Ganges is the most important river. There are 45 places to offer pinda and perform sraddha ceremonies within the 35 square mile area of Gaya Ksetra.
Indian Religions
Hindu Religions
Our Scared Land
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Temples in India
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Online Ramanaya
Online Gita
Population 300,000
Gaya is a fairly good size city between Varanasi and Calcutta. Besides the holy places in town, there is not much to see or do in Gaya. It is 456 km west of Calcutta and 91 km south of Patna. Gaya was included in the ancient kingdom of Magadha. Two or three hundred thousand pilgrims come here each year, many to do Pinda (offer funeral cakes) and the Sraddha ceremonies for their ancestors. Gaya is the train junction for Bodh Gaya.
The greatness of Gaya is described in the Mahabharata and the Padma, Naradiya, Varaha, Kurma, Garuda and Vayu Puranas.
The main temple in Gaya is the Vishnupada Temple, where pilgrims worship the lotus footprint of Lord Vishnu and perform the sraddha ceremony to liberate their departed forefarthers. Gaya is on the bank of the sacred Phalgu (Dry) River. So-called because its bed usually appears dry, but if you scoop with your hand you at once come to clear water.
It is said that Lord Ramacandra came here with Sita to perform ceremonies for His father. This is where Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu was initiated by Iswara Puri.
The city is named after Gayasura, the son of Tripurasura. The history of Gaya is found in the Gaya Mahatmaya, an appendix to the Vayu Purana, and in a shorter form in the Agni and Garuda Puranas. The asura Gaya acquired divine powers so that anyone who saw or touched him went straight to heaven. This intruded on the jurisdiction of Yamaraja, the god of death. So Lord Vishnu killed the demon, after granting him the boon that the ground covered by his body, some ten miles in extent, would become the holiest place on earth and be known as Gaya Ksetra. The ancestors of those who perform funeral ceremonies here are supposed to be sent straight to heaven.
There are 55 places in India to perform sraddha (pinda to one's ancestors to save them from hell). Of these, Gaya is the most important place, and the Ganges is the most important river. There are 45 places to offer pinda and perform sraddha ceremonies within the 35 square mile area of Gaya Ksetra.
Indian Religions
Hindu Religions
Our Scared Land
Spiritual information
Temples in India
Gods & Goddesses
Guidelines to Pilgrims
Travel Assistance
Online Ramanaya
Online Gita
Population 300,000
Gaya is a fairly good size city between Varanasi and Calcutta. Besides the holy places in town, there is not much to see or do in Gaya. It is 456 km west of Calcutta and 91 km south of Patna. Gaya was included in the ancient kingdom of Magadha. Two or three hundred thousand pilgrims come here each year, many to do Pinda (offer funeral cakes) and the Sraddha ceremonies for their ancestors. Gaya is the train junction for Bodh Gaya.
The greatness of Gaya is described in the Mahabharata and the Padma, Naradiya, Varaha, Kurma, Garuda and Vayu Puranas.
The main temple in Gaya is the Vishnupada Temple, where pilgrims worship the lotus footprint of Lord Vishnu and perform the sraddha ceremony to liberate their departed forefarthers. Gaya is on the bank of the sacred Phalgu (Dry) River. So-called because its bed usually appears dry, but if you scoop with your hand you at once come to clear water.
It is said that Lord Ramacandra came here with Sita to perform ceremonies for His father. This is where Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu was initiated by Iswara Puri.
The city is named after Gayasura, the son of Tripurasura. The history of Gaya is found in the Gaya Mahatmaya, an appendix to the Vayu Purana, and in a shorter form in the Agni and Garuda Puranas. The asura Gaya acquired divine powers so that anyone who saw or touched him went straight to heaven. This intruded on the jurisdiction of Yamaraja, the god of death. So Lord Vishnu killed the demon, after granting him the boon that the ground covered by his body, some ten miles in extent, would become the holiest place on earth and be known as Gaya Ksetra. The ancestors of those who perform funeral ceremonies here are supposed to be sent straight to heaven.
There are 55 places in India to perform sraddha (pinda to one's ancestors to save them from hell). Of these, Gaya is the most important place, and the Ganges is the most important river. There are 45 places to offer pinda and perform sraddha ceremonies within the 35 square mile area of Gaya Ksetra.
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