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Vishnupad Temple Gaya, Attraction of Bodhgaya, Hotels in Bodhgaya, Vishnupad Temple Bihar

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Vishnu Sites - Vishnupad - Introduction

Introduction

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Introduction: 
   
Considered as second after Banaras among the holy cities in India, Gaya is situated in the state of Bihar at 100 km to the south of Patna, on the banks of the Falgu River.
    
It is renowned all over India for its Vishnu-pad Temple and Mangla-gauri Shakti Peeth. Situated close by is the world famous Buddhist site Bodhgaya where Lord Buddha attained knowledge.
    
The key ritual in Gaya is performing Shraddh and offering Pind-daan to ancestors. Therefore this place is said to be the bridge between the mortal world and the divine world.
    
The belief about the Durgeshwari Temple (Sujata Sthan) is that this is where Lord Buddha accepted food from Sujata. Buddha is said to be the ninth incarnation of Vishnu.
    
Noted anthropologist Lalit Prasad Vidyarthi studied the religious complexes and rituals of Gaya and propounded the concept of SACRED COMPLEX which is of immense help in understanding the development of Indian culture.
 

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Mythological Beliefs

Mythological Beliefs: 
   
The Gaya-Mahatmya section of Vayu Puran states that a pious demon called Gayasur who lived here, was crushed by Lord Vishnu under his feet. But he was also granted a blessing that all the Gods including Vishnu would reside on his body and the ancestors of those performing a Shraddh here would be entitled for an entry in heaven.
    
 Rigved has a reference of a sage called Gaya. Many scholars believe that the city has been named after him.
    
According to the Ramayan, Lord Ram came here with Seeta and Laxman to perform the shraddh of his father, Dashrath. It was then that Seeta cursed the Falgu River of drying up and of flowing beneath the land.
   
Mahabharat refers to it as Gayapuri where Pind-daan was performed by Bheeshm and Yudhishthir too.
    
Skand Puran names the Falgu River as Vishnupadi Ganga. It also has a reference of a Brahman called Chand Sharma who was liberated of his sins.
   
Devi Puran suggests that the breast of Bhagwati Sati fell here. Today, the Mangala-gauri Shakti Peeth exists there.
 

Historical Facts

History: 
   
In 521 B.C., Lord Buddha came here and attained knowledge in the neighbouring Urubela Village, under a peepal tree.
   
The Mauryan Emperor Ashok visited this place around 256 B.C. during his Dhamma-yatra.
   
Evidences in the form of inscriptions from Samudragupt’s period suggest that rituals of Shraddh and Pind-daan were prevalent even in those days.
   
In the 8th century, the region came under the reign of the Pal dynasty. The present temple in Bodhgaya is said to have been built by Dharmpal.
   
In 1058 A.D., Vishwaroop, the king of Gaya, built the Gadadhar Temple. He also built another temple called Krishna-Dwarika.
   
In 1786 A.D., Ahilyabai Holkar, the Queen of Indore, renovated the Vishnu-pad Temple and also built steps on the ghats in Gaya.
 

Main Places To See

Main Places To See: 
   
Vishnu-pad Temple:
 
This temple is situated in a huge complex along with about 24 other temples. The main temple is 30 metres tall and has a mandap attached to it. The temple has the footprints of Vishnu in an octagonal enclosure. The footprint has a silver umbrella above it.
    
Gadadhar:
 
This temple is situated above the Vishnu-pad Temple and has an idol of Chaturbhuj (4-armed) God.
    
Surya-kund:
 
It is 150 metres to the north of the Vishnu-pad Temple. To the west of the kund (pond) is a Surya (Sun) Temple called Dakshinark which has a 4-armed idol.
    
Uttar Manas:
 
1 km to the north of the main temple is situated this sacred lake and the Surya Temple here is called Uttarark.
    
Ram Shila:
 
About 4 km to the north of the main temple, at the edge of the Falgu River, this is a hill with temples of Ram, Shiv etc. In ancient times it was called Pret Shila.
   
Mangala-gauri:
 
It is a Shakti Peeth situated on a hill which also has an ancient temple of Lord Avimukteshwarnath.
   
Akashganga and Patalganga:
 
These are 2 ponds on another hill near Mangala-gauri. There is also a temple here.
   
Bodhgaya:
 
The ancient Urubela, situated 13 km to the south of Gaya, is Bodhgaya. It is the most sacred place for Buddhists. However even Vaishnav devotees visit in large numbers since Buddha is also considered as an incarnation of Vishnu.
 

Main Festivals

Main Festivals: 
   
Gaya Shraddh:
 
Hindus from all over India as well as overseas come to Gaya to perform shraddh and offer Pind-daan to their ancestors. It is usually held in the Ashwin month. The pandits (Pandas) here accomplish all the rituals in a distinctive manner.
    
Chhatth Puja:
 
It is a festival to worship the Sun God and is held twice in a year during the months of Chaitra and Kartik. It lasts for 3 days. In Gaya, it takes place in the Falgu River and in Uttarark and Dakshinark. Besides, a special Puja is held at a place called Dev which is 40 km from here.
    
Govardhan Puja:
 
This is a festival celebrated by the local farmers. Puja is performed in the Ashwin month with sugarcane juice and milk.
   
Kartik Snaan (Vaikunth Chaturdashi):
 
It is a key festival of the Vaishnav devotees. The main celebration takes place on the chaturdashi of Katrik month.
   
Buddha Jayanti:
 
It is celebrated on the Poornima (full moon day) of Vaishakh month (April-May). Although the main celebrations take place in Bodhgaya, a large number of Indian and foreign tourists can be seen in Gaya too.
 

Where To Stay

Where To Stay : 
   
Dharamshalas:
 
 Seth Shiv Prasadwala  Station
 Shrigulraj Ram Vilas  Chowk
 Bharat Seva Shram Sangh  Swaraj Puri Road (Station)
   
Hotels:
 
 Category  General
 Name  Surya Hotel
 Address  Civil Lines, Dak Bangla Road, Bihar
 Fax  +91 - 631 - 2224004
   
 
 Category  General
 Name  Buddha Hotel
 Address  Laxman Sahay Line, Gaya, Bihar - 823 002
 Fax  +91 - 631 - 2423428
   
 
 Category  Medium
 Name  Siddharth Hotel
 Address  Station Road, Gaya, Bihar - 823 002
 Telephone  +91 - 631 - 2436252
 Fax  +91 - 631 - 2436368
   
 
 Category  Medium
 Name  Shashi International
 Address  Bodhgaya, Gaya, Bihar - 824 231
 Telephone  +91 - 631 - 2200459
 Fax  +91 - 631 - 400 483
 Email  shashibodhgaya@hotmail.com
   
 
 Category  High
 Name  Lotus Nikko Hotel
 Address  Bodhgaya, Gaya, Bihar - 824 231
 Telephone  +91 - 631 - 2200700 / 789
 Fax  +91 - 631 - 2200788  
   
 
 Category  High
 Name  Royal Residency
 Address  Domuhan Road, Bodhgaya, Bihar - 824 231
 Telephone  +91 - 631 - 2201156
 Fax  +91 - 631 - 2200367  
 Web Site  www.theroyalresidency.net
 

Location/Climate

Location/Climate: 
 
Location
 
 Geographical  Location  Height  Above  Sea Level  Average Annual Rainfall
 Latitude  longitude  111 metres  60 cm
 24.7° N  85° E
   
 
Temperature

Temperature is given in degrees Celsius.
 
 Month  Jan   Feb   Mar   Apr  May  Jun  Jul  Aug  Sep  Oct   Nov    Dec
 Maximum   25  26  30  38  36  38  33  33  33  30  28  24
 Minimum  9  12  15  23  25  27  26  26  25  20  15  10
   
 
Important Information
Gaya is surrounded by 7 hills like Murli Shila, Ram Shila, Nagkoot, Brahmayani, Katasi etc on 3 sides and the river Falgu (Niranjana) flowing on the fourth side.
Due to the dry areas of Falgu and the presence of hills with fewer trees, this region is Bihar’s hottest and the coldest city.
The ideal time for visiting Gaya is from February to April and September to November.
 

General Information

General Information: 
 
 STD Code
 0631
 Puja Timings
 7.00 a.m - 12.00 p.m., 2.00 - 5.00 p.m.
 Police Assistance
  Tel: +91 - 631 - 242 003
 Hospital/Ambulance  Pilgrim Hospital Campus
 Tel: 98354 35095
 A. N. Magadh Medical College Hospital, Gaya
 Currency  Exchange
  Bank of India
 Harihar Market, G. B. Road, Gaya, Bihar - 823 001
 Tel : +91 - 631 - 2221009
 Canara Bank
 After K. N. Bazar, Main G. B. Road, Gaya,
 Bihar - 823 001
 Tel: +91 - 631 - 2222958
 ATM Centre  HDFC Bank
 Katruka Nivas, Gandhi Maidan (South),
 Patna - 800 001
 SBI
 Opp. Head Post Office,  Gaya Bazar, Gaya, Bihar
 Post Office
 Bodhgaya Taluka, Dist. Gaya
 Tel: +91 - 631 - 2200472
 Tourist Office
  Tourist Centre
 Gaya Railway Station, Gaya - 823 001
 Tel: +91 - 631 - 2420155
 Shopping
 Bhagalpuri bedsheets, shawls etc can be purchased  from  Chowk area.
   
 
Food
Tilkut from Gaya is very popular which is made by crushing til (sesame) with sugar or jaggery. The best Tilkut is available on Ramna Road. Kesariya Peda, Lai, Anarsa are the other sweets that can be bought from here.
 

Travel Planner

Address (Click on "A" to locate): 
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PDF File: 
application/pdf iconvishnupad.pdf
Airports in the vicinity: 
Patna
Ranchi
Gaya
Kolkata
Railway: 
 Main Railway Stations  Station Code
 Patna  PNBE
 Gaya  GAYA
 Ranchi  RNC
 Jasidih  JSME
 Bihar Sharif  BEHS
 Bhagalpur  BGP
 Kolkata  CP
Road Distance from Destinations: 
 Gaya  Patna  101 km
 Ranchi  189 km
 Kolkata  494 km
 Bihar Sharif  72 km
 Rajgir

 

  Patna  105 km
 Ranchi  225 km
 Deoghar  167 km
 Bihar Sharif  67 km
 Deoghar  Kolkata  349 km
 Patna  229 km
 Gaya  200 km
 Ranchi  264 km

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