Gaya is one of the sacred pilgrimage destinations visited by thousands of devotees. Gaya is also considered to be the gateway to salvation. You can find huge crowds visiting Gaya to pay their respects to their ancestors’ souls during the month of Pitrupaksha. Gaya is a revered site for Hindus, Jains, and Buddhists, and it holds great significance in their respective religions.
But apart from that, Gaya is mostly revered for its Pind Daan rituals. Gaya is one of the holiest places for Pind Daan in India. This blog will cover everything that you need to know about Pind Daan in Gaya. This is your guide to all the important rituals, pooja samagri, dates & timings, Pind Daan significance, and more.
Pind Daan Meaning in Hinduism
Pind Daan is a Shodash Samskara in the Hindus. This ritual is performed for the departed souls of the ancestors so that their souls may attain moksha. In the ritual, family members offer cooked rice and sesame seeds, called Pind, to the ancestors. Sesame seeds, cooked rice, and water are the three main offerings for the Gayaji Tirth Pind Daan. The Pind Daan ceremonies are performed during the Pitrupaksha month of the Hindu calendar, which is in September.
Importance of Pind Daan in Hinduism
The funeral rites of the departed are performed every year. But what is its importance and significance? Here’s why the Pind Daan pooja is so important.
Liberation: These ancient funeral rites are believed to provide peace and liberation to the souls who are still wandering in the world of the living and help them move on. According to the sacred Hindu texts, if the family of the deceased performs these rites, their souls get free from the eternal cycle of life and death, attaining true moksha.
Blessing to the Family: It is mentioned in the sacred sculptures that the families that perform these rites for their departed members bring happiness, prosperity, success, and peace. Similarly, those who don’t perform the ceremonies bring negative effects like unhappiness, various obstacles, negative atmosphere, depression, bad luck, and so on. It has a term in horoscopes, ‘Pitru Dosha’. It simply means that the ancestors’ souls are not satisfied and still linger in the living world, causing disturbance in the family.
Observations during Pitrupaksha: The Pind Daan ceremony is done during the month of Pitrupaksha or on the death anniversary of the deceased. This pooja, according to Hindu sacred texts, is performed in major sacred cities like Pitru Gaya, Varanasi, Haridwar, and Prayagraj.
Chanting and Prayers: The ceremony is performed under the supervision of a priest. The priest gives instructions, and the family performs different rites while chanting the mantras and prayers. Family members ask for forgiveness and pray to God for the liberation of their ancestors.
Why is Gaya Famous for Pind Daan?
There are several ancient tales associated with Gaya about the Pind Daan. There are many ancient temples dedicated to Lord Vishnu. According to the sacred epic Ramayana, this is the very place where Lord Ram, his wife Goddess Sita, and his brother Lakshman performed Pind Daan of King Dashrath on the banks of the Phalgu River. And after that, the place became famous for performing Pind Daan rites. According to the Mahabharata, Lord Krishna guided Yudhishthir about how to perform Pind Daan in Gaya.
During the Pitrupaksha month every year, a special Pitrupaksha mela is held here. The mela lasts for 18 days. People from different places visit Gaya during this time to pay homage to their departed family members and ancestors.
Gaya Pind Daan Location and Pind Daan Ritual Procedure
There are different sacred places in Gaya where the ritual can be performed. Mainly, there are three most revered places: the Phalgu River, the Akshayavat Tree, and the Vishnupad Temple. Here’s how the Pind Daan rites are performed at these places:
The rite of Pitru Tarpan is performed by the deceased’s family members at the bank of the Phalgu River. The Akshayavat Tree is also worshipped during the rituals. As per the ritual, it is said to take a dip in the Brahma Kund before starting the parting rites. The pooja is usually done by the priests of the Vishnupad temple or the nearby priests at the riverbank. During the ritual, the names of all the ancestors and the gotra are to be chanted. After the Pind Daan is complete, you can also donate clothes and other essential items to needy people as part of the ritual.
Pind Daan Pooja Samagri
Here’s a list of all the pooja samagri required for the Pind Daan in Gaya:
- Cooked rice
- Sesame seeds
- Til
- Barely flour
- Flowers
- Akshat
- Dhoop deep
- Tulsi leaves
- White threads
- Chandan milk
- Naivedya
- Doob
How to Reach Gaya for Pind Daan?
Do you also want to visit Gaya to perform rites of parting for your ancestors and departed members? If yes, then here’s an easy way to reach Gaya by flight, by train, and by road.
How to Reach Gaya by Flight?
Travelling to Gaya by flight is possible. There is the Gaya International Airport, but it is not operational yet. So the nearest airport to Gaya is the Jai Prakash Narayan International Airport, which is in Patna. From there, Gaya is around 108 km. You can easily find transportation when you arrive at the airport. You can easily get to Gaya from there.
How to Reach Gaya by Train?
Gaya has its railway station, and trains arrive at the station from different cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Chennai, and so on. You can easily get a train to Gaya from your city without any hassle. Some of the trains that regularly operate in Gaya are Rajdhani Express, Poorva Express, and Tejas Express. A vehicle for local transit in Gaya will be available right from the railway station.
How to Reach Gaya by Road?
Travelling by road is also possible for Pind Daan in Gaya. There are many public and privately run bus services with flexible schedules. With the well-built NH2, which connects Gaya to other nearby cities, it has become easy to travel by road.
There’s also the option of hiring a private cab service for seamless travel. Chiku Cab is one such cab service recognised by millions of customers for a smooth and comfortable travel experience. You can book their cab services to travel to Gaya directly without any unnecessary hassle or having to change transport again and again. The cab service in Gaya is available for outstation travels, local transits, and even airport transfers.
On top of that, you can even book your whole tour package, which includes all the essentials, from your hotel bookings to your transportation. You can book a taxi in Gaya at any time for different transit purposes. You can consider hiring Chiku Cab for a seamless experience with Pind Daan in Gaya.
FAQs About Pind Daan in Gaya
Q. How much does Gaya Pind Daan cost?
A. The cost of Pind Daan depends on the rituals being performed and the samagri required. A Pind Daan is generally performed without having to spend much.
Q. Why is Gaya famous for Pind Daan?
A. Gaya is a revered pilgrimage destination, and it’s particularly popular for performing Pind Daan rites. It is because of Gaya’s deep association with Hindu mythologies.
Q. Can I do Pind Daan anytime?
A. During the Pitrupaksho month, you can do Pind Daan at any time during the day. People fast until the ritual is complete. Pind Daan can also be performed on the death anniversary of the deceased.
Q. What happens if we don’t do Pind Daan?
A. If this ritual is not performed, the souls of the ancestors who remain in the living world won’t be able to pass on and attain liberation. It also brings bad omen and misfortune.
Q. How to reach Gaya for Pind Daan?
A. You can reach Gaya easily in different ways. You can travel by flight, by road, and by train. You can also check out private mobility services for Chiku Cab for a more comfortable experience.
Q. What are the rules for Pind daan in gaya?
A. The Phalgu River, the Vishnu Pad Temple, and the Akshay Vat Tree are the three holy places where the Pind Daan at Gaya must be performed, and in that order. You sit on the floor facing south at each location, with the pundit facing you. As instructed by the Pundit, you create the Pind balls and carry out the pooja on the ground.
Q. Which month is Pind Daan in Gaya?
A. The most popular time for doing Pind Daan in Gaya is during the 15-day Pitru Paksha, which is usually in September or October and is devoted to ancestral ceremonies. Another name for this time frame is Shradh Paksha. Although it’s the most auspicious time of year, Pind Daan can be performed at any time.
Q. Is there a difference between doing Pind Daan in Gaya vs other holy places?
A. Yes. While Pind Daan can be performed at various places like:
Rameshwaram, Haridwar, Prayagraj & Varanasi
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