Gaya: The Sacred City of Ancestral Rites

The Spiritual Power of Gaya Shraddha

Mentioned in the Mahabharata and Puranas, Gaya is the preeminent destination in Sanatana Dharma for honoring departed parents and ancestors. According to ancient lore, Lord Rama himself performed Pind Daan for King Dasharatha at the sacred Falgu River with Devi Sita.

Three Sacred Sites (Vedi) for Pind Daan

• Falgu River: Devotees offer initial pinda balls made of rice and sesame on the sacred dry riverbed where Mother Sita offered sand pinda.
• Vishnupad Temple: Built by Queen Ahilyabai Holkar in 1787, enshrining a 40-centimeter footprint of Lord Vishnu (*Dharmasila*) imprinted into solid basalt rock.
• Akshayavat (The Undying Banyan): Devotees complete the final Shraddha rites beneath this immortal tree, followed by Brahmin Bhojan.

Travel Between Varanasi and Gaya

Gaya is situated in Bihar, approximately 250 kilometers (155 miles) east of Varanasi. The journey takes about 5 hours on National Highway 19 in our private AC vehicle, or around 3 hours via the modern Vande Bharat Express train.