Adhyaya 104

हिन्दी अर्थ

सब से ज्येष्ठ थे । कश्य१ के अद्वमेध यज्ञ के अन्तगंत अतिरात्र याम के सौत्य दिवस के अवसर पर वह प्रथम

English

Henceforth I shall explain the excellent greatness of Gaya 2 on hearing which one is absolved of all sins. There is no doubt in this. This is a Sthala-Purapa glorifying the sacredness of Gaya. It has a tenuous relation with the Va. as it comes after the Phala Sruti etc. showing the completion of the Va. P. Gaya, as a sacred place, was famous in pre- Buddhist limes as Auniavabha's mention of Samarohana, Visnupada and Gayasiras (all sacred spots at Gaya) as the three steps of Trivikraraa, in RV. I. 22.17, is recorded by Yaska (Nirukta 12.19). We have Gaya Mdhdtmya in Mbh. Vana. Chs. 84-95, Garuda Chs. 82-86, AP Ghs. 114-116, KP 11.35, NP Uttarabhaga 44-47. A number of verses are common in the works. It shows that probably there must have been an ancient independent Sthala- Purapa called Gaya Mdhdtmya which was the source of the different Gaya Mahatmyas in these works. The name indicates that it must have been the site of the hermitage or capital of King Gaya. A pious king Gaya, the son of king Samudravijaya of Rajagrha, the eleventh Gakravartin as mentioned in Uttarddhyayana Sutra a work of Svetambara Jaina Agama. Buddha's visits to Gayaslsa (Gayasirsa) and hermitage of Kasyapa at Gaya are recorded in the Pali canon ( Maha- Once upon a time, the celestial sage Narada was acco¬ mpanied by Sanaka and other blessed sages. Bowing duly to Sanatkumara, he enquired thus: O Sanatkumara, please recount to me that holy plsce which is the most excellent of all excellent sacred places and which saves all living beings who read about it or listen to it. I shall recount the holy and excellent sacred centre which saves all by means of (performance of) Sraddha and other holy rites. Listen to the description of the holy place Gaya which is superior to all other holy centres in the whole of the country.

हिन्दी अर्थ

हिरष्यकशिपुर्नाम प्रथम ह्ृत्विगासनम् । दित्या गर्भाद्विनिःसृत्य तत्रा5इसीनोच्चसंसदि ॥ कश्यपस्याश्वमेधोभ्त्पुण्यो वे पुष्करे पुरा । ऋषिभिदेंवताभिश्न गन्धर्वरपशोभितः ५३

English

Gaya, the Asura, performed penance. He was requested (toofTerhis body) for the performance of a sacrifice by god Brahma. Dharma placed a slab of stone on his (Gaya's) head, when he offered (his body). There Brahma performed a sacrifice. In order to keep the demon Gaya steady and immovable day and night (for ever), Gadadhara (themace-wielder Visnu) too stayed there assuming the form of the (river) Phalgu and other sacred places, along with prominent Brahmanas, god Brahma and other Devas. After concluding his sacrifice, Brahma granted houses etc. to the Brahmanas. He had performed the sacrifice at Gaya in the beginning of the Sveta Varahakalpa. The holy centre became famous by the name Gaya after (the demon) Gaya. This holy centre is liked by god Tf the son goes to Gaya and offers balls of rice (to the Pitjrs) they will realise the benefit of (their) having such a son. If the son remains there for three fortnights, he sanctifies his family till the seventh generation. If that is not possible, let him stay there for fifteen days, or seven nights or (at least) three nights. Sins accumulated during the long period of a Maha Kalpa perish on reaching Gaya. One should offer balls of rice to the Pitrs and others. He can even offer the Pinzas to himself, but without including gingelly seeds in that case.

हिन्दी अर्थ

उत्कृष्टेनेब विधिना आख्यानादो यथाविधि । आसनान्युपक्लप्तानि काच्नानि तु पच्च वे.

English

By performing the Sraddha at Gaya, all the sins such as those resulting from Brahmana-slaughter, addiction to wine, stealing (gold), intercourse with the wife of the preceptor and those due to the association with those sinners, perish com¬ pletely. Whether it is by one's own son or another's son, if the Pin$a is offered in one's name anywhere on the ground at Gaya at any time, one is transported to the eternal Brahman. There are four modes of attaining liberation, viz. (1) through the knowledge of Brahman, (2) through performance of Sraddha at Gaya, (3) (by) death in a cowshed, and (4) through residence at Kuruksetra. 1 If the son goes to Gaya, of what avail is the knowledge of Brahman; what is the necessity of dying in a cowshed; and what is the need for a residence at Kuruksetra? The real devotee may offer Pinzas at Gaya at any time. It should not be discarded during the intercalary month, or on one's birthday or when Jupiter and Venus are set, or when Jupiter is in the Zodiac of Simha (Leo). If by ill-luck or inadvertence or when one is struck or wounded (one is un- Cf. NP. II (Uttara) 44.30; AP, 115.5-6.

हिन्दी अर्थ

पुत्र दिति के गर्भ से निकल कर सभामण्डप में लगे हुए सर्वोच्च सिंहासन पर, जो पुरोहित के लिये निर्दिष्ट था, समाधीन हो गया । अपने इसी अद्भुत कर्म के कारण वह हिरण्यकक्षिपु लाम से स्मरण किया ऋषियों ने कहा--प्रभो ! देत्यपति महात्मा हिरण्यकशिपु का जन्म वृत्तान्व एवं प्रभाव का विस्तार पूर्वक वर्णन हमसे कीजिये ।५३। क्‍

English

Even the opportunity to go to Gaya once or to offer Pinda even once is very rare to achieve. What then, if one is able to stay in it for ever? If accidentally one dies in this holy centre which confers salvation even upon Brahma and others, one attains salvation in the same manner as through the realisation of Brahman. There is no doubt about tthis. In order to redeem the Pitrs who might have died due to wormbites etc., one should be wise enough to make all efforts to perform Sraddha at Gaya. One should honour and propitiate with Havyas and Kayyas (offerings) the Brahmanas who had been assigned the right of receiving those things by Brahma himself. If they are pleased, all the Pitys and Devas will be pleased. Except in the case of the holy centres of Kuruksetra, Visala, Viraja and Gaya in all the holy centres, it has been ordained that the devotees should shave off their head and observe fast. A Bhiksu (a recluse) need not offer balls of rice after going to Gaya. It is enough if he shows his staff. After placing his staff at the feet (the footprint) of Visnu he becomes liberated along with all his forefathers. 1

हिन्दी अर्थ

सूत ने कह्टा--ऋषिवृस्द !” प्राचीन काल में पुष्कर क्षेत्र में कश्यप का एक अश्वमेष यज्ञ हुआ था, जिसमें ऋषि देवताओं एवं गन्धर्वथों के समुद्र आकर उस यज्ञ को झोभावद्धि कर रुहे थे । उस महान् यज्ञ में शास्त्रीय विधि सम्मत आख्यान आदि के लिये पाँच सुबर्णं मिमित आसन स्थापित किये गये थे ।५३-५४। कुश से पबित्रित तीम आसन ये, एक पर कूच (कुश को मुट्ठी) ओर पाँचवे पर फलक स्थापित

English

Really the staff-bearing ascetic (Sannyasin) does not incur sins or acquire merits. Hence he renounces all activities and meditates on Visnu with noble thoughts. One may renounce all Karmans but should not for¬ swear the Vedas. He should shave liis head outside the limits of the holy centre to the east, west, south or north. The area of the sacred place of Gaya, as declared by Brahma, is two and a half krosas (1 krosa = 5 km.), that of the holy centre Gaya is five krosas and that of Gayasiras (Headland of Gaya) is one krosa. 2 Cf. NP. II. 45.31. Cf. N 44.16; A 42 Whatever holy places there are in the three worlds are present within 1 (the area of Gayas'iras). A person who performs Sraddha to the Pitps in the holy centre of Gaya be¬ comes free from indebtedness to them.

हिन्दी अर्थ

था । चार मुख्य पुरोहितों के लिए उन चार की स्थापना की गईं थी । उनमें एक पाँचवाँ जो सर्वेश्रेष्ठ आसन था वह होता के लिये निदिष्ट किया बया था। बहू दिव्य आसम नीचे से ऊपर तक सब सुवर्णमय था, एवं बिछावस से सुझ्ोभित हो रहा था। गर्भवती दिति, कश्यप की पत्मी के रूप में बगल में बैठी थी उसके उदर में दस सइस्र वर्ष का गर्भ था ।१५४०५७। ठीक उसी समय वह गर्भ माता के उदर से निकलकर उस पाँचवें निषसाद स गर्भोषत्र तत्राइसीनः शश्शंस च (५८ आख्यानपश्चमान्वेदान्महर्षि: काश्यपो यथा। त॑ दृष्ट्वा मुनयस्तस्य नामाकुर्वेस्तु तद्विधिम् ३५६ हिरण्यकशिपुस्तस्मात्कमंणा तेन विश्वुतः । हिरण्पाक्षोध्नुजस्तस्थ सिंहिका तस्य चानुजा ॥॥

English

He who performs Sraddha at Gayasiras uplifts a hundred generations in his family. The moment one starts on his pilgri¬ mage to Gaya, every step that he takes (on his journey of Gaya) constitutes a flight of steps leading to Svarga to his Pitrs (ancestors). At every step taken (by the son) in his journey towards Gaya, the fruit of Asvamedha is certainly acquired by him. There is no doubt in this. Pindas in Gaya are offered by means of milk pudding, Cams (cooked rice soaked in ghee), Saktu (flour of fried grains), Pisiaka, rice grains, roots etc. Powdered gingelly seeds, lumps of jaggery with ghee or mere curds, any foodstuff mixed with honey, oilcake with jaggery, raw sugar and ghee, if offered to the Pitrs yield everlasting benefits. Or worship is performed' and any seasonal fruit is offered as food or Havisya food is also offered as mentioned by the sages. On one side are all the articles of offering such as clo¬ thes and things sweetened with tasty honey. On the other side is the sacred water from the Phalgutlrtha brought after meditating on the lotus-like feet of Gadadhara (i.e. Both these are at par with each other). The procedure of the Sraddhas in the holy centres is this: Seat is offered to Pindas; Pindas are offered, then Avanejana rite is performed (water is ritualistically sprinkled on the Darbha grass); Daksina is then offered and then the Annasamkalpa (ritualistic verbal utterance of one's intention of offering food). In the Sraddhas performed in the holy centres, there is no ritualistic invocation to Pitrs. As there is no defilement through seeing (i.e. on being seen by others) there is no screen- ing of the sides. Intelligent persons should perform Sraddha with due sympathy.

हिन्दी अर्थ

राहोः सा जननी देवी विप्रत्तित्ते: परिग्रहः ६०

English

In other places, the Pitrs if and when invoked at the By a person desirous of fruits and performing Sraddhas in the holy centres all the rites must always be performed after eschewing lust, anger and covetousness. One who observes celibacy, sleeps on the bare ground, takes food only once a day, speaks only the truth, remains always pure and is always engaged in the welfare of all living beings, attains the fruits of visiting the holy centres. A self-possessed man visiting holy centres must at the outset eschew heresy. A person who does everything urged by lust, should be known as a heretic. Just as the knowers of Brahman engaged in the meditation of Brahman with single-minded attention attain the knowable object, so also the self-possessed persons performing the holy rites in the holy centres enter Brahman named Paresa (the supreme lord). The river Vaitaran! which is famous in all the three worlds, has descended into the holy centre of Gaya for saving Pitrs. One who takes the sacred bath in the Vaitarani and gifts away cows uplifts three times seven (i.e. twentyone)

हिन्दी अर्थ

त॑ ब्रह्मा छन्दयामास देत्यं तुष्टो वरेण तु । सर्वामरत्वं विप्रेशा: स्बभूतेम्य एबं च॥ योगाह्वान्विजित्य सर्वदेवत्वमास्थितः ६२ दानवाध्रासुराश्चेव देवा: समा भवन्तु वे । मारतेयंन्गहैश्वयमेष मे दीयतां बरः ६२ एवमुक्तो5थ ब्रह्मा तु तस्मै दत्त्वा यथेप्सितम् । दत्त्वा तस्मे बरान्विव्यांस्तत्रवान्तरधीयत ॥ हिरण्यकशिपुर्देत्य: शुोकर्गीतः पुरातने: ३६४ राजा हिरण्यकशिपुर्या यामाशां निेवते । तस्ये तस्य दिशे देवा नमश्रक्तुम ह॒षिशि: ६५

English

The devotee should go to the Aksayavata (the eternal fitr and nroDitiate the Brahmanas there. One who It is a rare acluevcme else in the three worlds if one when the Sun is in the Zodia< and Kumbha. Cf. A 28. Similarly rare is the opportunity, very rare indeed in the three worlds, to perform Sraddha at Gaya when the Sun is in the Zodiac Makara and also at the times of the eclipses of the Sun and the Moon. The fruit that one achieves by offering balls of rice at Gaya, cannot be described by me even in hundreds of crores of Kalpas.