Sacred Site of the Mahabharata
Gaya
गया
Foremost tirtha for ancestral rites, visited in the tirtha-yatra
Gaya (Gaya, Bihar, on the Phalgu river): Foremost tirtha for ancestral rites, visited in the tirtha-yatra, located at coordinates 24.75°N, 85.01°E.
Key Facts
| Type | Sacred Site |
|---|---|
| Sanskrit name | गया |
| Coordinates | 24.75°N, 85.01°E |
| Modern location | Gaya, Bihar, on the Phalgu river |
| Significance | Foremost tirtha for ancestral rites, visited in the tirtha-yatra |
About Gaya
The great tirtha of the ancestors, where offerings of pinda free the fathers from debt. The Pandavas performed rites here on their pilgrimage, and the Vana Parva declares a son who offers at Gaya redeems his whole line.
Why it matters: Foremost tirtha for ancestral rites, visited in the tirtha-yatra
Details
- Parva
- Vana Parva tirtha-yatra; Anushasana Parva tirtha praises
On the Map
Gaya
Gaya sits at 24.75°N, 85.01°E, in Gaya, Bihar, on the Phalgu river.
View on the full mapEvents at Gaya
- Rites at GayaYear -23At Gaya, the tirtha that delivers the ancestors, the Pandavas offer pinda for Pandu and the departed Kurus beside the immortal banyan, the Akshaya Vata.