Vishnupad Temple Gaya

Vishnupad Temple Gaya
Vital Information for Visitors
Address:

Vishnupad Temple, Chand Chaura, Gaya, Bihar

Timing :

06:30 AM – 07:30 PM

Entry Fees:

Nil

Duration:

Approx 30 minutes

Famous For:

Lord Ram & Mother Sita visited this place

Gaya, a Hindu pilgrimage, is located the state of Bihar and is famous for Shraddha (श्राद्ध). The whole city has grown around Vishnupad Temple, the prime tourist attraction in Gaya. Its importance can be understood by the fact that Ram & Sita had also visited the place. Vishnupad literally means Vishnu’s feet. Vishnupad Temple (विष्णुपद मंदिर) in Gaya is built over the footprint of Lord Vishnu on a solid boulder which rises on the west bank of the Phalgu (फल्गु) River. The rock carrying the footprint is known as Dharmashila (धर्मशिला). The footprint is embellished with several symbols like ‘shankham’, ‘chakram’, ‘gadam’ etc which are indicative of the weapons of Lord Vishnu. Lord Vishnu is worshipped here as Lord Gadadhara (भगवान गदाधर), one of the manifestations of Narayana (नारायण). Several kinds of ‘puja’ (पूजा), going on throughout the day, beget ethereal spiritual ambience in the temple. Vishnupad Temple is considered by the Hindus as the ideal place to perform post-death rituals.

The temple faces east and its facade is very striking and beautiful. The temple itself was renovated by Maharani Ahilya Bai Holkar of Indore. An octagonal building about 100 feet high, the present-day Vishnupad Temple has been built by the craftsmen from Rajasthan. The threshold is guarded by high folding doors plated with silver. In the centre of the temple is an octagonal basin plated with silver, surrounding the impression on the rock of Lord Vishnu’s foot about 16 inches in length, in which the famed offerings are made. Pilgrims stand round the basin and throw in their offerings of rice and water. To the south of the temple, there is a handsome pillared hall or porch where the bare rock shows itself. The pilgrimage to this place is made by thousands of Hindus from every part of India, the number averaging from 300,000 to 400,000 per year. All the priests in Vishnupad Temple are Brahmins (ब्राह्मण). These Brahmins are known as Gayawal Brahmins or Brahma Kalpit Brahmins or Gayawal Tirth Purohit or Pandas of Gaya. The Gayawal Brahmin priests help conduct the shraddha rites to the faithful and devotees. Only Hindu faithful are permitted to enter the Vishnupad Temple.

Gaya Tour Packages

Golden Triangle with Buddhist Pilgrimage Tour

Golden Triangle with Buddhist Pilgrimage Tour

13 Nights / 14 Days
Destination : Delhi - Jaipur - Agra - Varanasi - Bodhgaya - Vaishali - Kushinagar - Lumbini - Kapilvastu - Sravasti - Balrampur

Varanasi Gaya Prayagraj Pind Daan Tour

Varanasi Gaya Prayagraj Pind Daan Tour

4 Nights / 5 Days
Destination : Varanasi - Gaya - Bodh Gaya - Prayagraj

East India with Nepal Tour

East India with Nepal Tour

13 Nights / 14 Days
Destination : Delhi- Khajuraho – Varanasi – Bodhgaya –Bhubaneswar –Puri – Konark – Kolkata – Kathmandu –Bhaktpur - Patan

Footsteps of Buddha Tour

Footsteps of Buddha Tour

10 Nights / 11 Days
Destination : Delhi - Agra - Lucknow - Sravasti - Lumbini (Nepal) - Kushinagar - Vaishali - Patna - Rajgir - Nalanda - Bodhgaya - Varanasi

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