Gaya ji is called as Moksh Sthali where people from Hindu religion offer Pind Daan to their ancestors who departed from this world.
The ritual is performed by the children of the family and carried out by the Panda ji. By specific procedure and Mantras the souls of the ancestors are called at Gaya Ji Dham who are yet to attain Mukti after their death
Moksh is considered as Mukti from the birth, death and rebirth cycle.
Gaya is well connected by Airways, Railways and Road with rest of the country. The nearest Airport is Buddha International Airport, Gaya and the nearest railway station is Gaya Junction. However the most preferable way is Indian Railways. Gaya is well connected with State run roadways as well as Private Bus / Taxi operators. Train services are available to almost every prominent destination to the rest of India
As per the Hindu belief with a death only the materialistic body dies while soul being immortal still remains attached to this materialistic world even after the loss of the body. As a result the soul can not detach himself / herself from this world. Being in the body less state the soul suffers immense pain.
Pind daan is a Hindu ritual known as the way of Mukti to the ancestors who departed. Mukti means Freedom from the cycle of Life and death & rebirth.
PIND DAAN is the process for the soul to achieve the relief from the pain and also paves the way for their onward journey to the ultimate world of Peace.
As per mythological story as depicted in Hindu scriptures Vayupurana, in relation to Gaya Mahatam, while creating human being, Lord Brahma created a demon named as Gayasur.
The demon Gayasur went atop the kolahal Mountain and offered great penance to Lord Vishnu. Lord Vishnu got extremely pleased with Gayasur asked him to seek one blessing. Gayasur requested Lord Vishnu, whoever comes in touch with him be it an angel or a demon, an insect, a sinner, a saint or a sage, or an evil spirit should find salvation after having been purified of all sins. From that day with the blessings of Lord Vishnu one who comes in touch with Gayasur finds salvation and proceed to Vaikunth Dham ( place of Lord Vishnu ).
Though there is no concrete evidence since when the Pind daan started but it is believed Lord Brahma first performed the pind daan ritual in Gaya. Since then this ritual is being performed by millions of people across.
However Pind daan can be performed around the year but offering pind daan during the dark fortnight of Ashvin is of immense significance.
In simple terms the word pind means a body while the word daan denotes charity or giving. Therefore, pind daan means giving charity to the body of the departed soul.
Pind is a symbolic representation made of a mixture of oats and rice flour with some sesame seeds mixed along with some milk and honey. A total of seven such balls are made of 100 grams of flour. Of these, one is offered to the deceased and the rest to other ancestors.
Pitripaksh Mela or Pinddaan mela starts from the day of Bhadra Shuklapaksh (Anant Chaturdashi Puja) and ends on Pratipada of Ashwin Shuklapaksha according to the Hindi Calendar Pitripaksh Mela is very important for religious, mythological & historical aspects. Offering Pind Daan during the dark fortnight of Ashvin is of auspicious significance.
Ekodristi Gaya Shradha is a kind of TIRTH SHRADHA, completed in one day only at the three important vedis Vishnupad temple, The Falgu river (Niranjana, as mentioned in Ramayana) bank and Akshaybat ,
For a unusual/accidental death the pilgrims have to also perform Pind Daan at PRETSHILA (hill), Gaya kup and Dharmaranya also.
Narayan Bali Shradha is performed to get rid of ancestral curse (Pitru dosh /Pitru Shaap), Narayan Bali Shradha is performed as the same ritual as Hindu funeral with an artificial body mostly made of five metals ( Panch Dhatu ).
Mantras are used to invoke such souls who are having certain unfulfilled wishes. The ritual makes the soul to possess the artificial body and the funeral frees them from this materialistic world.
Naag Bali Shradha is performed to get rid of sin of killing snake, specially Cobra (Naag) which is worshiped in India. In this ritual also the funeral is performed on the body of snake made with wheat dough and metals.
Tripindi Shradha is performed in the memory of the dear ones departed. It is believed if the offerings are not made for three consecutive years, the departed ones get Pret Yoni,
This religious act is performed at a holy place meant for demon liberation or sacrifice. In Hindu religion Lord Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh are the three main Gods in this rite.
There are total of 54 Vedis where Pind Daan is to be performed. However the most important Vedis are Vishnupad temple, The Falgu river bank and Akshaybat
Once Pind Daan is performed at Gaya Ji, the ancestors attain the Moksh and free from hell and goes to the Heaven
| Poonpoon charan Puja | Munda Pristha | Go pada | Garpashagni |
| Dharmaranya | Ram Shilla | Go Prachar | Gajakaran |
| Ganeshpada | Amrasichen | Udichi | AkshayBata |
| Gayasur | Kanna pada | Yagnipada | Brahmapada |
| Dakhin Manas | Jiwha loll | Falgu River | Adi Gaya |
| Agastha pada | Ahabaniagni | BodhGaya | Ram Kund |
| Gada Loll | RamGaya | Sandyagnipada | Rudrapada |
| Kankhal | Gyatri Ghat | Gayakup | Souvagyadan |
| Dadhisthi pada | Vishnupada | Kartikpada | Gajadhar Jee |
| Brahma Kund | Dhout Pada | Indrapada | Suryapada |
| Brahma Sarower | Kagbali | Dhud Tarpan | SitaKund |
| Yagnipada | Brahmapada | Dakhin Manas | Mat Gowapi |
| Dhadikhagni | Sarswati | Pretshilla | Bhim Gaya |
| Kahsyapada | Chandrapada | Uttarmanas | Baitarni |
| Souvagyadan | RamGaya | Sandyagnipada | Rudrapada |
