Gaya Sri Vishnu Padam (Vishnu´s foot print)
2022 ஆம் ஆண்டு செப்டம்பர் 25 ஆம் தேதி ஞாயிறன்று மஹாளய அமாவாசை கடைபிடிக்கப்படுகிறது. இந்த நாட்களில் காசி, கயா உள்ளிட்ட புனித தலங்களுக்கு சென்று முன்னோர்களுக்கு திதி கொடுக்கலாம்.
அமாவாசையில் பைரவருக்கு படையல்
காசி, கயா, ராமேஸ்வரத்தில் முன்னோர்களுக்கு தர்ப்பணம், திதி கொடுக்கலாம். காசி நகர காவல் தெய்வமாக திகழும் காலபைரவர்க்கு அமாவாசை இரவு படையலிட்டு பிதுர் தோஷநிவர்த்தியாக வேண்டி பிரார்த்தனை செய்து பின் படையல் பொருட்களை நாய்களுக்கு உணவளிக்க வேண்டும். இது போல் தொடர்ந்து செய்து வர சில மாதங்களில் பிதுர் தோஷம் குறைந்து குடும்பத்தில் அமைதி சந்தோஷம் ஏற்படும். இந்த ஆண்டு தர்ப்பணம் கொடுக்க இயலாதவர்கள் இனி வரும் காலங்களில் மறக்காமல் தர்ப்பணம் கொடுங்கள். நன்மைகள் நடக்கும்.
Temple Timings : 9 AM to 12.30 PM and from 5 PM to 8 PM.
Photography : Not Allowed
History of Vishnu Padam
The Vishnupada Mandir is an ancient temple in Gaya, India. It is a Hindu temple, dedicated to Lord Vishnu. This temple is located along the Falgu River, marked by a footprint of Lord Vishnu known as Dharmasila, incised into a block of basalt. The Shakdweepeey Brahmins have been the traditional priests at Vishnupad Mandir in Gaya as Gayawar Pandas and in the adjoining districts like Hazaribagh. Several legendary saints as Ramanujacharya, Madhvacharya, Sankaradeva and Chaitanya Mahaprabhu have visited this shrine. Vishnu foot print inside the Vishnupada Mandir, the 40 cm long footprint of Lord Vishnu is imprinted in solid rock and surrounded by a silver plated basin.
The construction date of the temple is unknown and it is believed that Rama along with Sita had visited this place. The present day structure was rebuilt by Devi Ahilya Bai Holkar, the ruler of Indore, in 1787, on the banks of the Falgu river. A flight of 1000 stone steps leads to the top of the Brahmajuni hill, 1 km southwest of the Vishnupad mandir. Visitors prefer to go to the top of Brahmajuni hill see the magnificent view of the temple from the top. There are many small temples near this temple.
Once a demon known as Gayasura did a heavy penance and sought a boon that whoever see him should attain salvation (Moksham). Since salvation is achieved through being righteous in one’s lifetime, people started obtaining it easily. To prevent immoral people from attaining salvation Lord Vishnu asked Gayasura to go beneath the earth and did so by placing his right foot on asura’s head. After pushing Gayasura below the surface of the earth, Lord Vishnu’s footprint remained on the surface that we see even today. The footprint consists of nine different symbols including Shankam, Chakram, and Gadham. These are believed to be weapons of the lord. Gayasura now pushed into earth pleaded for food. Lord Vishnu gave him a boon that every day, someone will offer him food. Whoever does so, their souls will reach heaven. The day Gayasura doesn’t get food, it is believed that he will come out. Every day, one or the other from different parts of India will pray for the welfare of his departed and offer food, feeding Gayasura.
This is believed that the temple was built with the footprints of Lord Vishnu in the center. In Hinduism, this footprint marks the act of Lord Vishnu subduing Gayasur by placing his foot on his chest. Inside the Vishnupad Mandir, the 40 cm long footprint of Lord Vishnu is imprinted in solid rock and surrounded by a silver plated basin. The height of this temple is 30 meter and it has 8 rows of beautifully carved pillars which support the pavilion.
Once a demon known as Gayasura, did a heavy penance and sought a boon that whoever sees him should attain salvation (Moksham). Since salvation is achieved through being righteous in one's lifetime, people started obtaining it easily. To prevent immoral people from attaining salvation Lord Vishnu asked Gayasura to go beneath the earth and did so by placing his right foot on asura's head. After pushing Gayasura below the surface of earth, Lord Vishnu's foot print remained on the surface that we see even today. The footprint consists of nine different symbols including Shankam, Chakram and Gadham. These are believed to be weapons of the lord. Gayasura now pushed into earth pleaded for food. Lord Vishnu gave him a boon that every day, someone will offer him food. Whoever does so, their souls will reach heaven. The day Gayasura doesn't get food, it is believed that he will come out. Every day, one or the other from different parts of India will pray for welfare of his departed and offer food, feeding Gayasura.
The temple is built of large grey granite blocks joined with iron clamps. The octagonal shrine faces east. Its pyramidal tower rises 100 feet. The tower has sloping sides with alternately indented and plain sections. The sections are set at an angle to create a series of peaks joined at the top. Within the temple stands the immortal banyan tree Akshayabat where the final rituals for the dead take place.
This place is also believed to be the one under which the Lord Buddha meditated for six years. Inside the Vishnupada Mandir, the 40 cm long footprint of Lord Vishnu is imprinted on solid rock and surrounded by a silver plated basin.
There are a gold flag and couple of Kalash made of gold has been embedded at the top of the temple which used glitter. It is said that long ago two thieves tried to steal the golden flag and the Kalash from the top of the temple, but one thief became a stone at the top of the temple and the other became a stone as he fell to the ground. The stone of the thieves still remains on public view.
