History, Importance, Timings, Festivals, Architecture, Interesting Facts and Travel Guide of Vishnupad Mandir, Gaya, Bihar, India
Vishnupad Temple is one of the most prominent and historic Hindu temples dedicated to Lord Vishnu. Every day, a huge number of devotees gather here to pray and seek blessings. Vishnupad Mandir is located near Gaya, Bihar's capital, which is 100 kilometers distant. The footprint of Vishnu is etched into a rock of basalt at Vishnupad Mandir, which is located on the banks of the Falgu River. Gaya is about 100 kilometres from Patna, the state capital. Gaya was formerly a component of the medieval Magadh Empire. The city is situated on the banks of the Falgu River and is designated one of Hinduism's most sacred cities. Three hills, Mangala-Gauri, Shringa-Sthan, Ram-Shila, and Brahmayoni, surround it on three sides, making it a secure and picturesque location. Gaya is a historic city with a rich history and tradition. Gaya is connected to other major towns in Bihar as well as the rest of India via various kinds of transportation.
Gaya is holy not just to Hindus but also to Buddhists, as it is home to numerous Buddhist pilgrimage sites. In Gaya, these sacred sites correspond to physical features, the majority of which exist spontaneously. The banks of the Falgu River, as well as the temples that line them, are stunning. For Hindus, Akshayavat, a peepal tree on the Falgu River's bank, is considered sacred. The tree is revered for its divine qualities.
Gayasura, a demon, once performed a penance and asked a boon that everybody who saw him would be saved (Moksham). People began to readily obtain salvation because it is obtained by being righteous during one's lifetime. Lord Vishnu requested Gayasura to descend beneath the soil, which he did by placing his right foot on the asura's head, to prevent immoral people from reaching salvation. Lord Vishnu's foot print remained on the surface of the ground after pushing Gayasura beneath it, and we can still see it today. Shankam, Chakram, and Gadham are among the nine symbols found on the footprint. These are thought to be Lord's weapons. Gayasura, who had been forced into the ground, begged for food. Lord Vishnu bestowed upon him the gift that someone would offer him meals every day. Whoever does so will have their souls enter heaven. Gayasura is said to emerge on the day he does not receive nourishment. Every day, someone from various regions of India will pray for the well-being of his departed and donate food to Gayasura.
The temple's building date is unknown, although it is thought that Rama and Sita visited the location. Devi Ahilya Bai Holkar, the ruler of Indore, rebuilt the current edifice on the banks of the Falgu river in 1787. Ahilya Bai Holkar, who designed the temple, dispatched her officers to evaluate and select the best stone for the temple from around the region, eventually settling on munger black stone as the best option in Jaynagar. Because there was no adequate road and the mountains were too far away from Gaya, the officials chose another peak near Bathani where they could carve and easily transport the stone to Gaya (a small village in Gaya district). Rajasthani craftsmen were brought in by the officers. In Patharkatti, they began carving the temple (a village and also a tourist place in Bihar). The final temple was built near the Vishnupad temple in Gaya. Many craftsmen went to their native areas after completing the temple's construction, although some of them settled in Pattharkatti village. The Bihar government has designated this location as one of the state's most popular tourism destinations. The 1000 stone stairs ascending to the top of the Brahmajuni hill, southwest of the Vishnupad mandir, provide a view of Gaya city and the popular Vishnupad temple. Near this temple, there are numerous minor temples.
The temple is said to have been erected with Lord Vishnu's footsteps in the centre. Lord Vishnu subdued Gayasur by laying his foot on his chest, according to Hindu mythology. The 40 cm long footprint of Lord Vishnu is etched in solid granite and encircled by a silver plated basin inside the Vishnupad Mandir. This temple stands 30 metres tall and features eight rows of intricately carved pillars that support the pavilion. Large grey granite blocks are joined with iron clamps to form the temple. The octagonal shrine is oriented eastward. It has a 100-foot-high pyramidal tower. The tower features sloping sides with indented and plain parts alternated. The portions are angled to form a succession of peaks that meet at the top. Within the temple, the eternal banyan tree Akshayavat is where the dead's final ceremonies are performed. A gold flag, weighing about 51 kg, flies above the shrine. A silver-coated hexagon fence known as (Garv ghiri) can be found inside the temple (pahal).
The original Vishnupad temple was later renovated in the eighteenth century by Devi Ahilyabai, the queen of Indore. While Hindus believe the footprints in the Vishunpad shrine belong to Lord Vishnu, Buddhists believe they belong to Lord Buddha. Despite this, the shrine remains a popular pilgrimage site. FESTIVALS Most Hindu and Buddhist festivals are observed in Gaya, with the following notable exceptions: The primary festival of Bihari Hindus is Chhath puja. Makar Sankranti is a harvest festival that takes place in January.
How to Reach Vishnupad Mandir, Gaya, One of the Holiest site of Hinduism, Bihar, India
Gaya being one of the major pilgrimage center and tourist destination, of Bihar where people across the world visits around the year. It is very well connected with all major cities of India via road, rail and air network. Gaya has major railway junction from where you can get train to almost all region of India. Gaya has domestic Airport and Patna international Airport is at distance of 110 km from Gaya. From where you can get flight to all major cities of India and across the globe. You can find private taxi and public transport as well from both airport to reach to Gaya. Gaya Gaya is located at just 14 km from Bodh Gaya, 115 km from Patna, 125 km from Aarah, 231 km from Ranchi, 255 km from Varanasi. You can get direct buses from Patna, Varanasi, Ranchi etc. to reach Bodh Gaya.
