13/10/2019
**** The Spiritual Heritage of Gaya ****
- K K Narayan
Much water has flowed down the incessant flow of the under-current of the river Falgu, which has envisaged the legendary, mythological, geological, anthropological, social, geographical, historical, political, diplomatic, religious, archaeological, philosophical, psychological, cultural and spiritual explorations down the ages. The currents and cross-currents of the River Valley Civilization on the one hand and the multitudinous ritualistic traditions on the other have made Gaya the first and the last pilgrimage of mankind. The first because it provided ample space and time for Brahma – one of the trinities – to start the Creation. It was he who appeared from the naval portion of Lord Vishnu on a blooming lotus along with the four Vedas and started creating the Universe as is symbolized by Brahmayoni Hill. And the last because Gaya is the Ultimate Pilgrimage which is supposed to pave the way for Salvation. Most of the Sages and Saints, Incarnations, Prophets, Sadgurus, Philosophers and leading personalities of spiritualism who came on the Earth from time to time have graced this place. Their august visits have enhanced the glory of this place and they too have been benefited by the spiritual aura of this pious land. There have been successive ritualistic traditions of Sun worship, Fire worship, Shakti worship, Phallus worship, Rudrabhishek, Pantheism, Judaism, Jainism, Buddhism, Tantrik Sadhna, Tripindi Sadhna, Shmashan Sadhna, Hath Yoga, Raj Yoga, Hanumat Sadhna, Dash Mahavidya Sadhna, Ganesh Sadhna, Shaivism, Vaishnavism, Kundalini Sadhna, Christianity, Islam, Panch Devopasna, Navagrah Pooja, Vihangam Yoga, Integral Yoga, Shree Yogendra Satsang, Paramguru Upasana, Pindadan, Dev Tarpan, Rishi Tarpan, Suphism, Iztema et al which reverberate with social coherence, religious tolerance, cultural harmony and spiritual insight.
Man’s eternal quest for Pleasure led him to the supra level of inner urge of Consciousness. This prompted him to look within his own self and squeeze every drop of his energy in achieving the zenith of success. Whenever he felt himself helpless before Nature he thought of seeking some help from super power. Such an approach drew his attention towards the ‘Sun-worship’. In Greek and Roman mythologies, Hyperion is the Sun God, who is son of the sky and the Earth and ‘Apollo’, the grandson. The Holy Bible, however, tells us in the Genesis of the Old Testament that the Sun and the Moon were created during the fourth day of Creation. The ‘Fire’ worship or Pantheism (Nature worship) was triggered off forthwith. However, all the mythologies of the world testify to the fact that man is the most finished creation of God. Pointing out towards the Sun worship, Lord Krishna has reiterated in the Shreemad Bhagwadgeeta that he preached the Gospel of ‘Brahma Vidya’ first to the Sun-
इमं विवस्वते योगं प्रोक्तवानहमव्ययम् l
विवस्वान्मनवे प्राह मनुरिक्ष्वाकवेsब्रवीत् ll (4/1)
Here ‘Vivaswan’ means the “Sun” to whom the imperishable science of yoga was instructed. In order to realize that state of Madhumati Vidya in the inner-self, man offers Upanishadic Prayer-
हिरण्मयेन पात्रेण सत्यस्यापि हितं मुखम् l
तत्त्वं पूषण्ण पा वृणो सत्य धर्माय दृष्टये ll
(ईशावास्योपनिषद्, 15)
Let the door of Absolute Truth lying hidden behind the golden vessel be opened and be helpful in inculcating the true spirit of ‘Dharma’. On realizing this, man imbibed the essence of Selfless Service (Nishkam Karma) which he learnt from the Sun and the other attributes of Nature like the Moon, Air, Water, Earth, Sky etc. because according to the Saankhya School of Indian Philosophy, the Purush and twenty-four elements of Prakriti operate selflessly. Kapildhara is a witness to the Penance of Maharshi Kapil who got enlightened ultimately near Gangasagar.
The opening lines of the Vedantic School of Philosophy “Athato Brahma Jigyasa” directs towards that state, the knowledge of which leads to Self-Realization. Lord Brahma was initiated by Lord Vishnu to start Creation – “Eko Aham Bahushyamah”. Consequent upon Brahma created Sanak, Sanandan, Sanatan and Sanat Kumar who remained bachelor throughout their life. Only then Saptarishis were created. They observed severe penance for many years in the caves of the Himalayas, Barabar and Rajauli, where still the caves of the Saptarishis exist. ‘Rajauli’ was formerly a part of Gaya district which is at present in Nawada district. Before the Saptarishis started leading a family life, there was a concept of Asexual creation (Amaithuni Srishti) which followed “Maithuni Srishti”. The only one stream of Spiritualism has been continuing since then as realized and propagated in different languages and techniques of the self-realization in different parts of the world from time to time. The focal point is the same but the techniques and nomenclature vary. It has been rightly said :
गणेशं च दिनेशं च दुर्गा विष्णु तथा शिवः l
एकोsहं पञ्चधार्याता माया नाम्नि पृथक् पृथक् ll
or
एकैव शक्तिः परमेश्वरस्य भिन्नाः चतुर्धा विनियोग काले l
भोगे भवानी पुरुषेषु विष्णु: कोपेषु काली समरेषु दुर्गा ll
Obviously enough, the worship of Ganesh in Maharashtra, of the Sun in Odisha, Durga or Kali in West Bengal and Assam, Vishnu in Tirupati, Chennai and Gaya, Shiv in Kashmir, Ujjain, Deoghar and Varanasi merged into Panchdevopasna all over India. This is just a noble attempt of our Rishis for National Harmony and spiritual injunction because all the five Deities lead towards only one Goal known as Ultimate Truth. The only one super power of Unseen Force is tetrafurcated into Bhawani, Vishnu, Kali and Durga in due course representing mundane pleasure (Bhog), domestic and social responsibilities (Purush), Annihilation (Anger) and inner conflict within our mind as a tug of war between Pravritti and Nivritti (Samar) respectively as per denotation vis-a-vis connotation.
There are several anecdotes and references regarding the nomenclature of ‘Gaya’. Gaya is still an enigma before us. To some he is a Rajarshi belonging to the dynasty of Manu and Ikshwaku and to others he had been the third son of BUDH and ILA. During the Pre-Vedic age he founded ‘Gaya’ on the bank of Falgu, whereas, his two elder brothers Pururava and Utkal founded Prayag and Puri respectively. Formerly Prayag was called ILAVARTA and now Allahabad. To some Gaya had been a devoted Tantrik as well as a Vediv Rishi. A few group of scholars consider Gaya as a Shaivite or Vaishnavite. Gaya had also been known as a Kol King who was quite benevolent and had made his capital on Kolahal Hill and ruled from Gaya to Palamu during 1409 B.C. onwards. From time to time Gaya has been attributed with various names viz., Brahmapuri, Amaravati, Alkapuri, Brahmaganga, Vishnulok, Gayadham, Keekat, Alamgirnagar Gayajee, Sahebganj, Ander Gaya, et al. However, in the Vedas Gaya has composed some important Richas also. The sixty third and the sixty fourth Richas of the tenth Mandal of the ‘Rig Veda’ have been composed by Gaya who had been the son of Plati, a renowned saint.
“अस्तावि जनो दिव्यो गयेन ”
As per Atharva Veda (1/14/4) there had been a famous Jadugar named Gaya who had been associated with Kashyap and Asit. In the Nirukta (12/19) the Richa of the Rig Veda (1/22/17) – इदं विष्णु विचक्रमे त्रेधा नि दधे पदम् – has been explained as –
पृथिव्यामन्तरिक्षे दिवीति शाकपूर्णिः l
समरोहनेणे विष्णुपदे गयाशिरसि इति और्णनाभ: l (12/19)
According to the ‘Buddhacharit’ by Ashwaghosh, Lord Buddha had visited the Aashram of the saint Gaya who lived at the bank of the river Niranjana. During the fourth century A.D. Gaya was completely destroyed by the earthquake. Further it was rehabilitated in due course. Gaya has been attributed with various names viz., Brahmapuri, Amaravati, Alkapuri, Brahmaganga, Vishulok, Gayadham, Keekat, Alamgirnagar, Gayajee, Sahebganj, Ander Gaya, etc.
During the month of September, a huge congregation of people with a view to paying tributes to the departed ancestors known as ‘Pitar’ by performing certain rituals for their Absolute Peace and Salvation is today called “Pitripaksha Mela (Mahasangam)”. It is solemnised for a fortnight every year.
The subsidiary canal of the Falgu river flowing south to the Vishnupad Temple (presently as a dirty nala) has been named after the great Rishi Madhushrava who had composed the “Fire Hymn” in Madhushrava Chhand as recorded in the opening part of the most ancient scripture of the world called the ‘Rig Veda’ testifies to the rich spiritualistic tradition of Gaya-
अग्निमीडे पुरोहितम् यज्ञस्य देवमृत्विजम् l होतारं रत्नधातमम् ll (ऋग्वेद,1/1)
Strangely enough, all of us are burning within ourselves under the Seven deadly sins generated and fuelled by our inner passion. In The Divine Comedy, Dante also mentions them in Inferno and Purgatorio as Sloth (आलस्य), Gluttony (लोभ), Anger (क्रोध), Covetousness (लालच), Lechery (लम्पटता), Envy (इर्ष्या) and Pride (अहं). Dante has borrowed this concept from the Italian version of the Holy Quran.
Lord Buddha also delivered his discourse of ‘Fire Sermon’ to his 500 disciples on the Brahmyoni Hill. This Sermon constitutes the genesis of the third part of T. S. Eliot’s masterpiece, ‘The Waste Land’. He had gone through the Buddhist literature during his stay at Harvard University. The vices as pointed out by Dante had also stirred the mind of Eliot. Everybody of us is required to seek the blessings of our ‘Pitars’ who always think of our well-being because they are our fore-fathers. In order to get rid of them, we first pray for their liberation because some of our own ancestors of several generations might have been suffering hellish torture. Unless they are liberated or emancipated, we can never prosper in our lives. We are bound to encounter a lot of obstacles for the whole of life ignited by worldly temptations.
In the Puranas, ‘Hiranyaksh’ and ‘Hiranyakshyap’ have the same origin and both have been considered to be own brothers. ‘Hiranya’ means ‘gold’ in Sanskrit; ‘Aksha’ means ‘eye’ whereas ‘Kashipu’ means ‘bed or pillow’. Thus ‘Hiranyaksh’ means the person whose eyes are always fixed on gold or has an unending urge for money. Similarly ‘Hiranyakashyap’ means one who makes ‘gold’ one’s bed or pillow meaning thereby hoarding of wealth. Under the spell of Hiranyakshyap syndrome within their inner-self, the people deposit their money in Swiss Banks or adopt various malpractices of hoarding money and hanker after more and more by foul means. Such people are inwardly devils and outwardly respect aspiring persons in our society.
Most of the religions are trifurcated phase-wise in course of onward transmission of the soul for Madhumati Vidya. Nomenclature varies but the Ultimate Goal is almost the same, viz.,
Hinduism – Gyaan Marg Bhakti Marg Karma Marg
Jainism – Samyak Darshan Samyak Gyaan Samyak Charitra
Buddhism – Samyak Drishti Samyak Sankalp Samyak Karma
Islam – Aquidat Tariquat Shariyat
Suphism – Haqeeqat Marifat Shariyat/Tariqat
Sikkh Darma – Gyaan Prem Karma
To tell the truth, ‘Pindadan’ is the complete surrender of the devotees on behalf of the ancestors to the Lotus Feet of Lord Vishnu or the Lord Supreme or Paramguru and seeking His grace by inculcating full devotion (Bhakti) and imbibing a feeling of broad-mindedness and universal brotherhood. During the evening worship (Shringar Darshan) of Vishnupad, ten emblems are carved on the Right Foot Print (13” in size) after embalming the Sandal-paste on the footprint. Those emblems, signifying ten essential symbols or epithets required to be inculcated, are as follows :
1) Conch-Shell (शंख) – To blow off all our evil desires and evoke the advent of Spiritualism.
2) Sharp Circular missile (चक्र) – To destroy social, communal or religious vices prevailing all around.
3) Wish-yielding tree (कल्पवृक्ष) – To aspire for everything positive in life and try to achieve effortlessly.
4) Lotus (कमल) – A feeling of inner detachment and apparent involvement.
5) Hook (अंकुश) – To curb all the negative feelings which degrade one’s inner self.
6) Flag/Banner (ध्वज) – To spread devotion, spiritualism and divinity to every nook and corner.
7) Thunderbolt (वज्र) – Ever readiness to fight against atrocities meted out to humanity at large.
8) Sesamum (तिल) – Detachment from the ancestors and the outer world which deviate our attention.
9) Barley (यव / जौ) – To grow life-giving-grains and make them accessible to all in order to avoid starvation in the society.
10) Moon (चन्द्रमा) – Providing nectar (अमृत) of Bhakti – रसो वै सः – to the people suffering under the fire of seven deadly sins enabling them to start pious life by imbibing tranquillity and cool-mindedness.
The worship is followed by offering ‘Tulsi Dal’. It stands for conservation of Nature, ecological balance as well as achieving Sublime. The Rituals at different ‘Vedis’ reflect the pleasure of various deities and donation to the needy people from each according to the capacity and each according to the requirement. It anticipates a balance between Labour (श्रम) and Capital (पूंजी) irrespective of caste and creed as propounded by Dialectical Materialism. The ultimate ‘Sufal’ is performed by offering a piece of coconut to the Chief Panda meant for the purpose. The ‘coconut’ symbolizes outward toughness and inward politeness and compassion with a view to starting a fresh journey of life in the world discharging all responsibilities selflessly and leaving no stone unturned in pleasing every strata of society by rendering our services and fulfilling their needs. This is a Prelude to social coherence and congenial life till the last breath. I beg to differ from the prevailing legend of ‘Gayasur’ among common mass caused by misinterpreting the allegorical meanings of ‘Vayu Puran’ and other such classics. If the sentiment of anybody is offended, I beg apology because never in history of Gaya any ‘Asur’ or devil has ruled. Gaya is the most sacred place of pilgrimage on the Earth pulsating with spiritual aura. Had Gaya been Asur’s place, during the Treta Yug super great grand-father of Ram named Dilip might not have been married here. According to the “Raghuvansham” by Kalidas, Sudakshina, the wife of Dilip hailed from Gaya (Magadh).
The only way to achieve Salvation is inner-cleansing of the self through the detergent of regular Dhyan and Dharana leading to ‘Asampragyat’ or ‘Nirbeej- Samadhi’ under the strict guidance of a realized saint or Paramguru. Panchkoshiya Sadhna also denotes an inner journey through five layers which cover our inner self (soul) viz., Annamaya Kosh, Pranmaya Kosh, Manomaya Kosh, Vigyanmaya Kosh and Anandmaya Kosh. Our soul remains within three bodies and eight chakras. The bodies are Physical (स्थूल), Austral (सूक्ष्म) and Causal (कारण). The eight chakras (Plexus) are Agni, Mooladhar, Swadhisthan, Manipur, Anahat, Vishuddha, Ajna and Sahasrar which ultimately culminate into Macrocosm (महाकारण).
These rituals serve the purpose of purifying our Annamaya Kosh and preparing the physical body undertake the journey of Austral and Causal ones. Even the techniques like Bhajan, Kirtan, Naam J*p or Naadi Shodhan are also meant for surmounting over Annamaya Kosh. The techniques of ‘Kriyayoga’ advocated by Lahiri Mahashay begin with Pranmaya Kosh; those of Ramkrishna Paramhans start with Manomaya Kosh; Swami Dayanand Saraswati’s techniques initiate from Vigyanmaya Kosh whereas, Chaitanya Mahaprabhu’s Sadhna originates from Anandmaya Kosh. However, according to the Sanskar of the devotees as well as the spiritual journey undertaken during the previous birth, the Guru determines the proper path and initiates the Sadhakas for self-realization. Prayers through Brahmasukta, Vishnusukta, Rudrasukta, Yamsukta and Pretsukta during the Narayanvali rituals also symbolize five phases before Salvation because our Pitars are pleased by Vaikharivani- “पितरं वाक्यमिच्छन्ति”l This is the inherent spiritualistic connotation of Gaya which can be achieved only through the Satsang of Vishnupadam or Paramguru-
Let Peace, Prosperity and Inner-happiness prevail all over the world.
सर्वे भवन्तु सुखिनः सर्वे सन्तु निरामयाः l
सर्वे भद्राणि पश्यन्तु मा कश्चित् दु:ख भागभवेत् ll
ll ॐ तत्सत् ll
Humans of Gaya thanks Professor Narayan for sumptuous narration of Gaya's spiritual history.
