Gaya - Adigadadhara Mandir

Uniqueness

Gaya is one of the renowned Tristhali - Kasi, Gaya and Prayaga, the three indispensable centres of pilgrimage for pious Hindus, and occupies a preeminent place among them for reasons more than one. The first and foremost is its importance as the cradle of Buddhism, besides being, a holy thirtha kshetra for Hindus. Next comes Brahma's choice once as the fittest and holiest spot on earth for performing a sacrifice for the progress of mankind. Then follows its uniqueness as the only place, when gods of all denominations, i.e., Mukkoti devathas are dwelling and being worshipped by the devotees in accordance with the ardent wish of Gaya, granted by Brahma Himself. It is the only place, where Lord Mahavishnu is adored as Adi Gadadhara, for having used His mighty mace for a mightier cause at the instance of the mightiest creating power Brahma. And it is here the river Vaitarani descended to liberate the manes, when pindas are offered. It is the only place in our Punya Bharat, where one can offer pinda to one own self, while alive. Moreover, it is the only place, where sanyasins are granted the privilege of offering pindas to themselves by mere raising danda. It is the only place, where Vamana measured with His foot the cosmos at the time of receiving dana from Bali, according to a certain version. Above all, it is in this divya thirtha kshetra, where Sri Mahavishnu is worshipped in His three forms - Vyakta, Avyakta and Vyaktavyakta i.e. in his manifest, non-manifest, and manifest non-manifest forms, as exemplified by his being adored to his Adi Gadadhara image, standing for Vyakta form, Vishnu pada standing for Avyakta form and to the holy water of Phalguna representing His Vyakta - Vyakta form. To cap it all, it is the unique pitru kshetra enshrining several adorable vu-tues that have not fallen to the lot of similar ones.

Adi Gadadhara's Episode:

As the legend goes, once there lived in the Satya Yuga a demon by name Gada. He was exceptionally strong in his physique and was a byword for his super abundant strength. It became an object of envy to everyone including Brahma, the Creator. Having kept an eye on him, one day Brahma approached and asked him to give his bones for making a formidable weapon to be used for lokakalyana. At the very mention of the purpose, Gada deeming it an especial honour done to him, agreed; whereupon Brahma commissioned Viswakarma to make a mace out of the bones. He did. And it was presented to Lord Sri Mahavishnu for the protection of the universe. This powerful mace was used against a mighty asura by name Heti, who on performing dirgha tapas obtained the boon that he would not be destroyed with any missile, like arrow, or disc. When his misdeeds became intolerable to innocent life in asrama vatikas, lord Mahavishnu killed him with this mighty, weighty mace.

As it is imbued with uncommon inherent potentialities, it was able to suppress the raising head of Gaya during Brahma's sacrifice, when the Lord Protector standing on Dharmasila pressed it with that mace. Hence the image of Sri Mahavishnu with that mighty mace in His hand is worshipped here and he is called the 'Adi Gadahara'; for, he put to use for the first time that mighty mace to kill the mightest demon.

It is about 3 km off Patna, the famous pilgrim town of Bihar, accessible by four wheelers and autos.

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