Vishnupad Mandir
Encyclopedia
The Vishnupada Mandir is the 220 year old 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 Bhumihar Brahmin
s 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.
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 magnificent view of temple from 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 sees him should attain salvation (Moksham). Since salvation is achieved through being extreme orthodox and too good (committing no known or unknown mistakes) in one's life time, people started obtaining it easily. Unable to withstand this, 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 rock that we see even today. The footprint consists of Nine different symbols including shankam, Chakram and Gadham, which are his weapons, believed to be on the heels of the lord. Being an Asura or Rakshasha, Gayasura pleaded for food. Lord Vishnu Gave him the boon that everyday someone or the other will feed him. Whoever who does so, will show Vaikuntam/swargam for the departed soul/souls. The day Gayasura doesn't get food, it is believed that he will come out. Everyday, one or the other from different parts of India will pray for welfare of his departed and offer food at this point, thus feeding Gayasura and wishing his pitrus to attain heaven.
, 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 a has 8 rows of beautifully carved pillars which support the pavilion
. The temple is built of large gray granite blocks jointed with iron clamps. The octagonal shrine faces east. Its pyramidal tower rises up a 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 takes place.
Gaya, India
Gaya is the second largest city of Bihar, India, and it is also the headquarters of Gaya District.Gaya is 100 kilometers south of Patna, the capital city of Bihar. Situated on the banks of Falgu River , it is a place sanctified by both the Hindu and the Buddhist religions...
, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
. It is a Hindu
Hindu
Hindu refers to an identity associated with the philosophical, religious and cultural systems that are indigenous to the Indian subcontinent. As used in the Constitution of India, the word "Hindu" is also attributed to all persons professing any Indian religion...
temple
Temple
A temple is a structure reserved for religious or spiritual activities, such as prayer and sacrifice, or analogous rites. A templum constituted a sacred precinct as defined by a priest, or augur. It has the same root as the word "template," a plan in preparation of the building that was marked out...
, dedicated to Lord Vishnu
Vishnu
Vishnu is the Supreme god in the Vaishnavite tradition of Hinduism. Smarta followers of Adi Shankara, among others, venerate Vishnu as one of the five primary forms of God....
.
This temple is located along the Falgu River
Falgu River
The Falgu River which flows past Gaya, India in the Indian state of Bihar, is a sacred river for Hindus.-Course:...
, marked by a footprint of Lord Vishnu
Vishnu
Vishnu is the Supreme god in the Vaishnavite tradition of Hinduism. Smarta followers of Adi Shankara, among others, venerate Vishnu as one of the five primary forms of God....
known as Dharmasila, incised into a block of basalt. The Bhumihar Brahmin
Bhumihar
Bhumihar or Babhan or Bhuin-har is a Brahmin Hindu community mainly found in the Indian states of Bihar, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh and Bundelkhand region of Madhya Pradesh.- Varna status :...
s have been the traditional priests at Vishnupad Mandir in Gaya as Gayawar Pandas and in the adjoining districts like Hazaribagh
Hazaribagh
Hazaribagh is a city and a municipality in Hazaribagh district in the Indian state of Jharkhand. It is the divisional headquarters of North Chotanagpur division. It is famous as a health resort and for Hazaribagh National Park ....
. Several legendary saints as Ramanujacharya, Madhvacharya
Madhvacharya
Madhvācārya was the chief proponent of Tattvavāda "Philosophy of Reality", popularly known as the Dvaita school of Hindu philosophy. It is one of the three most influential Vedānta philosophies. Madhvācārya was one of the important philosophers during the Bhakti movement. He was a pioneer in...
, Sankaradeva and Chaitanya Mahaprabhu
Chaitanya Mahaprabhu
Chaitanya Mahaprabhu was a Vaishnava saint and social reformer in eastern India in the 16th century, believed by followers of Gaudiya Vaishnavism to be the full incarnation of Lord Krishna...
have visited this shrine.
History and Location
The construction date of temple is unknown and it is believed that RamaRama
Rama or full name Ramachandra is considered to be the seventh avatar of Vishnu in Hinduism, and a king of Ayodhya in ancient Indian...
along with Sita
SITA
SITA is a multinational information technology company specialising in providing IT and telecommunication services to the air transport industry...
had visited this place. The present day structure was rebuilt by Devi Ahilya Bai Holkar, the ruler of Indore
Indore
Indore is one of the major city in India, the largest city and commercial center of the state of Madhya Pradesh in central India. Indore is located 190 km west of the state capital Bhopal. According to the 2011 Indian census, Indore city has a population of 1,960,631...
, in 1787, on the banks of the Falgu river
Falgu River
The Falgu River which flows past Gaya, India in the Indian state of Bihar, is a sacred river for Hindus.-Course:...
. 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 magnificent view of temple from 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 sees him should attain salvation (Moksham). Since salvation is achieved through being extreme orthodox and too good (committing no known or unknown mistakes) in one's life time, people started obtaining it easily. Unable to withstand this, 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 rock that we see even today. The footprint consists of Nine different symbols including shankam, Chakram and Gadham, which are his weapons, believed to be on the heels of the lord. Being an Asura or Rakshasha, Gayasura pleaded for food. Lord Vishnu Gave him the boon that everyday someone or the other will feed him. Whoever who does so, will show Vaikuntam/swargam for the departed soul/souls. The day Gayasura doesn't get food, it is believed that he will come out. Everyday, one or the other from different parts of India will pray for welfare of his departed and offer food at this point, thus feeding Gayasura and wishing his pitrus to attain heaven.
Architecture
This is believed that the temple was built with the footprints of Lord Vishnu in the centre. In HinduismHinduism
Hinduism is the predominant and indigenous religious tradition of the Indian Subcontinent. Hinduism is known to its followers as , amongst many other expressions...
, 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
Silver
Silver is a metallic chemical element with the chemical symbol Ag and atomic number 47. A soft, white, lustrous transition metal, it has the highest electrical conductivity of any element and the highest thermal conductivity of any metal...
plated basin. The height
Height
Height is the measurement of vertical distance, but has two meanings in common use. It can either indicate how "tall" something is, or how "high up" it is. For example "The height of the building is 50 m" or "The height of the airplane is 10,000 m"...
of this temple is 30 meter and it a has 8 rows of beautifully carved pillars which support the pavilion
Pavilion (structure)
In architecture a pavilion has two main meanings.-Free-standing structure:Pavilion may refer to a free-standing structure sited a short distance from a main residence, whose architecture makes it an object of pleasure. Large or small, there is usually a connection with relaxation and pleasure in...
. The temple is built of large gray granite blocks jointed with iron clamps. The octagonal shrine faces east. Its pyramidal tower rises up a 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 takes place.
Mythology
- This place is also believed to be the one under which the Lord BuddhaBuddhaIn Buddhism, buddhahood is the state of perfect enlightenment attained by a buddha .In Buddhism, the term buddha usually refers to one who has become enlightened...
meditated for six years. - Inside the Vishnupada Mandir, the 40 cm long footprint of Lord Vishnu is imprinted in solid rock and surrounded by a silver plated basin.
- There is a gold flag and couple of Kalash made of gold has been embedded at the top of the temple which use to always 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 stone at the top of the temple and the other became stone as he fell to the ground. The stone of the thieves still remains on public view (it is not a man shape but a flat shape of the thieves).