gayaashraaddham

[P.K.Ramakrishnan]

गयाश्राद्धम्

The importance of Gayashraadham is
given in Mahabharatha Vanaparva
Adhyaya 83 Slokas 9, 10.

एष्टव्या बहव: पुत्रा: यद्येकोपि गयां व्रजॆत् //9
यजेत वाश्वमेधेन नीलं वा वृषमुत्सृजेत् /
उत्तारयति संतत्या दश पूर्वान् दशावरान् // 10

One should beget many sons, so that
at least one of them will go to Gaya.
Or one should conduct ashwamedha
or release a blue bull. This will emancipate
ten previous generations and ten future
generations.

While performing annual sraadham of our
father or mother, a mock pilgrimage to
Gaya is done saying GAYA GAYA GAYA
and going in the north direction.

There is also a practice that after performing
a shraaddham at Gaya, one need not perform the
shraaddam every year. Some people dispute
this.

-----------------------------------
P.K.Ramakrishnan
http://peekayar.blogspot.com