THEERTHA VIDHI AT KAASI - GAYA - PRAYAGA..... (Useful information for devout Madhwas)... Theertha Vidhi is a part of Theertha Yathra (pilgrimage). Though different walks of people follow different customs and traditions while visiting a Theertha Kshetra, Dharma Shastras prescribe certain uniform rituals called Theertha Vidhi to be followed while visiting a Theertha Kshethra. Some of them are… Theertha Snaana (Sacred bath), Theertha Upavaasa (fasting), Theertha Mundana (Tonsuring of Head), Theertha Sraaddha (Pinda Daana), Theertha Darshana (Darshana of the local deity), Theertha Dana (charity), Theertha Vratha (Pooja/worshipping), Theertha Sravana (Paarayana/listening to the stories of Lord Sri Hari); Out of the above majority perform Theertha Sraaddha. Kasi, Gaya, Prayaga are the trinity of places where generally we find people visiting for performing sacred rites to their forefathers. One of the maxims of pilgrimage says that, one should compulsorily tonsure their head at Prayaga whereas at Gaya Kshethra fasting and tonsuring of head is prohibited. Such prohibition is also mentioned for places like Badari, Kurukshetra, Jagannathpuri (Puri). Observing Theertha Vidhi is very sacred, celestial and auspicious that yields lot of merits (phaladayaka), punyadayaka and also mukthidayaka. Performing Vedic rituals at Theertha Kshetra is infinitely more effective than performing at one’s home. THEERTHA VIDHI AT KAASI KSHETHRA... Theertha Vidhi forms part of any Theertha Yathra that too in a place like Kaasi it is highly meritorious. Kaasi is one of the trinity places where, performing sacred rites to forefathers is a must. For helping the pilgrims in observing Theertha Vidhi; Kasi has representation of various philosophies of Hindu religion. These rituals can be performed according to one’s own religious customs (sampradaya) and faiths and as per directions of the local Purohits’ representing. For performing sacred rites to forefathers as per Madhwa sampradaya, facilities are available at the following address: Madhwashram, B.4/61, Hanuman Ghat, Dr. Gopalacharya Tonpe Marg, Varanasi - Tele No: 0542-2277530; 08762895551 Contact Person: Sri Bhau Acharya Tonpe. River Ganges is within 100 meters from this place. Accommodation, food and guide facilities are available at this venue. How to reach Vaaranaasi (Kaasi)? AIR: Airport is 22 km. from Varanasi providing regular daily flight facility between Vaaranaasi and New Delhi. It also connects Vaaranaasi to other major cities. RAIL: Vaaranasi is an important and major railway junction. City is served by trains from all metros and major cities across the country. From Mughal Sarai Station (16 Km. from Varanasi) also train facilities are available. ROAD: Vaaranaasi is well connected by road and important national high ways, connecting Vaaranaasi are NH2 - NH7- NH29. Some important road distances are: Agra 565 km; Allahabad 128 km; Bhopal 791 km; Bodhgaya 240 km; Kanpur 330 km; Lucknow 286 km; Patna 246 km; Saaranaath 10 km; Useful link... bhargavasarma.blogspot/2009/02/kasi-sacrosanct-place.html GAYA KSHETHRA…. Pinda Daana is the most important Vidhi to be followed at Gaya Kshethra. The moment one reaches Gaya one should immediately offer Pinda Daana and then only visit the temple of Lord Gadhadhara (Vishnu). Gaya is a place where Vedic rites are performed not only for forefathers but also for any one (a friend, an acquaintance) irrespective of the caste, religion or community. Facilities at Gaya for performing rites (as per Madhwa sampradaya)... Some of the religious mutts, theertha purohits hailing from Gaya as well as from other parts of the country (especially south India) provide guidance and offer facilities to the pilgrims for performing ancestral rites. One such venue where facilities are available (stay, food, guide, and Purohit) is at… Karnataka Bhavan, Ram Sager, Nai Sadak Road, Near Panch Mahalla, Gaya – 823001. Contact Person: Sri Shodshi M.N. Bacchu Acharya s/o Late M. Narayana Acharya (Purohit), Krishna Acharya or Raghavendra Acharya; Tele No: 0631-2435432 – Mobile No: 99318-40631, 99340-23514 Another venue: Manager, Shri Vidyadheesha Bhavana, Uttaradhi Math, Vishnupadamandir, Gaya 823001 – Phone No: 0631-2221914; 09430804459 How to reach Gaya? Gaya town is well connected to the rest of India and the world by rail and road and airways. By Rail: Gaya is the second most important railway junction in the state of Bihar connected to all the four metro cities (Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, and Kolkatta). It is also directly connected to other important cities like, Patna, Varanasi, Allahabad, Lucknow, Kanpur, Nagpur, Puri (Orissa), Ahmadabad etc. It is on the Delhi - Howrah main line. While coming from Delhi, Gaya will be after Kanpur, Allahabad and Varanasi. While coming from Kolkatta it will be after Patna. By Road: Gaya is well connected by Road to all important major cities. By Air: Gaya Airport is the only international airport in Bihar and Jharkhand taken together. It is an international airport connected to Colombo, Bangkok, Thailand, Singapore and Bhutan. Gaya airport is approx 20 km from Gaya and about 5km from Bodh Gaya. Useful Link... bhargavasarma.blogspot.in/search/label/Gaya%20Kshetra PRAYAGA (Allahabad - Triveni Sangam)... For observing and following theertha vidhi there are number of theertha purohits available at Prayaaga who also provide dormitory facilities. Majority are in the area of Daragunj which is nearer to the Sangam spot. Pilgrims can approach them according to their own sampradaya. For performing Theertha Vidhi and Veni Daana as per Madhwa sampradaya facilities are available at... Uttaradhi Mutt # 77, Mori Daraganj, Near Daraganj Police Station, Opp. State Bank of India, Allahabad -211006. Tele: 0532-2508616, Mobile: 094513-66300. Contact persons: Sri K.V.Narayana Acharya and Sri.K.N.Raghavendra Acharya. Accommodation, food and guide facilities are available at this place. VENI DAANAM AT PRAYAGA..... A special mention need to be made about this unique ritual which is also a part of Theertha Vidhi at Prayaga. The word Veni in Sanskrit means River. An interesting ritual performed at Triveni Sangam is that of Veni Daanam (charity). This is a practice being followed by married women for the longevity of their husbands. Husband is supposed to comb and plait wife’s hair. After decorating it with flowers the end of the plait is cut off and offered to the rivers at the confluence as a charity. Normally hair floats on water but, at this place hair sinks straight to the bottom. Though hundreds of people offer their hair every day, there is not a single strand of hair seen floating on the river. Whatever may be the scientific reason it is an inspiriting ritual for those who belief in the divinity. How to reach Prayaga? By Rail: Allahabad is well connected by rail with several important cities viz. Calcutta, Delhi, Patna, Chennai, Mumbai, Gwalior, Kanpur, Varanasi etc. By Road: Allahabad is on the National Highways # 2 and 27. It is well connected to the rest of the country by road. Useful link.... bhargavasarma.blogspot/2009/02/prayaga-theertha-raj.html Sri Krishnaarpanamasthu
Posted on: Fri, 21 Nov 2014 16:10:58 +0000