Gayāsura and the Origin of Gayā

The Garuḍa Mahā Purāṇa tells how the holy kshetra (sacred ground) of Gayā came to be. An asura named Gaya did such fierce tapas (austerity) that the three worlds were scorched. Bhagavān Vishṇu slew him with his gadā (mace). The tri-mūrtis then entered the body of Gayāsura, and Bhagavān Vishṇu declared Gayā the supreme tīrtha for śrāddha (the rite for ancestors) and piṇḍa-dāna (the gift of rice balls).

The tapas of Gayāsura

In ancient times an asura named Gaya did fierce tapas in the region that would become the kshetra of Gayā. His tapas was so severe that its heat scorched all the worlds. The three worlds were aflame. The devas could not bear it, and they went to Bhagavān Vishṇu for protection.

Bhagavān Vishṇu slays Gaya

Bhagavān Vishṇu waited for a moment when Gayāsura was not in tapas, a break in his austerities. Then he came as Gadādhara (the one who holds the gadā) and slew the asura. Gayāsura’s tapas had very great power (tapas-śakti). Because of it, the place where he fell became a great puṇya-kshetra (a ground of merit).

The blessing of the tri-mūrtis

After the death of Gayāsura, the tri-mūrtis (Brahmā, Vishṇu and Śiva) entered his purified body (viśuddha deha). They made holy both the birth of the asura and the kshetra that bears his name. Bhagavān Vishṇu declared:

“The body of Gayāsura itself shall remain as this sacred kshetra. Those who come here and perform snāna, yajña, śrāddha and piṇḍa-dāna with devotion shall not go to naraka. They shall reach svarga or Brahmaloka.”

Bhagavān Vishṇu, as Gadādhara, lives at this kshetra for all time. He grants mukti (freedom) to all who come.

Brahmā’s yajña and the brāhmaṇas

Brahmā himself performed a yajña (fire ritual) at the tīrtha of Gayā. He knew it as the supreme kshetra of all the worlds. The ṛtvik priests, brāhmaṇas who had helped at this yajña, were placed by Brahmā at the holy tīrthas of the region, especially at Brahma-pada and Somapānaka. Then Brahmā gave the whole kshetra, five krośas across, to these brāhmaṇas as their home for ever.

But the brāhmaṇas grew careless because of this wealth they had not earned, and they cut down their karmas (their duties). Brahmā was angry. He laid a śāpa (a curse) on them: within three generations their learning and their wealth of dharma would fall, and the mountains would stay bare.

The brāhmaṇas were sorry for what they had done, and Brahmā softened his words: “You and this kshetra shall both do well. Through the karmas done here, both those who do them and you, as priests, shall reach Brahmaloka. This kshetra shall become a means to mukti.”

The Agni Purāṇa account

In the Agni Purāṇa, Bhagavān Vishṇu places his dharma-śilā (also called pādaśilā), a sacred stone, upon Gayāsura, who lies prostrate in yoga. Brahmā performs a yajña with Gayāsura as the ground for the rite.

Sources

• Garuḍa Mahā Purāṇa, Āchāra Khaṇḍa, Chapter 82 (Adhyāya 82)
• Agni Purāṇa, account of Gayāsura