85 - Greatness of Gaya

Brahma said: 

1. After taking bath in Pretashila, etc., with the nectar (holy water) of Varunatirtha the pilgrim shall invoke the manes with the following mantras and offer Pindas. 

2. "With gingelly seeds and holy water, I invoke on this Darbha grass all those in our family who have not attained salvation after death. 

3. I offer this Pinda to uplift all those who died in my father's family and mother's family. 

4. I offer this Pinda to uplift all those in my maternal grandfather's family who have not attained salvation. 

5. I offer this Pinda to uplift all those who died in infancy without cutting the first tooth or who were still born. 

6. This Pinda is assigned to those kinsmen whose names and Gotra (spiritual clan) are forgotten whether in my gotra or others. 

7. I offer this Pinda to those who committed suicide by hanging themselves or by other means or poisoned to death or killed with any weapon. 

8. I offer this Pinda to those who died in an incident of arson, or were killed by lions or tigers or sharp-teethed animals or horned beasts. 

9. I offer this Pinda to those who were cremated or not, who were electrocuted or killed by dacoits. 

10. I offer this Pinda to uplift those who have been consigned to the hells-Raurava, Andhatamisra and Kalasutra after death.

11. I offer this Pinda to uplift those who have been confined to the terrible hells Asipatravana and Kumbhipaka after death. 

12. I offer this Pinda to uplift those who are being tortured and tormented (by Yama) in the Pretaloka (Infernal region). 

13. I offer this Pinda to those who have been born as beasts, birds, worms, reptiles or trees. 

14. I offer this Pinda to uplift those who are being tortured and tormented in innumerable ways at the bidding of Yama. 

15. I offer this Pinda to those to whom birth in human society has become difficult of access due to their actions and who are born and reborn in countless other species. 

16. Let all those be satiated with this offer of Pinda forever whether kinsmen or not or whether they were kinsmen in my previous birth or not. 

17. Let all those ancestors of mine be satiated forever by this offer of Pinda and those who are still in the state of Ghosts. 

18-20. Let this Pinda offered by me go for endless benefit unto all those who were born in my father's family, mother's family or those of preceptor's, father-in-law or kinsmen or other kinsmen who are dead, those who have been deprived of Pindadana, those who had no sons or wives, those who had not performed any rites, those who had been born blind, those who were lame, those who were deformed or those who died in the womb whether known to me or not. 

21-22. Let Devas bear witness, let Brahma, Ishana and others bear witness. I have come to Gaya and have performed the obsequies. O Gadadhara, for performing the rites for manes I have come to Gaya. Be my witness today. I am now absolved of my three debts." 

23. In Gaya, the sanctity of Mahanadi, Brahmasaras Akshayavata Prabhasa, Gayashiras, Sarasvati, Dharmaranya, Dhenuprushtha, of all these holy spots, is equal to that of Kurukshetra.