Pind Daan at the vedis of Gayaji
Gaya Shradh includes Pind Daan, tarpan and worship at sacred places associated with the ancestors. Falgu, Vishnupad and Akshay Vat are the principal places. The extended circuit also takes in Pret Shila, Panchtirthi, Dharmaranya and the other prescribed vedis.
The three-day arrangement covers the 45-vedi circuit starting at the Falgu. The seventeen-day programme begins at Punpun, includes the prescribed tarpan sites and ends with Sufal at Akshay Vat. Its traditional tithi order is set out below.
Tithi-wise Gaya Shradh itinerary
This is the tithi order, not a list of separate calendar days or 45 unique vedis. Adjacent tithis can fall on one date.
| Tithi | Place and rite |
|---|---|
| Bhadrapada Shukla Chaturdashi | Punpun: entry Shradh. |
| Bhadrapada Purnima | Falgu: bathing, tarpan and Shradh. |
| Ashwin Krishna Pratipada | Brahma Kund, Pret Shila, Ram Shila and Ram Kund; Kakbali in this circuit. |
| Krishna Dwitiya | Panchtirthi: Uttar Manas, Udichi, Kankhal, Dakshin Manas and Jihvalol; Gadadhar worship. |
| Krishna Tritiya | Saraswati Tirth, Matangavapi and Dharmaranya; Bodhitaru darshan. |
| Krishna Chaturthi | Brahma Sarovar: Shradh and Kakbali; Tarak Brahma darshan and watering the mango tree (Amra Sinchan). |
| Krishna Panchami | Vishnupad, Rudra Pad and Brahma Pad. |
| Krishna Shashthi | Kartik Pad, Dakshinagni Pad, Garhapatyagni Pad and Ahavaniyagni Pad. |
| Krishna Saptami | Surya Pad, Chandra Pad, Ganesh Pad, Sandhyagni Pad, Avasathyagni Pad and Dadhichi Pad. |
| Krishna Ashtami | Kanva Pad, Matang Pad, Kraunch Pad, Agastya Pad, Indra Pad and Kashyap Pad; Gajakarna milk tarpan. |
| Krishna Navami | Ram Gaya and Sita Kund on the eastern bank of the Falgu. |
| Krishna Dashami | Gayashir and Gaya Koop. |
| Krishna Ekadashi | Munda Prishtha, Adi Gaya and Dhaut Pad. |
| Krishna Dwadashi | Bhim Gaya, Goprachar and Gadalol. |
| Krishna Trayodashi | Vishnu worship and milk tarpan at the Falgu. |
| Krishna Chaturdashi | Vaitarani: tarpan and the prescribed daan. |
| Amavasya | Akshay Vat: Shradh, shayya daan and Sufal. |
Why Kakbali and the Falgu appear twice
On Pratipada, Kakbali is part of the Pret Shila–Ram Shila circuit. On Chaturthi, Kakbali accompanies the Brahma Sarovar rites, Tarak Brahma darshan and Amra Sinchan. The place and tithi identify each observance.
Purnima at the Falgu includes bathing, tarpan and Shradh. On Trayodashi the family returns for milk tarpan after Vishnu worship. Brahma Kund at Pret Shila and Brahma Sarovar in the Chaturthi circuit are also named separately.
The pad-vedis around Vishnupad
The Vishnupad sequence starts on Panchami at Vishnupad, Rudra Pad and Brahma Pad. Shashthi, Saptami and Ashtami then cover groups of four, six and six pad-vedis. The Gajakarna milk tarpan follows the Ashtami pad offerings.
Where the main groups are
The northern circuit includes Brahma Kund, Pret Shila, Ram Shila and Ram Kund. Uttar Manas, Surya Kund’s Udichi–Kankhal–Dakshin Manas circuit and Jihvalol make up Panchtirthi. The Bodhgaya-side circuit includes Saraswati Tirth, Matangavapi, Dharmaranya and Bodhitaru.
Ram Gaya and Sita Kund are on the eastern side of the Falgu. Gayashir, Gaya Koop, Munda Prishtha, Adi Gaya, Dhaut Pad, Bhim Gaya, Goprachar and Gadalol follow in later parts of the itinerary.
Choosing the duration
The one-day Gaya Pind Daan covers the principal places: Falgu, Vishnupad and Akshay Vat. The three-day Gaya Shradh begins at the Falgu and covers the extended 45-vedi circuit. The seventeen-day Vrihad Gaya Shradh begins at Punpun and follows the longer sequence above, ending at Akshay Vat.
A full list does not mean every family needs the full circuit. Tell us your available days and family’s circumstances. We help compare the routes with our pandit and confirm the chosen itinerary, inclusions and total in writing before booking.