Vishnupad Temple, Gaya - Revision history

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	\| map_type = India Bihar		\| map_type = India Bihar
	\| map_caption = Location in Bihar		\| map_caption = Location in Bihar
	\| coordinates = {{coord\|24~~\|36\|37~~\|N\|85~~\|0\|33~~\|E\|type:landmark_region:IN\|display=inline,title}}		\| coordinates = {{coord\|24.777437\|N\|85.010051\|E\|type:landmark_region:IN\|display=inline,title}}
	\| other_names =		\| other_names =
	\| country = [[India]]		\| country = [[India]]

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{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=May 2018}}
{{Infobox Mandir
| name = Vishnupada Temple
| image = Vishnupadh Temple.jpg
| alt =
| caption =
| map_type = India Bihar
| map_caption = Location in Bihar
| coordinates = {{coord|24|36|37|N|85|0|33|E|type:landmark_region:IN|display=inline,title}}
| other_names =
| country = [[India]]
| state = [[Bihar]]
| district =
| location = [[Gaya, India|Gaya]]
| elevation_m =
| deity = [[Vishnu]]
| festivals=
| architecture = [[Sikhara|Shikhara]]
| temple_quantity =
| monument_quantity=
| inscriptions =
| year_completed = rebuilt 1787
| creator = rebuilt by Queen [[Ahilya Bai Holkar]] of [[Indore State|Indore]]
| website =
}}

'''Vishnupad Temple''' ([[Sanskrit]]: विष्णुपद मंदिर, [[IAST]]:Viṣṇupada Mandira, {{lit|temple of Vishnu's feet}}), is one of the ancient and most famous [[Hindu temple]]s dedicated to [[Lord Vishnu]].{{Sfn|Kulshreshtha|2007|p=167}} The temple is located in [[Gaya, India|Gaya]], [[Bihar, India]] on the bank of the river [[Phalgu]],{{Sfn|Davidson|Gitlitz|2002|p=194}} marked by a footprint of Lord [[Vishnu]] known as ''Dharmasila'', incised into a block of basalt. Atop the structure is a 50-kilo gold flag, donated by a devotee, Gayapal Panda Bal Govind Sen.{{Sfn|Singh|1978|p=16}}

The Vishnupad temple is the center for [[Śrāddha|Shraddha]] rites in [[Gaya, India|Gaya]].{{Sfn|Asher|2008|p=89}}

The [[Brahma Kalpit Brahmins]], who are also known as [[Gayawal Brahmins]] or Gayawal Tirth Purohit or Pandas of Gaya are the traditional priests of the temple from the ancient times.{{Sfn|Singh|1978|p=14}}
The legendary saints [[Madhvacharya]], [[Chaitanya Mahaprabhu]], [[Vallabhacharya]] have visited this shrine.{{Sfn|Singh|1978|p=15}}

==Legend==
[[File:Vishnupada.jpg|thumb|200x200px|left|Vishnu- Pad (Vishnu feet) print inside the Vishnupada Mandir, the 40 cm long ''footprint'' of [[Lord Vishnu]] is imprinted in solid rock and surrounded by a silver-plated basin.]]
Once a demon known as Gayasura, did a heavy penance and sought a boon that whoever sees him should attain salvation ([[Moksha]]m). Since salvation is achieved through being righteous in one's lifetime, people started obtaining it easily. To prevent immoral people from attaining salvation Lord [[Vishnu]] asked Gayasura to go beneath the earth and did so by placing his right foot on asura's head. After pushing Gayasura below the surface of earth, Lord Vishnu's foot print remained on the surface that we see even today. The footprint consists of nine different symbols including [[Shankha|Shankam]], [[Sudarshan Chakra|Chakram]] and [[Kaumodaki|Gadham]]. These are believed to be weapons of the lord. Gayasura now pushed into earth pleaded for food. Lord Vishnu gave him a boon that every day, someone will offer him food. Whoever does so, their souls will reach heaven. The day Gayasura doesn't get food, it is believed that he will come out. Every day, one or the other from different parts of India will pray for welfare of his departed and offer food, feeding Gayasura.{{Sfn|Bhoothalingam|2016|pp=92-93}}

==History and location==
[[File:The-vishnupud-temple-gaya.jpg|thumb|Vishnupad Mandir in 1885]]
The construction date of temple is unknown and it is believed that [[Rama]] along with [[Sita]] had visited this place. The present day structure was rebuilt by Devi [[Ahilya Bai Holkar]], the ruler of [[Indore]], in 1787, on the banks of the [[Falgu river]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Vishnupad Temple|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/travel/destinations/Vishnupad-Temple/gs53193616.cms|publisher=Times of India|date=13 July 2016}}</ref> Ahilya Bai Holkar had crafted the temple, sent her officers to inspect and find the best stone for the temple in whole region, and they finally found munger black stone as the best choice in Jaynagar. Since there was no proper road and the mountains were very far from Gaya, the officers found another mountain where they can carve and easily bring the stone to [[Gaya, India|Gaya]] the place was near Bathani (a small village in [[Gaya district]]). The officers brought the craftsmen from [[Rajasthan]]. They started carving the temple in Patharkatti (a village and also a tourist place in [[Bihar]]). The final temple was assembled in Gaya near Vishnupad temple site. After the completing the construction of temple many craftsmen returned to their native places, but some of them settled-down in Pattharkatti village itself. [[Government of Bihar|Bihar government]] has marked this place as one of the prominent tourist spots of [[Bihar]].{{Sfn|Martin|2012|pp=62-64}} The 1000 stone steps leading to the top of the Brahmajuni hill on southwest of the Vishnupad mandir gives the view of Gaya city and the Vishnupad temple, which is a tourist spot. There are also many small temples near this temple.{{Sfn|Boda|1994|p=278}}

==Architecture==
This is believed that the temple was built with the footprints of [[Lord Vishnu]] in the centre. In [[Hinduism]], this footprint marks the act of Lord Vishnu subduing Gayasur by placing his foot on his chest. Inside the Vishnupad Mandir, the 40 cm long footprint of Lord Vishnu is imprinted in solid rock and surrounded by a [[silver]] plated basin. The [[height]] of this temple is 30 meters and it a has 8 rows of beautifully carved pillars which support the [[pavilion]]. The temple is built of large gray granite blocks jointed with iron clamps. The octagonal shrine faces east. Its pyramidal tower rises up a 100 feet. The tower has sloping sides with alternately indented and plain sections. The sections are set at an angle to create a series of peaks joined at the top.{{Sfn|Singh|2009|p=96}} Within the temple stands the immortal banyan tree ''[[Akshayavat]]'' where the final rituals for the dead takes place.{{Sfn|Varma|2005|p=206}} On top of the temple is a gold flag weighing approximately 51 kg. Inside the temple is a (Garv ghiri ) a silver-coated hexagon railing also known as (pahal).

==See also==
*[[Religion in Bihar]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}
===Bibliography===
*{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=RG3sTfBh47YC|title=Urban Development in India|first=Kamaldeo Narain|last=Singh|publisher=Abhinav Publications|year=1978|isbn=9788170170808}}
*{{cite book|title=Bodh Gaya: Monumental Legacy|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Be7VAAAAMAAJ|first=Frederick M.|last=Asher|publisher=Oxford University Press|year=2008|isbn=9780195693140}}
*{{cite book|title=Pilgrimage: From the Ganges to Graceland : an Encyclopedia, Volume 1|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YVYkrNhPMQkC|first1=Linda Kay|last1=Davidson|first2=David Martin|last2=Gitlitz|publisher=ABC-CLIO|year=2002|isbn=9781576070048}}
*{{cite book|title=From Temple to Museum: Colonial Collections and Umā Maheśvara Icons in the Middle Ganga Valley|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=uJU4DwAAQBAJ|first=Salila|last=Kulshreshtha|publisher=Taylor & Francis|year=2017|isbn=9781351356091}}
*{{cite book|title=Cosmic Order and Cultural Astronomy: Sacred Cities of India|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YQoaBwAAQBAJ|first=Rana P. B.|last=Singh|date = 2 October 2009|publisher=Cambridge Scholars Publishing|isbn=9781443816076}}
*{{cite book|title=Temples of India Myths and Legends|publisher=Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India|last=Bhoothalingam|first=Mathuram|year=2016|isbn=978-8123016610}}
*{{cite book|title=International Dictionary of Historic Places: Asia and Oceania|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=JqHPpNaZfNwC|first=Sharon La|last=Boda|publisher=Taylor & Francis|year=1994|isbn=9781884964046}}
*{{cite book|title=The History, Antiquities, Topography, and Statistics of Eastern India: In Relation to Their Geology, Mineralogy, Botany, Agriculture, Commerce, Manufactures, Fine Arts, Population, Religion, Education, Statistics, Etc.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=S5sAdQq8b9wC|first=Robert Montgomery|last=Martin|publisher=Cambridge University Press|year=2012|isbn=9781108046503}}
*{{cite book|title=Raja Ravi Varma, Portrait of an Artist: The Diary of C. Raja Raja Varma|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=UfbVAAAAMAAJ|first=C. Raja Raja|last=Varma|publisher=Oxford University Press|year=2005|isbn=9780195659719}}

==External links==
{{commons category}}
*[https://gaya.nic.in/history/ History of Gaya] by [[Government of Bihar]]
*[https://tourism.bihar.gov.in/en/destinations/gaya/vishnupad-temple Vishnupad Temple] by [[Bihar State Tourism Development Corporation]]
*[https://gaya.nic.in/places-of-interest/ Places of Interest in Gaya] by [[Government of Bihar]]

{{Hindu temples in Bihar}}
{{Hinduism footer small}}

[[Category:Vishnu temples]]
[[Category:Hindu temples in Bihar]]
[[Category:Gaya, India]]
[[Category:Tourist attractions in Gaya district]]