Performance of Srardham or obeisance to ancestors and visit to Kasi/Varanasi is a most sacred duty of the Hindus.
Performing the prescribed Rites for the departed as laid by ht e Sastras is an important aspect of Hinduism.
Locating the Sastris or Vadhyar in both the places is an arduous task.
Not that the Sastrigals are unavailable.
There are n number of these.
But unfortunately greed for money has taken precedence over the Duty of Brahmins.
Before any one jumps the gun , let me add that I am a Brahmin and knows a bit about the Sastras, especially of Saucha and Asaucha Vidhis.
And I understand from those who have availed the services were bitter.
I had been to Gaya ,Allahabad and Varanasi recently.( by the way, why is it Ilahabad is spelled Allahabad while the Hindi script is Ilahabad?)
I presume that the purpose of those who visit these places have the performance of the Rites in mind rather than personal comforts and Five Star facilities in mind.
The information provided here is for the former.
Gaya and Kasi Srardham expenses are quoted between Rs. 25, 000 to 50,000 .
The important places to sit in Gaya are ;
Vishnu Padam , where the Pinda Pradhanam is to be performed.
The River Phalguni is more or less dried up ( at this time of the year ,November) and is dirty.
One can take bath in the place where they stay and have the Prokshana at the River.
After Prokshana, th rites are conducted.
Normal Tarpanam is followed by Pinda Pradhanam for Three generations, on the Paternal side and the Maternal side.
This accounts for 12 Pindas(Six on the paternal side, six on the maternal side)
Remember the Names of Great Grand Father and Gothras.
In addition Pindas can be offered to those who have expired in your gothra and your wife’s gothra.
Pindas can be offered to those whom you know.
One can also offer Pindas for Self, irrespective of the fact whether they have children or not.
This is called Atma Pinda and is sanctioned by the Sastra.
Pindas are also offered to the following.
Those who died in Accidents( normal Samskaras are not allowed for these people)
Those who died at a young age(Akaala Mritu)
Pregnant women , who expired.
Further a Pinda also offered to those who expired without issues or with out relatives living.(Yesham Na Matha,Na Pitha,,Na Bandhu, naanya Gothrinah:this need not be from the Brahmin community and it is for any one who is no more.
Bootha Pinda and for animals are also offered.
Total is not to exceed 32.
Pinda is made of Wheat Flour which id provided by the Puro.
You may offer money for Brahmana Bhojanam at your convenience, not less than Rs.201 per Brahmana.
The charges are Rs 250 in total for the entire Ritual.
The Dasa Dhanams are offered for this Budget.
Excepting Go Dhaana, all the Dhanams are accommodated in this.
In case you want to spend more, you can do it by purchasing them and perform the additional Dhana.
However the Mantras and the Dhanas offered by the Purohit are adequate and as per the Sastras.
The Pindas are left at the Tree in the Vishnu Pada temple (For Brahmins)
For others the Pindas are to be left in the Phalguni River.
The Pavithra is to be discarded at the Tree in the Temple.
I am providing the address at the end of this post.
You may also offer a voluntary Dakshina to the Purohit, though not compulsory.
After the ceremonies,, visit one of the Sakthii Peedas in Gaya.
As the Bodh Gaya is nearby, about 13 kms , one may visit the Bodhi Tree where the Buddha is reported to have been enlightened and the Buddhist Monasteries and Temples run by Tibet,Sri Lanka ,Japan and Bangla Desh.
Important Contact Details.
Gaya.
Sastrigal. Narayanan (Nannu), settled in Gaya for Five generations;well read in Sastras, not greedy, accepts what you offer and no short-changing in Mantras or Dhanas) Mobile: +91 88 73 22 22 86.
Auto driver Subodh for Local trips including Bodh Gaya.-Reliable,non bickering and reasonable.Mobile.+91 80 83 80 3772.
For Railway Reservations Contact. Sanjay +91 99 34 47 64 60
For Stay.
Nattukkotai Nagara Satram,171,Chan Chowra,Gaya-823001.Phone; 0631 2226480. Ask for ‘Natkot’ ,people will guide you.
Advisable to contact the Manager in 15 Days in advance for Reservations.
Only those who speak Tamil are allowed.
The facilities are basic and adequate, though not as found in lodges .
However, it is decent and the people are friendly and help you in local arrangement for Sastrigal and conveyance.
They charge a nominal entrance fee of Rs.60 ; one can use the common facilities.
For rooms with Bath Rs. 150 is charged.
South Indian Food is served at a nominal price.
They also arrange for the preparation and distribution of Anna Dhaana.
Good place for the Religiously inclined and, as I said earlier, is for those who want to perform the Rites and not recommended for the luxury prone.
Hi, very useful blog and interesting comments. I am (yajur veda) living in US and want to perform shraddha for my mother. I will have time between Feb 10 – 14. I am wondering if this is enough time to do everything in Varanasi. I am told that I have to go to Varanasi, then Prayag (is it Allahabad) and then back to Varanasi and then to Rameswaram and then back to Varanasi etc. Could you enlighten me on this sequence? Is it possible to the Varanasi part this year and do the Rameswaram part next year?
Also, another question. Mother’s thithi is mrigaseerisham, krishna paksham, shashti thitihi which seems to be on Jan 1, 2020. I will be in the carribian where most likely I may not find a brahmin. I can not even perform hiranya srardham. Your guidance is appreciated.
Gaya Allahabad Benares in that order.You may be able to perform sraddha in all these places in three days. Sastry details you can find in the article. If you need further information, contact Naattukkottai Nagarathar Sangam Gaya, Allahabad.As to Sraddha Thithithi at Caribbean,you may fast that day,taking tiffin at night. You can perform tharpana on that day. If you still want it to be done, you can ask someone to have it performed in India at Kanchi, Sringeri or Raghavendra mutt Regards
Dear Sir
i tried the number of gurkkal in 8873222286. but it says the number is not correct. kindly let me know if any other number of his is there
You may try naatukkottai nagarathar sangam . They will provide you details including no.
Dear sir, I have been reading many of your posts.. Planning a trip to kasi and Gaya in February with my parents sir.. We don’t know Hindi and we are non-brahmins sir.. Hope we can contact narayana sashthrigal in Gaya.. Anyone who knows Tamil can u recommend for kasi sir?? Your help will be very valuable for us..
You can contact Naattukkottai Nagarathar Sangam. They will help.Detail provided in the post.
Thank you sir .
Dear sir, one more doubt.. Can i accompany my parents when they give pind daan in gaya and kasi.. Or is it not auspicious as my parents are alive
You can accompany them.No issues
DEAR SIR,
IS IT NECESSARY TO PERFORM THE GAYA,SHRADDHAM FOR DECEASED ANCESTORS ONLY ON THE TITHI OR ANY DAY WOULD BE OKAY.
Performing on the same Thithithi is ideal. Can perform during other times as well.
Sir,
We are married since 8 years and understand that both for me and my wife we have pithru dhosham due to this we are still not blessed with children as advised by astrologer’s ( astrologer Name hari kesha nallur vekatraman )
Now my father’s death anniversary is on 16th Feb can I perform the shardham or tharpanam please let us know.
my father’s death was un-natural. need your proper guidance before we come for a conclusion.
Perform Sraddha. You may do it in any of the parihara Sthalas. For details mail me at ramanan50@gmail.com.
https://polldaddy.com/js/rating/rating.jsMy fathers first death anniversary falls on March 31,2018 and would like to perform the rituals at Gaya or Varnashi not sure where to do.I am a novice in these rituals so what would you recommend me to do.I also want to perform the same for my mother who passed away in October 2015.Any guidance is greatly appreciated.
vijay
At Gaya.
https://polldaddy.com/js/rating/rating.jsThank you .Can i also do my mothers on the same day .I will be travelling from the US so wanted to check if I could do both at the same time
Sraddha should be performed in the respective/appropriate Thithi only.
Sir my parents are planning a trip to Varanasi and Allahabad. They are planning to do thithi for their parents ( just a darpana for their parents – thithi is not falling on the exact ritual day). We are Vaishnavites, is it advisable to give darpana in Kasi or should we do it in triveni sangamam – Allahabad ( they are not going to gaya). Are there priest for vaishnavites to perform the ritual as per vashnavishm tradition (Priest with Tilak) in Kashi and Allahabad. If you know any Tamil or Telugu speaking priests kindly suggest us.
Procedure is Gaya,Triveni and Kashi.