Brahmanasamskara

Vedic Rites to be performed during the Kashi Yatra
The purpose of a Kashi Yatra for most people is the performance of Vedic rites for their
ancestors, and it was the same for us. My in-laws were performing all the rites, and we had
nothing much to do. In fact, we weren’t allowed to accompany them to Gaya at all, as it is
apparently considered inauspicious for those whose parents were alive to see the Akshaya
Vatam and the Vishnu Padam. However, my curiosity about the rituals made me ask a
number of questions which were thankfully answered in detail by two young people- the
manager of the Kanchi Math at Kashi and the vadhyar or pundit who officiated at our rites.
Both of them were extremely helpful, and it is entirely thanks to them that I have been able
to write in such detail about Kashi as well as the surrounding places, even those we did not
visit. At my request, I was given this list of the rites that are traditionally performed during
a Kashi Yatra. I share this with all my readers in the hope that it may be of some use to
them too. I have provided contact numbers of some people there who will be able to
arrange everything for anyone who desires to perform these rituals.
The Vedic rituals are begun at Allahabad. The rituals (even the more extensive ones) take
about half a day (early morning to lunch), so those who wish can take in some sigh seeing
at Allahabad before moving on to Kashi.
Allahabad (Triveni Sangam) (Day 1)
Anugnai (Sankalpam)
Vighneshwara Puja (Prayers to Ganesha)
Prayschitta Sankalpam (atonement for sins committed, knowingly or unknowingly)
Veni Daanam (Women offer a part of their hair to the river praying for the long life of their
husbands. The husband plaits the wife’s hair, decorates it with flowers and cuts off the tip of
the plait and offers it to the river. It is an interesting fact that while hair normally floats on
water, at the Sangam; it immediately sinks to the river bed. Though almost all married
women offer their hair here, there is not a single strand found floating on the river!!!!)
Triveni Sangam Snanam (husband and wife bathe together at the confluence of the 3 rivers,
holding hands. One has to go to the confluence in a boat. A sort of platform has been
erected at the point for the convenience of pilgrims)
Hiranya Shrardham *
Pinda Pradaanam, Kshetra Pindam, Tarpanam **
The rituals at Kashi take place over two days – the first day for the Manikarnika Shrardham
and the second day for the Pancha Teertha Shrardham. Then, one goes to Gaya and
performs the rituals there, and returns to Kashi for the Ganga Puja, Dampati Puja and only
then visits the temples at Kashi.
Kashi (Varanasi)
Day 2
Anugnai (Sankalpam)
Vighneshwara Puja (Prayers to Ganesha
Poorvanga Godaanam ***
Poorvanga Dasa Daanam ***
Naandhi Shrardham *
Vaishnava Shrardham *
Punyaa Vajanam (purification ritual)
Maha Sankalpam
Prayschitta Sankalpam (atonement for sins committed, knowingly or unknowingly)
Pala Daanam ***
Uttaranga Godaanam ***
Manikarnika Teertha Shrardham (Anna roopam / Hiranya roopam)
Day 3
Pancha Teertha Yatra (One has to go in a boat to these 5 Ghats and perform the rituals)
i) Asi Ghat (Haridwar Teertham) – this is where the Asi river merges with the Ganga.
Performing the rites here is believed to give one the fruits of performing the rites at
Haridwar.
ii) Dashashwamedha Ghat (Rudra Sarovara Teertham) – this is the place where Brahma
performed 10 Ashwamedha Yagnas, and hence it is considered sacred to perform the rites.
iii) Trilochana Ghat ( Vishnu Paada Udaka Teertham)
iv) Pancha Ganga Ghat ( Ganga, Yamuna, Saraswati, Kirana, Doodhapappa- Sangam);
Bindu Madhava Temple
v) Manikarnika Ghat (Manikarnika Teertham, Chakra Pushkarni Teertham)
Day 5
Ganga Puja (it is a tradition to bring back small sealed containers of water from the Ganges
and distribute it among our near and dear ones. One container is kept at home as it is
considered sacred and one is taken to Rameswaram where it is used to perform Abhishekam
to the lingam. All these containers are kept and prayed to before they are distributed.)
Dampati Puja (Prayers offered to an elderly married couple, invoking them as Vishwanath
and Annapurna)
Uttaranga Dasa Daanam ***
Kala Bhairava Samaradhana (invocation and prayers to Kala Bhairav)
It is advisable to make a day trip to Gaya from Varanasi. The journey takes about 3 hours,
and the roads are extremely good. The general practice is to take a car to Gaya on the
evening of the Pancha Teertha Shrardham at Kashi and stay overnight at the Mutt at Gaya.
The rituals at Gaya are completed by lunchtime, and one can return to Kashi by evening.
Gaya Shrardham (Day 4)
Palguni (Falguni) Teertha Hiranya Shrardham (this is the traditional Shrardham performed
on the banks of any sacred river, here the Falguni.)
Vishnu Paada Hiranya Shrardham †
Akshaya Vata Anna/Hiranya Shrardham †
Akshaya Vata Pinda Pradaanam ** †
Ask Gaya Brahmans if they are satisfied (according to legend, the Brahmins at Gaya are not
easily satisfied and it is a tradition to ask them anyway in an attempt to satisfy them)
Acharya sambhavana (payment of the fees to the pundit)
Explanations:
* Shrardham or performing the Vedic rites to appease one’s forefathers is of two types-
Anna roopam and Hiranya roopam. Anna Shrardham is where a certain number of Brahmins
are invited, and are fed at the completion of the rituals. This is considered equivalent to
feeding one’s ancestors. However, this is quite tedious, and sometimes expensive. Hence
the second option, Hiranya Shrardham, where the Brahmins are fed only symbolically. This
is a quicker and cheaper alternative to the same rituals. At places like Kashi the pundits
offer us the option of choosing which kind of ritual we would like to perform, depending on
our time and budget.
Naandhi and Vaishnava Shrardham refer to the rites for appeasement of one’s ancestors
and the Gods, respectively.
** Pinda pradaanam is the ritual of offering food to three (in case of Gaya, more than that)
generations of our ancestors. Balls of cooked rice and Til (sesame seeds), which are thus
offered are called the pindams.
*** Daanam - Strictly meaning Charity, Daanam refers to the procedure of donating things
to the Brahmins in the name of our ancestors. There is a long list of things that need to be
given, starting from simple things like umbrellas, fans, and mats to more expensive things
made of silver and gold. Among the more auspicious ones is the donation of a cow
(Godaanam) and land, both of which are usually done in symbolic terms. Poorvanga and
Uttaranga Daanam refer to the things needed to be given at the beginning and end of the
rituals respectively, while Dasa Daanam refers to a set of 10 things that need to be
donated.
† The Akshaya Vata and the Vishnu Pada are the only two places where one can perform
the Vedic rites not only for our forefathers, but for anyone, family, friends, acquaintances,
whatever caste, religion or community they may belong to… and also for animals, our pets,
abandoned bodies, etc.. This is the uniqueness of Gaya which draws thousands of people
from all parts of India---