History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v5.c74.t2.191

v5.c74.t2.191

Gayā occupies a unique place in the hearts of all pious Hindus even in these days. Hundreds of pages have been written about the history, the antiquities, the architectural remains of Gayā, the sacred places in and round about Gayā, the śrāddha rites performed in Gayā and about *Gayāwals* (the priests of Gayā). It is not possible to deal with this vast mass in this work. But it is impossible not to say a few words about the many conflicting views on certain important matters put forward by scholars for about three quarters of a century. Those who are deeply interested in the history and antiquities of Gayā should carefully read the following books and papers; Dr. Rajendralal Mitra's 'Buddha-Gayā' with 51 plates (1878); General Cunningham's 'Mahābodhi' with 31 plates at the end (1892); L. S. S. O'Malley's District Gazetteer of Gayā, vol. XII and J. A. S. B for 1903 LXXII, No. 3, pp 1-11 on 'Gayāśrāddha and Gayāvals;' Indian Antiquary, vol X pp. 339-340 for a Chinese Inscription at Buddha Gayā dated in a Chinese date corresponding to 1033 A. D. and pp. 341-347 for Inscriptions at Gayā, one of which is engraved in a temple of the Sun near a tank 'Dakṣiṇamānasa' near the Viṣṇupada, dated 1813 years after Buddha's Parinirvāṇa; Indian Antiquary, vol. 16 pp 63 ff Inscription of Yakṣapāla, son of Viśvāditya, which records the building of a temple for certain images in the 15th regnal year of the Pāla king Nayapāladeva who died in 1045 A. D., edited by Kielhorn; Dr. Benimadhav Barua's 'Gayā and Buddha-Gayā' in two volumes (1934) with plates; Journal of Bihar and Orissa R. Society, vol. 24 (for 1938) pp. 89-111 where Dr. J. C. Ghose deals with 'the antiquity of Gayā.' Some of the remarks of Dr Ghose are most unwarranted and cannot be accepted, such as holding 'maganda' in 'Pramagandasya' in Ṛg. III. 53. 14 as identical with Magadha and the explanation of 'udantyaḥ' in the Ait. Br. as 'people of sunrise' Among medieval digests Gayā is dealt with in Kalpataru on Tīrthas pp 163-174, Tīrthacintāmaṇi of Vācaspati pp. 268-328, Tristhalīsetu of Nārāyaṇa-bhaṭṭa pp. 316-379, Tīrthaprakāśa pp. 384-452, Tīrthenduśekhara pp. 54-59, Tristhalīsetu-sāra-saṅgraha of Bhaṭṭoji pp. 36-38.