Dictionary of Pali Proper Names v1.c14.325

v1.c14.325

Buddhaghosa says that Gayā was the name given both to the village and a bathing ghat near to it (also called Gayāpokkharaṇī). Dhammapāla,⁵ on the other hand, speaks of a Gayānadī and a Gayāpokkharaṇī as being two distinct bathing ghats, both commonly called Gayātittha, and both considered to possess the power of washing away sins. People went there, offered sacrifices to the gods, recited the Vedas, and immersed themselves in the water.