| Vishnupada Temple | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Hinduism |
| District | Gaya district |
| Deity | Vishnu |
| Location | |
| Location | Gaya |
| State | Bihar |
| Country | India |
  Location in Bihar | |
| Geographic coordinates | 24°36′37″N 85°0′33″E / 24.61028°N 85.00917°E |
| Architecture | |
| Type | Shikhara |
| Creator | rebuilt by Queen Ahilya Bai Holkar of Indore |
| Completed | rebuilt 1787 |
Vishnupad Temple (Sanskrit: विष्णुपद मंदिर, IAST: Viṣṇupada Mandira; lit. 'temple of Vishnu's feet') is an ancient Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu[1] in Gaya, Bihar, India, located on the banks of Phalgu river.[2] The temple is believed to be built upon the site where Vishnu had purportedly killed the demon Gayasura or pinned him underground. The temple features a 40-cm footprint purported to be of Lord Vishnu incised into a block of basalt, known as Dharmasila which was retained when the deity stepped on Gayasura's chest before pinning him underground.
Atop the structure is a 50-kilo gold flag, donated by a devotee, Gayapal Panda Bal Govind Sen.[3]
The Vishnupad temple is the center for Shraddha rites in Gaya.[4]
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.[5] The legendary saints Madhvacharya, Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, Vallabhacharya have visited this shrine.[6]
- ^ Kulshreshtha 2017, p. 167.
- ^ Davidson & Gitlitz 2002, p. 194.
- ^ Singh 1978, p. 16.
- ^ Asher 2008, p. 89.
- ^ Singh 1978, p. 14.
- ^ Singh 1978, p. 15.