Let me tell you the story, as revealed in the Garuḍa Purāṇa, of the greatness of all holy places, and especially of Gayā. Across the vast land of Bhārata, there exist sacred places of immense power and sanctity. Among these is Vainayaka, renowned as a great tirtha, and the supreme hermitage of Ramagiri, where sages have dwelled in deep meditation. There is Rameshvara, exalted as the highest pilgrimage, and Karttikeya, celebrated as the most excellent abode. In the city of Ujjayinī, Mahākāla presides, while in Kubjaka, the Lord Hari is worshipped as Shrī Dhara. The sacred sites continue: Mahakeshī and the river Kaverī, the holy Chandrabhāga with Vipāshā, and the delightful city of Mathurā by the mighty river Shonā. These are places where the Sun, Shiva, the hosts of Shiva’s attendants, the Divine Mother, and Hari himself reside. In these sanctuaries, acts of worship, ancestral rites, and offerings of rice-balls made for the ancestors become imperishable, never lost to time. There is also Kokamukha, Varāha, and Bhundira, known as Swāmi, and Kāmārūpa, the great tirtha where the goddess Kāmākhyā abides. Virajā is a sacred place of great renown, and the holy site of Shrī Purushottama is revered as well. The great rivers Godāvarī and Payoshni bestow boons and purification upon those who bathe in their waters. Gokarna stands as the supreme pilgrimage, and the city of Mahishmatī is counted among the holiest. In the age of Krita, purity itself was the path to liberation, and nearby stands Sharngadhara. Nanditirtha is known to grant liberation and the merit of a crore pilgrimages. The rivers Krishnaveni, Bhīmarathī, Gandakī, and Irāvatī flow with sanctity, each carrying the blessings of the gods. Yet, beyond all these, meditation on Brahman is declared the highest pilgrimage, and self-control is itself a holy place. In the lake of knowledge, by immersing oneself in the waters of meditation, the stains of passion and hatred are washed away. Those who see duality—thinking, “This is a sacred place, this is not”—do not understand the truth. For the one who knows that all is Brahman, there is no holy place beyond that realization. All rivers, mountains, and holy places worshipped by gods and others are sanctified. The seven fords of the Godāvarī are especially sacred, and Koṇagiri is a supreme tirtha. On Mount Sahya, the Lord of gods, Ekavīra, and Sureśvarī reside. One who bathes at the holy site of Kanakhala is freed from the cycle of birth and death. Having heard of these sacred places, Brahmā spoke to Vyāsa, surrounded by Dakṣa and the other sages. He proclaimed that Gayā is imperishable and grants the world of Brahman to all who seek it. Thus concludes the chapter known as “The Greatness of All Holy Places” in the Ācārakāṇḍa of the Garuḍa Purāṇa. Now, let us hear of the supreme greatness of Gayā itself, as recounted by the most excellent sage Vyāsa. In ancient times, there was a mighty and powerful demon named Gayāsura. Through his intense austerities, Gayāsura disturbed the gods, who then approached Lord Hari, seeking his help in subduing the demon. The gods implored Hari to cast down Gayāsura’s immense body. Responding to their plea, Hari brought Gayāsura to the land of Kīkaṭa and made him lie down there. Because of this, Viṣṇu—the wielder of the mace—stands at Gayā as the giver of liberation. There, Janārdana, Kāleśa, and the great-grandfather Brahmā are all present. Any person who performs sacrifice, ancestral rites, the offering of rice-balls, bathing, and other rituals at Gayā is greatly blessed. Recognizing Gayā as the supreme holy place, the great-grandfather Brahmā himself performed a sacrifice there. He created a great river with sacred waters, along with ponds and other holy sites. The Lord granted the land of Gayā, measuring five krośas, to the Brāhmaṇas. Yet, the Brāhmaṇas, having been cursed, remained at Gayā. For their sake, there appeared a river, a mountain of stone, and a stream. Indeed, in Gayā, those who perform śrāddha—the rites for the ancestors—attain worlds of great merit and reach the world of Brahmā. Knowledge of Brahman, performing śrāddha at Gayā, and departing from this world within the precincts of a cow-pen—these are the highest attainments for a human being. Such is the glory of Gayā, the holiest of holy places.