My father Shambhu Pandey is a Panda in Gaya. Grandfather's name was Shyam Pandey and great grandfather Govind Lal ji. Everyone used to do the work of Panda only. We have a total of 5 brothers including our relatives and cousins. All the pilgrims perform Pind Daan.
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This is what 26 year old Panda Raja Pandey has to say. He has studied till graduation. He organizes Pind Daan for the devotees coming from Uttar Pradesh. Before him, this work was done by his own family members. Now he has got this responsibility.
Pitru Paksha fair is going on in Gaya from 17th September. Lakhs of pilgrims coming to the fair are offering Pind Daan to their ancestors. Panda plays the most important role in this.
Pind Daan is considered complete without giving its results (completion of Yagya and blessing of ancestors attaining salvation). Along with the elders, the crowd of young pandas has also increased in Gaya. People from many generations of Panda Group are working here.
From Bollywood celebs like Sanjay Dutt, Raj Kapoor to former President Giani Zail Singh, R Venkatraman, Meira Kumar, Morarji Desai, Kasturba Gandhi, Buta Singh, they have performed Pind Daan from the pandas of Gaya. Many Hindu families living in Pakistan are also their clients.
A special thing about the Panda group of Gaya is that they have accurate information about their ancestors. Here in Panda Pothi (ledger of ancestors) one can find updates from 300 years ago till now.
In this, the names of ancestors, their signatures, when they came to Gaya Ji, all this remains updated. Read everything about pandas in this report…
First know, who are pandas and how are they made?
There are two types of pandas in Gayaji Dham. One is Gaya Pal Panda and the other is Dhami Panda. The work of both is divided. Gaya Pal Panda performs Pind Daan in Vishnupad temple. While Dhami Panda takes part in the process of Pind Daan on Pretshila mountain. There are 300 houses of Panda group around Vishnupad temple. Around 3000 Pandas are involved in the process of Pind Daan here. There are about 800 youth among them. District wise areas of the entire country are divided among all. Devotees coming from abroad also have different pandas.
no degree needed
Panda Raja Pandey's father, who performs Pind Daan for the devotees coming from Uttar Pradesh, is also a Panda and his ancestors were also associated with this work. Panda Raja Pandey tells that no degree is required to become a panda and get this work done, nor do we have a degree. We carry forward the work done by our ancestors. My father is a panda. Grandfather and great grandfather also used to work as pandas.
5 brothers, all perform Pind Daan
Panda Raja Pandey says- 'I have learned the work while living with my father. For this one also has to study. I and my brothers have learned the rituals related to Shraddha and the Vedas from the Uttaradhi Math located in Gaya.
Pitru Paksha fair has started in Gaya from 17th September. During this time, people from many cities of the country come to offer Pind Daan to their ancestors.
There is no account of donation
Panda Raja Pandey told that 'I and my brother have been doing puja and offering Pind Daan with great enthusiasm since childhood. Every youth of Panda society does the same. He said that 'Shraddha Karma is a matter related to charity. In return for this work, some people donate even Rs 100 and some even spend lakhs of rupees. Donation includes clothes, gold and silver, land, money and food grains. According to the host and according to the faith in the person, he donates accordingly. We don't keep any account of it.
House runs on charity Dakshina
Panda Dipu Lal Bhaiya told that 'earlier the family used to run on the donations received during the first 17 days of Pitru Paksha, Dakshina, land, gold and silver. But now Pind Daan takes place throughout the year. Everyone is happy. No account of donations is maintained. It comes from one side and goes out from the other side.
Division is done according to district
Priest Panda Prem Nath Taiya said that 'the distribution of territory among the Pandas has been going on since the time of their ancestors with mutual consent. Even as the family grows, the area is determined with mutual consent in the presence of the Panda community. Or in case the Pandey does not have descendants, the area is given to his immediate family member. For example, if a Pande has Arrah district, then his descendants or family members will give success to the pilgrims coming from that district.
Nepal's only Panda Lal Moharia Park
The panda community is not unanimous about who is the biggest panda and how much area he has. Everyone claims that 'we have a big area'. Because if a pilgrim from Gujarat says that he will get success only from Panda from Maharashtra, then no one can stop him. But apart from these controversies, there are some pandas who have a large area. Lal Moharia Taktak alone is the pantheon of pilgrims from one country, Nepal.
How to create a client Panda
Panda Raja Pandey said that the area of Uttar Pradesh has been with us since the time of our ancestors. We do not need to create clients, they are already in contact with us. Devotees coming from there definitely come to our place. Our ancestors also used to visit their villages. Now we also go.
When we go there, we talk about each other's well-being. We also get respect and donations from them. This way they stay in touch with us. Also, if a devotee comes to Gayaji for the first time, then after asking about his state, he is sent to the Panda of that area.
He told that the more the pandas roam in their area, the bigger their area becomes. Maintaining contact with the host of your area is an important source of this profession, which opens all the doors. Pandas who move around less have less contact with people.
Panda Pothi contains 300 years old accounts.
How to find name and sign of 300 years old ancestors
Panda Prem Nath Taiya told that from the area where people come, they bring complete information about their panda from the people of their area. After this they meet us. First of all they try to know whether any Gayaji had come among their ancestors or not. On this we find the records of the people coming from that city, locality or village which our ancestors have noted in their ledgers. Everything is written alphabetically in the ledger.
He told that we search the account of the pilgrim's ancestors by name and village and they are found within 5 minutes. They have their name, state, district and their signature. There are many such people whose information is not available as no one from their house has come. But those who meet them rejoice with joy. The happiness on their faces is palpable. We also feel happy seeing their happiness.
Respect and prosperity in this profession
Raja Pandey said the reason behind his becoming a Panda, that our society was originated by Brahma. He himself has directed for this work. Therefore, this work is being done from generation to generation and will be done in future too. Also, in this profession there is respect, wealth, devotion, spiritual practice, everything.
Till now only two people have done e-Pind Daan
Chairman of Vishnupad Temple Managing Committee, Shambhu Lal Bitthal says that this Pind Daan is useless talk. When it is said in the scriptures that the ancestors will attain salvation only when their descendants come to Gaya Ji and perform Shraddha with their own hands. In such a situation, there is no importance or basis for e-Pind Daan. Our society opposes it. This time also the number of e-Pinddaanis is very less. This time till now only two people have done e-Pind Daan. Whereas last year their number was 8.
Tradition of offering Sattu to ghosts on Pretshila: Today is the third day of Pind Daan in Gaya, crowd of pilgrims gathered.
In Gaya, rituals related to Pind Daan are being completed at Pretshila and its foothills. There is a tradition of offering Sattu to ghosts here. The Pretshila complex is filled with pilgrims. The ghost rock is resonating with the mantra chanting of the Brahmin. The pundits, in their own way, quoting the scriptures, are loudly proclaiming the importance of Pind Daan at Pret Shila. The pilgrims performing Pind Daan are also listening to him with great interest and following the guidelines given by him, they are following the rituals related to the puja. read the full news
Graphics Source: NavJivanIndia | VaskarAssets
