According to Rajendralal Mitra, the story of Gayasura is an allegory of the vanquishing of Buddhism by Brahmanism (Bodha-Gaya pp. 14-18). O. Malley thought it to be an amalgamation of Brahmanism and popular demonolatry which preceded Brahmanism (JASB LXXII. ii. 7, 1904). B.M. Barua regards, this as an invention to impress the sanctity of the Gayā range of hills (Gaya and Buddha Gaya, 1934). I agree with B. M. Barua as, while editing the Karavira Māhātmya, a Sthalapurana of Kolhapur, I found similar creation of stories to justify and glorify some rites etc. of Mahālakṣhmi (vide Intro. to Karavira-Māhātmya, pp. 19-29, Pub. Shivaji University, Kolhapur, 1980). I find the same claim in the Sthala Purānas of Pandharpur, Tirupathi.
Narada enquired:
1. How was Gayasura (Demon Gaya) born? What was his power? What was his nature? How did he perform the penance? How did he acquire purity of the body?
Sanatkumāra replied:
2. Brahmă, the grandfather of the worlds, was born of the umbilical lotus of Vişhnu. Formerly, at the instance of lord Vishnu, he created the subjects.
3. Formerly he created the Asuras (Demons) through a demoniac inclination. Through a benevolent disposition of mind, he created the Devas of gentle minds.
4. Demon Gaya possessed the greatest strength and exploit among Asuras. His height is remembered to be one hundred and twentyfive Yojanas.
5. His girth was sixty Yojanas. He is remembered as the most excellent of all the devotees of Vişhņu. He performed a very terrible penance on the excellent mountain Kolāhala (Brahmayoni hill including Mundapruşhtha at Gaya).
6. He remained steady for many thousand years without breathing. Scorched by his fiery penance, Devas were greatly agitated.
7. Devas went to Brahmaloka and spoke to Pitāmaha (god Brahma), “O Lord, save us from demon Gaya”. Then Brahmă spoke to the Devas:
8. “O Devas, we shall go to god Shankara.” Brahma and others went to Shiva. At Kailasha, they bowed to him and said, “O Lord, save us from the great demon”.
9. Sambhu spoke to Brahma and others: “We shall seek refuge in Hari, in the ocean of milk. He is the lord of all Devas, He will do something conducive to our welfare”. Brahma, Shiva and the Devas bowed to Vişhnu and eulogised him.
The Devas said:
10. Om! Obeisance to Vişhnu, the lord of all, the all-powerful, the radiant, the victorious and the devourer (destroyer) of Räkşhasas and others.
11. Hail to the sustainer of all these (worlds). Bow to him who leads the Yogins beyond (the ocean of worldly existence). Obeisance to the ever-increasing, the Infinite. Hail to the resplendent one.
Sanatkumāra said:
12. On being eulogised thus, Vasudeva granted vision unto the Suras (i.e. manifested himself in front of them). “O Devas, wherefore have you all come?’’ On being asked thus by Vişhnu the Devas said to him:
13. “O Lord, save us from the danger of demon Gaya”. Hari said, “May Brahma and others go near that Daitya. I shall also come there”.
14. Seated on Garuda, Keśhava started in order to grant a boon to Gayasura. All the Devas seated themselves on their respective excellent vehicles and proceeded.
15. Vasudeva and others spoke to him: “O demon Gaya, what for is this penance being performed by you? We have all arrived here fully satisfied (with your penance). Mention the boon (you wish to have).”
Gayāsura said:
16-18. O Devas, Brahma, Vişhnu and Maheśhvara, if you are pleased, may I be ever holier than these: than all the Devas, and Brāhmaṇas, than all the Yajñas, holy rivers and mountains; than all the Devas; than all the sages; than even the unchanging Shiva, than all the Mantras; than all the lords of Devas; than all the Yogins; than all the renouncers; than all the Karmins (the performers of holy rites); than all the Dharmins (pious ones); than all the holy Jñanins (wise ones and knowers).
19. “May you be pure and holy”. After saying this to the Daitya, the Devas went to heaven. After seeing and touching the Daitya, all people went to Hari’s city i.e. Vaikuntha).
20. All the three worlds became vacant. The whole of the city of Yama became void. Thereafter, Yama went to Brahmaloka along with Indra and others.
21. All the Devas displaced by Gayāsura spoke to Brahmā: “O Pitāmaha, please take back the authority which has been given by you (to us).”
22-23. Then Brahmă spoke to the Devas: “We shall go to the immutable Vişhnu”. Brahma and others said to Vişhnu: “Since the Asura has been granted the boon by you, all the people have been going to heaven by merely looking at him. All the three worlds have become void.” On being informed thus by the Devas, Vasudeva spoke thus to god Brahmä:
24. “Go and request the demon thus, Give your body for the purpose of Yajña’.” Urged by Vişhnu, Brahma went there accompanied by the Suras and saw the great Asura.
25. On seeing Brahmä along with the Devas, the demon Gaya stood up and duly and devoutly worshipped them.
Gayāsura said:
26. My birth has become fruitful today. My penance has become fruitful today, since Brahma has come as my guest. Everything is obtained by me today.
27. O Yogin, O knower of all the ancillaries of Yoga, O master of all the worlds, O father, O preceptor, O Brahmā, I shall carry out the work for which you have come.
Brahma said:
28. All the holy centres of the earth seen by me while wandering over it, are not as pure as your body, for the purpose of Yajña.
29. Holiness of the body has been attained by you, thanks to the grace of Vişhnu. Hence, O Asura, give unto me your pure body for the purpose of Yajña.
Gayāsura said:
30. O lord of Devas, I am blessed since my body is being asked for by you. If you perform Yaga (sacrifice) over my body the Pitris in my family shall be contented.
3. It was by you alone that this body was created. It was by you that it was rendered holy and pure. The Yaga should necessarily take place for the benefit of everyone.
32. After saying thus, during the Shveta Kalpa, the demon Gaya fell on the ground in a south-western direction on the mountain Koláhala. 1
1. The Brahmayoni hill in Gayā, including the hill called Mundaprushtha which contains the impressions of Gadadhara’s feet-De 201.
33. Keeping his head in the north and the feet in the south, the Daitya (lay there). After collecting together all the requisites, Brahmå mentally created the Rutviks.
34-39. They were: Agnisharman, Amruta, Shaunaka, Yáñjali, Mrudu, Kumuthi, Vedakaundilya, Hārīta, Käśhyapa, Krupa, Garga, Kaushika, Vasishtha, the unchanging sage Bhargava, Vruddha Parāśhara, Kaņva, Mändavya, Shrutikevala, Shveta, Sutāla, Damana, Suhotra, Kanka, Laukākşhi of huge mighty arms, Jaigişhavya, the Brāhmaṇa Dadhipañchamukha, Ruşhabha, Karka, Katyāyana, Gobhila the sage of great fierce rites, Supälaka, Gautama, Vedashirovrata, Jațămălin, Avyagra, Chäțuhăsa the terrible, Atreya, Angiras, Aupamanyu of great holy rites, Gokarna, Guhävāsa, Shikhandin and Umåvrata.
40. After creating these and other leading Brähmaņas, god Brahmā, the grandfather of the worlds, performed the Yāga on the body of Gayasura.
41-42. Agnisharma, without wasting his penance, created these five fires from his mouth: Dakşhiņāgni, Gärhapatya, Ahavaniya, Satya and Avasathya. O celestial sage, the Yajñas are founded on these. To stabilise the Yajña, he gave Dakshinā to the Brāhmaṇas.
43. After performing the Purnähuti and taking the ablution of Avabhrutha, Brahmă caused the sacrificial post to be brought along with the Suras and fixed it.
44. The auspicious post was fixed in the Brahmasaras which is the most excellent of all lakes. Shaken and surprised, Brahma spoke to Dharmarāja:
45. “There is a slab of stone in your house. Without hesitation bring it here at my behest and fix it on the head of the Daitya.”
46. On hearing it, Yama placed the slab on the head of the demon to keep him steady. Even when the slab was placed, the demon shook along with the slab.
47. He spoke to Rudra and other Devas, “O Devas, you all stand steady on the slab”. They said “Yes” and stood there (on it).
48. The Devas pressed the slab with their feet (?) and noted that still the demon quaked. Then the distressed Brahınā went to Vişhnu who was lying down in the ocean of milk. Bowing down and honouring the lord, he eulogised him.
Brahma said:
49. O Lord, O sovereign of the cosmic egg, I bow down to the lord of the worlds, the goal of persons possessing glory, the granter of worldly pleasures and salvation.
50. Vishvaksena spoke to Vişhnu, “O Lord, the lotus-born deity eulogises you”. Hari said, “You bring him”. Urged by Vişhnu, he brought him. Hari spoke to Aja (Brahma), “Tell me why you have come?”
Brahma said:
51-52. O Lord of Devas, when the Yaga was performed the demon Gaya moved even when the slab of stone of the form of the Devas was placed on his head. Even when Rudra and other Devas were stationed (over it) there, the demon quaked, O Madhava, be pleased to make it steady now.
53. On hearing the words of Brahmă, lord Hari pulled out a Mūrti (physical body/idol) from his person and gave it to Brahma to stop the restless quaking (of the demon).
54. Bringing the idol with him, Brahmă placed it on the slab of stone. Still the demon quaked, on seeing which, he (Brahmā) invoked the lord again.
55. Vişhnu came from the ocean of milk and stationed himself on the slab, with the name of Janardana and Pundarīka, the primordial Gadādhara (wielder of mace) himself stood there to steady the slab, for stabilising (Gaya or his body).
56-57. For stabilising (Gaya or his body), Brahmă divided himself into five, viz. Prapitāmaha (Great-grandfather), Pitamaha (Grandfather), the master of Phalgu, Kedara and Kanakeshvara. Brahma as Vinayaka stood there in the form of an elephant. The Sun divided himself into three: Gayaditya, Uttarārka and Dakşhiņārka.
58. Lakşhmi stood there in the name of Sitā, Gauri in the name of Mangalā and Sarasvati stationed herself in the forms of the three, viz. Gāyatrī, Savitrī, and Trisandhya.
59. Indra, Bruhaspati, Pūşhan, the eight Vasus of great strength, Viśhvedevas, the two Aśhvini Devas, Maruts, the leader of the universe and Devas along with the Yakshas, serpents, and Gandharvas remained there accompanied by their respective Shaktis (powers).
60. Since the Daitya was made steady by the primordial club and Hari stood there, he is famous as Ādi-Gadădhara. 1
1. Etymology quoted in TSS (Tristhalisetu), p. 338.
61. Gayasura spoke to the Devas, “Why have I been deceived? The pure body was given unto Brahmä by me for the purpose of Yajňa. Would not have I been steady at the sheer instance of Vişhnu?
62. Why have I been harassed by Suras and Hari by means of the club? May Devas be delighted for ever now that I have been tortured.”
63. Gadadhara and others were pleased. They all simultaneously spoke to Gayasura, “Speak out (choose) a boon. We are all very delighted”. Gayasura then spoke to Devas:
64. “As long as the earth lasts, as long as the mountains, the Moon, the Sun and the stars remain, may Vişhnu, Brahmā and Maheśhvara stand on the slab along with all other Devas. Let the holy centre be named after me.
65. The holy centre of Gayā shall extend to five kroshas and Gayashiras to one krosha. Amidst them may all the holy centres grant welfare unto all men.
66. By taking ablution etc. and performing Tarpana one should offer balls of rice. Then it is more fruitful. That man becomes a great soul and uplifts a thousand members of his family.
67. All of you, stay (here) for ever in manifest and unmanifest forms. May Gadadhara himself be the destroyer of all sins.
68. May those on whose behalf the Shraddha has been performed and Pindas offered, go to Brahmaloka. May the sins due to Brahmaņa slaughter etc. of those who report to this holy centre perish.
69. May all the holy centres in heaven, firmament and the earth such as Naimisha, Puşhkara, Gangā, Prayāga, Avimuktaka and others come here regularly, O Suras, and yield welfare unto all men.
70. O hosts or Devas, of what avail is much talk. Unless one of you Devas stand (on this slab), I too will not be steady. This is the condition. Let it be strictly observed.”
71. On hearing the words of Gayasura, Vişhnu and other Suras spoke, “All that you have requested for shall undoubtedly be granted.
72. After worshipping our feet (all the devotees) will attain the great goal.” When the boons were granted to him by Devas, the Daitya became delighted and remained steady.
73-76. When Devas stood steady, the unborn deity (Brahma) gave unto Brāhmanas fifty-five villages and the holy centre of Gaya extending to five krošhas. He built divine houses endowed with all necessities of life and gave Kamadhenu (wish-yielding divine cow), Kalpavrukşha (Kalpa-tree) and Pärijāta and other trees also were given. A great river of milk, many streams of ghee, exudations of honey, streams of honey, lakes rich in curds etc., a lake of gold, many mountains of cooked food etc. were given. Brahmă created different items of food and fruits and gave them all to the Brāhmaṇas. While giving these things, Aja said, “O leading Brāhmaṇas, do not beg of others”.
77-78. After giving away all these things and bowing to Adigadadhara Brahmä went to Brahmaloka. The Brahmaņas of Gayā officiated as priests of Dharma in his sacrifice at Dharmāraṇya and later begged him (for Dakşhiņā). Out of covetousness they took monetary and other gifts at the sacrifice of Dharma. Brahmā came there and cursed the Brāhmanas. 1
1. The story is repeated in NP. II.44.16-18, AP. 114.36-38.
79-81. “O Brāhmaṇas even when everything had been given by me, you coveted for more. Hence you will always be burdened with debts. The river shall flow with water only (and not milk). The mountains of foodstuffs will turn into those of rocks. All the rivers shall flow with water and your houses will be of mud. Kamadhenu and the Kalpa-tree will come back to my own region.” Cursed thus by Brahmā all those Brāhmaṇas imploringly said to the Unborn deity:
82. “O lord, everything that had been given by you has gone off due to your curse. May you be kind enough to assign something for our livelihood”.
83. On hearing those words, the sympathetic Brahma spoke thus to the Brāhmaṇas: “As long as the Moon and the Sun shine, you will be maintaining your livelihood by means of (the earning at the) holy centres.
84. Those meritorious persons who perform Shräddhas in Gaya will attain Brahmaloka. I will also always be considered worshipped by those who worship you.”
85-86. The stomach of the Daitya is overlapped by the mountain Viraja, the righteous. Near the well that forms its umbilical cavity, goddess Virajă is stationed. One who offers Pinda etc. shall uplift twenty-one generations. His (the demon’s) feet had been made steady by the mountain Mahendra. A man who offers balls of rice there uplifts seven generations.