Rituals at Kashi, Prayag (Allahabad), Gaya pilgrimage.

Shri Kashi Vishwanatho Vijayatetaram

Varanasi or Kashi or Benaras are the names of this holy place to be visited by each person once in lifetime. Kashi is one of the sacred place, believed to be existing from tretha yuga to our current kali yuga. It is one of the holy cities of sapta puri (Ayodhya, Mathura, Hardwar, Varanasi, Kanchipuram, Ujjain,Dwaraka). It is believed that the demise in Kashi kshetram gives salvation to soul. 

According to hindu dharma pilgrimage to kashi should be undertaken once in a lifetime. Its a belief that performing rituals during kashi pilgrimage will please our ancestors and bring welfare to the family members and next generation.

The pilgrimage of kashi starts from Rameswaram (especially for south indians). 

The yatra starts with a pilgrimage to Rameswaram, where Lord Rama did pooja to Lord Shiva who is called Sri Ramanatha Swami in Rameswaram Temple.

1. Before starting from home, perform Yatra dhanam and take Brahma Dhandulam (one spoon of rice and dhal). After finishing the kashi yatra, this brahma dhandulam can be used during samaradhana once your yatra completes (according to your family tradition).
2. After reaching Rameshwaram, take bath at Agni Theertham(holy dip). 
3.  Ganapathy pooja. 
4.  Sankalpam.
5. Take bath at 22 sacred Theerthams at Rameshwaram's Ramanadha swami temple.
6. Full Srardham or Hiranya srardham with wet rice as pindam( offerings).
7. Take sand (3 big scoops) from Agni theertham, each named as Sethu Madhava, Veni Madhava & Bindhu Madhava.
8. Sethu Madhava, Bindhu Madhava should be dissolved in rameshwaram and Veni Madhava will be taken to Kashi. The pandits will guide you respectively. 
9. In horoscope if you find any pithru dhosha, Thila homam can be performed.(Not a ritual for kashi yatra).

Carry along with you Veni madhava to kashi. Next prepare for your pilgrimage to kashi. Following items are required to perform rituals during yatra.

1. For Ganga pooja & Sumangali, Blouse bit, Turmeric Powder, Kungumam(Sindhoor),Comb,Mirrors,Bangles,Turmeric (varali manjal).
2. For Srardham 9 X 5 Dhothi 3 or 5
3. For Thambadhi Pooja, one 9 yard saree, one 9 X 5 Dhothi, one ThiruMangalyam (mangal sootra), one set Metti (Minji), 2 sets of bangles, Turmeric and Kungumam(Sindhoor)
4. For Dhasa Dhanam, cocunut, sandal powder, Rice, Jaggery, Salt, Thilam, Ghee, Gold, Silver, two 9 X 5 Dhothi.
5. Pancha Dhanam Dheepam, Mani, Sombu, Book, one 9 X 5 Dhothi.
6. At Gaya, Srardham will require five or six 9 X 5 Dhothi.

From Rameshwaram travel to Allahabad. 
You can travel to kashi and then come to allahabad or straightly to allahabad and then to kashi. The rituals are named as following

• Prayag Mundan (at triveni)
• Gaya Pindam (at akshaya vatam)
• Kashi Dhandam (at kaal Bhairava temple)

Following rituals are performed at Allahabad.

1. Anugnai
2. Ganapathy pooja
3. Graha preethi Dhanam
4. Veni Dhanam. 
5. Dissolving Veni madhava (the veni madhava from rameshwaram).
6. Triveni Sangama Snanam. Collecting pure Ganga
7. Hiranya srardham
8. Pinda Pradhanam
9. Shetra pindadhanam
10. Thila Tharpanam
11. Brahma Yagnam
12. Veni Madhava, Hanuman temple dharshan.
13. Other temple dharshan.

Afterwards,collect water from the sangam and get it sealed in coppeer vessels. One vessel,about half a litre or so are to be preserved for the Abhishekam at Rameswaram to conclude the Sampoorna Kasi Yatra. The other small copper vessels filled with the holy water can be used in poojas at home and for offering to friends/relatives. Once these rituals are completed travel to varanasi.

Rituals at Kashi
We can perform Full srardham or hiranya srardham. Priests may help us with procedures and ceremony. The strange fact at Varanasi is the complete absence of Crows! Hence pindams (offerings) are fed to the cows only.

Day 1

1. Anugnai
2. Ganapathy pooja
3. Poorvanga Sankalp
4. Navagraha preethi dhaanam
5. Nandhi Srardham
6. Punyaha vachanam
7. Godhan
8. Vaishnava srardham
9. Dhasa Dhanam
10. Pala Dhanam
11. kruchchara charanam
12. Maha Ashivadham
13. Maha Sankalpam
14. Chakkara Theertha snanam
15. Manikarnika Theertha snanam

Day 2

1. Manikarnika hiranya roopa theertha srardham (or) Annaroopa theertha srardham (with homam)
2. Pinda dhanam
3. Thila tharpanam
4. kshetra pinda dhanam
5. Brahma yagnam

After completing Day 2 travel to Gaya.

Rituals at Gaya

1. Palghuni Theerthasnana maha sankalpam
2. Palghuni Theerthasnanam
3. Palghuni Hiranya srardham
4. Pinda dhanam, kshetra pinda dhanam, thila tharpanam
5. Vishnu padha hiranya srardham
6. pinda pradhanam
7. kshetra pinda dhanam
8. vishnu padha dharisanam
9. Mathru shodachi
10. Akshya vata anna srardham( with homam)
11. Pinda pradhanam
12. kshethra pinda pradhanam
13. Mathru Shodachi
14. Shaka, patra, pala dhanam
15. Bodhi vruksha Dharshan

Now travel back to Kashi and perform the day 3 Rituals.

Day 3 - Pancha Ghata theertha srardham at kashi

1. Assighat
2. Dhasasvamedha Ghat
3. Varana Ghat
4. Pancha Ganga Ghat
5. Manikarnika Ghat. In all these 5 Ghats Theertha srardham, Hiranya srardham, Pinda Dhanam, kshetra pinda dhanam, Thila Tharpanam, Brahma Yagnam
6.  Ganga Mata pooja
7. Thambadhi pooja
8. Dhasa Dhanam
9. Pancha dhanam
10. Kalabairav Samaaradhanai
11. Thundi Ganapathi, Annapurni, Vishwanath, visalakshi, kal Bairav, Dhandapani, Athmaveereswarar, Bindhu Madhava Dharshan
12. Kamakoteeswar, Kedhareeshwar, Thilapandeshwar, chindhamani vinayakar Dharshan
13. Sankat Mochan Hanuman, Vana durga, Thulsi manasa devi, Gowdi Madha, vyasakasi Dharshan.

At the Murugan Temple here,Lord Dhandapani,Lord Muruga strangely sports a beard .The priest ,has a stick at the sanctum sanctorum and gives three strokes/taps with it on your back. It is supposed to be a punishment for the sins committed by us.

Travel from Kashi to Rameshwaram
Perform Abhishekam to the Lord of Rameswaram,Sri Ramanatha Swamy and do archana and conclude Kasi Yatra.

Back to Residence
Perform a Samaradhanai, pooja to Ganga with Ganges water filled vessels, feed 2 brahmins and gift Ganga Jal etc to relatives/close friends and conclude the Kasi Yatra.

Performing Religious Rites and Vaidhika karmas at "Prayag(Allahabad), Kasi(Varanasi) & Gaya" will be arranged by traditional Veda Pandits. Neccessary arrangements will be made for Boarding, Lodging and transport in these places

Contact 

R. Swaminathan Sastrigal,
B.4/7 Hanuman Ghat ,
Varanasi 221001 (UP) India

Phone No : (0542) 2277344
Mobile No : 9936180585
email-id : saminathan.kasiyatra@gmail.com