Phalgu River

Common card · No. 296569

The Phalgu or Falgu, a river that flows past Gaya, India in the Indian state of Bihar, is a sacred river for Hindus and Buddhists. In Hinduism, the river is regarded as the physical embodiment of Vishnu. Its banks, particularly near the iconic Vishnupad Mandir, serve as a major pilgrimage site for pindadaan (ancestral rites), especially during the annual Pitru Paksha period. According to the Ramayana, the river's subterranean course at Gaya is the result of a curse placed upon it by Sita. In Buddhism, the Phalgu (historically known as the Niranjana) holds profound significance as the site where Gautama Buddha practiced asceticism prior to attaining enlightenment.

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