Among the places of Hindu pilgrimage Gaya holds a pre-eminent position for reasons more than one. It is only in Gaya that last obseisance to the departed father and forefathers is traditionally paid to let their soul achieve salvation. It is Gaya again which has remained largely unchanged throughout history, thus becoming the focal point of the cultural unity and continuity of Indian civilization. The temples, the kunds, the holy trees, River Falgu, and the other sacred zones of Gaya have their own charming mythology and history attached to them Equally exotic is the family history, life, styles, and functions of the sacred priests (traditionally known as pandas) without whom the pilgrimage to Gaya is unthinkable.