Are the 300-year-old ancestral records at Gaya reliable?

Yes, the bahi records maintained by the Gayawal Pandas at Gaya are among the most reliable genealogical records in India. They are handwritten ledgers dating back several centuries, updated with each family visit. Each entry includes the family name, gotra, names of performers, date of pilgrimage, village of origin, and signatures of both the pandas and the pilgrims. Modern historians and the Archeological Survey of India have studied these records and confirmed their authenticity. They have helped trace royal lineages, document regional migrations, and reconnect families separated during partition. For individual families, they provide an unbroken chain of ancestral documentation that is nearly impossible to find elsewhere — our pandits assist in accessing these records respectfully.