Brahma temple in Pushkar is a remarkable religious structure that is devoted to the deity of creation, deity Brahma. The reason for it being uncommon is because the temple is amongst the very few extant temples of Lord Brahma in India. Known as the Jagatpita Brahma Mandir, this Hindu temple is located in the Pushkar town in Rajasthan.
The days of building this temple go back to the 14th century. However, Indian Mythology says the genesis of this temple took place 2000 years ago in the past. Located next to the famous Pushkar Lake, the temple is a very popular tourist destination; with an enormous flock of people visiting it, particularly on the auspicious festival of Kartik Poornima.
History
The Hindu holy book Padma Purana recounts an incident in which Lord Brahma encountered the demon Vajranabha, who was responsible for the murder and torture of humans. Upon seeing this horrific deed, the Lord swiftly vanquished the demon with his unique weapon—a lotus flower. During this process, three spots on the ground were covered with lotus flower petals. Three holy lakes, the Jyestha Pushkar, the Madhya Pushkar, and the Kanishta Pushkar, came into being as a consequence of this.
Upon his subsequent earthly visit, the lord began by having a yajna (fire sacrifice) prepared at Jyestha Pushkar Lake. Lord Brahma built a chain of hills around the yajna so that the devils couldn’t harm it. It was a major setback for Yajna since his wife Savitri couldn’t attend.
To finish the Yajna, Lord Brahma prayed to Lord Indra for a suitable spouse. At last, the daughter of a Gujar, Gayatri, was sent to sit by Brahma as his wife, and Savitri came. She became so angry that she cursed Brahma, swearing that no one would ever worship the Lord. Afterward, she started limiting his adoration to Pushkar alone. This established the Pushkar Brahma temple as the foremost location for lord worship.
Significance
Yagya
The stories say that Lord Brahma wanted to abstain from killing, so he planned to do a yajna or sacrifice. He chose to conduct the yajna in Pushkar Lake, the same spot from whence the lotus petal had fallen.
Lord Brahma made hills surrounding the Pushkar and placed gods there to keep demons from disrupting the Yagya. You will also find the Varaha Temple near Pushkar Lake, as Lord Varaha, an incarnation of Vishnu, also served as a protector of the yagya.
Only one temple
Savitri (Saraswati), Brahma’s wife, was to accompany him on the Yagya. Goddess Saraswati was tardy for the yagya because she was waiting for her consorts, Lakshmi, Parvati, and Indrani.
In Hinduism, a man’s wife is an essential component of a Yagna. Plus, Brahma doesn’t want this fortunate moment to end just yet. Consequently, Lord Brahma requested that Lord Indra locate a suitable maiden to accompany him as his spouse and finish the Yagya.
Quickly, Indra located the Gujjar, the daughter of a milkmaid. To make her holy, she was transfigured into a cow, the sacred animal, and mother of all deities. In recognition of her innocence, the gods Shiva, Vishnu, and others bestowed the name Gayatri, meaning “goddess of milk,” onto her. On schedule, Lord Brahma wed her and finished the yagya.
Teerthraj
The goddess Gayatri mitigated Saraswati’s punishment and bestowed the title of Teerthraj, monarch of pilgrimages, to Pushkar. Lord Vishnu will marry Sita when he becomes a human, she said, and Indra will never let go of heaven. The priest who conducts yagya will be the scholar and will earn high esteem in society.
Architecture
The entry gate, with its magnificent arches, is reached by a flight of marble stairs. The temple’s pillared canopies give it a stately appearance on top.
After passing through the massive gate, visitors will reach the outside Mandapa (hall) with pillars and, finally, the Garbhagriha. The towering red spire serves as a visual cue to identify the marble main building of the Brahma mandir/temple. The vahana, or sacred text, of Lord Brahma, adorns the main shrine’s entryway.
The main temple is where you can find the magnificent four-armed and four-faced (chaumurti) statue of Lord Brahma, and just next to him is the statue of the goddess Gayatri. A great priest and philosopher named Adi Shankaracharya supposedly set the idol here.
A little cave inside the temple complex houses an idol of Lord Shiva. In Brahma Mandir Pushkar, you may see several miniature statues of gods and goddesses, in addition to Lord Shiva. On top of the Rathkagir hills, you can view the Sarasvati Temple, which is visible from Brahma Temple as well.
Ways to reach
The Rajasthani city of Pushkar is situated 14 km away from Ajmer. You may reach Pushkar by plane, train, or car in no time at all. Pushkar is 150 kilometers from Jaipur’s Sanganer Airport, and 15 km from Ajmer’s railway station.
The best time to visit
Plan your journey to Pushkar during the months of October and November for the most profound devotional experience with Lord Brahma.
On the Hindu lunar calendar, the full moon night of the Kartik month, also known as Kartik Poornima, is a religious event celebrated in devotion to the Lord.
During this religious event, thousands of worshippers bathe in the holy lake of Pushkar. The religious event also incorporates a number of additional rituals performed at the Brahma temple.
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