Brahma Temple Pushkar also known as Jagatpita Brahma Mandir is a Hindu temple in Pushkar, Rajasthan, India, near the sacred Pushkar Lake, to which its legend is forever connected. The temple is one of only a few temples in India dedicated to the creator god Brahma, and it is the most prominent of them. According to the legends, Pushkar’s Brahma temple is more than 2000 years old but the present structure of the temple dates to the 14th century.

The Brahma Temple Pushkar structure was built in the 14th century and was later partially rebuilt. The temple is constructed from marble and stone slabs. It is distinguished by a red pinnacle (shikhara) and a hamsa bird motif. The sanctum sanctorum of the temple houses an image of the four-headed Brahma and his consort Gayatri (the goddess of the Vedas).

Story/Legend Related to Brahma Temple Pushkar

According to legend, Lord Brahma used the lotus flower as his weapon to defeat the demon Vajranabha. Three petals of the flower fell on earth at three different locations, and these are the locations of the Pushkar lakes known as Jyeshta (big), Madhya (middle), and Kanishtha (small). The main lake near the temple is known as the Jyeshtha. Brahma desired to perform a Yagna here after killing Vijranabha. But, because his consort Savitri was unable to arrive on time, he married Gayatri and performed the Yagna with her.

A married man cannot perform a Yagna in the absence of his wife, according to Hindu belief. As a result, Brahma decided to marry Gayatri in order to carry out the Yagna. When Savitri arrived at the Yagna site, she became enraged when she saw Gayatri sitting next to her husband. Enraged by her husband’s second marriage, Savitri cursed Lord Brahma and declared that he would never be worshipped again. She also cursed those who helped arrange his wedding. Gayatri, on the other hand, used her powers to mitigate the curse’s effects. As a result, the temple in Pushkar was designated for Brahma worship.

History of Jagatpita Brahma Temple Pushkar

Pushkar is said to have over 500 temples (80 of which are large, with the remainder being small); many of these are ancient temples that were destroyed or desecrated by Muslim depredations during Mughal Invader Aurangzeb’s rule (1658-1707), but were later rebuilt; the most important of Pushkar’s temples is the Brahma temple, which dates from the 14th century. The sage Vishwamitra is said to have built the temple after Brahma’s yagna (ritual).

It is also thought that Brahma chose the location for his temple. The temple was renovated by the Hindu philosopher Adi Shankara in the eighth century, and the current mediaeval structure dates to Maharaja Jawat Raj of Ratlam, who made additions and repairs while retaining the original temple design.

Pushkar is often referred to in the scriptures as the only Brahma temple in the world, as a result of Savitri’s (Saraswati’s) curse, and as the “King of Hindu sacred places.” Although the Pushkar temple is no longer the only temple dedicated to Brahma, it is still one of the very few remaining temples in India dedicated to Brahma and the most prominent among them. Pushkar Lake and the Brahma Temple were named one of the ten most religious cities in the world and one of the five sacred pilgrimage sites for Hindus in India in an article published in the International Business Times.

Architecture of Jagatpita Brahma Temple Pushkar

Several marble steps lead to the entrance gate, which is adorned with pillared canopies, and the entry leads to a pillared outdoor hall, which leads to the Garbagriha. This magnificent shrine is made of stone slabs and blocks joined together with molten lead. The temple’s spire and the swan (Brahma’s mount) are its distinguishing features. The walls are inlaid with hundreds of silver coins given as offerings to Lord Brahma by devotees. A silver turtle adorns the mandap facing the marble door to the Sanctum Sanctorum.

Lord Brahma is depicted seated with his legs crossed, as is appropriate for his role as the creator. Brahma has four heads, which represents his grace favouring all four directions. His four arms contain the fundamental aspects of creation, life, and the cycle of birth and death that leads to a never-ending process of regeneration. There are also images of Lord Vishnu, his Dwarpalas, and his Mount Garuda.

Important Facts about Brahma Temple Pushkar

• The Brahma Temple in Pushkar is a well-known Hindu temple in Pushkar, Rajasthan. Few temples are dedicated to the Hindu pantheon’s Creator-God Brahma, who is one of the Holy Trinity.
• The deity and his second consort Gayatri are depicted in the temple’s Sanctum Sanctorum. This is a deeply spiritual place, and thousands of devotees travel from all over the world to have Dharshan of the Creator.
• Married men are not permitted to perform Pujas in the temple, and only members of the Sanyasi (ascetic) sect are permitted to perform the rituals.
• The Brahma Temple Pushkar is regarded as one of the world’s ten most religious sites, as well as one of the five sacred pilgrimage sites for Hindus.
• Thousands of devotees flock to Pushkar Temple during Kartika Purnima, which falls in November and commemorates the time when Brahma performed his Yagna in Pushkar.
• The holy dip in Pushkar Lake and bowing before Lord Brahma has its own significance in Hindu culture. The sleepy town of Pushkar also comes alive during this time with the joyous Pushkar Camel Fair.
• Pushkar is a combination of the Sanskrit words Pushpa (flower) and Kar (hand). Pushkar was named after the lotus petals that fell from Brahma’s hand at this location.
• Thousands of devotees and tourists from all over the world visit Pushkar’s Brahma Mandir each month. The best months to visit the temple are October and November.
• The Brahma Temple Pushkar, along with many other temples in Pushkar, was destroyed during the reign of Mughal invader Aurangazeb (1658-1707). The temple was then repaired and renovated by Maharaja Jawat Raj of Ratlam. Since then, no major changes have been made to the temple.
• The legend also mentions Brahma’s two consorts, Savitri and Gayatri, who have separate temples in Pushkar, but on opposite sides of the lake.

Famous Festivals In Brahma Temple Pushkar

• Kartik Poornima– A religious festival in Brahma’s honour is held once a year on Kartik Poornima, the full moon night of the Hindu lunar month of Kartik (October – November). 

• Purnima & amavasyas – Special rites are performed on all Poornima (full moon days) and amavasyas (new moon days).

How to Reach Brahma Temple Pushkar

By Air: The nearest airport connecting Pushkar to the rest of the country is in Jaipur, which is about 131 kilometres away. You can take a taxi from the airport to Pushkar and enjoy the Lord’s Darshan.

By Rail: Pushkar’s nearest railway station is Ajmer, which is only 11 kilometres away and is connected to all major towns in the country via direct and indirect trains.

By Road: There are regular buses plying from major cities of the country to Ajmer and from there, you can catch a bus, taxi or auto rickshaw to take you to the Brahma Temple Pushkar

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