Brahma Temple, Pushkar - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brahma_Temple,_Pushkar

Coordinates: 262914N 743315E

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Jagatpita Brahma Mandir (Hindi: - ) is a

Hindu temple situated at Pushkar in the Indian state of
Rajasthan, close to the sacred Pushkar Lake to which its
legend has an indelible link. The temple is one of very few
existing temples dedicated to the Hindu creator-god Brahma
in India and remains the most prominent among them.

Brahma Temple at Pushkar

Although the present temple structure dates to the 14th

century, the temple is believed to be 2000 years old. The
temple is mainly built of marble and stone stabs. It has a
distinct red pinnacle (shikhara) and a hamsa bird motif. The
temple sanctum sanctorum holds the central images of
Brahma and his second consort Gayatri.
The temple is governed by the Sanyasi (ascetic) sect
priesthood.[2] On Kartik Poornima, a festival dedicated to
Brahma is held when large number of pilgrims visit the
temple, after bathing in the sacred lake.
Brahma Temple at Pushkar

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Legend
History
Architecture
Worship
Other related temples
Notes
References
External links
Location in Rajasthan
Name
Proper name Brahma Mandir, Pushkar [1]

According to the Hindu scripture Padma Purana, Brahma

saw the demon Vajranabha (Vajranash in another version)
trying to kill his children and harassing people. He
immediately slew the demon with his weapon, the lotusflower. In this process, the lotus petals fell on the ground at
three places, creating three lakes: the Pushkar Lake or
Jyeshta Pushkar (greatest or first Pushkar), the Madya
Pushkar (middle Pushkar) Lake, and Kanishta Pushkar
(lowest or youngest Pushkar) lake. When Brahma came down
to the earth, he named the place where the flower ("pushpa")

Geography
Coordinates 262914N 743315E
Country India
State Rajasthan
District Ajmer
Location Pushkar
Culture

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fell from Brahma's

hand ("kar") as
"Pushkar".

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brahma_Temple,_Pushkar

Primary deity Brahma

Architecture
Architectural Rajasthani

Brahma then decided

styles
to perform a yajna
History and governance
(fire-sacrifice) at the
main Pushkar Lake.
Date built 14th century (present
To perform his yajna
structure)
peacefully without
The mandapam of the Brahma temple
being attacked by the
demons, he created the hills around the Pushkar Ratnagiri in the
south, Nilgiri in the north, Sanchoora in the west and Suryagiri in the east and positioned gods there to
protect the yajna performance. However, while performing the yajna, his wife Savitri (or Sarasvati in some
versions) could not be present at the designated time to perform the essential part of the yajna as she was
waiting for her companion goddesses Lakshmi, Parvati and Indrani. So Brahma married Gurjar girl, Gayatri and
completed the yajna with his new consort sitting beside him, holding the pot of amrita (elixir of life) on her
head and giving ahuti (offering to the sacrificial fire).
When Savitri finally arrived at the venue she found Gayatri sitting next to Brahma which was her rightful place.
Agitated, she cursed Brahma that he would be never worshipped, but then reduced the curse permitting his
worship in Pushkar. Savitri also cursed Indra to be easily defeated in battles, Vishnu to suffer the separation
from his wife as a human, the fire-god Agni who was offered the yajna to be all-devouring and the priests
officiating the yajna to be poor. Endowed by the powers of yajna, Gayatri diluted Savitri's curse, blessing
Pushkar to be the king of pilgrimages, Indra would always retain his heaven, Vishnu would be born as the
human Rama and finally unite with his consort and the priests would become scholars and be venerated. Thus,
the Pushkar temple is regarded the only temple dedicated to Brahma.[3][4][5][6][7][8][9] Savitri, thereafter, moved
into the Ratnagiri hill and became a part of it by emerging as a spring known as the Savitri Jharna (stream); a
temple in her honour exists here.[6]

Pushkar is said to have over 500 temples (80 are large and the rest are small); of these many are old that were
destroyed or desecrated by Muslim depredations during Mughal emperor Aurangzeb's rule (16581707) but
were re-built subsequently; of these the most important is the Brahma temple. Though the current structure
dates to the 14th century, the original temple is believed to be 2000 years old.[10][11] The temple is described to
have been built by sage Vishwamitra after Brahma's yagna.[2] It is also believed that Brahma himself chose the
location for his temple. The 8th century Hindu philosopher Adi Shankara renovated this temple, while the
current medieval structure dates to Maharaja Jawat Raj of Ratlam, who made additions and repairs, though the
original temple design is retained.[2]
Pushkar is often described in the scriptures as the only Brahma temple in the world, owing to the curse of
Savitri, and as the "King of the sacred places of the Hindus".[8][12] Although now the Pushkar temple does not
remain the only Brahma temple, it is still one of very few existing temples dedicated to Brahma in India and the
most prominent one dedicated to Brahma.[2][3] International Business Times has identified Pushkar Lake and
the Brahma temple as one of the ten most religious places in the world and one of the five sacred pilgrimage
places for the Hindus, in India.[5]

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The temple, which is set on high plinth, is

approached through a number of marble
steps leading to an entrance gate archway,
decorated with pillared canopies. The
entry from the gate leads to a pillared
outdoor hall (Mandapa) and then the
sanctum sanctorum (Garbhagriha). The
temple is built with stone slabs and
blocks, joined together with molten lead.
The red shikara (spire) of the temple and
symbol of a hamsa (a swan or goose) - the
mount of Brahma are distinct features of
Left: Front facade of Brahma temple in Pushkar. Right: Idol of Brahma
the temple. The shikara is about 700 feet
inside the Brahma temple at Pushkar
(210 m) in height. The hamsa motif
decorates the main entry gate. Marble
floor (in black and white checks) and walls inside the temple have been inlaid with hundreds of silver coins by
devotees (with their names inscribed), as mark of offering to Brahma. There is a silver turtle in the mandap that
is displayed on the floor of the temple facing the Garbhagriha, which is also built in marble. The marble
flooring has been replaced from time-to-time.[2][8][13][14][15]
Brahma's central icon (murti) made of marble was deified in the garbhagriha 718 AD by Adi Shankara. The
icon depicts Brahma, seated in a crossed leg position in the aspect of creation of the universe (the Vishvakarma
form). The central image is called the chaumurti ("four-faced idol"). It is of life size with four hands, four faces,
each oriented in a cardinal direction. The four arms hold the akshamala (rosary), the pustaka (book), the kurka
(kusha grass) and the kamandalu (water pot). Brahma is riding on his mount, the hamsa. The four symbols held
by Brahma in his arms: the rosary, Kamandalu, book and the sacrificial implement kusha grass represent time,
the causal waters from which the universe emerged, knowledge and the system of sacrifices to be adopted for
sustenance of various life-forms in the universe. Gayatri's image sits along with Brahma's in centre to his left.
Savatri alias Sarasvati sits to the right of Brahma, along with other deities of the Hindu pantheon. Images of the
peacock, Sarasvati's mount, also decorate the temple walls. Images of the preserver-god Vishnu, life-sized
dvarapalas (gate-keepers) and a gilded Garuda (eagle-man, mount of Vishnu) are also seen in the temple.[2][8]
[13][14][15]

The temple is visited by pilgrims and also by the holy men and sages, after taking a ceremonial sacred bath in
the Pushkar lake.[16] It is also a practice that visit to the Brahma temple is followed by worship of his consort
Gayatri, followed by visits to other temples as convenient.
The temple is open for worship between 6:30 am and 8:30 pm during winter and 6:00 am to 9:00 pm during
summer, with an interval in afternoon between 1:30 pm to 3:00 pm when the temple is closed.[1][2] Three aratis
are held in the temple: Sandhya arati in the evening about 40 minutes after sunset, Ratri Shayan arati
(night-sleep arati) about 5 hours past sunset and Mangala arati in the morning, about 2 hours before sunrise.[1]
The priests at the Brahma temple refer to a strictly followed religious practice. House-holders (married men) are
not allowed to enter the sanctum sanctorum to worship the deity. Only ascetics (sanyasis) can perform the puja

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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brahma_Temple,_Pushkar

to the deity. Hence, all offerings by pilgrims are given, from the outer
hall of the temple, through a priest who is a sanyasi. The priests of the
temple, in general in Puskkar, belong to the Parashar gotra (lineage).
Once a year, on Kartik Poornima, the full moon night of the Hindu lunar
month of Kartik (October November), a religious festival is held in
Brahma's honour. Thousands of pilgrims come to bathe in the holy
Pushkar Lake adjacent to the temple. Various rites are also held at the
temple during the fair. The day also marks the famous Pushkar Camel
Fair, held nearby.[2][17][18][19] Special rites are performed on all
poornimas (full moon days) and amavasyas (new moon days).[2]

Pilgrims bathing in Pushkar Lake

with Savitri temple in the background

Temples of consorts
Brahma's two consorts Savitri and Gayatri mentioned in the legend also
have separate temples erected for them in Pushkar, but on hills at
opposite ends of the lake. The first consort Savitri, who cursed Brahma,
is described to be still seating annoyed and enraged in her shrine on the
highest hill in Pushkar, while Gayatri afraid of Savatri's wrath sits at a
lower hill at the other end, the eastern side of the lake.[11][20]
Savitri temple located on the top of Ratnagiri hill, behind the Brahma
temple, overlooks the Pushkar Lake and the sand dunes on its western
side. It is reached by one hour's trek over a series of steps on the hill.
The temple (also made of marble) houses a statue of goddess Savitri. An
early morning visit to the temple provides a good view of the lake.[21]
The Gayatri temple or Pap Mochani temple is accessible by a 30-minute
climb from a track behind Marwar bus stand.[7]
Atpateshwar or Apteshwar temple

View from the Savithri temple on top

of Ratnagiri hills, overlooking the
Pushkar lake

The Atpateshwar temple, which is situated in a cave next to the Brahma

temple, is dedicated to Shiva. This temple was built by Brahma after he
found that Shiva attended the Yagna performed by him in the garb of a
Tantric mendicant holding a skull. When Shiva was accosted for this appearance, he was piqued and filled the
entire area of the yagna site with skulls. The agitated Brahma meditated to know the reason for such a situation,
then he realised that the mendicant was none other than Shiva. Realising his folly, Brahma requested Shiva to
attend the yagna. Shiva then attended the yagna holding the skull and Brahma in appreciation erected a temple
in honour of Shiva as 'Atpateshwar', next to his own temple. The Linga of Shiva is large and is encircled by a
snake made of copper. Shivaratri festival is a special occasion to visit this temple.[9]

1. Official board pictured in File:Pushkar05.jpg

2. "Temple Profile: Mandir Shri Brahma Ji". Devasthan

Department, Govt of Rajasthan. 20012002.
Retrieved 31 January 2010.

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3. Bradnock, Robert; Roma Bradnock (2001). Rajasthan

& Gujarat Handbook: The Travel Guide. Pushkar
(Footprint Travel Guides). p. 161.
ISBN 1-900949-92-X. Retrieved 2010-01-26.
4. City Development Plan for Ajmer and Pushkar p. 195
5. "Ten of the World's Most Religious Cities". Pushkar.
International Business Times. Retrieved 2010-01-24.
6. Pilgrim Places of India. Pushkar (Prabhat
Prakashan). p. 30. ISBN 81-87100-41-9. Retrieved
2010-01-26.
7. Brown, Lindsay; Amelia Thomas (2008). Rajasthan,
Delhi and Agra. Lonely Planet. pp. 20910.
ISBN 1-74104-690-4. Retrieved 2010-01-24.
8. Bansal, Sunita Pant (2005). Hindu Gods and
Goddesses. Jagat Shri Brahma Temple (Smriti
Books). p. 23. ISBN 81-87967-72-2. Retrieved
2010-01-25.
9. Talwar, A.P (2002). "Pushkar". Growing Old
Mirthfully. Daya Books. pp. 226229.
ISBN 81-86030-70-0. Retrieved 2010-01-30.
10. "Brahma Temple". Rajasthan Tourism- The Official
website of Rajasthan. Government of Rajasthan.
Retrieved 30 January 2010.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brahma_Temple,_Pushkar

11. Pippa de Bruyn, Keith Bain, Niloufer Venkatraman,

Shonar Joshi. Frommer's India. Frommer's.
Frommer's. pp. 437, 440. ISBN 978-0-470-16908-7.
12. "Travel and Geography:Pushkar". Encyclopdia
Britannica. Retrieved 2010-01-24.
13. City Development Plan for Ajmer and Pushkar p. 215
14. Deshpande, Aruna (2005). India: A Divine
Destination. Brahma (Crest Lublishing House).
pp. 152153. ISBN 978-81-242-0556-3.
15. "A visit to Pushkar". Chennai, India: The Hindu.
2009-01-17. Retrieved 2010-01-27.
16. Bhalla, Kartar Singh (2005). Let's Know Festivals of
India. Pushkar Fair (Star Publications).
ISBN 81-7650-165-4. Retrieved 2010-01-25.
17. "Pushkar Lake". Eco India. Retrieved 2010-01-23.
18. City Development Plan for Ajmer and Pushkar pp.
208, 219
19. "Rajasthan Infrastructure Agenda "2025" " (PDF).
Pushkar. Price Waterhouse Cooper. p. 44.
20. Kayita Rani. Royal Rajasthan. New Holland
Publishers. p. 126. ISBN 978-1-84773-091-6.
21. "Pushkar". Retrieved 2010-01-26.

Deshpande, Aruna (2005). India:Divine Destination. Brahma (Crest Lublishing House). pp. 152153.
ISBN 81-242-0556-6.
"City Development Plan for Ajmer and Pushkar" (pdf). Ajmer Municipal Council, Pushkar Minicipal
Board (Government of Rajsthan). June 2006. Retrieved 29 January 2010.

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