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Visit Pushkar, a town painted white, built
around a lake, surrounded by red roses, tucked in by hills on three
sides.
 Pushkar
Fair
Budget
Hotels
Brahman
Temple
Decide your favourite colour and pick a city to
match, Rajasthan's kaleidoscope of colours covers all.
Bastions of history, bristling with memories,
these splendid treasures stand battling the vageries of time.
Fort Amber
The City Palace, Jaipur
Wind Palace, Jaipur
Chittaurgarh Fort
City Palace, Udaipur
Jaisalmer Fort
Mehrangarh
Fort
Nahargarh Fort, Jaipur
The desert sands shimmer and pulsate with an
energy and a spirit of festivity permeates the air, every season
provides many reasons to celebrate.
Camel Festival
Mewar Festival
Elephant Festival
Gangaur Festival
Pushkar Festival
Desert Festival
Ride a camel over the dunes or horses through
the hillside, speed ahead in a jeep and camp under open skies.
A delicate ecosystem, part desert part marshy
lands and even a small section of lush water filled valleys, sports a
wildlife rich in variety.
Whichever Budget Hotel you choose you will
always experience a traditional hospitality that you may never want to
forget.
Jaipur Budget Hotels
Jaisalmer Budget Hotels
Bharatpur Budget Hotels
Bikaner Budget Hotels
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Rajasthan Tours Travel » Tourist
Attractions » Brahma Temple Pushkar
Brahma Temple Pushkar
In
the deeply spiritual land of India lies the holy city of Pushkar. Mired in
myth and mystique, it draws devotees from far and near, they come here to
pay homage to the many gods that reside in this temple town. With over 500
temples Pushkar truly is the sanctuary of a pantheon of Hindu gods. But
created by and dedicated to lord Brahma, Pushkar is famous for owning the
only Brahma temple anywhere in the world.
The story of Pushkar and its temple are completely intertwined.
According to the Padma Purana, Lord Brahma was in search of a suitable
place to perform a yagna when the lotus he was holding fell from is hand
and landed on the Earth. Infact the town is named after this little story,
flower in hindi is 'push' and hand is 'kar', therefore the land was named
Pushkar. Miraculously a lake sprang up at the place where the Lotus had
lain and Brahma considering it a good omen decided to perform his yagna,
there and then, but when his wife Savitri failed to join him, he married a
local damsel Gayatri and completed the ceremony, on getting to know about
this, an enraged Savitri cursed Brahma that from this day forth he would
be worshipped only in the land of Pushkar and nowhere else on Earth.
According to mythology the three gods, Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva form the
Hindu Trinity. Brahma is the creator, Vishnu the preserver and Shiva the
destroyer. Since Brahma has already created the Universe, one school of
thought considers his work complete and prays only to Shiva and Vishnu,
believing that their work is still ongoing. Whatever the reigning belief,
Pushkar attracts thousands of devotees who come to soak in its
spirituality and pay obeisance to Lord Brahma at his very own temple.
The Pushkar Brahma Temple
The temple sits serenely on the banks of the Pushkar Lake. Originally
built in the 14th century. It stands on a raised platform and marble steps
lead up to it. A hans (goose-the official carrier of Brahma) spans the
gateway to the temple which is crowned with a red spire.This symbolic
decoration on the main doorway distinguishes it from the numerous temples
crowding around.
A beautifully carved silver turtle sits with its face towards the sanctum
sanctorium. The black and white chequered tiled floor around the turtle is
studded with silver coins donated by the devotees, the custom is such that
the devote will engrave the name, the date of the birth and death
anniversary of their loved ones on it and donate it to the temple. A
manner of commemoration.
The Temple has an imperial four headed image of Lord Brahma as he sits in
the lotus position, with his coy, young bride Gayatri on his left and
Savitri on his right. Images of the peacock - the vehicle of Brahma's
consort Saraswati are painted on the walls.
This temple hosts a crowd of devotees during the Kartika Purnima (Full
Moon) in the months of October- November. It is also the time which marks
the period during which Brahma performed his Yagna in Pushkar. Numerous
people with deep faith in their hearts take a holy dip in the water of
Pushkar Lake and bow their head before the Jagat Pita, Lord Brahma. This
is also the time when the sleepy town of Pushkar comes alive with the
joyous Pushkar festival.
Other Attractions
Though famous for its temples, it's more than just a temple town, there's
much to explore here in its maze of whitewashed ghats, temples, ashrams
and dharamshalas encircling the lake. Pushkar attracts a huge number of
tourists, Sadhu's by the hordes, a lot of foreigners keen to learn yoga
and study spirituality, camel traders and their beasts, the backpackers
and also a fair bit of hippies. This wonderfully eclectic mix gives it a
unique culture, one worth exploring and being a part of. Take a stroll,
hang around the lake side, relax, socialize, be amazed about so many
things that happen around you and eat in the extremely cheap buffet style
restaurants. Shop in the Sadar bazaar, learn yoga and meditation, get a
soothing massage at the end of the day, enjoy its laid back atmosphere and
acquire some well deserved peace of mind.
