9 Astonishing Things that You must know about the Brahma Temple, Pushkar

The vibrance of Rajasthan is popular all around the globe, and this great state boasts of almost all the sights and sounds that anyone could hope for in an exotic vacation destination. Embedded with spectacular palaces and forts, beautiful shrines, and even some local crafts, Rajasthan is an enchanting land where one can relish their senses. Among several places to visit in the state, Pushkar is one of the most sought-after destinations. Pushkar is a small town located in the Ajmer district of Rajasthan state, India. The most prominent feature of this small town is the Brahma Temple in Pushkar, which draws thousands of people year after year, including tourists, travel enthusiasts, and devotees. Some of you might be surprised to know that Pushkar hosts the only temple dedicated to Lord Brahma, where he is worshipped dedicatedly.   

Mythology Surrounding The Brahma Temple 

In Hindu culture, more than 30 million Gods and Goddesses are worshipped. Out of them, the three main gods together form the holy trinity or Trimurti, including Brahma – the creator of the universe; Shiva – the destroyer and Vishnu – the preserver.  

Even after being thought of as the creator of the universe and the most powerful god, Lord Brahma has only one temple solely dedicated to him in the entire world, which is in Pushkar. This fact makes the Pushkar temple unique and valuable among several shrines and pilgrimage sites in the country. Additionally, the mythological stories of Lord Brahma and the Pushkar temple are quite interesting. Brahma Temple in Pushkar – a highlight that cannot be missed during a Rajasthan trip, has several mythological stories. Let’s dive into them and learn more about the temple. 

1. Origin of Brahma Temple, Pushkar  

According to Hinduism, Lord Brahma once noticed a demon named Vajranabha torturing and killing people. Seeing his cruelty and the atrocities he committed upon the masses, the Lord slew the demon with his divine weapon (his lotus flower). While killing the demon, some lotus petals fell on the ground at three places: the Kanishta Pushkar, Madhya Pushkar, and the Jyestha Pushkar.  

After this, Lord Brahma came down to Earth and decided to perform a yagna at the Jyestha Pushkar Lake. He began the preparations and created a chain of hills around the place to perform the yagna undisturbed by demons. Due to certain reasons, his wife Savitri could not join him for this yagna which was a prerequisite for the success of this event. Seeing this, Lord Brahma requested Lord Indra to bring him a suitable consort who could help him to complete this yagna.  

Entertaining Lord Brahma’s request, Lord Indra sent Gayatri to help Lord Brahma as his wife. After hearing this news, Savitri arrived and saw Lord Brahma sitting with Gayatri, and she cursed Brahma that no one would ever worship him. After her temper cooled down, she permitted his worship only in Pushkar, making the Brahma temple in Pushkar a special place. 

2. Recent History of Brahma Temple, Pushkar  

The Brahma Temple has a history of multiple invasions by Muslim rulers during the Mughal era. This temple was rebuilt many times. The present structure of the temple goes back to the 14th century, while the original structure is believed to be around 2000 years back. Additionally, as per records, Brahma Temple was majorly re-constructed in the 8th century by the famous Hindu philosopher Adi Shankara. Later on, it was again remodelled and renovated during the reign of Maharaja Jawat Raj.    

Now that we know the genesis and history of the Brahma Temple, let us learn some interesting legends associated with this temple.  

3. The Story of The Curse of Shiva  

This story is regarding Lord Brahma lying about his achievement to Lord Shiva. He was cursed not to be worshipped by people except at Pushkar.   

There’s a tale dating back to the beginning of time, where Lord Brahma and Lord Vishnu were tasked with finding the foot and head of a pillar of light (a gigantic lingam of flaming fire) atop Mount Meru. As they searched, each grew tired and wanted to quit, while Vishnu accepted he was unsuccessful, Brahma lied about reaching his goal. After learning about this, Lord Shiva became so enraged by this shameless action that he cursed Lord Brahma that he would never be worshipped, and no temple would be dedicated to him.  

The Brahma Purana also speaks of a mind-blowing story associated with the famous temple. According to the sacred text, when Brahma created the cosmos, he first created an attractive female deity known as Shatapura and thought she was an amazing creation. However, his happiness didn’t last for long, as he then became consumed by her beauty and started following her everywhere she went. Over time, he failed to control his desire for her and was persuaded by Shiva to give up his infatuation. After this incident, Lord Shiva cursed Lord Brahma and said that no one on Earth would ever worship Brahma again.  

4. The Architecture of Brahma Temple  

Brahma Temple reflects the mesmerising Rajasthani style of architecture. The beauty of the architecture is one of the several reasons why thousands of devotees visit this place, and it has its place in most tour packages.  

The temple is built on a high platform and has multiple stairs leading to the entrance. The entrance has beautiful carvings and is adorned with pillared canopies. After the entrance, there comes a pillared hall, also known as Mandapa. The pillared hall is huge and has a beautifully engraved roof and pillars. It leads to the main sanctum sanctorum of the temple, which is dedicated to Lord Brahma and his wife, Gayatri.     

Within the Grabagraha, there is an idol of the Lord Brahma, made of marble, where he is depicted sitting cross-legged showcasing the various aspects of the creation of the universe. Additionally, the temple has the mount of Brahma Ji and a symbol of hamsa (Swan) right at the main entrance of the temple. Seventy feet high red shikhara of the temple is another prominent feature that enhances its divinity further. Beautiful carvings upon the walls add more significance to the temple.      

The temple has been constructed with blocks and stone slabs joined together using molten lead. The devotees have studded the marble floor and wall with thousands of silver coins. These coins have worshippers’ names etched on them, and they are the symbols of offerings made by worshippers to Lord Brahma.  

5. Why must every senior visit the Brahma Temple at Pushkar?   

This temple is so revered that devotees from faraway lands come here to do the darshans of Lord Brahma. Seniors can enjoy the divine aura that fills this temple and enjoys its beautiful architecture. It is believed that seniors should visit this temple to seek the blessings of the Lord and burn the sins they would have unknowingly committed in their lives.  

A visit to this temple provides spiritual benefits to seniors and immense peace to their ancestors. Performing darshans of Lord Brahma blesses seniors with good health and happy life. Additionally, seniors can visit Pushkar Lake, which is considered one of the few lakes in the world where yagna is performed to provide moksha and peace to ancestors in their afterlife. Besides this, seniors can enjoy street shopping and local food like gatte ki sabzi and daal baati churma around the temple area.  

6. When should seniors visit Brahma Temple?  

The state of Rajasthan has a high temperature and remains hot for most of the year. So, the best time to visit here is, of course, in winter. The ideal and most-preferred time to visit this temple is from October to February. Usually, most devotees visit the Brahma Temple around Kartik Poornima in November. 

It is believed that Kartik Poornima is the best time to receive the blessings of Lord Brahma and achieve maximum spiritual benefits. One of the most famous Indian fairs – the Pushkar Fair, is organised during Kartik Poornima. It is a pleasing experience for the seniors. Otherwise, the quaint town becomes lively and high-spirited with exciting activities. This fair is celebrated like a festival in the city, which lasts for around five days. Seniors can take a dip in the sacred Pushkar Lake, perform special rites and take the blessing of the God of creation.      

Coming to the opening time of the temple, it remains open throughout the day, i.e. from sunrise to sunset. No fee is charged to anyone to visit the Brahma Temple. As a traveller, you would love both Pushkar city and Pushkar temple. It will provide you with a great opportunity to indulge in the mesmerising Rajasthani lifestyle, food, and culture. 

7. How can seniors safely reach the Brahma Temple?  

Pushkar can be reached by rail and road, and is connected with all the prominent cities, including Ajmer and Jaipur.  

Located on the Brahma Temple Road in Ganahera, the Brahma Temple is well-connected and can be easily accessed by seniors. Anyone can reach this temple by car, taxi, or bus, and seniors can even use local buses for travelling. The nearest airport to the city is in Jaipur.  

 8. Which hotels are best for seniors around Brahma Temple at Pushkar?  

Multiple hotels are available around the temple, including Hotel Divine Palace, 12 Monks Hostel, Moustache Pushkar, Varah Square Guest House, and Hotel Everest. All these hotels are highly suitable for seniors and have all the facilities to fulfil their needs. These hotels can also provide transportation facilities to seniors and provide them with a local guide to help them in exploring the city. It is advised to choose a hotel near the temple so that you can make the best of your trip.   

9. What activities can seniors do around Brahma Temple?  

Other than seeking the blessings of Lord Brahma and worshipping him, seniors can enjoy several interesting activities in Pushkar. Let us take a look at what all seniors can do in Pushkar. 

• Explore other temples and lakes in and around the city  
• Explore the beautiful sights, specially during sunrise and sunset  
• Enjoy a camel ride  
• Enjoy traditional dance and folk songs  
• Enjoy delicious Rajasthani food  
• Walk around the nearby Aravali Hills  
• Hire a local guide and enjoy Pushkar sightseeing 

So, no matter how many pilgrimages and shrines you have visited in life, the Brahma temple in Pushkar is a place that you should not miss out on. 

Please note that it is important to factor in physical limitations when planning to travel as seniors. Do consult a doctor before deciding on mode of travel, and activities you can indulge in.  

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