India

Temple Brahma à Pushkar

The Brahma Temple is located near Pushkar Lake in Ajmer District, in the heart of the Indian state of Rajasthan. The structure is also known as Jagatpita Brahma Mandir. If you are planning to visit Rajasthan, the city of Pushkar and the famous Brahma temple, distinguished by its red arrow, fully deserves a visit.

History

According to the legend of Padma Purana, Lord Brahma began searching for a place to perform the ritual of Yajna when the lotus he held in his hands falls and turned into a majestic lake. It was at this point that he carried out the Yajna before it was named as the city "Pushkar". Literally, the name consists of the terms push, meaning "flower" in Hindi, and kar, meaning "hand". His wife Saraswati could not come along Brahma when he settled in the city. The god then married Gayatri. Seeing this, Saraswati entered into a great wrath and issued a curse on Brahma: "Brahma would never be worshipped anywhere except Pushkar." The city of Pushkar has 500 temples, most of which were desecrated by Muslims during the rule of Mughal emperor Aurangzeb. These temples were then restored, including the temple of Brahma. The temple we see today would have been built in the 14th century, however according to the legend, it was created 2,000 years ago. According to the story, the temple was built by the wise Vishwamitri after he has carried out Yajna for Brahma. The philosopher would also have brought renovations to the temple in 8th century. On the other hand, it was the Maharaja Jawat Raj of Ratlam who did the last restorations. In addition, the Brahma Temple today is one of the ten most visited temples in the world and one of the five sacred places of pilgrimage for the Hindus in India.

Visit of Brahma Temple

Brahma Temple is situated on the shores of Lake Pushkar. It was erected on a raised platform with marble steps and a swan. The entrance door to the temple is decorated with large colonnades decorated with red sapphire. Silver sculpted tortoises are found in the mandapa facing the Garbhadriha. The god Brahma is represented by an idol with four heads. The entrance leads to an outdoor courtyard lined with pillars and then onto a sanatorium. The temple was built with stone slabs and blocks, assembled with molten lead. The temple is symbolized by its red Shikara in the form of a red arrow. The hamsa or swan and Mount Brahma are also part of its distinctive features in relation to other sanctuaries. The Shikara of the Brahma temple measures 21 meters in height. A hamsa adorns its main entrance door. The temple floor is made of black and white marble and its interior walls are encrusted with hundreds of pieces of silver placed by the devotees. The temple rooms are inscribed with the names of the faithful who brought their offerings to Brahma. A large marble statue of Brahma was placed in the Garbhadriha by Adi Shankara in 718. This statue depicts the god in a sitting position, with both legs crossed as in the creation of the universe. The stucture is also called "chaumurti" or "four-faced idol". For this he has four hands, four faces, each pointing to a cardinal point. Its four arms are respectively the akshamala: a kind of rosary, the pustaka: a book, the kusha and the Kamandalu: a jug of water. These four symbols are the marks of all forms of life on earth. Another sculpture of Gayatri is visible on the left side of Brahma, while Saraswati is placed on his right with other deities belonging to the Hindu religion. In addition, visitors can see representations of the god Vishnu, dvarapala or gatekeepers, as well as a golden Garuda.

Place of Worship

The temple of Brahma is considered a sacred place for Hindu practitioners. Infact, God Brahma is part of the trinity of major deities in the Hindu religion, with Shiva and Vishnu. Also, according to Hindu mythology, Lord Brahma is considered as the creator of the universe. Many believers from all countries come to worship Brahma in this temple. The temple of Brahma is not only visited by pilgrims, but also by holy men. During their retreat to the temple, devotees are accustomed to take a holy bath in Pushkar Lake. The visit of the sanctuary is then followed by a cult dedicated to Gayatri. Some rules are to be followed before praying at the temple. For example, married men are not allowed to enter the sanatorium to worship the divinity. Infact, only the hermits can access it and give an offering. On the other hand, the offerings or puja of the pilgrims are received in the outside room of the temple by priests belonging mainly to the lineage of the Parashar Gotra.

Festival and faire

Besides the daily prayers, several religious events are organized in the Brahma temple. Among these is the Kartik Poornima, a festival dedicated to Lord Brahma and performed during the full moon night Kartik in the Hindu calendar, between the months of October and November. Several pilgrims from all regions of India and all countries come to Pushkar during this festival. The ceremony begins with the sacred bath of pilgrims at Pushkar Lake before offering homage to Brahma. The city of Pushkar also organizes annually a fair, another important event that takes place during the month of Kartik in the Hindu calendar. The fair stands near the Brahma temple and extends over five days. It is considered the largest beef fair in India. The event is organized in honor of Lord Brahma and coincides with Kartik Poornima.

How to reach ?

To reach the temple of Brahma, you must first reach Ajmer located 10 km from the place. You can take public transport or train from Ajmer to reach the temple.

Time and Rates

The temple is open for prayers and worship between 6:30 am and 8:30 pm in winter and 6:00 am to 9:00 pm in summer. These opening hours are alternated by an interval in the afternoon between 13:30 and 15:00. Entrance to the temple is free.