27.4.184.111: /* History */

2021-05-27T16:41:03Z

History

New page

{{Short description|hindu temple dedicated to Brahma in Rajasthan, India}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=August 2018}}
{{Infobox Hindu temple
| name = Brahma Temple at Pushkar
| image = Brahma Temple, Pushkar.jpg
| alt = Brahma Temple at Pushkar
| caption = Brahma Temple at Pushkar
| map_type = India Rajasthan#India
| map_caption = Location in Rajasthan
| coordinates = {{coord|26|29|14|N|74|33|15|E|type:landmark_region:IN|display=inline,title}}
| coordinates_footnotes=
| native_name = Brahma Mandir, Pushkar<ref name = "board">Official board pictured in [[:File:Pushkar05.jpg]]</ref>
| country = [[India]]
| state = [[Rajasthan]]
| district = [[Ajmer]]
| location = [[Pushkar]]
| elevation_m =
| deity = [[Brahma]]
| festivals=
| architecture = [[Rajasthani architecture|Rajasthani]]
| temple_quantity =
| monument_quantity=
| inscriptions =
| year_completed = 14th century (present structure)
| creator =
| website =
}}
'''Jagatpita Brahma Mandir''' is a [[Hinduism|Hindu]] [[Hindu temple|temple]] situated at [[Pushkar]] in the [[States of India|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.

The temple structure dates to the 14th century, partly rebuilt later. The temple is made of marble and stone slabs. It has a distinct red pinnacle ([[Sikhara|shikhara]]) and a ''[[hamsa (bird)|hamsa]]'' bird motif. The temple sanctum sanctorum holds the image of four-headed Brahma and his consort Gayatri(goddess of vedas). The temple is governed by the [[Sanyasi]] (ascetic) sect priesthood.<ref name="devasthan"/> On [[Kartik Poornima]], a festival dedicated to Brahma is held when large numbers of pilgrims visit the temple, after bathing in the sacred lake.

==History==
[[File:Pushkar05.jpg|left|thumb|The ''mandapam'' of the Brahma temple]]
Pushkar is said to have over 500 temples (80 are large and the rest are small); of these many are old ones that were destroyed or desecrated by [[Muslim]] depredations during [[Mughal Empire|Mughal]] emperor [[Aurangzeb]]'s rule (1658–1707) but were rebuilt subsequently; of these the most important is the Brahma temple. The structure dates to the 14th century.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rajasthantourism.gov.in/Destinations/AjmerPushkar/Brahma-Temple.aspx|title=Brahma Temple|work=Rajasthan Tourism- The Official website of Rajasthan|publisher=Government of Rajasthan|access-date=30 January 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100103131328/http://www.rajasthantourism.gov.in/Destinations/AjmerPushkar/Brahma-Temple.aspx|archive-date=3 January 2010}}</ref> The temple is described to have been built by sage [[Vishwamitra]] after Brahma's [[yagna]] (ritual).<ref name="devasthan"/> 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.<ref name="devasthan"/>

Pushkar is often described in the scriptures as the only Brahma temple in the world, owing to the curse of Savitri([[Saraswati]]), and as the "King of the sacred places of the Hindus".<ref name =Brittanica>{{Cite web|url=http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/484285/Pushkar#ref285770|title=Travel and Geography:Pushkar|access-date=2010-01-24|publisher=Encyclopædia Britannica}}</ref> 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.<ref name="devasthan">{{cite web |url=http://www.devasthan.rajasthan.gov.in/images/Ajmer/brahmaji.htm |title=Temple Profile: Mandir Shri Brahma Ji |date=2001–2002 |publisher=Devasthan Department, Govt of Rajasthan |access-date=31 January 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110213024103/http://www.devasthan.rajasthan.gov.in/images/Ajmer/brahmaji.htm |archive-date=13 February 2011 }}</ref> ''[[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.<ref name=world>{{Cite web|url=http://www.ibtimes.com/contents/20090327/ten-worlds-most-religious-cities.htm |title=Ten of the World's Most Religious Cities |work=Pushkar |access-date=2010-01-24 |publisher=International Business Times |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090330055547/http://www.ibtimes.com/contents/20090327/ten-worlds-most-religious-cities.htm |archive-date=30 March 2009 }}</ref>

'''Origins'''

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 lotus-flower. In this process, the lotus petals fell on the ground at three places, creating 3 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") fell from Brahma's hand ("kar") as [["Pushkar"]]. [[Brahma]] then decided to perform a [[yajna]] (fire-sacrifice) at the main [[Pushkar]] Lake. In order to perform his [[yajna]] peacefully without 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 ([[Saraswati]])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]].

Annoyed, Brahma requested god [[Indra]](the king of heaven) to find a suitable girl for him to wed to complete the yajna. Indra could find only a daughter (a milkmaid) who was sanctified by passing her through the body of a cow. Gods [[Vishnu]], [[Shiva]] and the priests certified her purity as she had passed through a cow, it was her second birth and she was named [[Gayatri (goddess of milk)]]. Brahma then married 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). But 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 [[Agni]](fire-god ) 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. 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.

==Architecture==
{{multiple image
| align = right
| image1 = BrahmaPushkarGurjarPilgrimage.jpg
| width1 = 260
| alt1 =
| caption1 =
| image2 = Templo a Brahmā en Pushkar, Rajasthan.jpg
| width2 = 150
| alt2 =
| caption2 =
| footer = Left: Front facade of Brahma temple in Pushkar. Right: Idol of Brahma inside the Brahma temple at Pushkar
}}

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 [[Canopy (building)|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 (bird)|hamsa]]'' (a swan or goose) - the [[vahana|mount]] of Brahma – are distinct features of the temple. The shikara is about {{convert|70|ft|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 [[Kurma|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.<ref name="devasthan"/><ref name="Pushkar p. 215">''City Development Plan for Ajmer and Pushkar'' p. 215</ref><ref name = Deshpande/><ref name=Hindu/>

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 and four faces, each oriented in a cardinal direction. The four arms hold the ''akshamala'' (rosary), the ''pustaka'' (book), the ''kurka'' ([[Poa cynosuroides|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. 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 ''[[dvarapala]]''s (gate-keepers) and a gilded [[Garuda]] (eagle-man, mount of Vishnu) are also seen in the temple.<ref name="devasthan"/><ref name = Deshpande>{{Cite book|last= Deshpande |first=Aruna|title= India: A Divine Destination|work=Brahma|pages=152–153| publisher = Crest Lublishing House|year=2005|isbn=978-81-242-0556-3}}</ref><ref name=Hindu>{{Cite news|url=http://www.hindu.com/mp/2009/01/17/stories/2009011750300300.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121107175709/http://www.hindu.com/mp/2009/01/17/stories/2009011750300300.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=2012-11-07|title=A visit to Pushkar|access-date=2010-01-27|newspaper= [[The Hindu]]|location=Chennai, India|date=2009-01-17}}</ref>

==Worship==
[[File:Bathing Ghats on Pushkar Lake, Rajasthan.jpg|thumb|Pilgrims bathing in Pushkar Lake with Savitri temple in the background]]

The temple is visited by pilgrims and also by the holy men and sages, after taking a ceremonial sacred bath in the [[Pushkar lake]].<ref name=Bhalla>{{Cite book|last=Bhalla|first=Kartar Singh|title= Let's Know Festivals of India|work=Pushkar Fair|access-date=2010-01-25|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=WORYY5Vl0ygC&q=Legends+of+Pushkar&pg=PA17|publisher= Star Publications|year=2005|isbn=81-7650-165-4}}</ref> It is also a practice that a 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.<ref name = "board"/><ref name="devasthan"/> Three [[arati]]s 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.<ref name = "board"/>

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 ([[sanyasi]]s) can perform the puja 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 Pushkar, belong to the [[Parashar]] [[gotra]] (lineage).

Once a year, on [[Kartik Poornima]], the full moon night of the [[Hindu calendar|Hindu lunar month]] of [[Kartika (month)|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.<ref name="devasthan"/><ref name=eco>{{Cite web|url=http://www.ecoindia.com/lakes/pushkar.html|title=Pushkar Lake|access-date=2010-01-23|publisher=Eco India}}</ref><ref name="Pushkar p. 208, 219">''City Development Plan for Ajmer and Pushkar'' pp. 208, 219</ref><ref name=price>{{Cite web|url=http://ppp.rajasthan.gov.in/PWCreport/Tourism-KD4%20Revised/rev-tourism-vol-III.pdf |title=Rajasthan Infrastructure Agenda "2025" |work=Pushkar |page=44 |publisher=Price Waterhouse Cooper |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110721161616/http://ppp.rajasthan.gov.in/PWCreport/Tourism-KD4%20Revised/rev-tourism-vol-III.pdf |archive-date=2011-07-21 }}</ref> Special rites are performed on all ''[[Full Moon|poornima]]''s (full moon days) and ''[[amavasya]]''s (new moon days).<ref name="devasthan"/>

==Other related temples==
[[File:Hill top temple, overlooking Pushkar lake, Rajasthan.jpg|thumb|right|View from the Savithri temple on top of Ratnagiri hills, overlooking the Pushkar lake]]
; 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.<ref name = "Frommers">{{cite book|author1=Pippa de Bruyn |author2=Keith Bain |author3=Niloufer Venkatraman |author4=Shonar Joshi |title=Frommer's India|publisher=Frommer's|series=Frommer's|date=4 March 2008 |pages=437, 440|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qMqBvtL_nI0C&q=brahma+temple+pushkar&pg=PA437 | isbn=978-0-470-16908-7}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last= Kayita Rani|title=Royal Rajasthan |date=October 2007 |publisher=New Holland Publishers|pages=126|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=lELRo9xARHEC&q=gayatri+temple+pushkar&pg=PA126 | isbn=978-1-84773-091-6}}</ref>

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.<ref name=religious>{{Cite web|url=http://www.religiousportal.com/Pushkar.html |title=Pushkar |access-date=2010-01-26 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100208122357/http://www.religiousportal.com/Pushkar.html |archive-date=2010-02-08 }}</ref>

;Atpateshwar or Apteshwar temple
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 [[tantra|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.

==References==
{{reflist}}

*{{cite web|url=http://jnnurm.nic.in/nurmudweb/toolkit/final_CDPAjmer-Pushkar.pdf |title=City Development Plan for Ajmer and Pushkar |date=June 2006 |publisher=Ajmer Municipal Council, Pushkar Municipal Board (Government of Rajasthan) |access-date=29 January 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090409224633/http://jnnurm.nic.in/nurmudweb/toolkit/final_CDPAjmer-Pushkar.pdf |archive-date=9 April 2009 }}

==External links==
{{commons category|Brahma Temple at Pushkar}}

*[https://web.archive.org/web/20100208122357/http://www.religiousportal.com/Pushkar.html Read Details about Pushkar temples]

{{Hindu temples in Rajasthan}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Brahma Temple At Pushkar}}
[[Category:1st-century Hindu temples]]
[[Category:14th-century Hindu temples]]
[[Category:Hindu temples in Rajasthan]]
[[Category:Pushkar]]
[[Category:Brahma temples]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures in Ajmer district]]

Brahma Temple, Pushkar - Revision history

27.4.184.111: /* History */