Pushkar is an ancient city with a lot of history. Located around 150 km away from Rajasthan's capital Jaipur, it is an important pilgrimage site for Hindus and Sikhs. For Sikhs, it is significant because of the gurdwaras built for Guru Nanak and Guru Gobind Singh. There are also a lot of Hindu temples in the city, but the most important landmark, one that places it among the holiest cities for Hindus, is Brahma temple, Pushkar.
To understand the story of Jagatpita Brahma Mandir, we need to go back to Hindu mythology. Legend has it that the creator, God Brahma, once vanquished a murderous demon with a single blow of a lotus flower - his preferred weapon. Pushkar lake sprung up at the exact spot where one of the petals fell to Earth. Pushkar is an amalgamation of the words 'pushpa' (flower) and 'kar' (hand). Brahma then decided to do a ‘yajna’ (fire sacrifice) at the lake and created the four hills that surround the lake - Ratnagiri, Nilgiri, Senthoora and Suryagiri, to keep away the demons that would interrupt his yajna.
At this important juncture, Brahma needed the presence of his wife - Saraswati, to complete the yajna, but could not find her anywhere. So he asked Indra, the king of the gods, to provide a companion so he could complete the yajna. Indra offered Brahma the young Gayatri and together, they continued the sacrificial proceedings. At this point, Saraswati arrived and was irate at seeing Gayatri sitting at what was Saraswati's rightful spot next to her husband, and performing the sacrificial rites that she had no authority to do. Enraged, she cursed Brahma saying he would never be worshipped. However, Gayatri, who had just completed the yajna, was bestowed with the powers, and managed to diminish the severity of this curse. Pushkar was the first place where a Brahma temple - a temple where Brahma is the murti or central icon, was built. Maybe there is some truth to this legend, as only a handful of temples dedicated to Brahma exist worldwide, the Pushkar temple being the most prominent among them.
At this important juncture, Brahma needed the presence of his wife - Saraswati, to complete the yajna, but could not find her anywhere. So he asked Indra, the king of the gods, to provide a companion so he could complete the yajna. Indra offered Brahma the young Gayatri and together, they continued the sacrificial proceedings. At this point, Saraswati arrived and was irate at seeing Gayatri sitting at what was Saraswati's rightful spot next to her husband, and performing the sacrificial rites that she had no authority to do. Enraged, she cursed Brahma saying he would never be worshipped. However, Gayatri, who had just completed the yajna, was bestowed with the powers, and managed to diminish the severity of this curse. Pushkar was the first place where a Brahma temple - a temple where Brahma is the murti or central icon, was built. Maybe there is some truth to this legend, as only a handful of temples dedicated to Brahma exist worldwide, the Pushkar temple being the most prominent among them.
Temples dedicated to Saraswati and Gayatri also exist on two of the hills surrounding Pushkar. There are a lot of sights to see in Pushkar and the rest of Rajasthan. It is an especially important site for Hindus worldwide, for whom Pushkar lake is considered Tirtha Raj - the king of pilgrimages. Pushkar is also home to the Pushkar fair, a multi-day event usually held around late October or early November. So come stay at Ananta Spa and Resort, Pushkar and undertake this holy journey to get refreshed mentally and spiritually. We offer a number of delightful accommodations that serve as the perfect sanctum for your spiritual journey.