Birth of Pushkar (Rajasthan)
It is said that Lord Brahma’s lotus flower fell in three separate places in the Pushkar area, and water came from the ground at each place. They are located within a radius of six miles. Senior Pushkar, where the hotels are located, is considered the most holy place, because the lotus fell here first. Middle Pushkar is 3 km down the road and has a small Hanuman temple and a 200-year-old banyan tree. New (Junior) Pushkar, 3 km further north, has a small Krishna temple. As Brahma threw the pushpa (flower) with his kar (hand), so the place received the name Pushkar.
Legend and History of Brahma Temple
It is said that while Lord Brahma was passing this spot he dropped a lotus flower. From the spots where the petals fell, water sprang out and lakes were formed. There is a rectangular lake here surrounded by temples. According to the Padma Purana, Brahma, the lord of creation, killed a demon with a lotus flower here. He dropped the lotus at this place to kill the demon. Petals fell in three spots, where lakes emerged.
Brahma wanted to perform a yajna on the full moon day in Kartika (Oct/Nov). Lord Brahma, the creator, was in search of a suitable place to perform the yajna. The lotus from his hand fell down, rebounded, and fell at three places, from where water sprang. Thus Brahma decided to perform the yajna at Pushkar (push-lotus; kar-hand).
But the yajna could not take place without his wife, Savitri, by his side, and she was late. Brahma therefore for him, so that he could fulfill the religious obligations. So the priest manifested a daughter called Gayatri. Because she was an untouchable, to purify her, she was put into the mouth of a cow and removed from the other end, which totally purified her. When Savitri arrived, she saw Brahma married without her permission. So she cursed Brahma that he would only be worshiped at Pushkar.
Brahma Temple
The only temple of its type, the Brahma temple is an important pilgrim centre for the Hindus. The temple is small but an impressive one.
In front of the Brahma temple, two small temple structures are situated. One is dedicated to Kubera, wealthiest God. Legends say that he donated huge funds to Lord Venkateswara at Tirumala, most popular Devata (God) to people in Southern India who returns the money collected from visitors.
He is one of the eight Devatas called ashta dikpalakas (Hindu Gods) who take care of eight directions in ‘yantra’, temple, house, or of the universe with reference to the point where we are situated. Kubera looks after the North direction. Another small temple like structure is dedicated to Lord Indra.
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