Pushkar boasts temples, though few are as ancient as you might expect at such an important pilgrimage site, since many were destroyed by Aurangzeb, a Mogul ruler and subsequently rebuilt. The most famous is the Brahma Temple, said to be the only temple in the world dedicated to this deity. The
Brahma temple is an important pilgrim centre for the Hindus. It is nestled
in the Pushkar valley which lies beyond Nagaparvat and the Anasagar
Lake. This place, full of natural beauty, holds a special place in the
hearts of Indian for it is believed that Lord Brahma, together with
all the gods and goddesses, performed a Yagya here.
The only standing temple in India dedicated to Lord Brahma, the creator
of the universe, the structure around the temple was built in the 14th
century and stands on a high platform near Pushkar lake. Brahma is one
of the Holy Trinity in Hinduism, sharing the honour with Vishnu the
Preserver and Shiva the Destroyer. Although a very large number of temples
can be found all over India dedicated to Shiva and Vishnu, there are
very few temples for Brahma, this being one of the holiest one.
Marble
steps lead up to the temple where a silver turtle lies embossed in the
floor facing the sanctorum. The marble floor around the turtle is littered
with hundreds of silver coins embedded in the floor, and so are the
walls of the temple. Images of the peacock, the vehicle of Brahma’s
consort Saraswati, adorn the temple walls. Brahma here is shown in a
life-size form with four hands and four faces, facing four different
directons. A hans (goose, the official carrier of Brahma) spans the
gateway to the temple which is crowned with a red spire.
A small statue of the milk goddess Gayatri (whom Brahma married) near
Brahma’s idol is called Chaumurti. Steps within the silver-doored sanctuary
lead down into a small cave which is a temple of Lord Shiva.
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