For navigating roots from my understanding of ‘the beginning’, I chose to visit Pushkar to find out about the Brahma Temple Pushkar. Brahma (the Creator), Vishnu (Sustainer), and Mahesh (the Destroyer) unitedly form the Hindu trinity. While Lord Vishnu and Shiva have numerous places of worship, there is only one place and one temple dedicated to the Creator, Lord Brahma.
Before coming to Pushkar Rajasthan (पुष्कर राजस्थान), I knew about a curse that befell upon the Creator, but the story got interesting while digging deep.
To read more on this, scroll down or find out how to navigate within Pushkar first!
Navigating Pushkar
For starters, I want to tell you Pushkar was unexpectedly beautiful to me as I wasn’t expecting as much.
It was the most impromptu and unplanned trip I ever made. Since Jaipur to Pushkar distance is hardly 142 kms, and there are abundant bus facilities daily, this place makes a quick weekend getaway.
So, if you are in Jaipur and want to visit Ajmer and Pushkar, it is only a 2-3 hour bus ride away.
You can also book a Jaipur to Pushkar cab to visit these places more seamlessly.
Going around Pushkar City
I had no idea how to navigate through Pushkar. I also got a little worried when our Jaipur to Pushkar bus went through two tiny hills after crossing Ajmer.
Worried if we were going atop a hill, I soon figured that the hills were just a medium to reach Pushkar from Ajmer.
We found autos available to take us to a hotel when we reached the Pushkar bus stop.
But what hotel? We had yet to book any!
If you’re going off-season, you can easily find Pushkar hotels. Many hotels with beautiful view don’t pinch pockets unless you’re here in November.
Winter months are perfect to visit Rajasthan, so you can visit any time between October to February to experience the perfect weather.
Interestingly, I was surprised to find Ubers in Pushkar. But when I booked one, I realized I had to pay more than the original fare.
Since there are limited Ubers available in Puskar, they want to charge for going both ways.
The cabs don’t get a ride back, which is a loss for them, so they would rather charge the passenger for that too.
The negotiation happens over the phone, and you might find taking autos cheaper. But if you have a lot of luggage, paying extra and getting an Uber is best.
Pushkar City is tiny; you will reach all sites to see if you walk. So, your journey from the Pushkar bus stop to the hotel in a cab or auto will take 3 to 5 minutes. Most hotels are situated close to each other.
As we reached during sunset, we saw the receding sunlight change colours across hills. I paused and looked at the beauty around me.
We cancelled one hotel as it wasn’t up to the mark and moved to Hotel Green Haveli Pushkar.
Why is Brahma Temple Pushkar cursed?
When we got our room with a pool view, my eyes went right onto a hill top that looked like it had a mandir.
Little did I know, it was the Savitri Mata Mandir Pushkar and the most powerful of them all.
The personification of Shakti seems strongest (to me) and, when disheartened can bring absolute malice.
So is the story of an angry Savitri Mata (also known as Saraswati Mata) who cursed Lord Brahma.
Pushkar Brahma temple story
According to Padma Purana, Srstikhanda, Chapter 17, a demon named Vajranash was creating havoc on Earth and killing people.
The Creator had to step in to stop the demon from his acts.
While fighting the demon, three petals from the lotus in his hands fell on Earth. The place was none other than what we know today as Pushkar Rajasthan.
The fallen petals immediately transformed into three lakes, and they were dedicated to the Trinity.
While Jyestha is Pushkar Sarovar, dedicated to Lord Brahma, Madhya devoted to Vishnu, and Kanistha is to Shiva.
The Pushkar Sarovar is considered the city’s holiest place and also where prayers are chanted.
People take a dip, do puja, or sprinkle drops of water from the lake to their bodies before going to the Brahma mandir.
Interestingly, no one should ask for anything or pray at the Brahma temple due to the curse.
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Pushkar City origin
Lord Brahma stepped down to Pushkar Rajasthan to create a tirthstan (pilgrim) for himself. To purify the place, he had to do a yajna.
Alongside Lord Brahma came demigods and other devas. Before performing the sacrificial yajna, he wanted to ensure no demon could attack him. To do so, he created hills in the city.
To the south, it was Ratnagiri, to the north, it was Nilgiri, the west had Sanchoora, and the east had Suryagiri. He positioned demigods in each place to protect the holy ritual.
A predestined astrological timing came close and Lord Brahma had to start the yajna. However, Lord Brahma could only do this ritual alongside his wife, Savitri.
Lord Brahma summoned Narada to call his wife, but the devi was not ready when Narada arrived. Narada returned alone and informed that he had to marry someone else to complete the rituals.
Lord Indra decided that a cowherd girl would join Lord Brahma in this ritual. But first, she would have to purify herself by elevating her caste.
It was only possible by making her pass through a cow and come out from the mouth of the sacred animal.
As Vedic scriptures consider cows are pure, the cowherd girl, now known as Gayatri, was purified as Brahmin.
Gayatri married Lord Brahma and sat with him to perform the yajna.
Pushkar Temple curse
By the time Savitri Mata arrived, she had found Brahma married someone else without her consent. The infuriated consort immediately cursed the Creator and said he would never be worshipped by anyone.
After the devas pleaded to Savitri Mata, she reduced the impact of her curse. She said Pushkar would be the only place where people could worship Lord Brahma.
Savitri Mata also cursed Lord Indra to become powerless and easily defeated in battles and Lord Vishnu to be estranged from his wife when living in human form. She also cursed Agni to have the ability to devour and destroy and that priests assisting the yajna would always remain poor.
The curse was somehow diluted with the help of Gayatri as Indra would always be retained in heaven, Vishnu avatar Ram would bear the consequences of separation from his wife, and priests would be scholars even if poor.
Mata Savitri chose to reside atop Ratnagiri Hill to watch over her husband.
Visiting Savitri Mata mandir Pushkar
There are some places where you feel power as soon as you enter.
Savitri Mata mandir in Pushkar was one such place that left me mesmerized.
The deity’s eyes glaring upon you as soon as you glance gives you an instant essence of strength.
The hilltop region looks beautiful due to the breathtaking views of desert-y land of Pushkar.
But the beauty of the mandir painted in sindur-like red is a treat to the eye.
I was surprised to find out that there was also a temple dedicated to Sarada Ma inside the premises of Savitri Mata temple.
It made me feel that she perhaps was an incarnation of the same deity or was blessed by the Goddess.
There are staircases leading you to the hill top that you can trek if you want. If not, there is also a ropeway service available.
We chose the ropeway and found it optimally protected. There are three cable cars to go up and three to come down.
Beware of monkeys inside the premises as they might want to snatch food and other belongings.
Visiting Brahma Temple Pushkar
If you go directly to the Brahma temple, they will redirect you back to Pushkar Sarovar first.
It is said that no one should visit the temple before cleansing themselves at the lake.
People interested in puja first go to the Pushkar Lake, ask a priest to assist them in the process and then visit the temple.
If you don’t want to do the puja, sprinkle water on yourself from the lake and run it over your head before entering temple premises.
Final Thoughts
Photography of the deities are not allowed and best if refrained.
There are more notable places to visit in Pushkar other than the Brahma mandir.
Stay tuned to Touresham to get all the details you need before you visit Pushkar city.
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