A Tale of an Ultimate holy town – Pushkar
Certain things catch your eye, but pursue only those that capture the heart,going to prattle about one such place whose name is Pushkar.
Pushkar, the authentic and Devotional tirth-raj city of Rajasthan, situated in the lap of the Aravalli mountain range, has every attribute of nature that is found in divergent places in the world. This Pilgrimage also has a specification from the point of view of religious Tourism. Where there is Aravalli mountain range all around, dense forests will also be seen here. So there is also a sacred lake (pond) of sandy soil, which is known to be the uniqueness of Rajasthan.
The city of Emperor Prithviraj Chauhan is situated about fourteen kilometers west of Ajmer, where Pushkar is the only temple of Brahma ji. There is a holy Pushkar lake here. It is believed that the word Pushkar is derived from the collaboration of flower and Hand.
Here a flower was dropped on the earth by divine power with his own hands. At the place where he fell, Lord Brahma organized a grand Yajna from Kartik Ekadashi to Purnima. Today there is Pushkar Lake at that place. Hence, the name of this sanctified region was Pushkar.
Magnificent Fair
Every year a grand fair is organized in this Pushkar city from Kartik Ekadashi to Kartik Purnima. It is believed that all the gods and goddesses of the universe were present in this pilgrimage during the yajna performed in these five days. Due to this Panchtirth bath is taken in this holy lake for five days.
In these days, lakhs of devotees come every year not only from the country but also from different parts of the world. During these five days people come to Pushkar to take a dip of faith, hence the reverent and archival consequence of this fair. This holy land is situated at an altitude of about 2389 feet above sea level.
Many beliefs related to Pushkar
The elucidation of the origin of Pushkar is found in the Padma Purana. It is believed that Lord Brahma came here and accomplished a yajna. Pushkar is the only place in the world’s main pilgrimage places where there is a temple of Brahma.
Apart from Brahma ji here, the temples of Savitri, Badrinarayan, Varaha, Rangji and Shiva Atmateshwar Mahadev also have special importance. There are many ghats on the banks of the Pushkar Lake, which are the rich people of the native states of Rajputana. Pushkar is also described in Ramayana. In sharga 62 shlok 28, there is a mention of Vishwamitra doing penance here.
According to Shlok 15 of Sharga 63, Menka had come to take a bath in the holy waters of Pushkar. In an article from the Sanchi Stupa, B.C. Buddhist monks came here in the 2nd century and donated. King Nahapana’s son-in-law Ushmavatt donated three thousand cows including a village in Pushkar. The ancient writings of Pushkar also give information about the importance of this holy city. Pushkar is considered the home of pilgrimages. Just as Prayag is called Tirth-raj, likewise this pilgrimage is called Pushkar-raj.
Pushkar is counted in Panchtirtho Panch Sarovar. This is Panch Sarovar. Jyeshtha Pushkar (Pradhan), Middle Pushkar (old) and Kanishka Pushkar (Kanas) Lord Brahma, the deity of the eldest Pushkar, Vishnu the deity of Middle Pushkar, Kanishka is the god of Pushkar Shiva. The holy temple of Pushkar is of Brahma ji which is situated at a short distance from Pushkar Sarovar.
In the temple, there is a temple of Savitri ji on the right side of quadrilateral Brahma ji and Gayathri ji on the left side. There are two gatekeepers of Brahma, on one side the wealthy Kuber sitting on an elephant and on the other hand Lord Indra, whose Darshan only fulfills the wishes.
Idiosyncratic Shade of Pushkar Fair
Pushkar is the only place where Brahma ji is worshiped even today. A huge fair is organized in Pushkar under the supervision of the state government and local administration.
The Department of Art, Culture and Tourism organizes cultural programs by national and international folk artists on this occasion. Lakhs of tourists from all over the country and abroad come to attend the fair. The main feature of this fair is that it is also known as cattle fair. Horses and camels of different breeds are bought and sold in this fair. This fair spreads a unique shade in the huge pools of sand. Pushkar is also known for camel rides, rose cultivation and the sweetness of Malpuva.
If you do not visit this pilgrimage, then the journey of other pilgrimages is considered incomplete.
Kesariya Balam Padharo Mhare Desh !
