Brahma – pushkara
Brahmana Puskara is where a young brahmana named Diva Dasa was in Navadwip and had a desire to visit Puskara, that is known to be in Rajastan and he was unable to go there. He was told in a dream that if he chanted the name of the Lord, his desire would be fulfilled. Much later on, when Diva das was an old man, Puskara appeared in front of his hut, in the form of a pond. In a dream the personification of Puskara told him to bathe in the pond. When he did, before his eyes manifested Puskara Raja, who is the king of the holy places. Diva Das apologised to the king for making him come such a long way to Navawdip, but the King replied that he was there anyway. he explained that as Navadvipa is the embodiment of all the Holy Places, they all reside in and do service to Navadvipa. He stated, “I have exhibited one form of Puskara in the west, but I always reside here.” he also told him that whatever benefit one gets from bathing in many Holy Places many times, could be achieved by staying just one night in Navadvipa Dhama, because all the Holy Places on earth reside in Navadwip eternally. Diva das was told that in Kali Yuga he would take birth and take part in Gaura Lila.
Pushkar in Rajasthan
It is ten km northwest of Ajmer, 400 km southwest of Delhi, and 145 km southwest of Jaipur in Rajasthan, on the edge of the desert. There is a rectangular lake here surrounded by temples. There are over 400 temples in Pushkar. Some of the important temples are dedicated to Brahma, Ranganatha, Varaha, Savitri and Gayatri.
In the Mahabharata concerning Brahmana Puskara, it is said: “The holy place of Lord Vishnu, Puskara-tirtha, renowned in the three worlds, is situated on this earth. Fortunate souls can enter that place. O son of the Kuru dynasty, at Puskara-tirtha billions of tirthas gather at daybreak and sunset. Sins of both men and women, including the sin which caused their birth, are destroyed simply by taking a bath at Puskara-tirtha. As Madhusudana is the original God, so Puskara is the original tirtha.”
It is believed that to bath in Pushkar lake on Kartika Purnima (Oct/Nov) gives salvation. The full benefit of taking bath in the Pushkar lake is said to be during the last five days of Kartika month. One who takes bath at this time is said to be relieved of all sins and goes to heaven when they leave their body.
Story of Pushkar
It is said that Lord Brahma while passing this spot let slip a lotus flower. It is said that Lord Brahma’s lotus flower fell in three separate places in the Pushkar area and that water came from the ground at each place. They are located within a radius of six miles. From the spot where the petals fell water sprang out and a lake was formed. According to the Padma (lotus) 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. As Brahma threw the pushpa (flower) with his kar (hand), so the place received the name Pushkar.
Brahma performed a yajna on the full moon of 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. But the yajna could not take place without his wife Savitri by his side, and she was late. Brahma therefore had to ask Indra to arrange a marriage 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. Gaya means “cow “and tri means “passed through.” When Savitri arrived she saw Brahma married without her permission. So she cursed Brahma, that he would only be worshipped at Pushkar.
Enraged, Savitri went and established a temple at Rathkagir, on top of the hill a little south of Pushkar. It is said to be due to Savitri’s resentment that Brahma is mainly only worshipped at Pushkar.
