Pushkar

The white washed ghats of the sacred Puskar lake

11 km from Ajmer lies a sleepy little town of Pushkar popularly known for its Cattle fair. It also is one of the most sacred of the Hindu Dhamas – often called the Tirthraj. The town is nestled around the holy lake of Pushkar which is associated with Lord Brahma. It is believed that Brahma performed penance here for 60,000 years.

Legends say that Lord Brahma as in search of a place for Mahayagna and he found Pushkar to be the most suitable. When He came here, Brahma learnt that a demon called Vajranash, was ruthlessly killing people here. Hence the Lord intoned a mantra on a lotus flower and killed the demon. The petals of flower fell on three places which came to be known as Jyaistha, Madhya and Kanistha Pushkar. Once they yagna was performed the place was free from demons. Saraswathi - Lord Brahma’s consort, was to offer Ahuti for the yagna but she was not there. Thus Gayatri, a Gurjar girl, was married to Brahma who performed the yagna. This enraged Saraswathi who cursed Brahma that He wouldn’t be worshiped in anywhere else but in Pushkar only. Thus Pushkar boasts of the only temple of Brahma in the world.