Brahma Temple Pushkar

The Brahma Temple in Pushkar is one of the major thriving temples dedicated to Lord Brahma. It can be easily identified by its red spire and the image of Hans (the swan considered sacred to Lord Brahma). The temple, constructed with marble, is decorated with silver coins and features a silver turtle on the temple floor.

Architecture and Design

The idol of Chaturmukhi (four-faced) Brahma is housed in the Garbha Griha or “Womb Chamber,” which is the sanctum sanctorum of the temple. Above the Garbha Griha, there is a superstructure called the Shikhara, which is composed of many smaller shikharas. Interestingly, the marble statue of Surya, standing sentinel at the Brahma temple, is shown wearing boots. While all other gods are depicted with bare feet, Surya is depicted with boots, a luxury accorded to him by the iconographers who did not want his feet to be scorched by the heat he generates.

History

The temple’s history includes periods of destruction and restoration. Mogul Emperor Aurangzeb is said to have destroyed this temple, leading to a period of fear and confusion, during which activities at the Brahma Temple remained at a low pitch. Later, a Brahman devotee named Phundi Bai first repaired it in 1719. She was the mother of Shambu Ram and daughter of Girdhar Das, a resident of Jaipur. Subsequently, Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh rebuilt it in 1727. In 1809, Gokul Chand Parekh, a minister of the Scindias, repaired it at the cost of Rs. 1,30,000.

About Lord Brahma

Brahma is the Hindu god associated with the formation of the universe and is one of the important three gods in the Hindu trinity, the others being Vishnu and Shiva. The companion of Brahma is Saraswati, who is connected with learning. According to the Puranas, Brahma was born from a lotus that grew from the stomach of Vishnu before the formation of the universe.

Temple Timings

• Winter: 6:00 AM to 1:30 PM and 3:00 PM to 8:30 PM
• Summer: 5:00 AM to 1:30 PM and 3:00 PM to 9:00 PM