Pushkar
We often come across the news in newspapers that a foreigner couple got married in Pushkar (District Ajmer) in the traditional Sanatan Dharma rituals, like seven pheres (seven rounds around sacred fire), the pundit chanting mantras and garlanding and solemnizing marriage. Soulful and deep is the impact of Holy Pushkar on visitors, serenity, calmness, the magnetic effects of the place an Indian culture.
As per “PADAM PURAAN,” the holy book and the ancient text, those who pray with folded hands in the morning and evening to PUSHKAR JI gets tranquility and solace. Pushkar is known as the ultimate pilgrimage of the Hindus across the country(INDIA) as Teerth Raj Pushkar ji. In the Brahma temple, silver coins are embedded. The swan, a marble sculpture in the temple, is the carrier of God Brahma.
The statue of God Brahma has four faces. The statue of the Sun God is here, which is guarding the whole area. Without the sweet MALPUAS of Pushkar, how can the journey be complete? River Saraswati is said to flow(as hidden underneath) in nearby villages of Pushkar-Ganahera, Chavandiya, Nand, and Bhagwanpura(as per Padampuran). This area is rich in water and hence agriculture.
Sage Agastya, considered the God Himself, made his hermitage in Pushkar. Previously Pushkar had a hermitage of Saptrishis (the seven sages) too. The NAGPAHAR or Snake Mountain is till today, the store house of various herbal vegetation like Kalmegh, Bhumiabalki, Aonla, Bahera, Harad, Thuaar, (gajbhakshya) and Dhokra, and more than 500 herbal plants. Nagpahar(hill) of Ajmer is said to possess unique herbal/medicinal trees unique to Pushakr.
Pushkar owns the only temple of Brahma (the world’s creator). When he dropped a lotus to the ground for yagna, it immediately led to the creation of the sacred lake Pushkar. Also known as the “Rose Garden of Rajasthan.” The architectural style of temples is unique here.
SUDHABAY is a well-known place for exorcism near Pushkar. Every year during the ghost fair, people get rid of the spirits inhabiting them. One is supposed to take a dip in the nearby holy pond. , where the person starts speaking in the male or female voice of the spirit, as the case may be, the pundits chant the mantras, and the spirit takes their name and leaves that person’s body.
About two kilometers from Pushkar is Panchkunda – the place with the five ponds NAG, SURYA, GANGA, PADMA, and CHAKRA. According to the mentions in Mahabharat, Lord Sri Krishna and the Pandavas had visited this place.
The temples of Goddess Savitri, Lord Badri Narayan, Lord Varah, Lord Rang ji, and Atmateshwar, or Lord Shiva, attract devotees worldwide. Pushkar fair is inevitable for farmers engaged in animal husbandry. Rose water, rose jam and rose candy are export quality. Gooseberry and Blackberry are gifts of nature to Pushkar. Readymade clothes are exported worldwide.
Tourists from across the world come here from October to February every year. There are 52 ghats (stairs leading to the sacred Pushkar Lake. Now a ropeway also exists for the Gayatri Mata temple. It takes about 6 to 8 minutes by the ropeway. If one prefers to climb up, there are 1100 steps too.
The Pushkar Fair is held every year on Kartik Purnima. The holy dip and the donations carry great value in Sanatana Dharma. Various cultural activities in Rajasthani tradition, camel race rope, bridal, and mustache competitions can be enjoyed.
Jai Teerth Raj Pushkar ji ki.
