Know more about Pushkar, the only Brahma temple in the world

New Delhi: Pushkar is one of the five sacred dhams for Hindus. Only a few Hindu temples remain in Pushkar since most of them were destroyed by the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb. The most important of the ones remaining is Brahma Temple. It is said to be the only temple in the world dedicated to Brahma. It stands on a high plinth with the Marble steps leading up to the deity. A silver turtle is set on the floor facing the sanctum sanctorum or Girbha-griha. Around the turtle the Marble floor and walls are embedded with hundreds of silver coins engraved with the names of the donors. Pushkar is located 11 km northwest of Ajmer in the state of Rajasthan. The town is considered to be sacred by the Hindus because of the presence of some 500 temples, which encircle the holy Pushkar lake. Infact it is believed that the city of Pushkar was created by Lord Brahma. The Brahma temple in Pushkar is considered the most revered shrine of the city. This temple also happens to be the only temple devoted to The Lord Brahma, worshipped as the Creator of the Universe in the known Hindu Trinity. According to legend, Brahma performed a Yagya here and dropped his lotus flower here. After that a lake emerged here, named Pushkar (meaning lotus flower). However, while performing the yajna, his wife Savitri could not be present at the designated time to perform the essential part of the yajna as she was waiting for her companion goddesses Lakshmi, Parvati and Indrani. Annoyed, Brahma requested god Indra (the king of heaven) to find a suitable girl for him to wed to complete the yajna. Indra could find only a Gujar's daughter (in some legends, a milkmaid) who was sanctified by passing her through the body of a cow. Gods Vishnu, Shiva and the priests certified her purity; it was her second birth and she was named Gayatri. Brahma then married Gayatri and completed the yajna with his new consort sitting beside him, holding the pot of amrita (elixir of life) on her head and giving ahuti (offering to the sacrificial fire). When Savitri finally arrived at the venue she found Gayatri sitting next to Brahma which was her rightful place. She cursed Brahma that he would be never worshiped, but then reduced the curse permitting his worship in Pushkar. Savitri also cursed Indra to be easily defeated in battles, Vishnu to suffer the separation from his wife as a human, the fire-god Agni who was offered the yajna to be all-devouring and the priests officiating the yajna to be poor. Endowed by the powers of yajna, Gayatri diluted Savitri's curse, blessing Pushkar to be the king of pilgrimages, Indra would always retain his heaven, Vishnu would be born as the human Rama and finally unite with his consort and the priests would become scholars and be venerated. Pushkar has many temples. Most of the temples are not very old because many temples were destroyed during Muslim conquests in the area. Pushkar is also famous for its annual fair (Pushkar Camel Fair) held in November.