BRAMHA TEMPLE AT PUSKAR

BRAHMA’S ONLY ABODE

“ PUSKAR”

BRAHMA considered to be the First God of the Hindu Trinity has just one popular Abode on earth in PUSKAR about 13 km from Ajmer in Rajasthan State. The temple structure dates to 14^th century but the original temple is believed to be 2000 years old, Sage Vishwa Mitra built it after performing Brahma Yagna and Sage Adi Shankara renovated this temple in 8^th century. According to several legends in Hindu mythology various causes supposed to have prevented Brahma from being ritualistically worshipped on earth like the other two Trinity SHIVA AND VISHNU. I have selected two ancient legends from many:-

Image and Legend:

Brahma the Hindu God of creation symbolizes that he is foundation of all knowledge required for the creation of the universe. The four arms represent the four directions that the Lord is omnipresent and omnipotent. The four faces of Lord Brahma represent the holy knowledge of the four Vedas (Riga, Yajur, Sama and Atharva)

Lord BRAHMA was very liberal and could be pleased when prayed to without much thought granted boons/favors to deadly demons from Hiranyakashipu to Ravana which made them singularly notorious in destroying the noble virtues on earth it then became necessary for Lord Vishnu to appear in various reincarnations to eliminate those demons. Lord Brahma was at one time as per the legend become the sole god of worship for the demons, as a result Brahma’s worship declined amongst religious devotees

The white beard conveys wisdom; he carries a rose and a book of vedas in the upper hand, a water pot in one lower hand and another lower hand to bestow grace. Brahma the God of creation and knowledge which encourages constant discussion and criticism including self doubt was not accepted for ritual worship, although Brahma is one of the Trinity but is found to exist more in scriptures than in homes and temples.

The priest have to follow a strict religious practice who must represent parashar gotra (lineage), only ascetics can perform the puja to the deity Lord Brahma. All offering just few selected flowers by pilgrims are given that too from the outer hall of the temple through a priest who is a sanyasi not married. Only once a year on Kartik poornima (Oct-Nov), a religious festival is held in Brahma’s honor.

Historical Reason:

Despite the fact that Brahma is one of the Trimurthis he has just one abode on earth (apart from Bharmlok in Haven) at Puskar, puranas reasons that Brahma cult existed in pre-vedic Hinduism and was superseded by Shiva-Vishnu cult later, and the combination of the God and his shakti has made the Brahma concept redundant.

Our pundit/priest (a mediatory agent between human and deities) chanted out mantras for peace of the departed soul, was a married Brahman made us offer a basket to the Lord Brahma which had offering of sweet, fruits, fabric, flowers and separate settled cash amount which I later realized was contrary to the religious traditions originally framed by our Seers to seek the blessing from the First Lord of Hindu Trinity.