Pakistan is a paradigm example of a failed state that has undergone an extremely dangerous form of radical Islamisation.
Pushkar Temples
Jagat Shri Brahma Temple
The only standing Hindu temple in India dedicated to Lord Brahma, the creator
of the universe, the structure around the temple was built in the 14th century
and stands on a high platform near Pushkar lake. Brahma is one of the Holy
Trinity in Hinduism, sharing the honour with Vishnu the Preserver and Shiva the
Destroyer. Although a very large number of temples can be found all over India
dedicated to Shiva and Vishnu, there are very few temples for Brahma, this being
one of the holiest one.
Temples at PushkarMarble steps lead up to the temple where a silver turtle
lies embossed in the floor facing the sanctorum. The marble floor around the
turtle is littered with hundreds of silver coins embedded in the floor, and so
are the walls of the temple. Images of the peacock, the vehicle of Brahma's
consort Saraswati, adorn the temple walls. Brahma here is shown in a life-size
form with four hands and four faces, facing four different directons. A hans
(goose, the official carrier of Brahma) spans the gateway to the temple which is
crowned with a red spire. A small statue of the milk goddess Gayatri (whom
Brahma married) near Brahma's idol is called Chaumurti. Steps within the silver-doored
sanctuary lead down into a small cave which is a Hindu temple of Lord Shiva.
Other Temples & Ghats
Varah Temple
The Varah temple of Hindu was built in the 12th century and, and the Mughal
emperor Aurangzeb is said to have destroyed it. Aurangzeb was understandably
rather upset with the huge statue of Varah, the god with the body of a man and
the head of a boar. However, Raja Sawai Jai Singh II of Jaipur thought
differently, and in 1727 reconstructed the temple which now has a highly
decorated inner sanctum where an idol of Varah is placed.
Mahadeva Temple
The 19th century Mahadeva temple with its five-faced statue of Mahadeva is
made entirely of white marble. This Hindua temple is remarkable for its elegance
of structure, and is perhaps the finest of all temples in and around Ajmer and
Pushkar.
Ramavaikunth Temple
The Ramavaikunth temple is an intricately carved Hindu temple dating to the
1920 and has images of 361 deities. Its high stone spires atop pagodas and the
rest of the temple were built by masons especially brought for this purpose from
south India. The Savitri temple is located on top of a hill overlooking the
lake. The hike up the hill is long and arduous via a stairway built in the 4th
century, and if panoramic views are a necessity for you, the trek will be worth
it. This temple is dedicated to Brahma's wife Savitri and its origin dates back
to over 2,000 years.
Gayatri Temple
The Gayatri temple on the other side of Pushkar is in honour of the wife who
sat by Brahma's side in Savitri's absence during Brahma's ceremonial sacrifice.
Legend says that Gayatri was an untouchable and to purify her she was put into
the mouth of a cow and taken out from the other end. To reach the Gayatri Hindu
temple the best route to take is from behind the bus stand and walk up a hill.
Both the Savitri and Gayatri temples are closed - so to say - during lunch hours
and the best time to go is either before noon or in the evening.
Raghunath Temples
Two Raghunath temples exist in Pushkar; one is the old one and the other is
relatively new. The Old Raghunath temple was built in 1823 and houses images of
Venugopal, Narasimha (Vishnu's fourth incarnation) and Lakshmi, the goddess of
wealth. But there's a bit of a problem for foreign tourists visiting these two
temples because of one little sign which says "Foreigners not allowed." These
are probably the only binary temples in India where such segregation exists.
Pap Mochini Temple
Towards the northen section of Pushkar is the Pap Mochini temple, not really
popular for its architecture or deity but for the simple belief that anyone who
kills a Brahmin will be purified of this deed by visiting the Hindu temple, of
course, all that was applicable in olden times, for today a murder is a murder
and the law would hear nothing else.
