Brahma Temple, Pushkar
Pushkar, Rajasthan
The Brahma Temple at Pushkar is one of the very few temples in India dedicated to Brahma, the creator god, and the best known of them. It stands close to the sacred Pushkar Lake, to which its legend is tied. A source dates the temple structure to the 14th century CE, with later rebuilding. It is made of marble and stone slabs, with a red pinnacle (shikhara) and a hamsa bird motif, and the sanctum holds a four-headed image of Brahma.
What to see and do
- Have darshan of Lord Brahma, with four heads, in the sanctum
- See the red shikhara, the hamsa motif and the marble floors
- Walk the temple courtyard, with its silver coins set into the floor
- Combine the visit with the lake and its ghats nearby
Ideal for
- Pilgrims who want to see a rare Brahma temple
- Visitors to Pushkar of every age
- Families on the Ajmer and Pushkar circuit
Good to know
- Timings differ by source, roughly 5 or 6 am to 1:30 pm and 3 to 9 pm, so check locally
- Cameras and mobile phones are reported as not allowed inside, so leave them in the locker near the entrance
- Dress modestly, covering shoulders and knees, and remove footwear
- Only sannyasis are reported as allowed into the inner sanctum, and others take darshan from outside it
- The Pushkar Fair in November is extremely crowded
Spiritual significance
Pushkar is one of the oldest sacred places in India, and the Brahma Temple is its centre. Pilgrims bathe in the lake, then have darshan of the creator god, in one of the few places where he is worshipped.
Why it matters
- A rare Brahma temple: one of very few in India
- Linked to the sacred lake: the legend of Pushkar begins with Brahma
- A major pilgrimage: the Pushkar Fair draws crowds each November