Pushkar – The Ultimate Pilgrimage

Pushkar is known as teerthraj or king of all pilgrimages. It is situated in Ajmer district of Rajasthan. Pushkar has the only temple dedicated to Lord Brahma.

According to Padma Purana, Lord Brahma, the creator amongst the Hindu trinity, decided to make an offering of a fire sacrifice (Yagya) after completing the creation of the universe.

In order to make this sacrificial offering, Lord Brahma wanted to identify a suitable place. He tossed a lotus bloom and the flower landed where we now find the Pushkar Lake. So, Pushkar was chosen for performing this sacred ritual.

Though most people know of only one Pushkar, there are in fact three Pushkars. All of them are in Ajmer. It is believed that while the lotus bloom itself landed in the Pushkar Lake, the two leaves that came with the stem of the lotus fell at two other lakes. One of them is called Bhuda Pushkar and the other one is called Madhya Pushkar. Villagers who live around Bhuda Pushkar and Madhya Pushkar believe that those are the real Pushkars.

When all the preparations for his great yagya were complete, Brahma’s consort Savitri failed to join him. In order to complete the ritual, he married a local gujjar girl called Gayatri and proceeded with the yagya. When Savitri arrived, she was furious to see Gayatri beside Lord Brahma.

Since Lord Brahma did not wait for Savitri for this great sacrificial offering, she felt bad and she told Lord Brahma that Pushkar is the only place where he would be worshipped in this world. That explains why we have only one Brahma temple whereas there are thousands and thousands of temples of Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu.

It is believed that Lord Brahma pooled water from Badrinath, Jagnnath, Rameshwaram and Dwarka to create Pushkar Lake. That is why Pushkar lake is called the teerthraj.

Since Pushkar is the place where the first sacrificial offering was made by Lord Brahma and since the water in Pushkar Lake represents combination water from four important pilgrimages for the Hindus, it is considered to be as holy as the water from river ganges. It follows, therefore, that if you take a holy dip at teerthraj Pushkar Lake, you automatically become eligible for gathering the boons for visiting the other four pilgrimages.

Maturity

Maturity is the ability to control anger and settle differences without violence or destruction.

Maturity is patience,the willingness to pass up immediate pleasure in favor of the long-term gain.

Maturity is perseverance,the ability to sweat out a project or a situation in spite of opposition and discouraging setbacks.

Maturity is unselfishness -responding to the needs of others,often at the expense on one's own desires and wishes.

Maturity is the capacity to face unpleasantness and frustration, discomfort and defeat, without complaint or collapse.

Maturity is humility. It is being big enough to say "I was wrong." And, when right, the mature person need not say, "I told you so."

Maturity is the ability to make a decision and stand by it. The immature spend their lives exploring endless possibilities,then doing nothing.

Maturity means dependability, keeping one's word, coming through in the crisis. The immature are masters of the alibi -confused and disorganized.Their lives are a maze of broken promises, former friends, unfinished business and good intentions which never materialize.

Maturity is the art of living in peace with that which we cannot change!

Quote / Thought for the Day - 1 ( 17-11-2008 )

“To give happiness to others is a great act of charity.”



“Every situation, properly perceived, becomes an opportunity.”