Pushkar Purana Mandir ~ Sri Aranganathar Venugopalar Temple

I had earlier posted of our trip, purposefully travelling 140 odd  kms from the Pink city Jaipur to this holy place ~ a place known for even-toed ungulates bearing distinctive fatty deposits known as "humps" ~ the not so good looking Camel. ~ Pushkar, a town in the Ajmer district in Rajasthan.

It is the place where Lord is worshipped in the form of water (lake). Pushkar in Sanskrit means blue lotus flower;  Pushkar is perhaps derived from ‘pushkarini’ – the holy lake. Legend has it that centuries ago, there was a demon by name Vajranabhan.  Brahma killed him with a lotus flower.. there are big lakes, stated to be 52 of them – small and big inside Pushkar.  Of them the most important being Jeshta Pushkarini dedicated to Brahma, Kanishta Pushkarini of Lord Siva and Madhya Pushkarini dedicated to Sriman Maha Vishnu.  Pushkar is believed to have been created by Lord Brahma himself as the fit place for conducting yagna. For performance of yagna, Brahma married Gayatri Devi, which in some ways led to the curse that there will not be temples for Brahma and that he will not be worshipped elsewhere.

Legend has it that Yudhistra bathed at Pushkar as also Prahlada.  Historically, this is one of the places invaded by Ghaznavids and it was here that the British ambassador, Sir Thomas Roe met with Jehangir in the year 1616. Adhi Sankarar also visited this place.

The modern day Pushkar is not a big city, but has many temples and lakes – all considered holy by the Hindus. This otherwise sleepy town echoes with hectic activity during the Pushkar Camel Fair and festival. The famous  Brahma temple known locally as ‘Jagatpita Brahma Mandir’.  After worshipping here, went to another temple called Purana Mandir…. It is a temple constructed in 1844 according to the plaque – it is called ‘Sri Aranganatha Venugopalar Temple’.

Miles away in Rajasthan ~ this temple follows ‘Pancharathana agama’ and ‘Thennacharya’ sampradhayam.  It is a beautifully made temple – combining different architecture styles, yet looking like a South Indian temple.  Moolavar here is very attractive Sri Venugopalar in standing posture with flute in his hands; the Uthsavar is also in a strikingly similar posture.  As we have darshan in the sannathi, on our right, there is Ranganathar in sayana thirukolam with majestic looking Ranganathar.

On the left hand side, you are certain to be blown off your feet … there is gigantic majestic thirumeni of Udayavar resembling the one who argued with Jainese at Thondanur and a brilliant looking Uthsavar of Sri Ramanujar. There is also beautiful vigraham (both Moolavar and uthsavar) of Swami Manavala mamunigal inside the same sannithi.  The Azhwargal here all look very similar. Over all a grand pleasant Temple with its tall spires, Vimanas, Gopurams and side walls. 

The darshan had here was so fulfilling that it lingers in memory, providing great mental peace and satisfaction. 

Azhwar, Emperumanar Jeeyar Thiruvadigale saranam.

Adiyen Srinivasa dhasan.