The Development of Hindu Iconography c19.s1.6.4

c19.s1.6.4

Another temple of Brahmā, that is still functioning, is at Pushkar near Ajmer; the big temple there is linked up with the shrine of his consort Sāvitrī on a hill about a mile distant from it. This sacred Tīrtha is frequented by Hindus of different cult affiliations, and its existence does not necessarily mean the existence of any Brahmā cult there in modern times. The present shrine of the god at the place is not more than 160 years old, for Tod writes in 1806-07 that it was built about four years ago; but it was built on the site of older religious establishments. The temple priests, however, belong to the community of Puri Gosains unlike those at Khed Brahmā.¹ Pushkara is a very old Tīrtha; reference is made to it in the Nasik inscription of Uṣabhadāta, Nahapāna’s son-in-law, but there is no clear proof whether it was associated with Brahmā worship at that early age.²