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Notes: All timings are represented in 12-hour notation in local time of New Delhi, India with DST adjustment (if applicable).
Hours which are past midnight are suffixed with next day date. In Panchang day starts and ends with sunrise.
According to the Hindu Panchang, on the Purnima Tithi of Kartika month, devotees perform the Maha Snana, i.e., great sacred bath at Pushkar Sarovara which is known as Pushkara Snana. Although the five-day Pushkar Snana begins with Dev Uthani Ekadashi, the bath taken on Kartika Purnima is considered the most auspicious and referred as Mahasnana. As per Hindu belief, Lord Brahma performed a grand Yajna at Pushkar during the period between Kartika Shukla Ekadashi and Kartika Purnima. Hence, taking holy dip at Pushkar during this time is regarded as highly meritorious.
The Pancha Tirtha Yatra concludes with the holy dip on Kartika Purnima. Scriptures also refer to Pushkar as the "Fifth Holy Tirtha." Hence, pilgrimage to other sacred sites, including the Char Dham Yatra, is considered incomplete without bathing at Pushkar. Pushkar Sarovara is also known as Pushkar Tirtha, Brahma Sarovar and Pushkar Jheel. It is situated in the sacred town of Pushkar, in the Ajmer district of Rajasthan. Pushkar is one of the most prominent pilgrimage centers in Rajasthan and is world-famous for the grand Pushkar Mela held annually. According to Hindu tradition, this is the only place on Earth where a temple dedicated to Lord Brahma, the Creator, exists and thousands of devotees visit every year to offer their prayers.
According to various scriptures, Lord Brahma, Lord Vishnu, Lord Indra, Lord Surya and other deities and sages reside in Pushkarvan. The lake has 52 beautiful Ghats, including Gau Ghat, Brahma Ghat, Varaha Ghat and Saptarishi Ghat. Pilgrims take a holy dip at these ghats to purify themselves and attain spiritual merit. Bathing in Pushkar Lake is believed to remove sins, diseases, and poverty, and to bestow happiness and prosperity.
According to legend, Lord Brahma decided to destroy the demon Vajranabha on Earth and struck him with a Kamala Pushpa, i.e., lotus flower. After the demon's death, the lotus petals fell on three different places, giving rise to three sacred lakes, i.e., Jyeshtha Pushkara, Madhya Pushkara and Kanishtha Pushkara. Lord Brahma bathed and performed rituals in these lakes during His Yajna and from that time onward, the sanctity of the Pushkara Snana spread across the world.
In the Uttara Khanda of Narada Purana, Pushkar Mahatmya describes that Pushkara is adorned with three radiant peaks, three pure streams and three divine lakes known as Jyeshtha Pushkar, Madhya Pushkar and Kanishtha Pushkar. These lakes are presided over respectively by Lord Brahma, Lord Vishnu and Lord Shiva. About one Yojana west of Pushkar lies the sacred Nanda Saraswati Tirtha, where bathing and donating cow grants are one residence in Brahma Loka.
Taking holy dip in Jyeshtha Pushkar and donating a cow blesses the devotee with all worldly pleasures and a place in Brahma Loka. Bathing in Madhya Pushkar and donating land bestows the merit of reaching Lord Vishnu's abode, known as Vishnu Loka. Bathing in Kanishtha Pushkar and donating gold fulfills all desires and grants residence in the realm of Lord Rudra, i.e. Rudra Loka. Afterward, bathing in the Naga Tirtha, worshiping the serpent deities and giving charity to Brahmins blesses one with heavenly pleasures for a full yuga. Even meditating upon Pushkar while reciting the Mantra "Apo Hi Stha" (आपो हि ष्ठा) grants the eternal abode of Brahman. Scholars mention three divines Pushkar(s), known as Aakash Pushkar, i.e. celestial, Bhuloka Pushkar, i.e., terrestrial and Patal Pushkar, i.e. subterranean.
When Kartik Purnima coincides with Krittika Nakshatra, it becomes an exceptionally auspicious Maha Tithi. One should do Aakash Pushkara Snana on this day. If the Purnima falls under Bharani Nakshatra, bathing at Madhya Pushkara gives the same merit as bathing at Aakash Pushkara. When Rohini Nakshatra coincides with Kartika Purnima, bathing in Kanishtha Pushkar grants the merit of Aakash Pushkara Snana.
When Lord Surya is in Bharani Nakshatra, Lord Brihaspati in Krittika and the Lord Chandra in Rohini, with the conjunction of Nanda Tithi, bathing in Pushkar bestows the complete merit of Aakash Pushkara Snana. If the Lord Surya is in Vishakha Nakshatra and the Lord Chandra in Krittika, it forms the Aakash Pushkara Yoga, during which bathing in Pushkar ensures heavenly elevation.
According to the Puranas, taking holy dip, donating and residing at Pushkar are extremely rare and meritorious acts. Even one who lives far away up to a hundred Yojanas and simply meditates on Pushkara with devotion while bathing elsewhere, attains the same spiritual merit as performing the sacred Pushkara Snana itself.
Kumbh Mela is the most important fair for the followers of Hinduism. This fair is organized on the banks of a holy river after a fixed time period. Lakhs of people and saints come from far off places to participate in this fair and take the great holy bath.
Prabodhini Ekadashi is one of the twenty four Ekadashi Vrats which are observed to receive special grace and blessings of Lord Vishnu. According to Hindu beliefs, on this day Lord Vishnu wakes up from four months of Yogic sleep. It is also known as the Dev Uthani Ekadashi and Devutthaan Ekadashi.
According to the Hindu lunar calendar, Kartika Purnima is the 8th Purnima of the year. Dev Diwali is also celebrated on this day. Kartika Purnima is also called Tripuri Purnima and Tripurari Purnima because it's believed that on this day Lord Shiva killed a demon named Tripurasura.
A detailed article about Lord Brahma is given on this page. In Hinduism, Lord Brahma is worshipped as one of the Trinity, which includes Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesha. The scriptures describe Brahma as the creator of the universe and He is also known as Hiranyagarbha.
