Myth of Pushkara After a prolonged penance a Brahmin called Tundila was granted a boon that he would remain permanently

with Shiva in form of Jalamayatva Siddhi. Shiva has eight forms and one of them is Jalamayatva Siddhi, the ability to live in water. Tundila became known as Pushkara, the one who nourishes the world as this penance gave him the power to purify all the holy rivers for the benefit for all. Brahma wanted water for creation and Pushkara?s ability to purify it. He pleaded with Shiva to allow Pushkara to live in his kamandal (the water pot that Brahma keeps by his side). Shiv granted this request. Brihaspati (Jupiter) asked Brahma that Pushkara should be with him, as water was essential for mankind and Pushkara?s ability to purify unique. Pushkara refused, as he did not want to leave Brahma. Brahma resolved the situation by asking Pushkara to stay with Brihaspati for 12 days when the latter was entering a new Rashi and 12 days when he was leaving it. On a daily basis, Pushkara would stay with Brihaspati for a length of two Muhurta (48 minutes is one muhurta) in the afternoon. Brahma, accompanied by all the other gods, would go with Pushkara to the holy river being blessed. Thus, Pushkara could be with Brahma as well as with Brihaspati at the same time. Brihaspati stays in one rashi for a year and takes 12 years to complete one cycle of the Zodiac. When Brihaspati comes into a Rashi then the Pushkara would be with him in the first 12 days (Aadi Pushkara) and the last 12 days (Antya Pushkara) as Brihaspati exits the rashi. When people bathe in a holy river at the time of Pushkaram, they take the blessings of Jupiter into the next twelve-year cycle of Brihaspati. The twelve main rivers were blessed by Pushkara and purified once every twelve years. Pushkaram signifies the entry of Pushkara into the river water along with all gods and goddesses, which makes the water of that river pure for another 12 years. The entire year is considered holy to have the dip because earthly one-year amounts to only one divine day. During Pushkaram, the old sins can be washed away and the souls leave the water purified. People also pay homage to their departed ancestors during this time as well. All can experience the blessings of Pushkara twice a day when the pushkara muhurta is on by taking a dip the holy waters. The temple town of Pushkar in Rajasthan is blessed, as its lake is the living kamandal of Brahma. There is a rare Brahma temple there as well. This is one of the holiest place and people throng there to find absolution for negative past karma. Daily there are two Pushkaram when the holy waters get energized with the godly presence and these are the special times to take a dip in the holy waters as they are specially energized and purified. All the gods are residing with Brahma to give their blessing to the aspirants. Brihaspati ( Jupiter) transits and Pushkara of the Holy Rivers There are twelve holy rivers in ancient India and these rivers are not always easy to trace in the present times. The rivers blessed by Pushkar during Brihaspati Rashi transits are: Rashi River Mesha Ganga Vrishibha Rewa Mithuna Saraswati Kartaka Yamuna Simha Godavari Kanya Krishnaveni

Tula Kaveri Vrishchika Bhima Dhanus Pushkaravahini Makara Tungabhadra Kumbha Indus Mina Parineeta

Haridwar also has a further connection with Jupiter in Aquarius as this is the place where on the advise of Brihaspati ( Jupiter), the Gods took the help of the demons to churn the ocean of milk to find Amrita, the nectar of immortality. Every 12 years when Jupiter transits Aquarius, Kumbha Mela Festival is held from time immemorial. Pushkara times during this auspicious transit in Aquarius will be the perfect times to bathe in the sacred ganges and for those who can in the river Indus.