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/Savitri Mata Temple, Ratnagiri Hill, Pushkar
State Temple
Savitri Mata Temple, Ratnagiri Hill, Pushkar
सावित्री माता मंदिर, रत्नागिरि पहाड़ी, पुष्कर
Location
Pushkar, Rajasthan
Darshan
–
Deity
🪔Maa Savitri (Brahma's first wife; in self-imposed exile after the curse)
Entry
Free entry
Savitri Mata's role in Pushkar mythology is theologically significant: 1. **The original wife of Brahma**: Cosmic creative energy in feminine form 2. **Savitri Vedic Chant**: Savitri is also the mother of the Gayatri/Savitri mantra (Rig Veda 3.62.10) — the most sacred Vedic chant. Some traditions identify Savitri Mata with the personified form of this mantra 3. **Curser of Brahma temples worldwide**: The reason for the rarity of Brahma temples 4. **Symbol of pati-vrata-dharma**: A wife wronged by her husband but who chose dignified exile rather than further conflict 5. **Hilltop guardian deity**: Watches over Pushkar from Ratnagiri The walk/ropeway up Ratnagiri offers the most spectacular sunset view over Pushkar Lake — among the most photographed evening landscapes in Rajasthan.
History
**Mythological Origin:** The temple's story is recorded in the Padma Purana, Skanda Purana, and Pushkar Mahatmya. Savitri's exile to Ratnagiri is the foundational event after Brahma's Pushkar yajna. **Pre-Modern History:** The hilltop site has been a pilgrimage destination for centuries. Successive Rajput dynasties (Kachwaha of Jaipur, Rathore of Jodhpur, Sisodia of Mewar) sponsored renovations. **Marathi Patronage (18th c.):** During the Maratha period in Rajasthan, the temple received additional patronage; current structural foundations date to this era. **Mughal Era:** The hilltop location protected the temple from Aurangzeb's iconoclasm — the difficult climb deterred organised demolition. **Modern Era:** The temple is administered by the Pushkar Tirth Trust. Pilgrim infrastructure has improved significantly in recent decades: - Step pathway widened and concretised - Drinking water booths installed every 100 m - Solar-powered emergency lighting **Pushkar Ropeway (2022):** The Pushkar Ropeway was inaugurated in 2022. It transports pilgrims from the base near Old Rangji Temple to the Savitri Temple summit in approximately 7 minutes. Ticket: ~₹130 each way. Cabins accommodate 8 pilgrims each. The ropeway has dramatically increased daily visitor numbers, particularly during off-season when steep climbs deterred elderly pilgrims.
Mythology
**Savitri Vedic Chant:** Savitri is the personification of the Vedic Savitri (Gayatri) mantra — Rig Veda 3.62.10: "Om bhur bhuvah svah / Tat Savitur Varenyam / Bhargo Devasya Dhimahi / Dhiyo Yo Nah Prachodayat" "We meditate on the radiant divine glory of Savitri (the Sun); May it inspire our intellect." The chant is one of Hinduism's most sacred mantras; some traditions identify Savitri Mata as the embodied form of the Savitri Vedic chant itself. **Why Savitri at Ratnagiri:** After cursing Brahma, Savitri ascended Ratnagiri Hill — symbolising her elevation above worldly emotions, her dignified withdrawal from the marriage. Devotees who climb the hill are believed to share in Savitri's tapasya (austerity) — the climb itself is a form of pilgrimage. **Reconciliation Tradition:** Visiting both Brahma and Savitri on the same day is theologically important — devotees plead for reconciliation in the divine marriage. Some traditions hold that successful intercession brings marital harmony to the devotee's own household.