Pushkara Snanas

Legend says that a brahmin by name Pushkara did penance and obtained from Lord Shiva the boon of remaining in water form- Jalamayatva siddhi – one of the eight forms of Shiva. This gave power to Pushkara to purify all the rivers or tirthas for the benefit of the mankind. He made Brahma’s kamandal as his abode. Brihaspathi Guru  of Gods, prays Brahma and requests him to grant him the boon of constant company of Pushkara with him during his zodiacal transit. Brihaspathi moves from one zodiac sign  to the other every year and takes 12 years to complete one zodiacal cycle. He again gets back to the first house or zodiac sign.. During this travel Jupiter every year casts his eye from one river to the other, Each river having it’s Pushkara in its own cycle. A bath in the respective rivers at the Pushkara time is the most auspicious. Man gains his spiritual evolution thereby. Whoever bathes in the Bhima-Krishna rivers confluence, he becomes purified. Pushkara Purusha would be with him in the first 12 days (Aadi Pushkara) and the last 12 days (Antya Pushkara). Brahma makes this arrangement and convinces Pushkara Purusha thus, according to mythology.

• When Brihaspathi enters Mesha raasi Ganga River gets pushkarams, 
•  When he enters Vrishabha raasi Rewa River gets Pushkarams,
• On enetering Mithuna, Saraswathi River gets pushkarams,
• when he enters Karkata raasi, Yamuna River gets pushkarams
• When he enters Simha raasi, Godavari River gets pushkarams
• When transits Kanya raasi, Krishnaveni River gets Pushkarams
• When he enters Tula, Cauvery River gets Pushkarams,
•  When transiting Vrischikam, Bhima&Tamraparni Rivers gets pushkarams,
•  When he enters Dhanasu, Pushkaravahini River gets pushkarams,
•  When he enters Makara, Tunga River gets pushkarams
• When Brihaspathi enters Kumbha raasi, Sindhu River gets pushkarams,
• and when he enters Meena raasi, Praneeta River gets Pushkarams.

The Pushkara days are considered as very auspicious and the belief is that the river waters are sanctified with the presence of the Trinity, the Hindu Pantheon of Gods, angels, sages, Maharshis and Rishis along with the Pushkara Purusha. A holy dip in the river hence is believed to purify the mortals during these days which are called as `Aadi Pushkara’. The last 12 days when Jupiter leaves the raasi are called as `Antya Pushkaras’ and are considered equally important.