Er. Prabhat Kishore
Bharatvarsha Bharatvarsha is a country of religions, faiths and festivals. There are more festivals celebrated in Bharat than anywhere else in the world. Each festival has its own customs, occasions and importance. Saraswati Puja, having great spiritual and cultural significance, is one of the eminent festival heralding the arrival of spring, which is the season of renewal and blossoming.
Saraswati Pujais celebrated every year on the Panchami Tithi of Magha Shukla Paksh of Bharatiya Panchang (calendar). Hence it is also termed as Vasant Panchami, Sri Panchami, Saraswati Panchami in some parts of the country. The festival usually falls in the last month of January or February of the Gregorian calendar. In south Bharat, Saraswati Puja is also celebrated as “Aayudha Puja” during Navratri festival (which usually falls in October/November month).
Saraswati Puja has its own significance as the young children start their first step in the field of education by writing the letters of alphabet with a ritual known as “Akshar Abhyasam”, “Vidya Arambham” or “Patti Pujan”. People celebrate this day whole heartedly. On this day, Goddess Saraswati is worshipped in Mandirs, schools, colleges, educational institutions, Music & cultural houses as well as other public places, especially by students and teachers.
This day is considered an auspicious day for starting new ventures, projects or even moving into new homes. The positive energy of spring coupled with the blessings of Maa Saraswati brings progress, success and prosperity in the life of the devotee. For farmers, this day symbolizes the preparation and readiness of the harvest crops.
Yellow and white colours have their own importance in Saraswati puja. According to religious belief, yellow colour is auspicious and represents energy, knowledge, learning and prosperity, while white colour symbolizes light, knowledge and truth. Maa Saraswati is adorned with yellow or white cloths and traditionally devotees themselves dress up in yellow or white cloths.
Goddess Sarasvati is known by several names such as, Vageshwari (Goddess of Speech), Veenapani (Goddess holding Veena in her hands), Pustakdharani (Goddess carrying books), Veenavadini (Goddess playing the Veena), Hansvahini (Goddess sitting on swan), Varneshwari (Goddess of letters), Maa Sharade (who loves Sharad i.e. Autumn season), Bharati (Goddess of history), Vani (melodious speech), etc. by her devotees. According to scientists, when we see yellow colour, our body emits a special harmone called serotonin, which is helpful in reducing stress and strengthens brain.
Maa Saraswati holds Pustak (book), Mala (Rosary), Jalpatra (Water pot) and Veena in her four arms, which has symbolic meaning of importance. The book symbolizes the Veda or learning, the Rosary represents a meditation and spirituality, the Water pot signifies the purifying power to separate right from wrong and the Veena symbolizes all creative arts & sciences. Her four arms denote the four sides as well as the four aspects of human personality in learning, namely- Manas (mind), Buddhi (intellect), Chitta (alertness), and Ahankar (ego). Her vehicle is Hansa (Swan), a sacred bird, which if offered a mixture of milk & water, drink the milk alone and thus symbolises the ability to distinguish between good & evil. Sometimes Mayur (peacock) is also shown sitting near her feet, which symbolises colourful splendor & prosperity.
Maa Saraswati is a part of Tridevi – Sarasvati, Lakshmi, and Parvati, who are associated with the almighty Tridev – Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh. During Navratri, on the seventh day, the Goddess is worshipped in the form of Maha Sarasvati, in honour of the Goddess of learning & knowledge.
Goddess Saraswati is mentioned in the Rigved, Upnishad and other Dharmashashtra and has remained significant from the Vedic period to modern times. In Shanti Parva of Mahabharat, Shehas been called the mother of the Vedas.
Rigved signifises her both as a holy river as well as a deity. As per Rigveda-2.041.16, “Ambitame Naditame Devitame Sarasvati”, i.e. Saraswati is the best of mothers, mightiest of rivers, and the supreme among Goddesses. Mythologically, She is one of the holy rivers of Triveni Sangam at Prayag in an invisible form.
Shrishti Khand of Padma Puran as well as Skand Puran have detailed mention of Saraswati becoming a river on earth.
The Goddess is referred as Maha Sarasvati in Kashmir Shakti Peeth, and as Shardamba in Sringeri. The ancient Sharda Peeth, located on the bank of river Kishanganga (now renamed as Neelam in Pak-captured portion of Northern Kashmir), is one of the oldest surviving temple of Saraswati. As one of the ancient Mahashakti Peeths, Sharda Peeth is the spiritual location of the fallen right hand of Goddess Sati.
In Sikhism, Vasant Panchami marks the occasion of the marriage of Guru Govind Singh ji Maharaj. In Harmandir Sahib Amritsar, musician stats the Basant Rag, which continue till the first day of Baisakh.
In Jainism faith also, Saraswati is revered as the Goddess of the source of learning and responsible for the dissemination of Thirthnkars. In Buddhism sect, Saraswati is considered as the consort of Manjushree- the knowledge of Bodhisatwa.
Saraswati Puja is celebrated in a large number of countries such as Bharat, Nepal, Bali (Indonesia), Thailand (earlier Siam), Myanmar (earlier Burma or Brahma Desh), Pakistan, BangalaDesh, Bhutan, Mauritius, Surinam, Fiji, Japan, and Tibet as per their own custom.
Maa Saraswati is the deity of language, music, arts and wisdom. She represents Sattwa Guna and Gyan Shakti. She is the possessor of knowledge and protector of the universe. It is believed that every intellectual endeavor should begin with Saraswati Vandana.
(The author is a technocrat and academician).
