2. maho arnah sarasvati
prachetayati ketuna|
dhiyo vishvaa viraajati
||
““Vast is the ocean of DivineVast is the ocean of Divine
Knowledge,Knowledge,
That illuminates theThat illuminates the
Universe,Universe,
And brightens every piousAnd brightens every pious
thoughtthought””
2
3. In the fifth day (‘PANCHAMI’) of the bright
fortnight of the lunar month of ‘Magha’
(January-February) of the Hindu Calendar
VASANT = ‘Spring’, and ‘Yellow’
VASANT PANCHAMI marks the end of Winter and
the beginning of Spring in most parts of India
and neighboring countries.
4. On this day, Brahma-ji created
Devi Saraswati to remove
ignorance and to make human
beings wise. She was given four
hands for mind, intellect, ego and
alertness.
Therefore, we worship Mother
Saraswati – the Devi of wisdom,
arts, education, discrimination
Children are taught their first
letters
We also worship ‘Surya’ (Sun) and
Ma Ganga (Ganges River)
especially in northern India to
thank them for providing life
giving energy and water
5. OBJECT SIGNIFICANCE
WHITE SWAN White represents purity (sattva-guna).
Swan represents ‘viveka’, or the ability to
make right choices, and discriminate good
from evil. It also represents the Soul.
VEENA (Stringed instrument) being played
by her
Represents ‘speech’, music, arts, beauty.
With speech or language, we cannot learn
anything.
JAPAMALA: Rosary of Beads in Her hand Represent the power and energy of letters
(biijaakshara), and also faith and devotion
VEDAS: Revealed Hindu scriptures in Her
hand
Four Vedas (Rigveda, Yajurveda,
Samaveda and Atharvaveda) – the source
of all knowledge and wisdom.
Lotus flowers (Padma, Pankaj, Kamal) Represent Creation. And also the ability to
remain pure in this world full of evil. Lord
Shiva burned Kamadeva on this day.
6. Lord Krishna worshipped
Mother Saraswati this day and
became a master of
‘Shodashakala’ (16 arts)
Dramas of Kalidasa and other
famous dramatists were
played for audiences this day
Musicians, poets, dancers,
artists organized celebrations
and functions on this day to
worship Devi Saraswati
Pandit Madan Mohan Malviya
innaugarated Kashi Hindu
Vishwavidyalaya at Varanasi
7. Children are taught their first
letters (especially in Bengal,
Assam, Orissa, Bihar, Kerala etc).
They are given a pen or a chalk to
write the first letter. Big
celebrations are held in
Shantiniketan (a University in
West Bengal)
Books are placed before murtis of
Devi Saraswati for her blessings
They start with worshipping
Saraswati, burning incense,
applying ‘tilak’ of sandalwood
paste
Brahmins are fed and honored
and homage paid to ancestors
(Pitr-tarpana)
8. People wear yellow clothes
They make yellow garlands and
offer it to Devi-Devatas and to
guests
Sweet-meats (deserts) are made
yellow by adding saffron
YELLOW REPRESENTS:
Spirituality, Prosperity, Energy.
Many of our Deities wear yellow
clothes (‘pitamambara’). Hindu
Sadhus also wear ‘saffron’
(yellow-orange) robes.
In northern India, miles and miles
of farmlands turn yellow from
Mustard blooms
9. In northern India and
Pakistan, Kite Flying
contests are held – In
memory of Hakikat
Rai Puri of Sialkot
People eat saffron-
rice, suuji-halwa with
saffron in it, have
musical functions,
wear marigold
garlands
10. In northern India and
Pakistan, Kite Flying
contests are held – In
memory of Hakikat
Rai Puri of Sialkot
People eat saffron-
rice, suuji-halwa with
saffron in it, have
musical functions,
wear marigold
garlands
Notes de l'éditeur
Sarasvati Puja is on February 12, 2005 The welcome to spring is celebrated in reverence to Goddess Saraswati on the fifth day of bright half in the month of Magha (January/February). This festival is also celebrated as Vasant Panchami. ‘Vasant’ means yellow (such as of mustard flower) and ‘Panchami’ means the fifth day. Vasant signifies the yellow bloom of crops and trees during this period in the Northern hemisphere, particularly Indian sub-continent. Traditionally, Vasant celebrations are characterized by wearing of clothes dyed in Vasant dye. Vasant Panchami has been observed as a festival for worship of Goddess Saraswati since the Vedic and Puranic age. On this day Brahma created Saraswati to dislodge the dumb insipidity of the creation. By bestowing a Veena in her hands, he allotted the function of speech through her to the world. She was thus named as “Veena Vadini” and “Vani Dayyani” (the Veena player and the awarder of speech). By the grace of Saraswati, the devotee is made conversant with good behavior, intelligence, influence, brilliance, music, speech, poetry, and differentiation between proper and improper. Therefore, there is the tradition of the worship of Goddess Saraswati on Vasant Panchami festival. The worship is with sweet smelling flowers and powdered sandalwood. Sri Krishna (an incarnation of Lord Vishnu in the 4rd millennium BC) also worshipped Saraswati on this day by virtue pf which he became an expert in sixteen arts and in all others. Many Hindus initiate their kids for education on this day so that they receive blessing from Goddess Saraswati after her worship. Students in particular pay homage to the goddess of knowledge, intelligence, wisdom and knowledge of all arts, science, music and dancing. In the past, many kings and rulers used to organize literary seminars and symposia: poets, dramatists and writers were felicitated and rewarded on this occasion. Great dramas of Kalidasa and other dramatists were played before the audience on this festival.