Vasant Panchami (वसंत पंचमी) and Sarasvati Puja (सरस्वती पूजा) 14.02.2024
-Rohit Kumar Parmar [1]
PicVasPanc-01 Maa Saraswati
Vasant Panchami, Sarasvati Puja or Sri Panchami is celebrated in honour of Maa Sarasvati (mother goddess Sarasvati) on the fifth (Panchami) day of Shukla paksha (waxing moon) in the luni-solar month of Magha, corresponding to January/February of the Gregorian calendar. A spate of festivals in January/February signal the beginning of the end of winter (at times harsh), especially in the northern/western parts of India and preparations for the arrival of Vasant Ritu वसंत ऋतु (Spring season). [2] Vasant Ritu is associated with freshness and a new beginning. Vasant Panchami marks the beginning of Vasant Utsava, which ends with the festival of Holi/Holika Dahan, after 40 days.
Vasant Panchami is celebrated in the Indian subcontinent, notably India, Nepal, Bangladesh and Pakistan (mainly as kite [guddi] flying), and in Indonesia, especially the island of Bali, and by the Indian diaspora. Vasant Panchami in Indonesia, with which India has strong historical and cultural ties, is known as `Hari Raya Sarasvati’ [3] (great day of Sarasvati) and also marks the beginning of the 210-day long Balinese Pawukon calendar.
Vasant Panchami is celebrated in different states in forms, which signify diversity of Indian culture, religion, society, etc. The celebrations have a cultural, religious and social form, during Sarasvati Puja in reverence of Maa Sarasvati, the goddess of vidya, learning, education, creativity, intelligence, language, music, arts and all fine things/activities. The social form is melas (fairs), kite flying.
Maa Sarasvati
The name Sarasvati stems from the Sanskrit root word `saras,’ which means `fluid.’ Maa Sarasvati, part of the tridevi (Sarasvati, Lakshmi and Parvati) is seated on a white lotus, with one hand on the veena (musical instrument suited for classical Indian music), second hand holding a Kamandal, [4] third hand holding a jap mala (rosary) and the fourth holding a book, symbolising her attributes (PicVasPanc-01). The following shloka describes Maa Sarawati
।।श्वेतपद्मासना देवी श्वेतपुष्पोशोभिता श्वेतांबरधरा नित्या श्वेतागंधानुलेपना
श्वेताक्षसूत्रहस्ता च श्वेत चंदन चर्चिता श्वेतवीणाधरा शुभ्रा
श्वेतालंकारभूषिता
वन्दितां सिध्दगंधर्वैश्चिता
पूजिता मुनिऋषिभिः स्तुते सदा।।
Meaning of the shloka
We bow down to the Devi, who is seated on a white lotus, wearing a garland of white flowers, adorned in white clothes symbolising purity and peace. We bow down to Sarasvati, from whom emanates a beautiful fragrance; who applies white sandalwood all over her body. Devi holds a Veena, wearing white jewellery. We bow down to the Devi worshipped by all Siddhas, Gandharva, Devas and Asuras. Devi, who is always praised by the great sages in scriptures.
Significance of Yellow
There is ripening of the mustard crop (PicVasPanc-02) with yellow flowers (PicVasPanc-03), which is Maa Sarasvati's favourite colour. This is also the season for genda (marigold) flowers (in Yellow, Orange, Red and Maroon colours) which are used in prayers/garlands, bloom.
PicVasPanc-02 Ripe Mustard crop and flowers, Sihoniya, Morena District, Madhya Pradesh, India
PicVasPanc-03 Ripe Mustard crop and flowers, Sihoniya, Morena District, Madhya Pradesh, India
Yellow dress (PicVasPanc-06) - sarees, suits, dupattas, shirts, dhotis are worn on vasant panchami. Yellow coloured snacks (Khaman dhokla, PicVasPanc-05) and sweets (Motichoor/Besan ladoo, Rasmalai, Kesari rajbhog, Kesari halwa/ sheera) are preferred. Mithe Chowl (मीठे चावल, ਮਿੱਠੇ ਚੌਲ, PicVasPanc-04), sweetened rice with saffron/yellow colour, dry fruits is prepared for bhog of Maa Sarasvati as part of an elaborate feast.
PicVasPanc-04 Sweetened Rice Mithe Chowl, मीठे चावल, ਮਿੱਠੇ ਚੌਲ,
PicVasPanc-05 Khaman dhokla
Learning on Sarasvati Puja
On Sarasvati puja, children are encouraged to write their first alphabet which could be ॐ; do some study; play a music instrument or sing. Children between four and five years old, start learning to write on this day in a unique ceremony known as `Haate-Khori’ (by hand) in Bengal and 'Khadi-Chuan' or 'Vidya-Arambha' (beginning of education) in Odisha. The commencement of writing ceremony takes place on other festivals also.
In schools, as part of the morning assembly or in a special function, and/or in other congregations, there is recital of Sarasvati Vandana/ puja and other prayers (PicVasPanc-06). There is also an image, statute of Maa Sarasvati. Poetic and musical gatherings are also held in some communities in reverence of Sarasvati.
PicVasPanc-06 Sarasvati Vandana/puja by children
In Eastern India, especially Assam, Bihar, Tripura and West Bengal, and Nepal, people visit Sarasvati temples and/or worship her at home. In the state of Odisha, Havan/Homas/Yagnas are also performed. In Andhra Pradesh and Telangana it is called Sri Panchami.
Traditionally, in Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Uttar Pradesh, after bathing in the morning, people worship Shiva and Parvati. Offerings of mango flowers and wheat, signifying nature/arriving crop, are traditionally made.
In Rajasthan, it is customary for people to wear jasmine garlands. In Maharashtra, newly married couples visit a temple and offer prayers on their first (pahli) Basant Panchami following the wedding, wearing yellow dress.
In Punjab region, Basant is celebrated as a seasonal festival and is known as the Basant festival of Kites. Children buy dor (thread), maanjaa (माँजा thread suitable to cut competitors kites), charki (wheel shaped toy/object to roll the dor/thread) and guddi or patang (kites) for the sport. In the Punjab region, Sikhs and Hindus wear yellow turban (headgear).
In Bangladesh major educational institutions and universities observe a special puja. Kite flying as part of Basant mela in Lahore goes back centuries and is a highly competitive sport between regional teams.
Legends
Maa Sarasvati as Gayatri, was so much attracted by the brilliance of Sun God Surya, that she dissolved herself to become the Gayatri Mantra dedicated to Surya.
ॐ भूर्भुवः स्वः । तत्सवितुर्वरेण्यं भर्गो देवस्यः धीमहि । धियो यो नः प्रचोदयात् ।।
Meaning of gayatri mantra
उस प्राण स्वरूप, दुःखनाशक, सुखस्वरूप, श्रेष्ठ, तेजस्वी, पापनाशक, देवस्वरूप परमात्मा को हम अंतःकरण में धारण करें। वह परमात्मा हमारी बुद्धि को सन्मार्ग में प्रेरित करे।अर्थात् 'सृष्टिकर्ता प्रकाशमान परमात्मा के प्रसिद्ध पवणीय तेज का (हम) ध्यान करते हैं, वे परमात्मा हमारी बुद्धि को (सत् की ओर) प्रेरित करें।
Maa Sarasvati is also known as Vagdevi, a name given by Brahma because she is the epitome of oratorical speech and sound.
Maa Sarasvati is also called Shatarupa, a goddess with multiple forms, which she used to take to escape from the infatuation of Brahma, because of her beauty.
In eastern India, Maa Sarasvati is considered the daughter of Lord Shiva and Maa Durga. Goddess Lakshmi, Lord Ganesha and Karthikeya are considered as her siblings.
In Buddhist iconography, Maa Sarasvati is considered as the consort of Manjushri.
The river Sarasvati was stated to be an earthly form of Maa Sarasvati.
Another legend behind Vasant Panchami is based on the Hindu god of love called Kamadeva, who awakens the passions of the earth (and its people) and the world blooms. Accordingly, Vasant Panchami is also known as `Madana Panchami’. Pradyumna son of Rukmini and Krishna is considered an incarnation of Kamadeva.
Madana Panchami is remembered as the day when the Seers (Rishis) approached Kamadeva to wake up Shiva in support of Parvati who is performing penance to get Shiva as husband, and seek Kama's help to bring Shiva back from meditation to worldly desires. Kamadeva agrees and shoots arrows, made of flowers and bees, at Shiva in order to draw his attention to Parvati. Lord Shiva awakens from his meditation and his third eye opens, and a fireball is directed at Kamadeva, who is burnt to ashes.
Vasant Panchami is also associated with the emotions of love and emotional anticipation in Kutch (Gujarat), and celebrated by preparing bouquet and garlands of flowers set with mango leaves, as a gift. People dress in saffron, pink or yellow and visit each other.
A popular legend associated with Vasant Panchami is a story about a poet called Kalidasa, who is kicked out by his wife, a beautiful princes, when she realised he was foolish. In despair, Kalidasa was planning to kill himself, when Sarasvati emerged from the river and told him to bathe in its waters. When he did, the water gave him wisdom and led to him to write poetry.
Sarasvati Mantra
ॐ श्रीं ह्रीं सरस्वतीै नमः सरस्वती मंत्र
Om Shreem Hreem Sarasvatyai Namaha
Sarasvati Vandana
या कुन्देन्दुतुषारहारधवला या शुभ्रवस्त्रावृताया वीणावरदण्डमण्डितकरा या श्वेतपद्मासनाया ब्रह्माच्युतशंकरप्रभृतिभिर्देवै: सदा वन्दितासा मां पातु सरस्वती भगवती नि:शेषजाड्यापहा
Sarasvati Aarti
ॐ जय सरस्वती माता, जय जय सरस्वती माता
सदगुण वैभव शालिनी, सदगुण वैभव शालिनी त्रिभुवन विख्याता,
जय जय सरस्वती माता ॐ जय सरस्वती माता, जय जय सरस्वती माता सदगुण वैभव शालिनी,
सदगुण वैभव शालिनी त्रिभुवन विख्याता, जय जय सरस्वती माता
चन्द्रबदनि पद्मासिनि, कृति मंगलकारी मैय्या कृति मंगलकारी
सोहे शुभ हंस सवारी, सोहे शुभ हंस सवारी अतुल तेज धारी
जय जय सरस्वती माता
बाएं कर में वीणा, दाएं कर माला मैय्या दाएं कर माला
शीश मुकुट मणि सोहे, शीश मुकुट मणि सोहे गल मोतियन माला
जय जय सरस्वती माता
देवी शरण जो आए, उनका उद्धार किया मैय्या उनका उद्धार किया बैठी मंथरा दासी,
बैठी मंथरा दासी रावण संहार किया
जय जय सरस्वती माता
विद्यादान प्रदायनि, ज्ञान प्रकाश भरो जन ज्ञान प्रकाश भरो
मोह अज्ञान की निरखा, मोह अज्ञान की निरखा जग से नाश करो
जय जय सरस्वती माता
धूप, दीप, फल, मेवा, माँ स्वीकार करो ओ माँ स्वीकार करो
ज्ञानचक्षु दे माता, ज्ञानचक्षु दे माता जग निस्तार करो जय जय सरस्वती माता
माँ सरस्वती की आरती, जो कोई जन गावै मैय्या जो कोई जन गावै
हितकारी सुखकारी हितकारी सुखकारी ज्ञान भक्ति पावै
जय जय सरस्वती माता जय सरस्वती माता,
जय जय सरस्वती माता सदगुण वैभव शालिनी,
सदगुण वैभव शालिनी त्रिभुवन विख्याता
जय जय सरस्वती माता ॐ जय सरस्वती माता,
जय जय सरस्वती माता सदगुण वैभव शालिनी,
सदगुण वैभव शालिनी त्रिभुवन विख्याता, जय जय सरस्वती माता
[1] Author, Freelance, Indian Economic Service (Retired), former Senior Economic Adviser, Government of India, Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution and former Adviser (P 4) UNDP, Yemen has in posts
on his website (https://rohitkparmar.wixsite.com/site),
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been writing/sharing varied topics and
can be reached at rohitkparmar@yahoo.com.
[2] Spring in the Indian sub-continent is different from the west in several respects, one of which is that all trees in India do not shed all their leaves.
[3] Several, if not all festivals in Malaysia and Indonesia have `Hari Raya’ as a prefix for example `Hari Raya Aidilfitri’.
[4] Is made of a dry gourd (pumpkin) or coconut shell, metal, wood of the Kamandalataru tree, or from clay, usually with a handle and sometimes with a spout. Hindu ascetics or yogis often use it for storing drinking water. The water-filled kamandalu, which is invariably carried by ascetics, is stated to represent a simple and self-contained life.
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