Vasant Panchami (वसंत पंचमी) and Saraswati Puja
-Rohit Kumar Parmar
PicVasPanc-01 Maa Saraswati
Vasant Panchami or Sarasvati Puja or Sri Panchami is celebrated in honour of Maa Saraswati (mother goddess) on the fifth (Panchami) day of Shukla paksha (waxing moon) in the 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).[1] 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.
Vasant Panchami is observed 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 cultural ties, is known as `Hari Raya Saraswati’ [2] (great day of Saraswati) 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 social and religious form, with Saraswati Puja in reverence of Maa Saraswati, 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 saraswati
The name Saraswati stems from the Sanskrit root word `saras,’ which means `fluid.’ Maa Saraswati, part of the tridevi (Saraswati, 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 (water pot), 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 Saraswati, 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 Saraswati's favourite colour. This is also the season when 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 Saraswati as part of an elaborate feast.
PicVasPanc-04 Sweetened Rice Mithe Chowl, मीठे चावल, ਮਿੱਠੇ ਚੌਲ,
PicVasPanc-05 Khaman dhokla
Learning on Saraswati Puja
On Saraswati 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 different festivals also.
In schools, as part of the morning assembly or in a special function, and/or in other congregations, there is recital of Saraswati Vandana/ puja and other prayers (PicVasPanc-06). There is also an image, statute of Maa Saraswati. Poetic and musical gatherings are also held in some communities in reverence of Saraswati.
PicVasPanc-06 Saraswati Vandana/puja by children
In Eastern India, especially Assam, Bihar, Tripura and West Bengal, and Nepal, people visit Saraswati 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) 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 Saraswati 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 Saraswati is also known as Vagdevi, a name given by Brahma because she is the epitome of oratorical speech and sound.
Maa Saraswati 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 Saraswati 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 Saraswati is considered as the consort of Manjushri.
The river Saraswati was stated to be an earthly form of Maa Saraswati.
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 as 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 Saraswati 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.
Saraswati Mantra
ॐ श्रीं ह्रीं सरस्वतीै नमः सरस्वती मंत्र
Om Shreem Hreem Saraswatyai Namaha - Saraswati Mantra
Saraswati Vandana
या कुन्देन्दुतुषारहारधवला या शुभ्रवस्त्रावृता या वीणावरदण्डमण्डितकरा या श्वेतपद्मासना या ब्रह्माच्युतशंकरप्रभृतिभिर्देवै: सदा वन्दिता सा मां पातु सरस्वती भगवती नि:शेषजाड्यापहा
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