Saraswati Puja 2023: Part 1

 

January 26th 2023

The fifth day of any month in the Hindu calendar is referred to as Panchami. In the month of Maagh this particular day is known as Vasant Panchami as it signifies the beginning of Spring (Vasant) season. This day is celebrated as Saraswati Puja.

On the heels of Ganesh Jayanti comes Saraswati Puja. This proximity is not just in the context of these two days but also in the context of the worship of these two deities at all times.

Just like conventional worship designates Ganesh as the foremost deity to be meditated upon at the beginning of any auspicious undertaking or start of the day, the immediate next deity to get the honor is Saraswati, the Goddess of Learning and Arts. 

After shower we were taught to chant the prayer Vakratunda mahaa kaaya for Lord Ganesh’s blessings.

The shloka( prayer) I was taught to chant following Vakratunda Mahaakaaya was :

Saraswati namastubhyam varade kaamirupini 

Vidyaarambham karishyaami siddhir bhavatu me sadaa II

I pray to you O Saraswati, who is herself the personification of everything that is desirable, to bless me! I am embarking on my studies. May your grace allow these to proceed to their fulfillment. 

It makes a lot of sense that these two deities go hand in hand. If Ganesh gives inspiration for good thoughts, reasoning, wisdom, these thoughts are of no use unless they are expressed in speech and action. The manifestation of these two deities( powers) is like two consecutive waves in an ocean. Thought followed by speech.

Gananaath Saraswati Ravi Shukra Brihaspati

Panchaitaani smare nityam veda vaani pravartate

I was taught to chant this as the third shloka each morning! Blessings from these five powers ( Ganesh, Saraswati, Sun, Venus and Guru) were what was needed for a student at any stage. This was the wisdom of the Vedas.

Saraswati for me always brings an aura of purity, peace, benevolence. Her strength seems sublime and quite different from the opulence of Lakshmi or the fierceness of Durga. She is depicted in a delicate feminine form, seated next to a swan or peacock, clad in a white saree, holding the stringed instrument Veena in her hands, sometimes with four hands  that hold a book, a rosary, a water pot and the Veena. ( A curious thought crossed the mind as I was writing this. That I have never seen an image of Saraswati in any attire other than a saree!)

As I mentioned that the major literary works of the Marathi poet saints begin with a prayer for Lord Ganesh, all of them turn next to Saraswati to seek her blessings. Indeed, she rules over Speech! Vaak Devi! Most humans can talk. But what comes out of the mouth in their words is not always filled with what is desirable. Speech, whether arising inwardly in the mind, or spoken aloud or written, to be gentle, kind, useful, wise and enlightening and remembered for generations needs divine grace. Those who are purified at heart and humble in their attitude can recognize the need for this grace and seek it at every step. 

In continuation with the last abhanga I am sharing today another of Sant Namdev’s abhanga, this one dedicated to Saraswati.

This is a short three verse prayer.

Saraswati maate dyaavi maja sphoorti I

Yeto kaakulti tujalaagi I

Laadake ladiwaaL maagatase tuja I

Vandeen he raja charaneenche II

Mother Saraswati, kindly bestow upon me the inspiration (to compose poetry)!

I have come to you in a state of desperation.

This favorite child of yours asks for your blessings.

I will prostrate myself in submission to the tiniest particles of dust that lay at your feet!

Tvare yevoniyaa mastaki thevi haat I

Jaayil hi bhraant tevhaa maazi I

Aapulyaa baaLaasi dhari aataa haati I

Na kari phajiti janaa madhye II

Please rush and put your hand on my head (as a gesture of blessing)

Only this can dispel my fears, doubts and confusion.

Hold this child with your hand and guide me(to write)

so I will not become an object of ridicule for people.

Vishwaatmaa jo Hari tyaachi varNeen keerti I

Aawadichaa oti rasa yaato I

Aikoniyaa stav jaalise prasanna I

Naamyaa tuzaa abhimaan majalaagi II

With your blessings I will be able to pour out devotion from my heart to sing the praises of Hari who pervades the entire universe.

Hearing these heartfelt pleas and praises Saraswati was pleased and said “ dear Naamyaa, I am truly proud of you. You have my blessings”. 

Naamdev heard in his heart these words of encouragement and endorsement from the Goddess and proceeded with the task of his compositions. What resulted from his dedicated work was a treatise of devotional poetry that resounded not just locally in Maharashtra but reached much farther up to Punjab. His teachings became part of the Sikh tradition. 

His emphasis remained on chanting the Name of God. Just this form of service if done unwaveringly can help a person reach God realization was his firm teaching. He lived in the constant remembrance of the Holy Name and left the mortal body with it. This favorite child of Saraswati stays in samadhi in Pandharpur. 

The saree is a beautiful tussar printed with the iconic representation of Saraswati ( yantra) . I managed to convince the designer that it is ok to print this auspicious motif even on the back of the blouse. Respect or disrespect is in our attitude. If we look at it as a hand of blessing on our back or the deity standing behind to protect us we are acknowledging that benevolence and showing the due respect. The saree turned out so much more beautiful with the artist pouring love into it.