HINDU FESTIVALS >> VASANT PANCHAMI

by Shri Prakash Gossai

Vasant Panchami is celebrated at the same time as the placing of Holika in preparation for the festival of Holi. Vasant means spring and Panchami means the fifth lunar day, hence the festival is celebrated each year on the fifth day after the new moon in the month of Maagh-January/February. Vasant Panchami is the festival dedicated to Saraswati Devi, the Goddess of Knowledge and wisdom. Hindus all over the world celebrate this festival with great enthusiasm, as it is believed to be the birthday of Saraswati Maa, also known as the Goddess of purity and spiritual knowledge. On this day, students perform Puja-worship with great reverence and ask for success in their academic pursuits, religious studies, and arts and crafts. Celebrated on the onset of spring, it marks the beginning of new life with yellow flowers and daffodils staring to bloom and Mother Nature displaying her majestic best. New life is evident everywhere, the trees are displaying new shoots and blossoms. In many parts of India, people wear yellow clothing on this day as a sign of prosperity. Yellow or saffron is an auspicious color; it represents spirituality to many Hindus. Devotees perform special pujas to and offer yellow flowers to Goddess Saraswati, wearing yellow clothing symbolizing the season of Vasant-spring.

Saraswati Namastuyam Varade Kamarupini
Birdyarambam Karishe Ami Sidhirthayatu Mesada
Oh Saraswati Maa, sitting on the beautiful lotus flower;
I am beginning my education; please bless me always.

Saraswati Maa is the Goddess of learning, knowledge and wisdom. Puja (Worship) of Mother Saraswati is done throughout the year, but certain periods are regarded as especially propitious for her worship. In the final three days of Navratri, we pray to the lotus feet of Saraswati Maa, the source of all knowledge and a fountain of wisdom to receive true knowledge. She is the embodiment of absolute knowledge. She is referred to as Sharda Maa, the fountainhead of knowledge who leads her devotees from darkness to light and from ignorance to spiritual upliftment. That is why the order of worship during Navratri is so significant. First, we pray to Durga Maa, the Goddess of power, energy and destroyer of evil forces to destroy the Shad Vikaras-six enemies, which are Kama-lust, Krodha-anger, Lobha-greed, Moha-infatuation, Madha-envy and Matsarya-jealousy from our thoughts, words and deeds. Then we pray to Lakshmi Maa, Goddess of wealth and prosperity to bestow divine wealth on us. She embodies infinite wealth, symbolizing that good and noble qualities are the only wealth we can keep. And finally, we pray to Saraswati Maa to empower us with sweet speech, creative power and sharp intellect.

The Sanskrit word Sara means “essence” and swa means “self”. Hence Saraswati means “the essence of the self”. Goddess Saraswati is the Divine Consort of Lord Brahma, the creator of the Universe. Since knowledge is necessary for creation, Saraswati Maa symbolizes the creative power of Bhagwan Brahma. Knowledge is power. Anyone interested in acquiring knowledge, especially students, teachers, scholars and scientists, worships Goddess Saraswati.

OM YAA KUNDENDU TUSHAAR HAAR DHAVALAA
YAA SHUBR VASTRAA VRITAA
YAA VEENA VARDAND MADIT KARAA
YAA SHVET PADM-AASNAA
YAA BRAHM AACHYUT SHANKAR PRABHRITI BHIR
DEVAI-H SADAA VANDITAA
SA MAAM PATU SARASWATI BHAGWATEE
NI-H SHESH JADYAAPAHAA
Our obeisance to Saraswati Maa, Goddess of learning, who is fair like the kund flower, the moon and the snow, who is dressed in white with the precious Veena in Her hand; who is ever adored by Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva. Protect us Mother by completely removing the dullness of our intellect.

Goddess Saraswati is generally depicted with four arms, wearing a white Sari and seated on a white Lotus flower. The white color symbolizes purity and knowledge. The white Sari that Mother Saraswati is wearing denotes that She is the embodiment of pure knowledge. The four arms represent Her omnipresence and omnipotence. They also represent the four elements of the inner personality. They are manas-mind, buddhi-intellect, chitta-consciousness and ahankara-ego.

A book in the rear left hand signifies that knowledge acquired must be used with love and kindness to promote prosperity of mankind. The rosary signifies concentration, meditation and contemplation, leading to samadhi or union with God. A rosary in the right rear hand represent that true knowledge acquired with love and devotion melts the ego and results in moksha-libertion from bondage of the physical world. Saraswati Maa is also shown as playing a Veena-flute, held in her two front hands with denotes mind and intellect. This musical instrument conveys that the devotee must tune his mind and intellect in order to live in perfect harmony in this world. Living harmoniously enables us to utilize this acquired knowledge for the welfare of all mankind.

There is a white swan sitting at the feet of Saraswati Maa. A white swan is said to have a sensitive beak that enables it to distinguish pure milk from a mixture of milk and water. Therefore, a swan symbolizes Satwa Guna- purity and discrimination, or the ability to determine wrong from right or good and bad. Goddess Saraswati uses the swan as her vehicle. This indicates that we must acquire and apply true knowledge for the betterment of humanity.

VEENA DHARE VIPUL MANGAL DAAN SHEELE
BHAKTAARTI NAASHINI VIRANCHI HAREESH BANDE
KEERTI PRADE AKHIL MANORATH DEMAHAARE
VIDYAA PRADAAYINI SARASWATI NOWMI NITYAM
O Mother Saraswati, Your veena is ever providing divine sounds throughout the three spheres. You grant good fortune to all. You remove the afflictions of your devotees. You are the bestower of fame and the fulfiller of all wishes. You are the fountain of knowledge. O Mother Saraswati, bless us and protect us night and day.

We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.
Jai Sharda Maa