Saraswati Puja, held on the fifth day of the bright fortnight of the month of Magh, marks the beginning of Basanta. Devotees of all ages, dressed in new yellow or Basanti-colored clothes, offer prayers to the goddess of knowledge, Saraswati. The Puja is performed with mantras in Sanskrit, invoking the goddess of knowledge, music, and wisdom.
The Vedic age first recognized the role of goddess Saraswati. Since then, she has been worshipped as the embodiment of knowledge, music, and wisdom. The Puja is performed on the fifth day of the month of Magh, known as Basanta Panchami or Sri Panchami.
The origin of goddess Saraswati is a subject of various mythological stories. According to some Puranas, she was created by Brahma, while others believe she is the daughter of Daksha. Another belief is that she emerged from the tip of Vishnu's tongue. In Bengal, she is primarily worshipped in a two-armed form, holding a rosary, book, veena, and lotus flower.
The symbols associated with goddess Saraswati have different meanings. The rosary represents dedication, devotion, restraint, and concentration in the pursuit of knowledge. The book or veena symbolizes knowledge and the joy of music. The lotus flower in her other hand represents the goddess's blessing of pure knowledge to her devotees. The goddess is also associated with different vehicles, such as a lion, peacock, or swan.
In addition to knowledge and wisdom, goddess Saraswati is also worshipped as the goddess of water in the agricultural Indian subcontinent. The word'saras' means water. Historian H.D. Griswold mentioned in his book 'Religion of the Rigveda' that the Aryans, who grew up on the banks of the Saraswati River, gave birth to the Rigveda's original mantras here.
Although the Saraswati River is no longer visible, people still believe it flows underground. Therefore, devotees of the Sanatan Dharma can still be seen taking a holy bath at the confluence of the Ganges, Yamuna, and Saraswati rivers in Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh. The Kumbh Mela is a grand gathering of Sanatan pilgrims.
In the Vedic age, there was no practice of idol worship, so the river itself was considered the embodiment of the goddess. Sages and munis would sit on the banks of the Saraswati River to pursue knowledge, perform yajnas, and study the Vedas. Gradually, the river goddess transformed into the goddess of knowledge, similar to the civilizations that emerged on the banks of the Nile in Egypt and the Tigris and Euphrates rivers in ancient Mesopotamia.
Hindu scholar Madan Mohan Malaviya started the tradition of Saraswati Puja at Kashi Vishwavidyalaya a century ago. Today, this tradition has spread far and wide. From schools and colleges to universities and every household that follows the Sanatan Dharma, goddess Saraswati is worshipped on the occasion of Sri Panchami.
The worship of the goddess of knowledge is not limited to the Indian subcontinent. After the fifth century, the gods and goddesses of the Vedas and Puranas were also worshipped outside India. In Tibet, Buddhists worship goddess Saraswati as goddess Braj. In Myanmar, she is worshipped as Thuratheri, who is believed to protect Buddhist scriptures. In Thailand, she is worshipped as Suratswari, the goddess of knowledge. In Cambodia, the Khmer people worshipped goddess Saraswati as goddess Bageshwari in the seventh century.
Historians have also found ancient statues of goddess Saraswati in Japan. In Bali, Indonesia, she is worshipped as the goddess of water. Social analyst Jahor Sarkar mentioned that Saraswati Puja is also performed in schools and colleges there.
Finally, a song by Rabindranath Tagore, written on the occasion of Saraswati Puja, can be mentioned. In September 1905, Tagore went to Giridih for health recovery. There, he was requested to write a song for the inauguration of the local branch of the Kashi Sahitya Parishad. Tagore wrote, 'I have hung the cage of words on the wall - please do not ask me to sing now - I appeal to you. You will find a song of worship to Saraswati in my collection of songs - 'Madhur madhur dhoni baje / Hridoykomol monomajhhe.' If that works for you, then it is excellent.'
