Saraswati Puja
Introduction
Goddess Saraswati is known as the symbol of education, art, culture and music. She is known to be the archive of knowledge. Human beings are bestowed with speech, wisdom and learning by her. Vasant Panchami, also called Basant Panchami in India is celebrated as the festival of Goddess Saraswati. Vasant Panchami is celebrated on the 5th day of the bright fortnight of the lunar month of Magha (January-February). It is also considered as the first day of spring. Goddess Saraswati is worshipped on Vasant Panchami. As per Hindu scriptures, Basant Panchami is believed to be the birthday day of Goddess Saraswati. Part of the trinity of the Goddesses in Hinduism i.e. Laxmi, Parvati and Saraswati; Goddess Saraswati is also addressed as Goddess Savitri or Goddess Gayatri. It’s considered extremely sacred and godly to perform Saraswati Puja on the day of Vasant Panchami.
Significance and Importance of Saraswati Puja
Performing Saraswati Puja helps one invoke blessings of the Goddess. As she represents the accord of intelligence, art, music, fortune and power; by praying to her one can invoke all these in one’s life. Saraswati Puja performed during Navratri holds a special significance. Knowledge seekers across the country believe that worshiping the Goddess of wisdom; will help them gain a lot of talents and eternal understanding.
Saraswati puja is held with devotion and dedication and the atmosphere is rather discreet. Simplicity and poise are important aspects of the Saraswati Puja. The color yellow is quite significant on this day and is given due importance as well.
One can associate with her through the hymn “Om Aim Saraswatyai Swaha” – to excel in arts, dance and music.
Benefits of Saraswati Puja
- It’s said to help improve the understanding power. while refining the intellectual powers and memory.
- It can lead us to the eternal truth of life and the transcendental knowledge to lift the spiritual and divine self.
- This puja is especially performed to build knowledge and increase concentration in studies.
- Art and music lovers are awe-inspired by Devi Saraswati Puja as she is considered to be the goddess of art and music.
- It consults insight alongside wisdom amidst her devotees and followers.
- While it helps the mind attend peace and power, it makes the intellect stronger and intense.
- It helps to accelerate learning, motivate the demotivated and attend higher ranks of merit; which are among the primary benefits for anyone who is educating himself/herself.
Description of Goddess Saraswati
The four hands of Goddess Saraswati represent the four aspects of human personality in learning: mind, intellect, alertness and ego. Dressed in an elegant white sari Devi Saraswati is generally depicted playing her Veena while sitting on a white bloomed lotus. The white color embodies pureness and her renunciation of all that is covetous. She holds a book in her hand that signifies her excellence of the Hindu Vedas and her everlasting knowledge. The White-colored lotus depicts complete reality. While the swan characterizes the fine-tuning between eternal and transitory; the peacock demonstrates egotism over its elegance and Goddess Saraswati considers it materialistic. Therefore, she chooses the swan over the peacock as her vehicle.
Occasions to do a Saraswati Puja
Goddess Saraswati is worshipped mostly on the following days since they are the major occasions to perform Saraswati Puja:
- Vasant Panchami.
- Navratri Saraswati Puja.
- Sharda Puja Muhurat.
Saraswati Puja Vidhi (Procedure)
This is a generalized Saraswati Puja vidhi or Saraswati Puja procedure and it usually varies as per location and community or language of the Yajmaan. We recommend you connect with our team as they will arrange the best Pandit and Samagri for your Saraswati Puja process i.e. vidhi.
- Keep the Goddess Saraswati Idol or photo of Goddess Saraswati on a paata.
- Saraswati puja begins with meditation. One should completely surrender their thoughts to prayers and mediate to try and connect their inner-self with Goddess Saraswati’s divine thoughts.
- White cloth is to be used to cover Goddess Saraswati. White cloth can be skipped if one is using a photo of the Goddess.
- Freshly blossomed yellow flowers are to be offered in the Puja to Maa Saraswati.
- Also, all the books and study material needs to be kept near the Saraswati idol as Saraswati is the symbol of knowledge.
- Pray to Lord Ganesha first by chanting a simple prayer: “|| Om Shuklam Bharadharam Vishnum, Shashi Varnam Chaturbhujam, Prasanna Vadanam Dyayethe, Sarva Vighno Upashanth aye ||”
- A lamp is to be lighted.
- Next do the Nav Upchara Pujan with Akshata, Deep, Pushpa, Chandan and Dhoop.
- You can offer the prasadam or naivedyam that you have made once the Puja Archana is performed.
- Lastly, perform the Aarti and then, recite Goddess Saraswati Chalisa.
Saraswati Puja Muhurats
The Muhurat for Saraswati Puja is usually followed on the below mentioned days. However, since these days are among the Abhuja Days, it’s considered to be auspicious to perform Saraswati Puja at any time in the day. Chogadiyas do tend to play an important role herein and it’s recommended to perform the Saraswati Puja in amrit, shubh, labh & char Chogadiya as they’re the auspicious ones.
Few Muhurat for Saraswati Puja in 2016 are as suggested below. One should consult a Pandit before fixing on the date and time for Saraswati Puja.
Date: 12th February 2016, Vasant Panchami
Muhurat: 09:16 to 12:35
Date: 7th October 2016, Navratri - Saraswati Aavhan
Muhurat: 15:37 to 17:56
Date: 9th October 2016, Navratri - Saraswati Puja
Muhurat: 06:22 to 12:07
Date: 10th October 2016, Navratri – Saraswati Balidan
Muhurat: 06:22 to 07:07
Date: 30th October 2016, Diwali Sharda Pujan
Morning Muhurat (Char, Labh, Amrit) = 07:58 - 12:05
Afternoon Muhurat (Shubh) = 13:27 - 14:49
Evening Muhurat (Shubh, Amrit, Char) = 17:33 - 22:27
Saraswati Puja Mantras and Hymns
By Enchanting the Saraswati shlokas given below, one can connect with the deity and it’s recommended to chant Saraswati mantras during the Puja to appease the Goddess:
|| Ya Kundendu-Tushara-Hara-Dhavala, Ya Shubhra-Vastravrita, Ya Vina-Vara-Danda-Mandita-Kara, Ya Shveta-Padmasana || || Ya Brahmachyuta-Shankara-Prabhritibhirdevaih Sada Vandita, Sa Mam Patu Saraswati Bhagawati Nihshesha-Jadyapaha ||
||Ya Devi Stuyate Nityam Vibhuhairvedaparagaih Same Vasatu Jihvagre Brahmarupa Saraswati||
||Om Aim Hreem Shreem Vagdevyai sarasvatyai Namah||
||Ya Devi Sarvabhuteshu Vidyarupena Samsthita Namastasyai Namastasyai Namastasyai Namo Namah||
||Sarasvathi Namastubhyam, Varade Kaamaroopini Vidyaarambham Karishyaami, Siddhir Bhavatu Mey Sada||
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