Jan 18, 1970  Watch Saraswati Episode 1 When fate intervenes telecasted on 28 Dec 15 Online. Get Episode story & video clips of all Episodes of Saraswati, Colors Marathi TV.

Saraswatichandra is an Indian soap opera and romantic drama, initially produced by Sanjay Leela Bhansali and written by Ved Raj and Abhijit Sinha. The show was initially based on Govardhanram Tripathi's novel of the same name. It aired on Star Plus from 25 February 2013 to 20 September 2014.^[1] It is dubbed into Malayalam as Swayamvaram.

• 2Cast

Plot[edit]

Saraswatichandra narrates the story of a young, cultured aristocrat, Saraswatichandra 'Saras' Vyas, whose mother, Saraswati, committed suicide when he was a child. His father, Laxminandan Vyas, then married Gumaan, an evil and selfish woman who bore him a son, Danny, a kind and selfless boy.

Laxminandan arranges Saras' wedding with Kumud Desai, the well-educated daughter of his best friend, Vidyachatur Desai. However, Saras, indrawn since the death of his mother, refuses to marry and writes to Kumud to inform her. Having wholeheartedly accepted the marriage proposal, she challenges Saras to personally tell her father about his rejection. Saras leaves Dubai, the place where he had grown up, and comes to Ratnanagri, Kumud's village. However, as time goes on, Saras begins getting along with Kumud's family and starts adjusting to their ways. He eventually falls in love with Kumud and a short-lived romance follows.

However, on his return to Dubai, Saras finds a letter written by his mother, which a jealous Gumaan had secretly slipped into his things, revealing to Saras that the reason his mother committed suicide was that she found out that Laxminandan and Gumaan were having an affair. This shatters Saras who disowns his father and leaves his house. He then decides not to marry Kumud because he believes that, since he is no longer the son of a rich man, he will not be able to support her and is therefore unworthy to be her husband.

To save her family's reputation, a heartbroken Kumud agrees to marry Pramadan Dharmadhikari, the son of a political family. However, after the wedding, Kumud finds out that Pramad is an alcoholic who was forced to marry her and he refuses to accept her as his wife. Although Kumud is mistreated by Pramad, she decides to stay with him and change him into a better person.

Kumud is unaware that Saras has realised his mistake and wanted to stop her wedding with Pramad but before he could do so, thugs beat him and left him for dead. Alak, Pramad's sister finds Saras and brings him to her family mansion. He regains his health and on finding Kumud there and learning about the pain Pramad has been inflicting on her, he promises himself that he will change Pramad's ways and unite him with Kumud.

Buddhidhan Dharmadhikari, who despises the deplorable lifestyle of his son, Pramad, appoints Saras as his secretary. This causes Pramad to be jealous of Saras because he thinks his father loves Saras more than him.

Upon learning why Saras refused to marry her, Kumud forgives him and asks him to leave her house as she cannot see his constant humiliations from Pramad. Saras tells Kumud he won't go out of her life until he unites her with Pramad.

Pramad pretends to be a changed man promising Kumud a new life, but attempts to kill her. She is rescued by Saras. Kumud then separates from Pramad and returns home. Saras and Kumud still love each other but Kumud's sister Kusum develops feelings for Saras and wants to marry him. A heartbroken Kumud decides to sacrifice her love and convinces her family to agree to Kusum and Saras' wedding. An unwilling Saras agrees but plots to have Danny marry Kusum. Initially angry, Kusum gradually recognises Danny's love for her and reciprocates his feelings. Pramad is diagnosed with terminal cirrhosis and travels abroad for treatment, going away from Kumud's life. After her divorce with Pramad, Kumud and Saras are finally married.

Further on, it is revealed that Saras' younger brother, Kabir, who was thought to have died in infancy, is alive and has been working for Gumaan to destroy the Desai/Vyas family. Gumaan is finally arrested and Kabir happily starts adjusting to his family and reconciles with his father, as does Saras. He also discovers love with a bubbly girl from Mumbai named Anushka. Kumud succeeds in finding Saras' long-lost mother who never died, but lost her memory and was imprisoned in a mental asylum. With the help of Kumud, she regains her memory and mental health, and reunites with her family. The story ends with the birth of Saras and Kumud's first child, a daughter whom they name Sanskriti Saraswatichandra Vyas.

Cast[edit]

Main[edit]

• Gautam Rode as Saraswatichandra 'Saras' Vyas, Kumud’s husband; Danny and Kabir’s brother
• Jennifer Winget as Kumud Desai, Saras’s wife; Kusum’s sister

Recurring[edit]

• Varun Kapoor as Danny Vyas, Saras and Kabir's half brother; Kusum's husband (2013-2014) ^[2]
• Shiny Doshi as Kusum Desai, Kumud's sister; Danny's wife (2013-2014) ^[3]
• Ashish Kapoor as Kabir Vyas, Saras's brother, Anushka's husband (2014) ^[4]
• Srishty Rode as Anushka Vyas, Kabir's wife (2014) ^[5]
• Anshul Trivedi as Pramadan Dharmadhikari, Kumud's ex-husband (2013) ^[6]
• Chetan Pandit as Laxminandan Vyas, Saras, Kabir and Danny's father (2013-14)
• Monica Bedi as Gumaan Kaur Vyas, Saras and Kabir's step-mother, Danny's mother (2013-14)^[7]
• Yatin Karyekar/Ali Raza Naamdaar as Vidyachatur Desai, Kumud and Kusum's father (2013-14) ^[8]
• Alpana Buch as Guniyal Devi Desai, Kumud and Kusum's mother (2013-14)
• Ragini Shah as Dugba, Vidyachtur's younger sister (2013-14)
• Vinita Joshi Thakkar as Kumari, Dugba's daughter
• Mehul Kajaria as Gyanchatur Desai, Vidyachatur's brother (2013-14) ^[9]
• Mansi Jain as Chandrika Kaur Desai, Gyanchatur's wife (2013-14)
• Surya Kanth/Winy Tripathi as Yash Desai, Gyanchatur and Chandrika's son (2013-14)
• Soni Singh as Kalika Desai, Yash's wife (2013-14)
• Sonia Shah as Menaka, Gumaan's elder sister
• Sai Ballal as Buddhi Dhan Dharmadhikari, Pramad and Alak's father (2013)
• Pratichee Mishra as Saubhagyavati Devi Dharmadhikari (2013)
• Vahbbiz Dorabjee as Alak Kishori Dharmadhikari, Pramad's sister (2013) ^[10]
• Vijay Badlani as Indresh, Alak's husband
• Shahrukh Sadri as Murakh Das, Kalika's father
• Maleeka R Ghai as Saraswati Vyas, Saras and Kabir's mother (2013)
• Rahul Ram as Prashant
• Mithil Jain as Sub-Inspector Umesh Solanki
• as Sahastrar, Dugba's husband, Kumari's father

• Smita Shetty as Sunder Baa
• Varun Sharma as Mohan
• Shivani Gosain as Sunanda, Ghuman's friend turned rival

Awards and nominations[edit]

International broadcast[edit]

• Albania: TV Klan (17.04.2016-03.04.2017)Albanian title:Saravatiçandra
• Argentina: El Trece (2016).
• Bulgaria: bTV, bTV Lady (2015).^[11]
• Chile: TVN (2017).
• Costa Rica: Teletica (2017).
• Ethiopia: Kana TV (2016).^[12]
• Ghana: Adom TV (2019).
• Indonesia: Trans 7 & ANTV (2015).
• Japan: LaLa TV & BS Niteele (upcoming).
• Mexico: Imagen Televisión (2018).^[13]
• Panama: TVN (Panama) (2016).
• Peru: Panamericana (2017).
• MENA: MBC Bollywood (2015)
• Slovakia: TV Doma (2016).^[14]
• South Korea: DRAMACube & AsiaN (upcoming).
• Sri Lanka: TV One (2016), Sirasa TV (2017)
• Turkey: Kanal 7 (9 February 2017) [Turkish title: İki Yabancı].^[15]
• Vietnam: TodayTV (2016).
• United States:PasionesTV(2018)

References[edit]

1. ^'Saraswatichandra to go off air, Gautam Rode tweets last day pics with Jennifer Winget and crew'. daily.bhaskar.com. Retrieved 16 November 2014.
2. ^'Varun Kapoor to enter Saraswatichandra'. The Times of India. Retrieved 19 March 2016.
3. ^'I have never worked so hard in my life: Shiny Doshi'. The Times of India. Retrieved 19 March 2016.
4. ^'Ashish Kapoor to play Gautam Rode's brother in Saraswatichandra'. The Times of India. Retrieved 19 March 2016.
5. ^'Saras to die in Star Plus' Saraswatichandra!'. Retrieved 19 March 2016.
6. ^'Vijay Badlani back; Shahrukh Sadri in Saraswatichandra'. The Times of India. Retrieved 19 March 2016.
7. ^'Never felt sidelined by Jennifer Winget in 'Saraswatichandra': Monica Bedi'. The Indian Express. 26 January 2014. Retrieved 19 March 2016.
8. ^'Bhansali turns to TV, with Saraswatichandra'. Rediff. 16 May 2012. Retrieved 19 March 2016.
9. ^'Mehul Kajaria in Bhansali's Saraswati Chandra'. The Times of India. Retrieved 19 March 2016.
10. ^'Vahbbiz Dorabjee in 'Saraswatichandra''. dna. 11 July 2013. Retrieved 19 March 2016.
11. ^'Сияйна луна в България'.
12. ^'saraswatichandra'.
13. ^'Saras & Kumud - Imagen Televisión' (in Spanish). Retrieved 14 February 2018.
14. ^'Telenovela Indická nevesta prichádza na DOMA' (in Slovak). Retrieved 5 February 2016.
15. ^'Saraswatichandra / İki Yabancı'.

External links[edit]

• Saraswatichandra on IMDb
• Saraswatichandra on Facebook (official Slovak page)

Saraswati (Sanskrit: सरस्वती, IAST: Sarasvatī) is the Hindugoddess of knowledge, music, art, wisdom, and learning.^[2] She is a part of the trinity (Tridevi) of Saraswati, Lakshmi, and Parvati. All the three forms help the trinity of Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva to create, maintain, and regenerate the Universe, respectively.^[3]

The earliest known mention of Saraswati as a goddess is in the Rigveda. She has remained significant as a goddess from the Vedic period through modern times of Hindu traditions.^[4] Some Hindus celebrate the festival of Vasant Panchami (the fifth day of spring, and also known as Saraswati Puja and Saraswati Jayanti in so many parts of India) in her honour,^[5] and mark the day by helping young children learn how to write the letters of the alphabet on that day.^[6] The Goddess is also revered by believers of the Jain religion of west and central India,^[7] as well as some Buddhist sects.^[8]

• 1Etymology
• 5Regional manifestations of Saraswati
• 6Worship
  • 6.2Festivals
• 7Outside the Indian subcontinent

Etymology

Saraswati, is a Sanskrit fusion word of saras (सरस्) meaning 'pooling water', but also sometimes translated as 'speech'; and vati (वती) meaning 'she who possesses'. Originally associated with the river or rivers known as Saraswati, this combination, therefore, means 'she who has ponds, lakes, and pooling water' or occasionally 'she who possesses speech'. It is also a Sanskrit composite word of surasa-vati (सुरस-वति) which means 'one with plenty of water'.^[9][10]

The word Saraswati appears both as a reference to a river and as a significant deity in the Rigveda. In initial passages, the word refers to the Sarasvati River and is mentioned as one among several northwestern Indian rivers such as the Drishadvati. Saraswati, then, connotes a river deity. In Book 2, the Rigveda describes Saraswati as the best of mothers, of rivers, of goddesses.^[10]

अम्बितमे नदीतमे देवितमे सरस्वति
— Rigveda 2.41.16^[11]

Best of mothers, the best of rivers, best of goddesses, Sarasvatī.

Saraswati is celebrated as a feminine deity with healing and purifying powers of abundant, flowing waters in Book 10 of the Rigveda, as follows:

अपो अस्मान मातरः शुन्धयन्तु घर्तेन नो घर्तप्वः पुनन्तु |
विश्वं हि रिप्रं परवहन्ति देविरुदिदाभ्यः शुचिरापूत एमि ||
— Rigveda 10.17^[12]

May the waters, the mothers, cleanse us,
may they who purify with butter, purify us with butter,
for these goddesses bear away defilement,
I come up out of them pure and cleansed.
— translated by John Muir

In Vedic literature, Saraswati acquires the same significance for early Indians (states John Muir) as that accredited to the river Ganges by their modern descendants. In hymns of Book 10 of Rigveda, she is already declared to be the 'possessor of knowledge'.^[13] Her importance grows in Vedas composed after Rigveda and in Brahmanas, and the word evolves in its meaning from 'waters that purify', to 'that which purifies', to 'vach (speech) that purifies', to 'knowledge that purifies', and ultimately into a spiritual concept of a goddess that embodies knowledge, arts, music, melody, muse, language, rhetoric, eloquence, creative work and anything whose flow purifies the essence and self of a person.^[10][14] In Upanishads and Dharma Sastras, Saraswati is invoked to remind the reader to meditate on virtue, virtuous emoluments, the meaning and the very essence of one's activity, one's action.

Saraswati is known by many names in ancient Hindu literature. Some examples of synonyms for Saraswati include Brahmani (power of Brahma), Brahmi (goddess of sciences),^[15] Bharadi (goddess of history), Vani and Vachi (both referring to the flow of music/song, melodious speech, eloquent speaking respectively), Varnesvari (goddess of letters), Kavijihvagravasini (one who dwells on the tongue of poets).^[2][16] Goddess Saraswati is also known as Vidyadatri (Goddess who provides knowledge), Veenavadini (Goddess who plays Veena, the musical instrument held by Goddess Saraswati), Pustakdharini (Goddess carrying book with herself), Veenapani (Goddess carrying veena in her hands), Hansavahini (Goddess who sits on swan) and Vagdevi (Goddess of speech).

Nomenclature

In the Hindi language, her name is written Hindi: सरस्वती. In the Telugu, Sarasvati is also known as Chaduvula Thalli (చదువుల తల్లి) and Shārada (శారద). In Konkani, she is referred to as Shārada, Veenapani, Pustakadhārini, Vidyadāyini. In Kannada, variants of her name include Sharade, Sharadamba, Vāni, Veenapani in the famous Sringeri temple. In Tamil, she is also known as Kalaimagal (கலைமகள்), Kalaivāni (கலைவாணி), Vāni (வாணி) and Bharathi. She is also addressed as Sāradā (the one who offers sāra or the essence), Shāradā (the one who loves the autumn season), Veenā-pustaka-dhārini (the one holding books and a Veena), Vāgdevi, Vāgishvari, (both meaning 'goddess of speech'), Vāni (speech), Varadhanāyaki (the one bestowing boons), Sāvitri (consort of Brahma), Gāyatri (mother of Vedas).^{[citation needed]}

In India, she is locally spelled as Assamese language:সৰস্বতী,Saraswati, Bengali: সরস্বতী, Saraswati^?, Malayalam: സരസ്വതി, Saraswati^?, and Tamil: சரஸ்வதி, Sarasvatī^?.In Odia as ସରସ୍ଵତୀ Saraswati.

Outside Nepal and India, she is known in Burmese as Thurathadi (သူရဿတီ, pronounced [θùja̰ðədì] or [θùɹa̰ðədì]) or Tipitaka Medaw (တိပိဋကမယ်တော်, pronounced [tḭpḭtəka̰ mɛ̀dɔ̀]), in Chinese as Biàncáitiān (辯才天), in Japanese as Benzaiten (弁才天/弁財天) and in Thai as Suratsawadi (สุรัสวดี) or Saratsawadi (สรัสวดี).^[17]

History

In Hindu tradition, Sarasvati has retained her significance as a goddess from the Vedic age up to the present day.^[4] In Shanti Parva of the Hindu epic Mahabharata, Saraswati is called the mother of the Vedas, and later as the celestial creative symphony who appeared when Brahma created the universe.^[10] In Book 2 of Taittiriya Brahmana, she is called “the mother of eloquent speech and melodious music”. Saraswati is the active energy and power of Brahma.^[16] She is also mentioned in many minor Sanskrit publications such as Sarada Tilaka of 8th century CE as follows,^[19]

May the goddess of speech enable us to attain all possible eloquence,
she who wears on her locks a young moon,
who shines with exquisite lustre,
who sits reclined on a white lotus,
and from the crimson cusp of whose hands pours,
radiance on the implements of writing, and books produced by her favour.
– On Saraswati, Sarada Tilaka^[19]

Saraswati became a prominent deity in Buddhist iconography – the consort of Manjushri in 1st millennium CE. In some instances such as in the Sadhanamala of Buddhist pantheon, she has been symbolically represented similar to regional Hindu iconography, but unlike the more well-known depictions of Saraswati.^[8]

Symbolism and iconography

The goddess Saraswati is often depicted as a beautiful woman dressed in pure white, often seated on a white lotus, which symbolizes light, knowledge and truth.^[20] She not only embodies knowledge but also the experience of the highest reality. Her iconography is typically in white themes from dress to flowers to swan – the colour symbolizing Sattwa Guna or purity, discrimination for true knowledge, insight and wisdom.^[2][21]

Her dhyana mantra describes her to be as white as the moon, clad in a white dress, bedecked in white ornaments, radiating with beauty, holding a book and a pen in her hands (the book represents knowledge).^[22]

She is generally shown to have four arms, but sometimes just two. When shown with four hands, those hands symbolically mirror her husband Brahma's four heads, representing manas (mind, sense), buddhi (intellect, reasoning), citta (imagination, creativity), and ahamkāra (self consciousness, ego).^[23][24] Brahma represents the abstract, while she represents action and reality.

The four hands hold items with symbolic meaning — a pustaka (book or script), a mālā (rosary, garland), a water pot and a musical instrument (vīnā).^[2] The book she holds symbolizes the Vedas representing the universal, divine, eternal, and true knowledge as well as all forms of learning. A mālā of crystals, representing the power of meditation, inner reflection, and spirituality. A pot of water represents the purifying power to separate right from wrong, the clean from the unclean, and essence from the inessential. In some texts, the pot of water is symbolism for soma – the drink that liberates and leads to knowledge.^[2] The most famous feature on Saraswati is a musical instrument called a veena, represents all creative arts and sciences,^[23] and her holding it symbolizes expressing knowledge that creates harmony.^[2][25] Saraswati is also associated with anurāga, the love for and rhythm of music, which represents all emotions and feelings expressed in speech or music.

A hamsa or swan is often shown near her feet. In Hindu mythology, the hamsa is a sacred bird, which if offered a mixture of milk and water, is said to be able to drink the milk alone. It thus symbolizes the ability to discriminate between good and evil, essence from the outward show, and the eternal from the evanescent.^[23] Due to her association with the swan, Saraswati is also referred to as Hamsavāhini, which means “she who has a hamsa as her vehicle”. The swan is also a symbolism for spiritual perfection, transcendence and moksha.^[21][26]

Sometimes a citramekhala (also called mayura, peacock) is shown beside the goddess. The peacock symbolizes colorful splendor, celebration of dance, and – as the devourer of snakes – the alchemical ability to transmute the serpent poison of self into the radiant plumage of enlightenment.^[27]

She is usually depicted near a flowing river or another body of water, which depiction may constitute a reference to her early history as a river goddess.

Saraswati becomes a river

In some texts, it is written that once there was a terrible battle between the Bhargavas and Hehayas, and from this an all-consuming fire called Vadavagni was born which could destroy the whole world. The devas were worried and they went to Shiva. Shiva suggested that they should go to Saraswati for help as she can become a river and immerse the Vadavagni in the ocean. All the devas and devis went to Saraswati and requested her to protect the universe. She said that she would only agree if her consort, Bramha told her to do so. Then they all went to Bramha and Bramha told Saraswati to become a river. Saraswati agreed and left Brahmaloka and arrived at sage uttanka's ashram. There she met Shiva. He gave the Vadavagni in a pot to Saraswati and told her that it originated from Plaksha tree. Plaksha tree was ready to bear Saraswati and then Saraswati merged with the tree and transformed into a river. From there she flowed towards Pushkar.^[28]

Saraswati continued her journey towards the ocean. At last, she reached the end of her journey and immersed the fire in the ocean.^[29]

Regional manifestations of Saraswati

Avatars

There are many avatars of Goddess Saraswati. Savitri and Gayatri are considered as two wives of Brahma. Mahasaraswati is also one form of Saraswati. She also takes her Matrika (Warrior avatar) as Brahmani. Saraswati is not just the goddess of knowledge and wisdom but also she is the Brahmavidya herself, the goddess of the wisdom of ultimate truth. Her Mahavidhya forms are Matangi and Tara Mahavidya she manifests:

• as Parvati she is Vagbhavashwari, the ultimate truth
• as Lakshmi she is Vidyalakshmi, gives knowledge to seekers
• as Buddhi, she protects her children from Maya, the other wife of Ganesha, Siddhi herself
• as Parijata, she is the wish-fulfilling tree.

Maha Saraswati

In some regions of India, such as Vindhya, Odisha, West Bengal and Assam, as well as east Nepal, Saraswati is part of the Devi Mahatmya mythology, in the trinity (Tridevi) of Mahakali, Mahalakshmi and Mahasaraswati.^[30][31] This is one of many different Hindu legends that attempt to explain how the Hindu trinity of gods (Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva) and goddesses (Saraswati, Lakshmi and Parvati) came into being. Various Purana texts offer alternate legends for Maha Saraswati.^[32]

Maha Saraswati is depicted as eight-armed and is often portrayed holding a Veena whilst sitting on a white lotus flower.

Her dhyānashloka given at the beginning of the fifth chapter of Devi Mahatmya is:Wielding in her lotus-hands the bell, trident, ploughshare, conch, pestle, discus, bow, and arrow, her lustre is like that of a moon shining in the autumn sky. She is born from the body of Gauri and is the sustaining base of the three worlds. That Mahasaraswati I worship here who destroyed Sumbha and other asuras.^[33]

Mahasaraswati is also part of another legend, the Navshaktis (not to be confused with Navdurgas), or nine forms of Shakti, namely Brahmi, Vaishnavi, Maheshwari, Kaumari, Varahi, Narsimhi, Aindri, Shivdooti, and Chamunda, revered as powerful and dangerous goddesses in eastern India. They have special significance on Navaratri in these regions. All of these are seen ultimately as aspects of a single great Hindu goddess, with Maha Saraswati as one of those nine.^[34]

Mahavidya Nila Saraswati

In Tibet and parts of India, Nilasaraswati is sometimes considered as a form of MahavidyaTara. Nila Saraswati is not much a different deity from traditional Saraswati, who subsumes her knowledge and creative energy in tantric literature. Though the traditional form of Saraswati is of calm, compassionate, and peaceful one: Nila Sarasvati is the ugra (angry, violent, destructive) manifestation in one school of Hinduism, while the more common Saraswati is the saumya (calm, compassionate, productive) manifestation found in most others. In tantric literature of the former, Nilasaraswati has 100 names. There are separate dhyana shlokas and mantras for her worship in Tantrasara.^[4]She is worshipped in parts of India as an incarnate or incarnation of Goddess Tara but outside India. She is not only worshipped but also been manifested as a form of Goddess Saraswati.^{[clarification needed][citation needed]}

Sharada avatar in Kashmir and Haryana

Sharada Peeth is an abandoned Hindu temple and ancient centre of learning along the Kishanganga River in Sharda village of Pakistan administered Kashmir. Between the 6th and 12th centuries CE, it was one of the foremost centres of higher learning in the Indian subcontinent,^[35][36] hosting scholars such as Kalhana, Adi Shankara,^[37]Vairotsana,^[37]Kumarajiva,^[37] and Thonmi Sambhota.^[37] It is also said to be where Pāṇini^{[citation needed]} and Hemachandra completed and stored their writings on Sanskrit grammar.^[38]

Sharada script is a native script of Kashmir and is named after Śāradā,^[39] another name for Saraswati, the goddess of learning.

As part of INR1200 crore Morni to Kalesar tourism development plan announced in January 2019, Government of Haryana is developing the historic Sharda Mata Temple of Chotta Trilokpur, along with Kalesar Mahadev temple, Kapal Mochan Tirth, Panchmukhi Hanuman temple of Basatiyawala, Lohgarh fort capital of Banda Singh Bahadur.^[40]

Worship

Temples

Ancient Sharada Peeth in Pakistan’s Azad Kashmir is one of the oldest surviving temples of Saraswati.

There are many temples dedicated to Saraswati around the world. Some notable temples include the Gnana Saraswati Temple in Basar on the banks of the River Godavari, the Warangal Saraswati and Shri Saraswati Kshetramu temples in Medak, Telangana. In Karnataka, one of many Saraswati/Sharada pilgrimage spots is Shringeri Sharadamba Temple. In Ernakulam district of Kerala, there is a famous Saraswati temple in North Paravur, namely Dakshina Mookambika Temple North Paravur. In Tamil Nadu, Koothanur hosts a Saraswati temple

about 25 kilometres from Tiruvarur. In her identity as Brahmani, additional Sarasvati temples can be found throughout Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh.

Festivals

One of the most famous festivals associated with Goddess Saraswati is the Hindu festival of Vasant Panchami. Celebrated on the 5th day in the Hindu calendar month of Magha (month), it is also known as Saraswati Puja and Saraswati Jayanti in India.

Saraswati Puja in East and Northeast India

In Assam , West Bengal and Tripura, Goddess Saraswati is worshipped on Vasant Panchami, a Hindu festival celebrated every year on the 5th day in the Hindu calendar month of Magha (about February). Hindus celebrate this festival in temples, homes and educational institutes alike.^[41][42]

Saraswati Puja in North, West and Central India

In Bihar and Jharkhand, Vasant Panchami is commonly known as Saraswati Puja. On this day, Goddess Saraswati is worshipped in schools, colleges, educational institutes as well as in institutes associated with music and dance. Cultural programmes are also organised in schools and institutes on this day. People especially students worship Goddess Saraswati also in pandals (a tent made up of colourful cloths, decorated with lights and other decorative items). In these states, on the occasion of Saraswati Puja, Goddess Saraswati is worshipped in the form of idol, made up of soil. On Saraswati Puja, the idol is worshipped by people and prasad is distributed among the devotees after puja. Prasad mainly consists of boondi (motichoor), pieces of carrot, peas and Indian plum (ber). On the next day or any day depending on religious condition, the idol is immersed in a pond (known as Murti Visarjan or Pratima Visarjan) after performing a Havana (immolation), with full joy and fun, playing with abir and gulal. After Pratima Visarjan, members involved in the organisation of puja ceremony eat khichdi together.

In Goa,^[43]Maharashtra and Karnataka, Saraswati Puja starts with Saraswati Avahan on Maha Saptami and ends on Vijayadashami with Saraswati Udasan or Visarjan.^{[citation needed]}

In 2018, the Haryana government launched and sponsored the annual National Saraswati Mahotsav in its state named after Saraswati.^[44]

Saraswati Puja in South India

In Kerala and Tamil Nadu, the last three days of the Navaratri festival, i.e., Ashtami, Navami, and Dashami, are celebrated as Sarasvati Puja.^[45]

The celebrations start with the Puja Vypu (Placing for Worship). It consists of placing the books for puja on the Ashtami day. It may be in one's own house, in the local nursery school run by traditional teachers, or in the local temple. The books will be taken out for reading, after worship, only on the morning of the third day (Vijaya Dashami). It is called Puja Eduppu (Taking [from] Puja). Children are happy, since they are not expected to study on these days. On the Vijaya Dashami day, Kerala and Tamil Nadu celebrate the Ezhuthiniruthu or Initiation of Writing for the little children before they are admitted to nursery schools. This is also called Vidyarambham. The child is made to write for the first time on the rice spread in a plate with the index finger, guided by an elder of the family or by a teacher.^[46]

Outside the Indian subcontinent

Myanmar

In Burma, the Shwezigon Mon Inscription dated to be of 1084 AD, near Bagan, recites the name Saraswati as follows,

'The wisdom of eloquence called Saraswati shall dwell in the mouth of King Sri Tribhuwanadityadhammaraja at all times'. – Translated by Than Tun^[47]

In Buddhist arts of Myanmar, she is called Thurathadi (or Thayéthadi).^[48]:215 Students in Myanmar pray for her blessings before their exams.^[48]:327 She is also believed to be, in Mahayana pantheon of Myanmar, the protector of Buddhist scriptures.^[49]

Apalimarathi Marathi Serial

Japan

The concept of Saraswati migrated from India, through China to Japan, where she appears as Benzaiten (弁財天).^[50] Worship of Benzaiten arrived in Japan during the 6th through 8th centuries. She is often depicted holding a biwa, a traditional Japanese lute musical instrument. She is enshrined on numerous locations throughout Japan such as the Kamakura's Zeniarai Benzaiten Ugafuku Shrine or Nagoya's Kawahara Shrine;^[51] the three biggest shrines in Japan in her honour are at the Enoshima Island in Sagami Bay, the Chikubu Island in Lake Biwa, and the Itsukushima Island in Seto Inland Sea.

Cambodia

Saraswati was honoured with invocations among Hindus of Angkorian Cambodia, suggests a tenth-century and another eleventh-century inscription.^[52] She and Brahma are referred to in Cambodian epigraphy from the 7th century onwards, and she is praised by Khmer poets for being the goddess of eloquence, writing, and music. More offerings were made to her than to her husband Brahma. She is also referred to as Vagisvari and Bharati in Yasovarman era Khmer literature.^[52]

Thailand

In ancient Thai literature, Saraswati (Thai: สุรัสวดี; RTGS: Suratsawadi) is the goddess of speech and learning, and consort of Brahma.^[53] Over time, Hindu and Buddhist concepts on deities merged in Thailand. Icons of Saraswati with other deities of India are found in old Thai wats.^[54] Amulets with Saraswati and a peacock are also found in Thailand.

Indonesia

Watugunung, the last day of the pawukon calendar, is devoted to Saraswati, goddess of learning. Although it is devoted to books, reading is not allowed. The fourth day of the year is called Pagerwesi, meaning 'iron fence'. It commemorates a battle between good and evil.^[55]

Saraswati is an important goddess in Balinese Hinduism. She shares the same attributes and iconography as Saraswati in Hindu literature of India – in both places, she is the goddess of knowledge, creative arts, wisdom, language, learning and purity. In Bali, she is celebrated on Saraswati day, one of the main festivals for Hindus in Indonesia.^[56][57] The day marks the close of 210 day year in the Pawukon calendar.^[58]

On Saraswati day, people make offerings in the form of flowers in temples and to sacred texts. The day after Saraswati day, is Banyu Pinaruh, a day of cleansing. On this day, Hindus of Bali go to the sea, sacred waterfalls or river spots, offer prayers to Saraswati, and then rinse themselves in that water in the morning. Then they prepare a feast, such as the traditional bebek betutu and nasi kuning, that they share.^[59]

The Saraswati Day festival has a long history in Bali.^[60] It has become more widespread in Hindu community of Indonesia in recent decades, and it is celebrated with theatre and dance performance.^[58]

Tibet

In Tibet, she is known as Yang chen ma (Singing/Music Goddess),^[61] or Yang chen drolma (Singing/Music Tara) considered the consort of Mañjuśri, Buddha of Wisdom, she is one of the 21 Taras.^[62][63]

Saraswati is the Divine Embodiment & bestower of Enlightened Eloquence & Inspiration, patroness of the arts, sciences, music, language, literature, history, poetry & philosophy, all those engaged in creative endeavours in Tibetan Buddhism. She is considered the peaceful manifestation of Palden Lhamo (Glorious Goddess). In the Gelugpa tradition, Palden Lhamo is known as Magzor Gyalmo (the Queen who Repels Armies^[64]) and is a wrathful emanation of Saraswati while being a protector. Saraswati was the yidam (principal personal meditational deity) of 14th century Tibetan monk Je Tsongkhapa. He composed a devotional poem to her.^[65][66] She is believed in the Tibetan tradition to have accompanied him on his travels, as well as regularly engaging in conversations with him.^{[citation needed]}

See also

• Aban, 'the Waters', representing and represented by Aredvi Sura Anahita.
• Anahita – the Old Persian goddess of wisdom
• Arachosia name of which derives from Old Iranian *Harahvatī (Avestan Haraxˇaitī, Old Persian Hara(h)uvati-).
• Athena – the Greek goddess of wisdom and knowledge
• Sága – the Norse goddess of learning and knowledge
• Brahmi – Shaktidharmic version of Saraswati
• Hara Berezaiti, 'High Hara', the mythical mountain that is the origin of the *Harahvatī river.
• Minerva – the Roman goddess of wisdom and knowledge
• Rhea – the Greek goddess consort of Cronos and mother of the gods and titans.
• Sarasvati River, a manifestation of the goddess Saraswati.

Citations

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References

• This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). 'Sarasuati'. Encyclopædia Britannica (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press.
• Kinsley, David (1998). Tantric Visions of the Divine Feminine: The ten mahāvidyās (Repr. ed.). Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass. ISBN81-208-1523-8.
• Sankaranarayanan, S. (2001). Glory of the Divine Mother (Devī Māhātmyam). India: Nesma Books. ISBN81-87936-00-2.

Further reading

• Sailen Debnath, The Meanings of Hindu Gods, Goddesses and Myths, ISBN9788129114815, Rupa & Co., New Delhi.
• Saraswati, Swami Satyananda. Saraswati Puja for Children. ISBN1-877795-31-3.
• Ankerl, Guy (2000). Coexisting contemporary civilizations: Arabo-Muslim, Bharati, Chinese, and Western. INU societal research: Global communication without universal civilization. 1. Geneva: INU Press. ISBN2-88155-004-5.

External links

• 'Sarasvati'. Encyclopædia Britannica.
• 'Sarasvati, The Goddess of Learning'. Stephen Knapp.
• Je Tsongkhapa. 'Prayer to Sarasvati'. Wisdom Publications. The Splendor of an Autumn Moon The Devotional Verse of Tsongkhapa. Translated by Gavin Kilty – via Google Books.

Saraswati Marathi Serial On Voot