Vasant Panchami: Birthday of Goddess Saraswati

Vasant Panchami: As ‘Diwali‘ – the festival of light – is to Lakshmi, goddess of wealth and prosperity, and ‘Navaratri’ is to Durga, goddess of power and valor, Vasant Panchami is to Saraswati, the goddess of knowledge and arts. This festival is celebrated every year on the 5th day or ‘Panchami’ of the bright fortnight of the lunar month of Magha, which falls during January-February. ‘Vasant’ comes from the word ‘spring’ as this festival heralds the beginning of the spring season.

Vasant Panchami: Birthday of Goddess Saraswati

It is believed that on this day Goddess Saraswati was born. Hindus celebrate Vasant Panchami with great fervor in temples, homes and even schools and colleges. Saraswati’s favorite color white assumes special significance on this day. Statues of the goddess are dressed in white clothes and are worshiped by devotees adorning white garments. Saraswati is offered sweets which are given away as ‘prasad’ to all people attending the ritual worship. There is also a custom of ancestor worship, known as ‘Pitri-Tarpan’ in many parts of India during Vasant Panchami.

Vasant Panchami: The Foundation of Education

The most significant aspect of Basant Panchami is that it is also the most auspicious day to begin laying one’s foundations of education – of how to read and write. Pre-school children are given their first lesson in reading and writing on this day. All Hindu educational institutions conduct special prayer for Saraswati on this day. It is also a great day to inaugurate training institutes and new schools – a trend made famous by the renowned Indian educationist Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya (1861-1946), who founded the Banaras Hindu University on Vasant Panchami day in 1916.

A Springtime Celebration:

During Vasant Panchami, the advent of spring is felt in the air as the season undergoes change. New leaves and blossoms appear in the trees with the promise of new life and hope. Vasant Panchami also announces the arrival of another big springtime event in the Hindu calendar – Holi, the festival of colors.

Saraswati Vandana (Sanskrit Mantra): सरस्वती पूजा मंत्र

Yaa Kundendu tushaara haaradhavalaa, Yaa shubhravastraavritha|
Yaa veenavara dandamanditakara, Yaa shwetha padmaasana||
Yaa brahmaachyutha shankara prabhritibhir Devaisadaa Vanditha|
Saa Maam Paatu Saraswatee Bhagavatee Nihshesha jaadyaapahaa||

या कुन्देन्दुतुषारहारधवला या शुभ्रवस्त्रावृता।
या वीणावरदण्डमण्डितकरा या श्वेतपद्मासना॥
या ब्रह्माच्युत शंकरप्रभृतिभिर्देवैः सदा वन्दिता।
सा माम् पातु सरस्वती भगवती निःशेषजाड्यापहा॥1॥

शुक्लाम् ब्रह्मविचार सार परमाम् आद्यां जगद्व्यापिनीम्।
वीणा-पुस्तक-धारिणीमभयदां जाड्यान्धकारापहाम्‌॥
हस्ते स्फटिकमालिकाम् विदधतीम् पद्मासने संस्थिताम्‌।
वन्दे ताम् परमेश्वरीम् भगवतीम् बुद्धिप्रदाम् शारदाम्‌॥2॥

English Translation:

“May Goddess Saraswati,
who is fair like the jasmine-colored moon,
and whose pure white garland is like frosty dew drops;
who is adorned in radiant white attire,
on whose beautiful arm rests the veena,
and whose throne is a white lotus;
who is surrounded and respected by the Gods, protect me.
May you fully remove my lethargy, sluggishness, and ignorance.”

आज ही के दिन मां सरस्वती प्रकट होकर संसार को स्वर प्रदान किया था। माना जाता है कि बसंत पंचमी के दिन मां सरस्वती की पूजा करने से विद्यार्थियों को बुद्धि और विद्या का वरदान प्राप्त होता है। बसंत पंचमी के त्योहार पर लोग पीले वस्त्र पहनते हैं और पीले रंग के फूलों से मां सरस्वती की पूजा करते हैं। मां सरस्वती की पूजा करने के समय उनकी आरती करने का भी विशेष महत्व है। यहां आप सरस्वती मां की आरती पढ़ सकते हैं:

सरस्वती मां की आरती:

जय सरस्वती माता, मैया जय सरस्वती माता।
सद्गुण, वैभवशालिनि, त्रिभुवन विख्याता।। जय…।।

चन्द्रवदनि, पद्मासिनि द्युति मंगलकारी।
सोहे हंस-सवारी, अतुल तेजधारी।। जय…।।

बायें कर में वीणा, दूजे कर माला।
शीश मुकुट-मणि सोहे, गले मोतियन माला।। जय…।।

देव शरण में आये, उनका उद्धार किया।
पैठि मंथरा दासी, असुर-संहार किया।। जय…।।

वेद-ज्ञान-प्रदायिनी, बुद्धि-प्रकाश करो।।
मोहज्ञान तिमिर का सत्वर नाश करो।। जय…।।

धूप-दीप-फल-मेवा-पूजा स्वीकार करो।
ज्ञान-चक्षु दे माता, सब गुण-ज्ञान भरो।। जय…।।

माँ सरस्वती की आरती, जो कोई जन गावे।
हितकारी, सुखकारी ज्ञान-भक्ति पावे।। जय…।।