Maa Saraswati is a Hindu goddess of arts, music, knowledge, and learning. Hence students, professionals, musicians, scholars, and artists worship Devi Saraswati to achieve scholar skills, wisdom, knowledge, and artwork.
All About Saraswati Puja
She is an imperative part of Trinity i.e. Laksmi, Saraswati and Parvati. This Trinity is considered significant to help Bramha, Vishnu, and Mahesh for their respective duties to create, maintain and destroy. Goddess Saraswati is the wife of Lord Brahma and resides in Bramhapura (the adobe of Lord Bramha) as stated in Bhaagwat Purana.
Goddess Saraswati Worship Days
Navaratri Saraswati Puja, Basant Panchami Puja, Diwali Sharda Puja. However, you can pray to the goddess at your home on daily basis for acquiring good learning ability.
Basant Panchami Significance
Amongst all worship days, Basant Panchami is seen as an important festival and is celebrated by Hindus in India, Nepal and other countries. In West Bengal, it is also called Shri Panchami and Saraswati Puja and popularly called Sharad Navaratri in South.
Basant Panchami or Vasant Panchami begins with the upcoming of the spring season. In Hindi, Basant means spring and Panchami mean the fifth day. On Basant Panchmi people visit Saraswati temples and worship goddess to acquire knowledge and wisdom.
Basant Panchami is celebrated as a birth date of Goddess Saraswati and furthermore recognized as Saraswati Jayanti. This day is celebrated by worshipping Goddess Saraswati after sunrise and before midday i.e. Purvahna Kala as per Hindu rituals.
Goddess favorite color is white therefore devotees adore her with white flowers and clothes. For Prasad, preparations are made of white sesame seeds and milk sweets are offered to her and then distributed among deities.
In north region of India Basanti or yellow color is termed as pure and pious and is color for prosperity, light, energy, and positivity. Therefore yellow flowers are offered to the goddess especially mustard or marigold flowers as a symbol of the spring season as it is available in abundance during this term.
Similarly, offerings consist of yellow cooked food like Besan Laddoo, Meethe Chawal, Kesaria Kheer, Rajbhog, and Khichdi. She is also presented with lots of fruits but Ber or Jujube is considered to be her favorite and Bengali’s have this fruit only after Saraswati Puja.
The first day of Vasant Panchami is celebrated as Vidhya Arambha and is a ceremony performed amongst young children for knowledge and learning. Schools and colleges perform Saraswati Puja and Vandana on this day.
Basant Panchami celebration in India
Basant Panchami is celebrated in different ways in a distinct part of India. Like in Punjab people fly kites on the rooftop and in Rajasthan people wear Jasmine garland and wear white attire.
But in West Bengal people dress up in yellow attires like women wear yellow saree and men wear yellow Kurta and celebrate this day to achieve skills in art, music, knowledge, and education. It is a significant festival similarly as Durga Puja and Kali Puja.
On this day Devi Parvati visited Kama Dev to arouse love in the heart of Lord Shiva for her. Kamadeva shoots up arrows made of flowers to draw Lord Shiva’s attention on Maa Parvati.
In Kutch, this day is kindred as a symbol of love, devotion and emotions and people dress up in yellow, pink or saffron and prepare a garland of flowers and mango leaves and gift to one another. Songs are sung to praise Kamadeva and goddess Rati.
In Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, and Chhattisgarh devote worship Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati with wheat, mango leaves, and marigold flowers.
Saraswati Puja Rituals
On this day people get up early and take bath and flocks to huge podiums where Saraswati idols are instituted and perform prayers, worship, and food offerings. Get Prasad/ Bhog and take blessings from the divinity.
At evening cultural programs, performances, games and music/ art competitions are commenced.
Sarasvati Puja Procedure
Take early morning bath and wear clean clothes. Before this apply a mixture of neem and turmeric paste on the body to purify one.
Place a Kalash (URN) on a clean white cloth placed at worship area. Always keep Lord Ganesha idol beside Goddess Saraswati. Put turmeric, Kumkum, and rice for invoking the god to come to your home. Now fill the Kalash with water and mango leaves and put a Betel leaf over it. Keep an art piece i.e. book, pen, inkpot, etc anything of your choice related to knowledge and learning before Goddess Saraswati’s image. Also, offer colors to the goddess.
And Chant Vandana given below-
Saraswati Strotam/ Vandana
Yaa Kunda-Indu-Tussaara-Haara-Dhavalaa
Yaa Shubhra-Vastra-Aavrtaa
Yaa Viinnaa-Vara-Danndda-Mannddita-Karaa
Yaa Shveta-Padma-Aasanaa ।
Yaa Brahmaa-Acyuta-Shamkara-Prabhrtibhir-Devah Sadaa Puujitaa
Saa Maam Paatu Sarasvati Bhagavatii
Nihshessa-Jaaddya-Apahaa ॥1॥
Dorbhiryuktaa Caturbhim Sphattika-Manni-Nibhair-Akssamaalaan-Dadhaanaa
Hastenaikena Padmam Sitamapi
Ca Shukam Pustakam Ca-Aperanna ।
Bhaasaa Kunda-Indu-Shangkha-Sphattika-Manni-Nibhaa Bhaasamaana-Asamaanaa
Saa Me Vaag-Devata-Yam Nivasatu
Vadane Sarvadaa Suprasannaa ॥2॥
Sura-Asura-Sevita-Paada-Pangkajaa
Kare Viraajat-Kamaniiya-Pustakaa ।
Virin.ci-Patnii Kamala-Aasana-Sthitaa
Sarasvatii Nrtyatu Vaaci Me Sadaa ॥3॥
Sarasvatii Sarasija-Kesara-Prabhaa
Tapasvinii Sita-Kamala-Aasana-Priyaa ।
Ghana-Stanii Kamala-Vilolalocanaa
Manasvinii Bhavatu Vara-Prasaadinii ॥4॥
Sarasvatii Namastubhyam Vara-De Kaama-Ruupinni ।
Vidya-Arambham Karissyaami Siddhir-Bhavatu Me Sadaa ॥5॥
Sarasvatii Namastubhyam Sarva-Devi Namo Namah ।
Shaanta-Ruupe Shashi-Dhare Sarva-Yoge Namo Namah ॥6॥
Nitya-Aanande Nira-Adhaare Nisskalaayai Namo Namah ।
Vidyaa-Dhare Vishaala-Akssi Shuuddha-Jnyaane Namo Namah ॥7॥
Shuddha-Sphattika-Ruupaayai Suukssma-Ruupe Namo Namah ।
Shabdabrahmi Catur-Haste Sarva-Siddhyai Namo Namah ॥8॥
Mukta-Alangkrta-Sarva-Anggyai Muula-Adhaare Namo Namah ।
Muula-Mantra-Svaruupaayai Muula-Shaktyai Namo Namah ॥9॥
Mano Manni-Mahaa-Yoge Vaag-Iishvari Namo Namah ।
Vaagbhyai Vara-Da-Hastaayai Varadaayai Namo Namah ॥10॥
Vedaayai Veda-Ruupaayai Vedaantaayai Namo Namah ।
Gunna-Dossa-Vivarjinyai Gunna-Diiptyai Namo Namah ॥11॥
Sarva-Jnyaane Sada-Aanande Sarva-Ruupe Namo Namah ।
Sampannaayai Kumaaryai Ca Sarvajnye Namo Namah ॥12॥
Yogaan-Aarya Umaa-Devyai Yoga-Anande Namo Namah ।
Divya-Jnyaana Tri-Netraayai Divya-Muurtyai Namo Namah ॥13॥
Ardha-Candra-Jattaa-Dhaari Candra-Bimbe Namo Namah ।
Candra-Aditya-Jattaa-Dhaari Candra-Bimbe Namo Namah ॥14॥
Annu-Ruupe Mahaa-Ruupe Vishva-Ruupe Namo Namah ।
Annima-Ady-Asstta-Siddhyaayai Aanandaayai Namo Namah ॥15॥
Jnyaana-Vijnyaana-Ruupaayai Jnyaana-Muurte Namo Namah ।
Naanaa-Shaastra-Svaruupaayai Naanaa-Ruupe Namo Namah ॥16॥
Padma-Daa Padma-Vamshaa Ca Padma-Ruupe Namo Namah ।
Paramesstthyai Paraa-Muurtyai Namaste Paapa-Naashini ॥17॥
Mahaa-Devyai Mahaakaalyai Mahaalakssmyai Namo Namah ।
Brahma-Vissnnu-Shivaayai Ca Brahmanaaryai Namo Namah ॥18॥
Kamala-Aakara-Pusspaa Ca Kaama-Ruupe Ruupa Namo Namah ।
Kapaali Karma-Diiptaayai Karma-Daayai Namo Namah ॥19॥
Sarasvatii Sarasija-Kesara-Prabhaa
Tapasvinii Sita-Kamala-Aasana-Priyaa ।
Ghana-Stanii Kamala-Vilolalocanaa
Manasvinii Bhavatu Vara-Prasaadinii ॥4॥
Sarasvatii Namastubhyam Vara-De Kaama-Ruupinni ।
Vidya-Arambham Karissyaami Siddhir-Bhavatu Me Sadaa ॥5॥
Sarasvatii Namastubhyam Sarva-Devi Namo Namah ।
Shaanta-Ruupe Shashi-Dhare Sarva-Yoge Namo Namah ॥6॥
Nitya-Aanande Nira-Adhaare Nisskalaayai Namo Namah ।
Vidyaa-Dhare Vishaala-Akssi Shuuddha-Jnyaane Namo Namah ॥7॥
Shuddha-Sphattika-Ruupaayai Suukssma-Ruupe Namo Namah ।
Shabdabrahmi Catur-Haste Sarva-Siddhyai Namo Namah ॥8॥
Mukta-Alangkrta-Sarva-Anggyai Muula-Adhaare Namo Namah ।
Muula-Mantra-Svaruupaayai Muula-Shaktyai Namo Namah ॥9॥
Mano Manni-Mahaa-Yoge Vaag-Iishvari Namo Namah ।
Vaagbhyai Vara-Da-Hastaayai Varadaayai Namo Namah ॥10॥
Vedaayai Veda-Ruupaayai Vedaantaayai Namo Namah ।
2
Saayam Praatah Patthen-Nityam Ssann-Maasaat Siddhir-Ucyate ।
Cora-Vyaaghra-Bhayam Na-Asti Patthataam Shrnnvataam-Api ॥20॥
Ittham Sarasvatii-Stotram Agastya-Muni-Vaacakam ।
Sarva-Siddhi-Karam Nrrnnaam Sarva-Paapa-Prannaashannam ॥21॥
Sarasvati Puja Mantra in English
Yaa brahmachyuta shankara prabhrutibhi devai sadaa vandita, Saa maam pathu saraswati bhagavati nishshesha, jadyapaha. Aum saraswathyae namah, dhyanartham, pushpam samarpayami.”
Light Lamp and meditate on the goddess. Light lamp and offer Prasad, fruits, Bel leaves and Mango leaves. Do Aarti and request goddess to shower blessings to you and your family.
Aarti of Saraswati Maa in English
Om jai saraswati mata, jai jai saraswati mata
Sadgun vaibhav shalini, tribhuvan vikhyata
Jai jai saraswati mata
Chandravadani padmasini dyuti mangal kaari
Sohe shubh hans sawaari, atul tej dhaari
Jai jai saraswati mata
Baaye kar mein veena, daaye kar mala
Sheesh mukut mani shohe, gale motiyan mala
Jai jai saraswati mata
Devi sharan jo aaye, unka uddhar kiya
Baithi manthra dasi, rawan sanhar kiya
Jai jai saraswati mata
Vidya gyan pradayini, jag mein gyan prakash bharo
Moh aur agyan timir ka jag se nash karo
Jai jai saraswati mata
Dhoop deep fal meva, man swikaar karo
Gyanchkshu de mata , jag nistar karo
Jai jai saraswati mata
Maa sarswati ji aarti jo koi nar gave
Hitkari shukhkari gyan bhakti pave
Jai jai saraswati mata