Holi in the land of Krishna

Among the many stories associated with Holi, one of them is attributed to Krishna-Radha mythology. The Holi celebration in Mathura-Vrindavan goes on for forty days. 

Significance of Basant Panchami

Feel the new energy that’s flowing all around you — birds, trees and plants are brimming with a new joy for life. Bountiful earth is all dressed up in hues of yellow, orange and green. The fifth day of the bright fortnight month of Magh marks the arrival of Basant, or spring. This is also the time when mango flowers start blossoming, symbolizing the beginning of a new life.

Goodbye ignorance: Basant Panchami indicates that the days of ignorance and gloom are over. It’s now the season of joy, heralding a spiritual awakening. Perhaps that’s why in Bengal, Saraswati, the goddess of knowledge and wisdom, is invoked. This is also when her birthday is celebrated. She is dressed in yellow; devotees offer prayers and yellow-coloured prasadam. Children are taught their first words on this day, as an auspicious beginning to education.

Sanskrit Mantra :

Saraswati Namastubhyam varde kamrupanim

Vishvarupi vishalakshi vidya gyan prdayanee

English Translation :

O Saraswati, Goddess of Knowledge and wisdom

I bow to thee

O omnipotent, omnipresent one, who has big eyes (vision),

Bestow upon me the boon of wisdom and knowledge.

Pray to Saraswati who takes the creation of Brahma to perfection through all the arts. It is said that during the eight phases of the day, Saraswati manifests through everyone’s speech at least once. Each one of us has experienced sometimes that what has been uttered by someone (casually) has come true. But the human mind engrossed in the material world cannot understand it. To attain this state in totality where ones speech is consistently governed by ‘kamalasana’ (the one who is seated on a lotus- symbolic of thousand qualities) is possible only by the true worship or sadhana of the ‘one who possesses kasturi’ or musk i.e. Saraswati.

Her vehicle is the ‘Hans’ or Swan. The specialty of the Swan is that if water and milk are mixed, it sucks it in, spewing out a stream of crystal clear water from one side of its serrated beak and from the other side pure milk. This is known as neer-kshir vivek or literally, water-milk wisdom in Indian philosophy. A truly wise person is one who like the swan picks out the pearl of wisdom from a vast spread of knowledge.

Ma Sharda has in her hands a veena, which has seven strings representing the beautiful growth of the seven cultures. 

These are body, food, human, work, intelligence, religious and spiritual (soul) cultures. Besides these the 

• Seven Colours 
• Seven Glands
• Seven Chakras
• Seven Skies
• Seven Rishis or Holy Wise Men
• Seven Steps of Consciousness etc

are also to be experienced and understood in their correct perspective. Whosoever has accomplished these symbolic seven ‘swaras’ or notes, the two hollow tumbas (globes) on either side of the veena will not let him drown in this worldly ocean. It takes a minimum of seven years to accomplish the penance or sadhna that leads towards complete transformation, to manifest divine qualities. This is the message of Saraswati also known as Veena vadini (veena sadhak). Unless the seven strings are perfectly tuned it is impossible to hear and experience the sweet music of life.

Shubrahvasna Sarveshwari has a ‘kalam’ or pen in her hand, which represents the power to manifest truth through words, thus making the written word ‘amar’, or immortal for ages to come.

May I think, speak and write with truth, beauty and harmony to create a beautiful golden heritage and priceless culture. This is the Gyan Yog or the path of wisdom that is inspired through the grand symbolic form of Bhavani, Sayani, Dayani, Mahavakyavani, Tejomayee Jayati Jai Ma Bhagaavti i.e. the force to eradicate ignorance, wise, compassionate, authentic in speech, incarnation of light, always victorious and cosmic mother. 

The validity of all the arts is in their usage and application in resurrecting and establishing the truth of all Vedic suktas and sutras. The art forms that assist in this cause are divine and reflect divinity.

The Saraswati Gyatri Mantra is

“Om Saraswatyaye Vidhmahe Brahmputrye Dhimahi, Tanno Devi Prachodyat.”

Saraswati’s food is made up of the five magaz or seeds that provide essential nutrients for the brain, banslochan or the nodes of the bamboo shoot, misri, nuts, elaichi or cardamom, lotus stems, lotus seeds or makhanas etc. These make the grey cells of the brain healthy. 

Saraswati is always shown clad in white, which represent purity. A white sari with a red border also represents sensitivity and desires in life so that it can blossom creatively, to experience the joy of living.

The tulsi mala or the rosary made of tulsi beads represents perseverance and consistency in sadhna or bhakti. The Vedas held in her hand reflect knowledge and wisdom, which are the basis of the sixty-four art forms. These art forms express the supremacy of the Indian culture that can never become extinct or be destroyed. 

Mother Saraswati is not the follower of anyone. Even Goddess Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth, has to follow those who have true artistic skills along with divine qualities. Ignite her by this mantra

"Om hrim shrim Saraswatye namha"

Basant panchami, the fifth day of the month of Basant, is celebrated by worshipping Goddess Saraswati. Maa Saraswati symbolizes constant flow of the unseen river of wisdom and represents the full blossoming of all the hues of Nature to keep the light of inspiration kindled forever.