Basant Panchami, also known as Saraswati Puja and Shri Panchami, is dedicated to Goddess Saraswati who is also the Goddess of Knowledge, music, arts, science and technology and also marks the preparation for the arrival of spring (Basant). This alone is a big reason to rejoice and celebrate. It also signals for the preparation of Holi, which takes place forty days later. The festival; is celebrated in Hindu countries in many ways.
As worshipping Goddess Saraswati is believed to get enlightened with knowledge and get rid of lethargy, sluggishness and ignorance, the ritual of initiating education to children (Vidya Arambham) started on this day a long time. Saraswati Puja is an auspicious day for every kind of work. There are numerous folk tales associated with Saraswati Puja, which we are discussing today.
According to The Brahmanda Purana, Chapter 43, for the purpose of emergence, Brahmadev was in deep meditation. During his mediation, a young lady emerged from his brain. When Brahmadev saw the young lady in front of him, he questioned her about her existence. The young lady answered that she was born from him, so, he should be responsible for assigning her task. Brahmadev then named her as Saraswati and since she emerged from his brain, Brahma said that she will be dwelling in people's mouths. He also asked her to flow as a river on earth and help people to understand the importance of knowledge and art. As per this Purana, one of the reasons why Saraswati is worshipped is because it is believed that she was born on this day.
According to Bhagavata Purana, Saraswati was believed to be one of the three wives of Lord Vishnu. The other two were Laxmi and Ganga. One day, there was a huge fight between Saraswati and Ganga. Saraswati did not find it appropriate for Laxmi to stick her nose in their argument. On the other hand, Laxmi was supporting Ganga in their argument. Thus, she cursed Laxmi to be born as Tulsi. Ganga was tempered by Saraswati's curse on Laxmi. As per Ganga, Laxmi had nothing to do with their fight and was cursed without any reason. Thus she also cursed Saraswati to flow as a river on earth. Saraswati who was furious from the beginning was angered by Ganga's curse, again cursing her to flow as the river to demolish the sins of those who take baths in her waters and eventually flow down in Bharata Varsha due to the persistent efforts of Bhagirath. Vishnu who had been watching their fight then accepted Laxmi as his only wife. This is the reason why Saraswati and Ganga are flowing on earth according to Bhagavata Purana.
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| Saraswati and Adi Ganga of Bengal |
According to Matsya Purana, Brahma created a woman to aid him with his job of creation. She was called Shatarupa. She was so beautiful that Brahma became infatuated with her, and gazed at her wherever she went. This caused her extreme embarrassment and Shatarupa tried to turn from his gaze. But in every direction she moved, Brahma sprouted a head until he had developed four. Finally, Shatarupa grew so frustrated that she jumped to try to avoid his gaze. Brahma, in his obsession, sprouted a fifth head on top of all. It is also said in some sources that Shatarupa kept changing her form. She takes many forms, as is her nature, and slips away like water from a clenched palm. She became every creature on earth to avoid Brahma. He, however, changed his form to the male version of whatever she was. When she becomes a goose, he becomes a gander. When she becomes a cow, he becomes a bull. In effect, Brahma loses his own identity and acquires an identity that depends on the outside world. As the chase proceeds, Brahma forgets the reason he created the world in the first place and the objective of self-realization gives way to the quest for self-preservation, self-propagation and self-actualization. Lord Shiva admonished Brahma for demonstrating the behaviour of an incestuous nature and chopped off his fifth head for 'unholy' behaviour. Since Brahma had distracted his mind from the soul and towards the cravings of the flesh, Shiva's curse was that people should not worship Brahma. As a form of repentance, it is said that Brahma has been continually reciting the four Vedas since this time, one from each of his four heads.
Another story about why Saraswati Puja is also marked as the arrival of spring is of Sumbha and Nishumbha. After making "Nature" and "Earth", Brahma appraises a lot about Nature's beauty and intelligence but other deities couldn't see her presence. Thus one of the deities asked, "We can see the Earth you created but where is the beautiful Nature you created?". In reply to his question, Brahma said, "Nature is a very illusive and strange beauty. For those who can see her, she is everywhere but for those who cannot see her, she is nowhere. She is illusive, polymorphic, tickling and clever. She had the power to create and destruct the earth."Everyone listened to Brahma and was excited to see her. Thus Brahma sent Nature as spring on earth. The first bloom of spring mesmerized deities with beautiful flowers, greenery, birds chirping and flying butterflies. But even after experiencing such a joyful environment, they couldn't see Nature. Thus Brahma sent Nature with 'summer', 'rain' and 'autumn making them experience the presence of nature. As he again sent Nature with 'spring', gods understood the meaning of Brahma's words. But these two demons, 'Sumbha' and 'Nishumbha' only saw the earth. They started to bring disasters to earth. Brahma requested them to stop their dreadful act. Demons asked him to show them Nature. Even after Brahma couldn't explain them with his wise words, these demons were still asking to show her. Thus Brahma showed them Saraswati who became infatuated with her beauty and wanted to possess her. But they were killed by her. Brahma was touched by Saraswati's power and asked to help him assist with his responsibilities. Thus, in this way Nature was created with many seasons.
Let’s flaunt our dresses in yellow hues; Worship Goddess Saraswati with all divinity, And share yellow sweets with all the swoon! Happy Basant Panchami!
