Saraswathi Temple,Basara.

              Basara, is a famous temple for  Goddess Saraswathi(Goddesses of Learning), is a village situated on the banks of river Godavari. It is one among the two oldest temples dedicated to Goddess Saraswathi in India (the other is in Jammu&Kashmir). Saraswathi Devi is regarded as "Gnana Dayini", the one who bestows knowledge and wisdom. The temple at Basar is also the abode of Goddess Lakshmi and Kali, but the presiding deity is 'Gnana Saraswathi Devi. Saraswathi is the Hindu Goddess of knowledge and learning.
Children are brought here for the ceremony of Akshara puja to start their education with the blessings of the Goddess of Knowledge.The Vedavathi Sila, the Ashtateertha are other places of interest around Basar. Thousands of devotees bath in the river Godavari & seek the blessings of the Goddess during the Mahashivarathri, Dassera navratris and Vasantha panchami.

Location:

             Basara Temple is situated 200 Kms from Hyderabad,A.p. Sri Gnana Saraswathi temple at Basara on the banks of river Godhavari is the only template in South India dedicated to the Goddess of learning.On the way to Basara,You can halt at some places like a rock garden lush with greenery on the jankampet tank bund,now known as Asok Sagar.This is a new attraction along with water boating in the serene water of the tank and lake-side restaurant that are provided for tourists.

Legend:

 

             After the Mahabharata war, sage Veda Vyasa embarked on a pilgrimage in search of peace. He reached the serene Kumaranchala hills on the banks of river Godavari and meditated and propitiated the Goddess who eventually appeared before him and granted her presence in the form of the divine trinity. The Goddess ordered the sage to bring daily three handfuls of sand after a bath in Godavari and kept it at a place, which transformed as the images of Saraswati, Lakshmi and Kali.

             How ever, according to Brahmandapuranam, Adikavi Valmiki installed Saraswati and wrote Ramayana here. There is a marble image of Valmiki and his samadhi near the temple. It is believed that this temple is one of the three temples constructed near the confluence of Manjira and Godavari rivers by Ashtrakutas. According to another of thought ‘Bijialudu’ a Karnataka king, who ruled the province of Nandagiri with Nanded as his capital in the sixth century, constructed the temple at Basara. The image of Lakshmi stands besides Goddess Saraswati in the sanctum sanctorum. Due to the presence of Saraswati, Lakshmi and Kali.

           According to the legend Maharishi vyasa and his disciples and sage Suka decided to settle down in a cool and serene atmosphere after the kurukshetra war. In the quest for the peaceful abode, he came to Dandaka forest and pleased with serenity of the region selected this place. After his ablutions in the river Godavari Maharishi Vyasa used to bring three fistful of sand and place it in three small heaps and made images Sarada, Laxmi, Gowri with his mystic power and later conducted . This idol made of sand has its face smeared with turmeric. Eating a little bit of this turmeric paste, it is believed, will enhance one’s wisdom and knowledge. Special poojas and celebrations are held at the temple during Maha Sivarathri, beginning 15 days before (Vasantha Panchami) and continuing 3 days after the festival. Devi Navarathrulu is celebrated for ten days during Dasara. Since Maharishi Vyasa spent considerable time in prayers, the place was then called “Vasara” and turned into Basara due to the influence of the language in the region.

Saraswathi Vandanam:

Yaa Kundendu tushaara haara dhavalaa,
Yaa shubhravastraavritha
Yaa veenavara dandamanditakara,
Yaa shwetha padmaasanaa,
Yaa brahmaachyutha shankara prabhritibhir
Devaisadaa Vanditha (poojitaa)
Saa Maam Paatu Saraswatee Bhagavatee Nihshesha jaadyaapahaa.

               May that Goddess - Bhagavathi - the blessed Saraswathi presiding deity of learning and remover of our lethargy, laziness and ignorance, protect us. She is pure and white like the jasmine, the full moon and the garland like formation of dewdrops. She is dressed in a spotless robe. She has in her hand, the auspicious instrument veena. She is seated on a white lotus. She is the one who is always respected by Brahma the creator, Vishnu the preserver, Shankara the annihilator and other Gods.

Saraswathi - Before Study:

Saraswathi Namasthubyam,
Varadey Kaamarupinee!
Vidhyarambham Karishyami,
Sidhir bhavathu mey sada !

              Oh ! Goddess, Saraswathi, my humble prostrations unto Thee, who are the fulfiler of all my wishes. I start my studies with the request that thou will bestow Thy blessings on me

 Saraswathi Shloka
Gnanananda Mayam Devam
Nirmala Spatika Kruthim
Aadharam Sarva Vidyanam
Hayagrivam Upasmahe

 

                  promise myself before Hayagriva, the Deva who is the personification of Jnana(knowledge) and Happiness(Ananda), who is very pure, and who is the basis of all learning. The other important sloka is one to Goddess Saraswati, the God of learning.

Manikhya veenam upa laalayanthim,
Madalasam manjula vag vilasam,
 Mahendra neela dyuthi  komalangim,
Mathanga kanyaam manasa smarami.

                    I meditate on the daughter of sage Matanga, Who plays on the jewel studded Veena, Who is most pretty and who speaks sweetest words, Who is worshiped by Indra , the king of devas, And who has perfectly pretty form.

Saraswathi Mahabhage
Vidye Kamala lochane
Vidhya roope vishaalakshi
Vidyam dehi namosthuthe

Utsavams:

Four utsavams are performed at Basara temple during the Year.

1.      Vasantha Panchami.

2.      Maha ShivaRathri.

3.      Vyasa Pournima.

4.      Dassera Navarathri.

 1.Vasantha Panchami:

              This is an important bathing day. All Hindus observe it. It is also known as Magh Sukla Panchami as it falls in the month of Magh (January-February). This is the festival that marks the first day of spring. Vasanta means the spring season, which is very congenial for doing vigorous Yoga Sadhana. Men, women and girls wear yellow cloth. The yellow colour is a sign of auspiciousness and spirituality. It represents the ripening of the spring crops. Even the food is coloured yellow by using saffron. All the folk get together and sing songs connected with spring. All get up in the early morning, take bath and worship the sun, Mother Gang, the Deity of the sacred river Ganges, and the earth.

            On this memorable day, Lord Shiva burnt the god of love, Cupid. The gods had sent Cupid to tempt the Lord while he was absorbed in Samadhi, in order to beget a powerful son who would be able to destroy the wicked demon Tarakasura. Cupid discharged an arrow at Lord Shiva from behind a tree. Shiva became very greatly enraged. He opened His third eye and reduced Cupid to ashes More details of this story are given in the chapter on Skanda Sashti. The Bengalis call this festival Saraswathi Puja. They worship the Goddess Saraswathi on this day. The image of the Goddess is taken in procession and immersed in the holy Ganges.

2.Maha Shivarathri:

              

               MahaShivarathri is One of the hindu festival which is celebrated every year in reverence of Lord Shiva.It is also Known as Padmarajarathri.It is celebrated in Maagha or Palguna month of the Hindu Calender.The Festival is Principally celebrated by offerings of Bael or Bilva/Vilvam leaves to Lord Shiva.Maha Shivratri, the night of the worship of Lord Shiva, occurs on the new moon during the dark half of the month of Phalguna. It falls on a moonless February night, when Hindus offer special prayer to the lord of destruction. Shivratri is the night when he is said to have performed the Tandava Nritya or the dance of primordial creation, preservation and destruction.

3.Vyasya Pournima:

            The festival is common to all spiritual traditions in Hinduism, Guru Purnima is a festival traditionally celebrated by Hindus and Buddhists.On this day, disciples offer puja or pay respect to their Guru. It falls on the day of full moon, Purnima, in the month of Ashadh (June–July) of the Shaka Samvat, This festival is celebrated by Buddhists in the honor the lord Buddha who gave His first lecture on this day at Sarnath, Uttar Pradesh, India. While Hindus celebrate it in the honour of the great sage Vyasa, who is seen as one of the greatest gurus in ancient Hindu traditions, and a symbol of the Guru-shishya tradition. Vyasa was not only believed to have been born on this day, but also to have started writing the Brahma Sutras on ashadha sudha padyami which ends on this day.

4.Dassera Navarathri:

         Navarathri  is a festival dedicated to the worship of a Hindu diety Shakti.The word Navarathri means nine nights in Sanskrit,Nava means nine and rathri meaning nights.During these nine nights and ten days, nine forms of Shakti/Devi are worshiped.The 10^th day is commonly referred to as Vijayadashami or Dassera.

         Navarathri is celebrated five times a year. They are Vasanta Navaratri, Ashadha Navaratri, the Sharada Navaratri, and the Paush/Magha Navaratri. Of these, the Sharada Navaratri of the month of Puratashi and the Vasanta Navaratri of the Vasanta kala are very important.

Places to visit:

Here is the list of places to visit near Basar apart from Sri Gnana Sarawathi Devi Temple.

1. Sri Mahankali Temple
2. Sri Dattatreya Temple
3. Sri Vyasa Maharshi Guha
4. Sri Vedavathi Shila ( Sri Vedavathi stone)
5. Godavari river
6. Lord Shiva temple at river Godavari  bank

Basara Temple Timings: 

4:00 AM                                   TempleOpens
4:00 AM to 4:30 AM               TemplePooja, Issuance of Abhishekham  Tickets
4:30 AM  to 7:30 AM              Abhishekam, Alankarana, Harathi, Prasadam
      
7:30 AM  to 12:00 Noon          Archana and  Sarva Darshan and other poojas 
12:00 to 12:13 PM                   Nivedana and Harathi
12:30 PM  to 2:00 PM             Remains Closed  
2:00 PM  to 6:30 PM               Archana and Sarva Darshan and other poojas
6:30 PM  to 7:00 PM               Devasthanam Pradosha Pooja
7:00 PM  to 8:30 PM               Maha Harathi andDarshanam
8: 30 PM                                   Temple will be closed