Basara - Gnana Saraswati Devi temple

Wednesday 27th June, 2012

At 5:15 AM Amma, Padma, Vedu and myself started from Dilshukhagar - Hyderabad to Malkajgiri. We picked Komali Akka, Vanditha and Yogesh and hoped into Toyota Innova. At 6:00 we started to Basara. We had nice chat in the car while kids were enjoying the music. Ramesh (car driver) was very active and was entertaining us. We reached Nizamabad by 9:15 AM.

We stoped 10 km before the main temple of Basara for petrol. Thought of having a cup of tea but then went straight to temple. On our way to temple we saw a lake full of beautiful white and pink lotus flowers and a statue of Lord Saraswathi in a standing position holding a veena and in a white saree. 10 min after the drive we reached the temple precinct. Ramesh parked our car and we all went straight to a shop to buy books and pens for performing pooja.

Where is this temple:
Gnana Saraswati at Basara is in a small village near Nizamabad city, Adilabad District in Andhra Pradesh. Basar is a village situated on the banks of river Godavari.

How and When the temple formed:

Maharishi Vyasa and his disciples visited this place after kurukshetra. In the quest for a peaceful abode, he came to Dandaka forest and, pleased with serenity of the region, selected this place. After his ablutions in the Godavari, Maharishi Vyasa used to bring three fistful of sand and place it in three small heaps and made images of Saraswati, Lakshmi and Kali with his mystic power and later conducted prayers.

Speciality:

Idol's of Saraswathi, Lakshmi and Kali are made of sand and Lord Saraswathi's face smeared with turmeric. Since Maharishi Vyasa spent considerable time in prayers, the place was then called "Vasara" and turned into Basara due to the influence of the Marathi language in the region.

   

Importance: 

Devotees stream the temple for the ritual of ‘Akshara Abhyasam’ of their children -the formal starting of education deeming it to be auspicious with the blessings of the Goddess of Knowledge. 'Akshara Gnana' is a special ritual before commencing formal school education wherein the child is given little bit of turmeric paste to taste, believing that it will enhance one's wisdom and knowledge and will clear vocal chords for better learning. The Goddess answers all the prayers of the committed devotees, filling their life with bliss and happiness. Basara Aksharabyas can be done by just taking a new slate or notebook wherein the poojari will bless the child by writing the sacred "Om" on it.

Our visit to temple:

We walked straight into the temple after taking tickets for kumkuma archana. After walking few steps Akka bought some white lotus flowers for the goddess. We went to a room where priest was chanting mantras and we performed kumkuma archana to all the books and pens we bought.

Vedu, Yogesh and Vanditha sat in one place and did pooja to the books. After performing pooja kids went to the priest and he made them write "OM" on each of the book and blessed them by tapping on their back. We took a pradakshina to the saraswathi devei and went straight to the main temple. 

Built at the confluence of the rivers Mangira and Godavari this temple is adorned by the goddess of knowledge and wisdom. The presiding deity, 'Gnana Saraswati Devi', is in a seated position with a 'Veena' in hand and bedecked with turmeric. Adjacent is the shrine of Goddess Maha Lakshmi (left) and a little distance away, on the eastern side (right) is the Maha Kali temple.

Walking ahead a few steps, one enters the sanctum sanctorum - a feeling better experienced than described. A feeling of peace, brightness and unlimited joy engulfs one. This was my second trip to Basara. I came to this temple with my college friends in 1992. I still remembered the feeling when I saw deity that day and I had the same feeling this time.

Whole family entered into the main sanctum and gave extra books and pens to keep on Devis lap for blessing. Priest offered all the kids some flowers and kumkuma. Lucky, Vedu got white lotus. We came out took the turmeric which was kept outside and then went inside again for second time. This time Vanditha, Yogi and Vedu were standing exactly in front of the Devi. They saw the deity very clearly. I waited there for few more minutes and went out. We then told kids to distribute books and pens to the kids in temple which they did. It is an old tradition where books/slates/pens/pencils will be distributed to poor kids. This tradition is the sign of sharing the knowledge/wealth with others.

We went to Dattatreya temple took aarathi. Yogi, Vedu and Vanditha wrote their names on the temple wall as they saw many people writing there. We then went to Kali temple at the top right hand side of the main temple. We walked down and sat behind the temple. Kids were busy taking pictures and playing. Amma, Akka, padma and I sat there while Akka was chanting few slokas. We took some photos and walked outside. Akka went and bought some prasadam for everyone. we had some prasadam and walked outside to have a cup of tea.

Ramesh took us straight to Godavari. We took some flowers to offer in godavari and went down the steps (around 20). On the left hand side we can see foot long idols of lord rama, laxmana, sita and hanuman. On the right side we can see the bridge. We all went inside the water and just washed our feet. Many kids and elders are holding magnets to collect money offered in the water. Vedu, Yogi and Vanditha went and gave money to most of the beggars in that region. We sat on the steps for few min and went back to car.

By the time we reached car it was 12:30 PM and we were very hungry. We all went to a very big restaurant (don’t want to mention its name) to have our lunch but they said food will be ready in an hour. We just don’t want to waste our time so decided to go to Nizamabad city and have our lunch. We stopped at one of the veggie restaurants and had full on lunch and went straight to Hyderabad.

I wanted to take Vedu to this temple for a long time. We missed Mns in this trip but at least I was able to take Vedu to Gnana Saraswathi temple. I had such a fabulous time with my mum, sisters and kids in this trip.

Sharadhindhu Samakare Parabrahma Swarupini.

Vasara Peeta Nilaye Sarshathi Namostuthe.