Probashi- Mythology
Probashi- Mythology
Ode To Goddess Saraswati
Sharada Peeth temple in Pak Occupied Kashmir , the oldest known Saraswati Temple in the subcontinent
( now abandoned )
interesting information on Goddess Saraswati . The oldest temple of the Goddess is in Kashmir . The Sharda Temple is located in Kishanganga Valley just across the Line of Control ( LoC ) in Pakistan‐occupied Kashmir ( POK ) in a small village called Shardi at the confluence of River Kishangangaa and River Jhelum . A famous learning centre of Kashmiries , it has been identified by noted historians and chroniclers including Al Beruni ( 1130 ad ) and M
A Stein , who visited the temple in 1892 , as one of the most important temples of the Hindus equivalent to the Shiva temple of Somnath , Vishnu temple of Thaneshwar and Surya temple of Multan . Abul Fazl in Ain‐i‐Akbarii ( 16th century ) also mentions of this temple . Now in ruins , the temple had a massive library attached to it which had priceless works of art , science , literature , architecture , music , humanities , medicine , astrology , astronomy , philosophy , law and jurisprudence and Sanskrit etc . The library was used by scholars from even neighbouring countries . The
second oldest Saraswati temple is in Basara , a small village near Nizamabad city , Adilabadd district of Andhra Pradesh . The present temple structure is believed to have been erected by
Chalukya kings .
By then a number of people had joined our discussion , Babluda the station master who had taken the day off made a very interesting observation‐all the elements required for
Saraswati symbolizes
education to happen . Her front right hand holds the mind , her left hand holds intellect , the rear right hand holds the ego and the rear left holds the soul . It is only when all the four come together in an individual that true learning happens .
While I was coming back home I could hear singing of children lilt in Singing is ritually done on
Saraswati Puja day to honour Saraswati who is also the presiding deity of music . A real life embodiment of this belief is Allaudin Knan a doyen of Indian music and Guru of Pandit Ravi Shankar . Musician in the court of the King of Maihar , Ustad Allaudin was an ardent devotee of Saraswati whose templee is located
Ustad Allaudin Khan , an ardent devotee of
Ma Saraswati
Nozomi Inoue came to India on a scholarship to learn Indian Classical music . A resident of Kyoto city , Japan , Nozomi established a lifelong love for
Indian Classical Music ; she also imbibed the ethos , culture and philosophy behind Indiann music , including her reverence for Goddess Saraswati , the Goddess of music . Every year on Saraswati Puja day , Nozomi along with her husband Inoue Haruo organizes an Indian music festival in Kyoto . . Another example that reverence for Goddess Saraswati is symbolic for showing respect to knowledge and learning , a sentiment which transcends religious and geographical boundaries .
at a hilltop in Maihar . Every morning the Ustad would seek blessings of Saraswati , by standing at the window of his house from where the temple was visible . So devoted was he to the Goddess that he refused to leave Maihar despite many lucrative offers , afraid that his musical prowess would desert him if he left
Saraswati . He even refused to be admitted to hospital for treatment because that would have meant leaving Maihar and the Goddess .
Saraswati symbolizes respect and reverence for knowledge and transcends religious affiliations .
Researched and written by the Probashi Editorial Team coordinated by Mamani Pal