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