Gnana Saraswati Temple, Basar

Basar (Basara), Nirmal district, Telangana, on the Godavari river

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About

The Gnana Saraswati temple at Basar stands on the banks of the Godavari in Nirmal district of Telangana. It is one of the best-known temples of Maa Saraswati in India; devotees often name it, with the ancient Sharada Peeth of Kashmir, as one of the two great seats of the Devi of learning. Maa Saraswati sits with a veena in her hand, her face covered with turmeric, with Mahalakshmi beside her and a Mahakali shrine close by. Families from Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra and beyond bring their little children here for Aksharabhyasam, the ceremony of writing the first letters before they start school.

The story

The sthala purana says that after the Kurukshetra war, Maharishi Ved Vyas set out in search of peace with his son Shuka and his disciples. In the Dandaka forest he reached this quiet bank of the Godavari and began his tapasya. The Divine Mother appeared before him and asked him to make a home for the three Devis. Each day, after bathing in the river, Vyas ji carried three handfuls of sand and set them in three small heaps; through his devotion these took the forms of Saraswati, Lakshmi and Kali (Gauri). Because Vyas ji lived and prayed here, the place was first called Vyasapuri and then Vasara, and under the influence of the region's Marathi speech it slowly became Basara or Basar. Another tradition, linked with the Brahmanda Purana, says the poet-sage Valmiki installed Saraswati here before writing the Ramayana. The temple is said to have been first built in the 6th century by King Bijialudu, who ruled from Nanded; after it was damaged, a local chieftain of Nandagiri set the murtis up again in the 17th century. The sand murtis are still worshipped, their faces anointed with turmeric.

Visiting

October to February is the most pleasant season. Vasant Panchami and Navratri are very busy with Aksharabhyasam, so arrive early in the morning. Pilgrims bathe at the Godavari ghats before darshan. Near the temple are the Vedavathi rock, said to give a different sound on each side when struck, the cave of Narahari Maluka and several sacred tirthams (tanks). Basar railway station is about 2 km away.

Festivals

Vasant Panchami (Magh Shukla Panchami), the busiest day for Aksharabhyasam
Maha Shivaratri celebrations (from Vasant Panchami until three days after Shivaratri)
Devi Navaratri / Dasara (Ashwin Shukla Paksha, ten days)

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