Basara Temple Utsavams

Vasanta Panchami 

Vasanta Panchami heralds the advent of spring. This festival marks the first day of spring.Vasantha means the spring. Magh-Shukla Panchami, which generally falls in the month of February is celebrated as Vasanth Panchami. The fields are mustard yellow with the ripening of crops. Yellow is a auspicious color - a color of spirituality. 

Saraswathi is the consort of Lord Brahma and is the Goddess of Wisdom and Knowledge. She is the personification of knowledge - arts, science and crafts. She represents Shakti, creativity and inspiration and presents herself when the weather is complacent and Nature is in its full grandeur. It is a season of inspiration and passion. 

The most significant aspect of this day is that Hindu children are taught reading and writing their first words on this day - as it is considered an auspicious day to begin a child's education. Educational institutions organize special prayers for Saraswati on this day. The great Indian guru Pandit Madan Mohan Malviya laid the foundations of the world-class academic institution, Kashi Hindu Vishwavidyalaya on Vasant Panchami. 

Saintly people and people inclined towards spiritual progress attach great importance to the worship of goddess Saraswati. As a practice, only educated people and men of principle worship goddess Saraswati for spiritual enlightenment. In their opinion, there can be no comparison between the king and the learned or the spiritually advanced. They believe that the king is honoured within his kingdom, whereas the learned are respected or worshiped throughout the world.

For more details about the Vasantha Panchami Utsavam at Basara Temple contact Basara Devasthanam.

Maha Shiv Ratri

Maha shivaratri is on Magh Bahula trayodashi generally falls in the month of February. Maha Shivratri Utsavam is perormed evry year at Basara Temple.

Vyasa Pournima

Vyasa paurnima Utsavam is celebrated on Ashada Paurnima. As the legend of the temple says the Deity of the temple was esatablished by Veda Vyasa, hence Utasavam is performed in a large scale.

Dassera Navratri

On Ashwayuja Shudda Dashami or popularly known as Dassera Navratri Utsavams are performed for Nine nights. Various poojas and are performed during these Nine days.

For more details about the Vyasa Paurnima Utsavam at Basara Temple contact Basara Devasthanam.

Basara Temple Donation Schemes

All the donations to Sri Gnana Saraswathi Devi Basara Temple are exempted from income tax. Contact Devasthanam for more details.

Annadaanam Scheme (Free Meals)

Devotees may donate

Members                            Rs. 1116 or in multiples of Rs. 1116  
Poshaka                              Rs. 5116 or in multiples of Rs. 5116 or  1116 
Maharaja Poshaka              Rs. 10116 or in multiples of Rs. 10116 or 5116 or  1116

towards Annadaanam Scheme. Donations are deposited in the bank and the interest accrued will be used for the annadaanam.

Donor may choose one calender date ( can be your birtday or marriage day or birthdays of your children or any other occassion you may want to celebrate), Temple will perform Archana on the name and gotra of the donor and the prasadam and receipt will be sent to the donor through post.

Names of the donors are displayed at the Annadaanam dining hall on that day. Currently temple runs this scheme with the donations.  Every day Annadaanam is given for 200 people.

Abhishekam

By donating Rs. 1116 or in multiples of Rs. 1116 donor may choose one calender date ( can be your birtday or marriage day or your birthdays of your children or any other occassion you may want to celebrate) to perform Abhishekam to Sri Saraswathi Devi on the donors name and gotra. Prasadam and receipt will be sent through post to the donor.

All the donations to Sri Gnana Saraswathi Devi Basara Temple are exempted from income tax. Contact Devasthanam for more details.

Balabhoga Prasadam

By donating Rs. 1116 or in multiples of Rs. 1001 donor may choose one calender date ( can be your birtday or marriage day or your birthdays of your children or any other occassion you may want to celebrate) to offer Nivedana ( Prasadam) to the Goddess on your name and gotra. Prasadam and receipt will be sent to you through post.

All the donations to Sri Gnana Saraswathi Devi Basara Temple are exempted from income tax. Contact Devasthanam for more details.

Shashawatha Kumkumarchana

By donating Rs. 1016 or in multiples thereof donor may choose one calender date ( can be your birtday or marriage day or your birthdays of your children or any other occassion you may want to celebrate) to offer Kumkumarchana to the Goddess on your name and gotra. Prasadam and receipt will be sent to you through post.

All the donations to Sri Gnana Saraswathi Devi Basara Temple are exempted from income tax. Contact Devasthanam for more details.

NOTE: The income tax Exemption certificate U/S 80(G) will be given from this Temple for their Donation amount.

NRI devotees email us for the bank account details of the Basara Temple. You can directly transfer the amount to Temple Bank Account

Please visit again this site for more details or email with subject "Donation" toinfo@BasaraTemple.org

Basara Temple Legend

Basar is a village with wonderful gardens surrounded by the temple premises amidst the dry and barren patches of the north Telangana region, 30-km from Nizamabad. Basar is situated on the banks of River Godavari. It is located at a distance of about 220-km by road and 190-km by rail from Hyderabad.

The Temples

This is an ancient temple dedicated to Goddess Saraswathi. The temple at Basar is also the abode of Goddess Lakshmi and Kali. The current structure dates back to the Chalukya period.

This temple has no exquisite carvings like other temples. 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. The presiding deity, 'Gnana Saraswathi Devi', is in a seated position with a 'Veena' in hand and bedecked with turmeric. Adjacent is the shrine of Goddess Maha Lakshmi and a little distance away, on the eastern side is the Maha Kali temple.

The Legend

Legend suggest that Maharshi Veda Vyasa, the author of Mahabharata, came to the forests of Dandakaryana to meditate. He began meditating on the banks of the River Godavari and found the place to be very peaceful. The divine mother is believed to have appeared before the sage and ordained him to build temples for the Shakti trio: Maha Saraswathi, Maha Lakshmi and Maha Kali. The sage Veda Vyasa did so by bringing three handfuls of sand and sculpts out the figures. This place was initially named after Vyasa and was called "Vyasapuri". Later on it got took names Vasara and ultimately Basara/Basar.

The Eight Pushkarnis

Some 100m from the temple there is the cave, where the devout 'Narahari Maluka' is believed to have performed rigorous penance. There is a four-sided monolith rock called "Vedavathi", which produces different sounds on each side when struck. It is said to contain jewels of Sita Devi. There are eight 'Pushkarnis' spread across the village known as 'Indra Teeratham', 'Surya Teeratham', 'Vyasa Teeratham', 'Valmiki Teeratham', 'Vishnu Teeratham', 'Ganesha Teeratham', 'Puthra Teeratham' and 'Shiva Teeratham'.

Festivals 
The most important festivals celebrated are Maha Shivaratri (February-March) and Devi Navaratrulu (Septmber-October) and on both the occasions about 10,000 pilgrims visit the place from all parts of Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra.

Now a days there is heavy rush of pilgrims coming to Basara to perform "Akshara Abhyasam" for the children. 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 prayers. 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. Many people, in fact, take their kids to Basara for "Akshara Abhyasam" before commencing formal school education. 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 Marathi language in the region.

Basara Saraswathi Pooja

Sri Saraswathi Kavacham

Saraswathi Vandanam

Yaa Kundendu tushaara haaradhavalaa, 
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

Basara Temple - Do's and Dont's

Do’s

• Do pay obeisance to your Ishta Divam or Kula Divam before you start for Basara. 
• Do bathe in the Godavari and worship Sri Gnana Saraswathi Devi.
• Do bathe and wear clean clothes (wear a dhoti with upper cloth) before you enter the temple.
• Do concentrate only on Sri Gnana Saraswathi Devi inside the temple.
• Do observe absolute silence inside the temple and chant "Om Sri Saraswathyei namo namaha" to yourself.
• Do respect ancient customs while in Basara.
• Do pay obeisance (Pranaamam) with two hands. "Mukulitha Hastha Pranaamam" is auspecious.
• Do respect and Promote religious sentiments among the co-pilgrims.
• Do deposit your offerings in the Hundi.
• Do wear a tilakadharana in accordance with Hindu religion.
• One who regards his Guru (preceptor) as a mere human being, the lords Bimba as only a stone image, the Vedic mantras as just a means of livelihood and one who is indifferent to the worship rituals become  blameworthy and his would be of no value (nishphalam).
• Be clean physically and mentally.
• Follow the procedures and wait for your turn for the Darshanam of the si Gnana Saraswathi Devi.
• Do respect ladies and be kind towards children and the senior citizens

Dont’s

• Do not carry too much jewelry or cash with you.
• Do not come to Basara for any purpose other than worshipping the Godess.
• Do not eat non-vegetarian food.
• Don't wear footwear or move around in a vehicle, in and around the premises of the temple.
• Don't rush in for Darshanam. But along with the queue.
• Don't prostrate (sastanga danda pranamam) inside the temple. (up to Dhwajasthamba)
• Don't throw away the Prasadam and theertham.
• Don't wear flowers and garlands in Basara; all the flowers are for the Godess only.
• Don't encourage beggars, but do contribute to the needy.
• Don't spit or be a nuisance inside and premises of the temple.
• Don't enter the shrine naked or wearing a piece of lion cloth (Kaupina).
• Don't wear any head guards (helmet, caps, turban, hat etc unless required by your religion.) while entering the temple.
• Don't carry any weapon while entering the temple.
• Don't eat food brought from outside or chew betel leaves while entering the temple or in the temple premises.
• One should not loiter, litter,spit and urinate or defecate around the premises of the temple.
• One should not have gossip or talk about sexuality while in the temple.
• Having entered a temple , one should never commit an act of violence, harshness in the premises.
• Standing in god's presence one must never utter a lie.
• One should not quarrel in a temple on any account, the temple is not a place for it.
• One should not talk about his wealth, money, status and Ahamkara but be obedient to God in the temple.
• One should not bow before another person while in a temple; God is the only Lord for all.
• ne should not sit with his back to the deity in the temple.
• There are sequences of poojas ans sevas in the temple and one should have patience to have the darshanam of the Lord.
• Making pranamam (obeisance) with only one hand  to the Godess is prohibited. Use both hands

Basara Temple

Basara Temple is situated 200 Kms from Hyderabad, AP. Sri Gnana Saraswathi temple at Basara on the banks of river Godavari is the only temple in South India dedicated to the Goddess of learning.

The legend has it that 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 place three handful of sand at three places everyday. Miraculously these sand dunes transformed into the idols of the divine trinity i.e., Saraswathi, Lakshmi, & Kali.

These are the presiding deities of Basar today. Despite the presence of the trinity,the temple is dedicated to Goddess Saraswathi. 

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.