Basar - Saraswathi temple

History :

Located on the banks of river Godavari, the Gnana Saraswathi Temple at Basara situated about 40 km from Nizambad district head quarters and 70 km from Nirmal town of Adilabad district. Situated at a distance of 205 km (approx) from Hyderabad, the Saraswati temple at Basara is one of the two famous Saraswati temples in India, the other being in Jammu & Kashmir. Legend has it that Sage Vyasa during his stay here used to bring daily three handfuls of sand after a bath in Godavari and kept it at a place, which transformed as the images of Saraswati, Lakshmi and Kali. How ever, according to Brahmandapuranam, Adikavi Valmiki installed Saraswati and wrote Ramayana here. There is a marble image of Valmiki and his samadhi near the temple. It is believed that this temple is one of the three temples constructed near the confluence of Manjira and Godavari rivers by Ashtrakutas. According to another school of thought ‘Bijialudu’ a Karnataka king, who ruled the province of Nandagiri with Nanded as his capital in the sixth century, constructed the temple at Basara. The image of Lakshmi stands besides Goddess Saraswati in the sanctum sanctorum. Due to the presence of Saraswati, Lakshmi and Kali, Basara is considered as the abode of the divine trinity on the Bank of the River Godavari which is 40km from Nizamabad on Adilabad district border.

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.

The Saraswathy Temple in Basar is located in Adilabad Dist of Andhra Pradesh, India. This is a unique temple of Sarawathy, The Hindu Goddess of Knowledge and Learning. Children are brought here to do the learning ceremony called as Akshara abyasam meaning learning.

It is situated about 200 km from Hyderabad and 50 km from Nizamabad. Basar is 600km from Mumbai, by a train on the new Secunderabad - Mumbai Devagiri Express.

The Saraswathy Temple in Ananthasagar is located inMedak Dist of Andhra Pradesh, India. It is about 120 km from Hyderabad and 20km from Siddipet. it is solely built by Ashtavadhani Sri Astakala Narasimha Rama Sharma here saraswathi is in standing Posture and unique of its kind in the world.Fact|date=February 2007.

External links

* [http://www.basaraTemple.com Basar temple site]
* [http://www.basaratemple.com/?page_id=12 Video]
* [http://BasaraTemple.org Basar temple official site]
* [http://www.geocities.com/nizamabadzilla/welcome/piligrimage/basara.html Geocities]
* [http://hindumommy.wordpress.com/2006/07/27/saraswati-slokas/ Blog on Akshara Abyasam]
* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/kiran_dvl/418971536/ Picture of the temple]

The temple has an auspicious ceremony called Akshar Abhyasam. In this ceremony parents bring their kids to the temple before the kids join school and the kids perform the exercise of letters as it literally means. Kids devote books, pens, pencils notebooks to the goddess of knowledge. The Puja at the temple starts at 4 am in morning with Abhishekam which carries on for an hour. At 5 o clock they start the Alankarana where by the new sarees are adorned to the goddesses. The whole atmosphere is very pious and pure. At 6 am with the morning sun rays coming in, the aarti starts at the temple after which the prasadam is given to the devotees.

The temple also has a Mahalakshmi idol situated on the 1st floor very near to the main temple. Devotees often go to the nearby mountain which has an Idol of Goddess Saraswati on the top of the rock.

For more information on Basar Saraswathi, please visit: www.basaratemple.org

Complete info about the temple

[Category:Hindu temples in Hyderabad]