Sunday, February 24, 2008

Swasthani - a month long observation

Thousands of devotees throng to the Sali Nadi - a river in the eastern part of Kathmandu, for the whole month of Magh in the then Lawanya desh, a Vedic land, which is known as Sankhu now, to take a holy dip and worship Goddess Swasthani.

The married womenfolk, clad in red attire, observe the month long fast and worship the Goddess Swasthani for the health, longitivity and prosperity of their husbands. The unmarried also observes this fast to have desired husband. The bathing and worshipping devotees crowd the riverside. Though this festival has more importance for womenfolk the males also take equal part in it.

The mother Goddess Swasthani has many aspects, but the one is to protect the world and its creatures. Goddess Swasthani is much more affiliated to be the wish fulfilling aspect, and human beings have innumerable wishes. Goddess Swasthani fulfils all the wishes of her devotees if she is worshipped and observed fast for the whole month.

“Goddess Swasthani resides on an octagonal Lotus. She has Khadga- a sword, trident - Trishul and a blue lotus in her hands. She has three eyes and four hands. She is beautifully ornamented and has golden complexion.” It is so described in Swasthani, an ancient Hindu scripture that is read and listened for this month long Swastahni Brata-fast.

The Magh Purnima - full moon day of Magh is celebrated as Swasthani Purnima, according to the tradition that begins on the Pous Sukla Purnima - the Full moon day of Pous.

Mata Parvati - the daughter of Himalaya Parvatraj first observed a month long fast and worshipped Goddess Swasthani to have Lord Mahadev as her husband as suggested by Lord Vishnu. When her desire was fulfilled Mata Parvati ordered divine saints to travel to Swarga- the upper universe, Martya - the world and Patal - the lower universe to spread the divine glory of such wish- fulfilling Goddess. Thenceforth the tradition of month long glorious Swasthani-story listening and fasting started.

The story gives the complete account of the birth of this universe, the creation of all the creatures and everlasting quarrel between the Gods and demons, metaphorical representation of good and bad, right and wrong. The story also gives the idea of time and space, the difference between the celestial time and rational time.

The story starts from the question of a saint Agasthya to Kumar - a son of Lord Shiva. In reply Kumar gives the discourse to Rishi - “Oh! Agastya Rishi - the never satisfying saint, Listen I’ll preach you the story of Shree Swasthani, the wish-fulfilling mother Goddess ………….

The story continues with the story of Lord Shiva and Mata Parvati, how Parvati observed a month long fast and blessed by the Goddess to fulfill her wishes. The story gives a brief account of Goma Brahmani and her son Navraj. How Goma suffered from the curse of Lord Shiva and after observing Swasthani- fast and worshipping her, her son, Navraj, was booned to become King of Lawanya Desh. Besides that the story of Chandrawati - wife of Navraj and her sufferings, due to the disrespect of Goddess Swasthani and how she was again pardoned by the kind Goddess after observing a month long fast, is also described.

Posted by Myself at 05:22:19 | Permalink | Comments (3)

Monday, February 11, 2008

Saraswati Puja

  • Kuber Chalise

Saraswati maya dristwa Vina Pustak Dharani,
Hansa Wahan Samyukta Vidya-danam Karo tu me,

“I saw the Mother Goddess- Saraswati, who rides on swan, has four arms; representing Manas- the mind, Buddhi- the intellect, Chitta- consciousness and Ahankara- the ego. She holds Vina – her favourate musical instrument, a book and a rosary. She is the embodiment of pure knowledge.
Oh Mother! Please bestow me the knowledge and wisdom.”


According to the Lunar calendar, Magh sukla panchami, the fifth day of the bright half of Magh, is celebrated as the Saraswati Puja by all the Hindus the world over.

Who is Goddess Sawarawati?

Purush or Parabrahma the eternal male factor and Prakriti – the universal feminine energy has created this Universe- the Brahmanda. To help the male benevolent factor in the process of creation, preservation and destruction – the Prakriti incarnated herself in three forms –Mahasaraswati, Mahalaxmi and Mahakali. Among them the first form Mahasaraswati, the omnipresence and omnipotence, is the symbol of creation, knowledge, music and fine- arts. She is the supreme reality and symbolises supreme knowledge. Thus Saraswati is the Goddess of learning, knowledge, wisdom the consciousness.

The day marks the change in season also; the spring – Basant starts from this day. From this day onwards the days are longer. All the creatures suffering from the cold in winter slowly crawl outside in the warmth of spring sun. The winter stricken trees sprout new leaves and the nature is once again lively.

According to the Bhabisya Purana - an ancient Hindu scripture, in ancient times this day was also celebrated as Basanta-Utsav by worshipping Kamadev and his consort Rati- the divine couple created by Brahma – the creator, to inspire all the living beings for creation. But once Kamdev tried to seduce Lord Shiva, the Lord of all Lords and the Lord being angry destroyed his body. Thenceforth Kamdev and Rati inspire all the beings incorporeally in Basant – spring season.

The aristocrat ladies used to celebrate Basant-Utsav by worshipping –the statue of Kamdev and Rati as Nritya-Gosthi and Pan-Gosthi, –throwing colours and scents, singing songs and dancing. The modern society has lost the charm of those ancient Madanotsav, Kaumudi-Mahotsav and Salabhanjhi-Mahotsav.

In Kathmandu , Saraswati Puja had more significance because this day, the famous Basantapur Durbar was inaugurated and in the courtyard, Nasalchowk, the King used to audition the special Basant Shrawan ceremony. The tradition existed till last year. The King used to oversee a ceremony in Nasal Chowk, in the presence of the royal courtiers, bureaucrats and the Nepal army. The royal priest recites the selected verses from the Sanskrit Book Geet-Govinda-Kabya written by a Sanskrit poet Jayadev in Basant Raag, describing the Raslila between Lord Krishna and his Gopinis. Then the court’s musicians sing hymns. This day onwards Basant Raag can be heard in every ward of Kathmandu .

The students on this day visit different Saraswati temples in the valley. The Saraswati temple at Swayambhu, Nil Saraswati at Lazimpat and Lele Saraswati in Lalitpur are the most famous temples students visit on this day in Kathmandu .

The Buddhists in Kathmandu celebrate this day as the day of arrival of Maha Manjushree in Kathamandu. Hindus worship the Saraswati of Boudhanath and the Saraswsati of Swayambhu as Goddess Saraswati and the Buddhists worship the same idol as Mahamanjushree, a typical religious harmony found only in Nepal among the Hindus and the Buddhists. Thus Saraswati Puja also symbolises the deep-rooted unity in diversity of Nepalese culture.

Posted by Myself at 10:54:15 | Permalink | Comments (2)