Today's day is important and it also reminds e childhood school time Saraswati Poojan which is absent in the schools. The day signifies the importance of education.
Whenever such occasion arises, I remember one person who is ready with his post and a most suitable article showing significance of the day. He is Rajesh Karmath co founder , MTHRG Global. He is one of the most positive person I have ever met. Here is the article. Please read and share.
The True Significance of Vasant Panchami
Symbolism
Vasant Panchami is dedicated to the goddess of knowledge, arts and music, Saraswati and is marked by special prayers to Her in North India. Vasant Panchami, which is celebrated on the fifth day of the bright half of the ‘Magha’ lunar month, marks the onset of spring. *Spring brings with it new creations and this is symbolized by the divine energy of Saraswati*. But interestingly, people also worship the God, Kamadeva on this day. In Sanskrit literature, the onset of spring is associated with nature coming alive: flowers blooming, bumblebees buzzing, and animals mating. This gets symbolized by Kamadev – the divine creative energy of Nature.
Heralding the arrival of Spring, Vasant Panchami also marks the start of preparation for Holi, which occurs 40 days later. Vasant Panchami is one of the many festivals that have been celebrated in India for a long time as part of ‘Vasantotsav’ (“festival of spring”). The celebration in Nature thus lent itself to celebration in community…thus Vasantotsav. In both poetry and prose, writers have reserved their best for the spring season. In the ‘Ritusamhara’ , the poet Kalidasa (4th century CE) begins the sixth and last canto with a beautiful description of the onset of Vasanta,” the Sanskrit scholar Nityananda Misra says, translating the verse (6.1):“O dear, the warrior Vasanta has arrived to pierce the hearts of lovers. The blooming mango flowers are his sharp arrows and the garland (swarm) of bumblebees is his shining bowstring.” One of the earliest textual references to the ‘Vasantotsava’ celebrations is in the ‘Taittiriya Aranyaka’ (dated first millennium BCE by some historians) in which a passage (1.3.5) mentions that spring is ‘jaradaksha’, meaning “skilled in water” - that during spring, people use lot of water in creative ways and the clothes of the gods are coloured by agents like turmeric powder. These references show the association of spring season with both Holi and yellow colour.
Stories
According to popular beliefs, goddess of knowledge, art, music and science, Saraswati was born on this day and people worship her to achieve wisdom. The festival is referred to as ‘Shri Panchami’ in Sanskrit texts and historically, it was Lakshmi (also called ‘Shri’) and not Saraswati who was worshipped on this date. It is also called ‘Shri Panchami’ of the festival and Shri (Lakshmi) bestows incomparable fortune and prosperity.” So what is the significance of Yellow and its connection with bestowal of Prosperity.
Popular folklore goes that poet Kalidasa, before attaining knowledge was a simpleton who was tricked into marrying a princess who did not respect him. A dejected Kalidasa tried to commit suicide but the goddess Saraswati appeared before him and asked him to take a dip in the river. On doing what he had been asked to do, he emerged from the water an intelligent, knowledgeable and cultured person, who would eventually become a renowned poet. This renown and the patronage of the king led to his prosperity. Thus Saraswati (learning) led to Lakshmi (abundance).
Another story related to Kamadeva goes that after the god of love was turned to ashes by Lord Shiva for his misdeeds, his wife Rati went through an arduous 40 days of penance to bring her husband back. On the day of Vasant Panchami, Shiva finally relented and brought Kamadeva back to life. This signifies Nature is restored back to its beauty with the onset of Spring. Kamadeva, the god of love and desire, is worshipped along with his wife Rati on this day, celebrating this aspect of Nature.
Significance (History)
Another historically placed legend is that the observation of the festival started with the arrival of the Aryans. It is believed that the Aryans travelled through Khyber Pass and crossed the Saraswati River to reach India. When they settled in, the Saraswati River became an important source of life for them, so the celebration became a routine.
Spirituality
Goddess Saraswati is almost always shown in the colour Yellow. What is the connection with Yellow? *Yellow is the colour of the solar plexus chakra.* It is a primary color, composed from a single ray of light. Yellow is the colour of sunshine and it is the core of our being. It is at the solar plexus where the "I" shines from, where one feels the strength, will and personal power. The energy of yellow is vibrant, optimistic, and full of energy. It is the colour of youth, new beginnings, birth and re-birth. At the same time, yellow is wise and knowledgeable. Yellow connects us with knowledge and your intellect. People who are drawn to yellow are drawn to intellectual pursuits. Thus the colour yellow is the colour of Saraswati.
Science
*The True Significance of Vasant Panchami*
*Symbolism*
Vasant Panchami is dedicated to the goddess of knowledge, arts and music, Saraswati and is marked by special prayers to Her in North India. Vasant Panchami, which is celebrated on the fifth day of the bright half of the ‘Magha’ lunar month, marks the onset of spring. *Spring brings with it new creations and this is symbolized by the divine energy of Saraswati*. But interestingly, people also worship the God, Kamadeva on this day. In Sanskrit literature, the onset of spring is associated with nature coming alive: flowers blooming, bumblebees buzzing, and animals mating. *This gets symbolized by Kamadev – the divine creative energy of Nature.*
Heralding the arrival of Spring, Vasant Panchami also marks the start of preparation for Holi, which occurs 40 days later. Vasant Panchami is one of the many festivals that have been celebrated in India for a long time as part of ‘Vasantotsav’ (“festival of spring”). The celebration in Nature thus lent itself to celebration in community…thus Vasantotsav. In both poetry and prose, writers have reserved their best for the spring season. In the ‘Ritusamhara’ , the poet Kalidasa (4th century CE) begins the sixth and last canto with a beautiful description of the onset of Vasanta,” the Sanskrit scholar Nityananda Misra says, translating the verse (6.1):“O dear, the warrior Vasanta has arrived to pierce the hearts of lovers. The blooming mango flowers are his sharp arrows and the garland (swarm) of bumblebees is his shining bowstring.” One of the earliest textual references to the ‘Vasantotsava’ celebrations is in the ‘Taittiriya Aranyaka’ (dated first millennium BCE by some historians) in which a passage (1.3.5) mentions that spring is ‘jaradaksha’, meaning “skilled in water” - that during spring, people use lot of water in creative ways and the clothes of the gods are coloured by agents like turmeric powder. These references show the association of spring season with both Holi and yellow colour.
*Stories*
According to popular beliefs, goddess of knowledge, art, music and science, Saraswati was born on this day and people worship her to achieve wisdom. The festival is referred to as ‘Shri Panchami’ in Sanskrit texts and historically, it was Lakshmi (also called ‘Shri’) and not Saraswati who was worshipped on this date. It is also called ‘Shri Panchami’ of the festival and Shri (Lakshmi) bestows incomparable fortune and prosperity.” So what is the significance of Yellow and its connection with bestowal of Prosperity.
Popular folklore goes that poet Kalidasa, before attaining knowledge was a simpleton who was tricked into marrying a princess who did not respect him. A dejected Kalidasa tried to commit suicide but the goddess Saraswati appeared before him and asked him to take a dip in the river. On doing what he had been asked to do, he emerged from the water an intelligent, knowledgeable and cultured person, who would eventually become a renowned poet. This renown and the patronage of the king led to his prosperity. *Thus Saraswati (learning) led to Lakshmi (abundance).*
Another story related to Kamadeva goes that after the god of love was turned to ashes by Lord Shiva for his misdeeds, his wife Rati went through an arduous 40 days of penance to bring her husband back. On the day of Vasant Panchami, Shiva finally relented and brought Kamadeva back to life. This signifies Nature is restored back to its beauty with the onset of Spring. Kamadeva, the god of love and desire, is worshipped along with his wife Rati on this day, celebrating this aspect of Nature.
*Significance (History)*
Another historically placed legend is that the observation of the festival started with the arrival of the Aryans. It is believed that the Aryans travelled through Khyber Pass and crossed the Saraswati River to reach India. When they settled in, the Saraswati River became an important source of life for them, so the celebration became a routine.
*Spirituality*
Goddess Saraswati is almost always shown in the colour Yellow. What is the connection with Yellow? *Yellow is the colour of the solar plexus chakra.* It is a primary color, composed from a single ray of light. Yellow is the colour of sunshine and it is the core of our being. It is at the solar plexus where the "I" shines from, where one feels the strength, will and personal power. The energy of yellow is vibrant, optimistic, and full of energy. It is the colour of youth, new beginnings, birth and re-birth. At the same time, yellow is wise and knowledgeable. Yellow connects us with knowledge and your intellect. People who are drawn to yellow are drawn to intellectual pursuits. Thus the colour yellow is the colour of Saraswati.
*Science*
*The Solar plexus Chakra is connected with the element fire – Agni.* Unfolding the petals of solar plexus chakra, one finds that Agni burns within us, that gives us power and energy to stand for our self and to assert our self. Its also about trust and inner worth. That is the healing brilliance of yellow. On a physical level agni relates to stomach, digestive organs, middle back, pancreas, liver, and muscles. People with strong yellow energy stand tall and radiate power. Those with weak yellow energy appear collapsed in the middle, they are slouching - their back or abdominal muscles are weak. Thus Vasant season is the traditional beginning of good health, creativity and learning in humans, while enjoying the fullness of Nature and thus the celebration of Vasant Panchami. Wish you and your families a Shubh Vasant Panchami and Saraswati Puja!Unfolding the petals of solar plexus chakra, one finds that Agni burns within us, that gives us power and energy to stand for our self and to assert our self. Its also about trust and inner worth. That is the healing brilliance of yellow. On a physical level agni relates to stomach, digestive organs, middle back, pancreas, liver, and muscles. People with strong yellow energy stand tall and radiate power. Those with weak yellow energy appear collapsed in the middle, they are slouching - their back or abdominal muscles are weak.
Thus Vasant season is the traditional beginning of good health, creativity and learning in humans, while enjoying the fullness of Nature and thus the celebration of Vasant Panchami. Wish you and your families a Shubh Vasant Panchami and Saraswati Puja!*
Whenever such occasion arises, I remember one person who is ready with his post and a most suitable article showing significance of the day. He is Rajesh Karmath co founder , MTHRG Global. He is one of the most positive person I have ever met. Here is the article. Please read and share.
The True Significance of Vasant Panchami
Symbolism
Vasant Panchami is dedicated to the goddess of knowledge, arts and music, Saraswati and is marked by special prayers to Her in North India. Vasant Panchami, which is celebrated on the fifth day of the bright half of the ‘Magha’ lunar month, marks the onset of spring. *Spring brings with it new creations and this is symbolized by the divine energy of Saraswati*. But interestingly, people also worship the God, Kamadeva on this day. In Sanskrit literature, the onset of spring is associated with nature coming alive: flowers blooming, bumblebees buzzing, and animals mating. This gets symbolized by Kamadev – the divine creative energy of Nature.
Heralding the arrival of Spring, Vasant Panchami also marks the start of preparation for Holi, which occurs 40 days later. Vasant Panchami is one of the many festivals that have been celebrated in India for a long time as part of ‘Vasantotsav’ (“festival of spring”). The celebration in Nature thus lent itself to celebration in community…thus Vasantotsav. In both poetry and prose, writers have reserved their best for the spring season. In the ‘Ritusamhara’ , the poet Kalidasa (4th century CE) begins the sixth and last canto with a beautiful description of the onset of Vasanta,” the Sanskrit scholar Nityananda Misra says, translating the verse (6.1):“O dear, the warrior Vasanta has arrived to pierce the hearts of lovers. The blooming mango flowers are his sharp arrows and the garland (swarm) of bumblebees is his shining bowstring.” One of the earliest textual references to the ‘Vasantotsava’ celebrations is in the ‘Taittiriya Aranyaka’ (dated first millennium BCE by some historians) in which a passage (1.3.5) mentions that spring is ‘jaradaksha’, meaning “skilled in water” - that during spring, people use lot of water in creative ways and the clothes of the gods are coloured by agents like turmeric powder. These references show the association of spring season with both Holi and yellow colour.
Stories
According to popular beliefs, goddess of knowledge, art, music and science, Saraswati was born on this day and people worship her to achieve wisdom. The festival is referred to as ‘Shri Panchami’ in Sanskrit texts and historically, it was Lakshmi (also called ‘Shri’) and not Saraswati who was worshipped on this date. It is also called ‘Shri Panchami’ of the festival and Shri (Lakshmi) bestows incomparable fortune and prosperity.” So what is the significance of Yellow and its connection with bestowal of Prosperity.
Popular folklore goes that poet Kalidasa, before attaining knowledge was a simpleton who was tricked into marrying a princess who did not respect him. A dejected Kalidasa tried to commit suicide but the goddess Saraswati appeared before him and asked him to take a dip in the river. On doing what he had been asked to do, he emerged from the water an intelligent, knowledgeable and cultured person, who would eventually become a renowned poet. This renown and the patronage of the king led to his prosperity. Thus Saraswati (learning) led to Lakshmi (abundance).
Another story related to Kamadeva goes that after the god of love was turned to ashes by Lord Shiva for his misdeeds, his wife Rati went through an arduous 40 days of penance to bring her husband back. On the day of Vasant Panchami, Shiva finally relented and brought Kamadeva back to life. This signifies Nature is restored back to its beauty with the onset of Spring. Kamadeva, the god of love and desire, is worshipped along with his wife Rati on this day, celebrating this aspect of Nature.
Significance (History)
Another historically placed legend is that the observation of the festival started with the arrival of the Aryans. It is believed that the Aryans travelled through Khyber Pass and crossed the Saraswati River to reach India. When they settled in, the Saraswati River became an important source of life for them, so the celebration became a routine.
Spirituality
Goddess Saraswati is almost always shown in the colour Yellow. What is the connection with Yellow? *Yellow is the colour of the solar plexus chakra.* It is a primary color, composed from a single ray of light. Yellow is the colour of sunshine and it is the core of our being. It is at the solar plexus where the "I" shines from, where one feels the strength, will and personal power. The energy of yellow is vibrant, optimistic, and full of energy. It is the colour of youth, new beginnings, birth and re-birth. At the same time, yellow is wise and knowledgeable. Yellow connects us with knowledge and your intellect. People who are drawn to yellow are drawn to intellectual pursuits. Thus the colour yellow is the colour of Saraswati.
Science
*The True Significance of Vasant Panchami*
*Symbolism*
Vasant Panchami is dedicated to the goddess of knowledge, arts and music, Saraswati and is marked by special prayers to Her in North India. Vasant Panchami, which is celebrated on the fifth day of the bright half of the ‘Magha’ lunar month, marks the onset of spring. *Spring brings with it new creations and this is symbolized by the divine energy of Saraswati*. But interestingly, people also worship the God, Kamadeva on this day. In Sanskrit literature, the onset of spring is associated with nature coming alive: flowers blooming, bumblebees buzzing, and animals mating. *This gets symbolized by Kamadev – the divine creative energy of Nature.*
Heralding the arrival of Spring, Vasant Panchami also marks the start of preparation for Holi, which occurs 40 days later. Vasant Panchami is one of the many festivals that have been celebrated in India for a long time as part of ‘Vasantotsav’ (“festival of spring”). The celebration in Nature thus lent itself to celebration in community…thus Vasantotsav. In both poetry and prose, writers have reserved their best for the spring season. In the ‘Ritusamhara’ , the poet Kalidasa (4th century CE) begins the sixth and last canto with a beautiful description of the onset of Vasanta,” the Sanskrit scholar Nityananda Misra says, translating the verse (6.1):“O dear, the warrior Vasanta has arrived to pierce the hearts of lovers. The blooming mango flowers are his sharp arrows and the garland (swarm) of bumblebees is his shining bowstring.” One of the earliest textual references to the ‘Vasantotsava’ celebrations is in the ‘Taittiriya Aranyaka’ (dated first millennium BCE by some historians) in which a passage (1.3.5) mentions that spring is ‘jaradaksha’, meaning “skilled in water” - that during spring, people use lot of water in creative ways and the clothes of the gods are coloured by agents like turmeric powder. These references show the association of spring season with both Holi and yellow colour.
*Stories*
According to popular beliefs, goddess of knowledge, art, music and science, Saraswati was born on this day and people worship her to achieve wisdom. The festival is referred to as ‘Shri Panchami’ in Sanskrit texts and historically, it was Lakshmi (also called ‘Shri’) and not Saraswati who was worshipped on this date. It is also called ‘Shri Panchami’ of the festival and Shri (Lakshmi) bestows incomparable fortune and prosperity.” So what is the significance of Yellow and its connection with bestowal of Prosperity.
Popular folklore goes that poet Kalidasa, before attaining knowledge was a simpleton who was tricked into marrying a princess who did not respect him. A dejected Kalidasa tried to commit suicide but the goddess Saraswati appeared before him and asked him to take a dip in the river. On doing what he had been asked to do, he emerged from the water an intelligent, knowledgeable and cultured person, who would eventually become a renowned poet. This renown and the patronage of the king led to his prosperity. *Thus Saraswati (learning) led to Lakshmi (abundance).*
Another story related to Kamadeva goes that after the god of love was turned to ashes by Lord Shiva for his misdeeds, his wife Rati went through an arduous 40 days of penance to bring her husband back. On the day of Vasant Panchami, Shiva finally relented and brought Kamadeva back to life. This signifies Nature is restored back to its beauty with the onset of Spring. Kamadeva, the god of love and desire, is worshipped along with his wife Rati on this day, celebrating this aspect of Nature.
*Significance (History)*
Another historically placed legend is that the observation of the festival started with the arrival of the Aryans. It is believed that the Aryans travelled through Khyber Pass and crossed the Saraswati River to reach India. When they settled in, the Saraswati River became an important source of life for them, so the celebration became a routine.
*Spirituality*
Goddess Saraswati is almost always shown in the colour Yellow. What is the connection with Yellow? *Yellow is the colour of the solar plexus chakra.* It is a primary color, composed from a single ray of light. Yellow is the colour of sunshine and it is the core of our being. It is at the solar plexus where the "I" shines from, where one feels the strength, will and personal power. The energy of yellow is vibrant, optimistic, and full of energy. It is the colour of youth, new beginnings, birth and re-birth. At the same time, yellow is wise and knowledgeable. Yellow connects us with knowledge and your intellect. People who are drawn to yellow are drawn to intellectual pursuits. Thus the colour yellow is the colour of Saraswati.
*Science*
*The Solar plexus Chakra is connected with the element fire – Agni.* Unfolding the petals of solar plexus chakra, one finds that Agni burns within us, that gives us power and energy to stand for our self and to assert our self. Its also about trust and inner worth. That is the healing brilliance of yellow. On a physical level agni relates to stomach, digestive organs, middle back, pancreas, liver, and muscles. People with strong yellow energy stand tall and radiate power. Those with weak yellow energy appear collapsed in the middle, they are slouching - their back or abdominal muscles are weak. Thus Vasant season is the traditional beginning of good health, creativity and learning in humans, while enjoying the fullness of Nature and thus the celebration of Vasant Panchami. Wish you and your families a Shubh Vasant Panchami and Saraswati Puja!Unfolding the petals of solar plexus chakra, one finds that Agni burns within us, that gives us power and energy to stand for our self and to assert our self. Its also about trust and inner worth. That is the healing brilliance of yellow. On a physical level agni relates to stomach, digestive organs, middle back, pancreas, liver, and muscles. People with strong yellow energy stand tall and radiate power. Those with weak yellow energy appear collapsed in the middle, they are slouching - their back or abdominal muscles are weak.
Thus Vasant season is the traditional beginning of good health, creativity and learning in humans, while enjoying the fullness of Nature and thus the celebration of Vasant Panchami. Wish you and your families a Shubh Vasant Panchami and Saraswati Puja!*
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