Path to Dharma (Dharma Neri) 55 Sri Sankar Publications Kshethra Vinayaka Temple, Sri Munneswaram,Chilaw, Sri Lanka. Author - B.S.Sarma hot mail; [email protected]; [email protected] July 2012 Editorial. ‘ Path to Darma’ the monthly magazine, published by Kshethra Vinayaka Temple, Sri Munneswaram, Chilaw, Sri Lanka, is presenting the 55th issue this month. The main intention of this magazine is to converse the perceptions linked to Hinduism and its ceremonial rituals, customs and dharma, to the anxious readers. The elucidation and investigation from the readers are appreciated. B.S.Sarma, Kshethra Vinayaka Temple, Sri Munneswaram, Chilaw, Sri Lanka. July, 2012 2 1. Give a detailed account on the Hindu goddess Saraswathi? The word Saraswathi originates from saras (denotes "flow") and wati (denotes "she who has ..."), which shows that, "she who has flow".Hence, Saraswathi is symbol of knowledge. According to Hindu traditions Saraswathi, is the goddess of knowledge, music, arts and science. She is the consort of Brahma, also revered as his Shakti. Saraswathi is also considered the guardian of Earth. With reference to Hinduism, goddess Saraswathi signifies intelligence, consciousness, cosmic knowledge, creativity, education, enlightenment, music, the arts, persuasiveness and power. Hindus worship her not only for "academic knowledge", but for "divine knowledge" essential to achieve moksha. Furthermore Saraswathi is popular in the Jain religion of west and central India. Saraswathi is recognized as a deity of custodian in Buddhism who upholds the teachings of Gautama Buddha by offering protection and assistance to practitioners. Saraswathi is known in Burmese as Thurathadi. in Chinese as Biàncáitiān in Thai as Surasawadee and in Japanese as Benzaiten. In Konkani she is Saraswathi, Sharada, Veenapani, Pustaka dharini, Vidyadayini. In Kannada, she is Sharade, Sharadamba, Vani, Veenapani in the famous Shringeri temple. In Tamil, she is also known as kalaimagal, Kalaivaani, Vaani. She is also addressed as sharadha, Veena pustaka dharani, vaakdevi, varadhanayagi and many other names. In the East Indian states of Bihar, West Bengal, and Orissa, Saraswathi is considered to be a daughter of Durga along with her sister Lakshmi and her brothers Ganesha and Karthikeya.[4] In the Rigveda, Saraswathi is reffered to as a river in addition to its personification as a goddess. In the post-Vedic era, Saraswathi slowly started to go down her status as a river goddess and at the same time developed gradually more linked with literature, arts, music, fine art etc. According to Skanda Purana, Saraswathi is the daughter of Shiva called Shivaanujaa Devi Mahatmyam, (a saktha script) refer to Saraswathi as Brahmapathni. Mostly, in the Hindu world Saraswathi she is worshipped as the consort (sakthi) of Lord (God) Brahma. Maha Saraswathi In the Devi Mahatmya, Saraswathi is represented with eight-arms. Here, Saraswathi is in the trinity of Maha Kali, Maha Lakshmi and Maha Saraswathi. She is Ddhyāna shloka of Maha Saraswathi is given at the beginning of the fifth chapter of Devi Mahatmya is given below; Wielding in her lotus-hands the bell, trident, ploughshare, conch, pestle, discus, bow, and arrow, her shine is as that of a moon shining in the sky during autumn season. MahaSaraswathi is born from the body of Gowri and is the sustaining base of the three worlds. That MahaSaraswathi I worship here who destroyed Sumbha and other asuras. 3 Iconography of Saraswathi The goddess Saraswathi is normally represented as a beautiful lass clothed in pure white colour, commonly seated on a white lotus flower, which indicates that goddess Saraswathi is founded in the experience of the ‗absolute truth‘. The white colour, signifies the purity of true knowledge. Saraswathi is ornamented with simple jewels, indicating the preference of knowledge over worldly material things. The goddess Saraswathi is usually portrayed near a flowing river, which may be related to her early history as a river goddess. The goddess Saraswathi is commonly revealed to have four arms, to represent the four aspects of human personality in learning namely; mind, intellect, alertness, and ego. Then again, these four arms also represent the four Vedas, (Rid Veda, Yajur Veda, Sama Veda, Atharvana Veda) the main sacred books of Hindus. The Vedas, in turn, represent the three forms of literature: i. Poetry — the Rig Veda contains hymns, representing poetry. ii. Prose — Yaju Veda and Atharvana Veda representing prose. iii. Music — Sama Veda representing music. The four hands of goddess Saraswathi also illustrate this aspects namely; prose is represented by the book in one hand, poetry by the garland of crystal, and music by the veena. The pot of sacred water represents purity in all of these three, or their power to purify human thought. The goddess Saraswathi is shown to hold the following in her hands: i. A book, which is the sacred Vedas, signifying the universal, divine, eternal, and true knowledge as well as her perfection of the sciences and the scriptures. ii. A mālā of crystals, suggesting the power of meditation and spirituality. iii. A pot of sacred water, indicating representing creative and purification powers. iv. The vina, a musical instrument that denotes her excellence of all arts and sciences. v. Honey is offered to goddess Saraswathi as honey is representative of perfect knowledge. i. A hamsa (goose) is normally shown close to her feet. The sacred bird, according to mythology, if offered a combination of milk and water, is said to be able to drink only the milk. Hence hamsa signifies discrimination between the good and the bad or the eternal and the ephemeral. ii. Generally a peacock is shown adjacent to the goddess Saraswathi. The peacock represents arrogance and pride over its beauty, and by having a peacock as her mount, the goddess teaches not to be concerned with external appearance and to be wise regarding the eternal truth. Sarasvati Puja in varied forms; In the southern states of India, Saraswathi Puja is conducted during the Navaratri. Navaratri means "nine nights", but the actual celebrations continue during the 10th day, which is called ‗Vijaya Dashami‘ or the Victorious 10th Day. Navaratri starts with the new-moon day of the bright fortnight of the Sharad Ritu (September–October- Sharad Season of the six seasons according to Hindu calendar). The Navaratri festival celebrates the power of the feminine aspect of divinity (shakti). The final three days are dedicated to Goddess Saraswathi in South India. 4 In Karnataka, the Shringeri Sharadamba temple and in other Sharada temples Saraswathi Puja is conducted during the Navaratri. The Mysore Dasara festival includes Sharada puje. During the Navarathri season they keep various dolls on elevated platforms this display is known as ("Gombe koorisuvudu"). Pustaka puje and musical instuments puja is also done on Saraswathi pooja day. The Gnana Saraswathi Temple in Basar, Andhra Pradesh, on the banks of the River Godavari is considered only one of two temples in India dedicated to the goddess. In Tamil Nadu, Sarasvati Puja is conducted along with the Ayudha Puja (the worship of weapons and implements including machines). On the ninth day of Navaratri, i.e., the Mahanavami day, books and all musical instruments are ceremoniously kept in front of the Goddess Sarasvati early at dawn and worshipped with special prayers. No studies or any performance of arts is carried out, as it is considered that the goddess herself is blessing the books and the instruments. The festival concludes on the tenth day of Navaratri (Vijaya Dashami), and the goddess is worshipped again before the books and the musical instruments are removed. It is customary to start the study afresh on this day, which is called Vidyarambham (literally, "Commencement of Knowledge"). In Kerala, the last three days of the Navaratri festival, i.e., Ashtami, Navami, and Dashami, are celebrated as Sarasvati Puja. The celebrations start with the Puja Veypu (Placing for Worship). It consists of placing the books for Pooja on the Ashtami day. It may be in one's own house, in the local nursery school run by traditional teachers, or in the local temple. The books will be taken out for reading, after worship, only on the morning of the third day (Vijaya Dashami). It is called Puja Eduppu (Taking [from] Puja). Children are happy, since they are not expected to study on these days. On the Vijaya Dashami day, Kerala celebrates the Ezhuthiniruthu or Initiation of Writing for the little children before they are admitted to nursery schools. This is also called Vidyarambham. The child is made to write for the first time on the rice spread in a plate with the index finger, guided by an elder of the family or by a reputed teacher. The little ones will have to write "Hari Shri Ganapataye Namah" and recite the same to mark the auspicious entry into the world of education. This is considered a memorable event in the life of a person. In some parts of Kerala bordering Tamil Nadu, Ayudha Puja is also conducted during this period. Sarasvati Puja in Eastern India In the eastern part of India—Orissa, West Bengal, Bihār and Assam,—Saraswathi Puja is celebrated in the Magha month (January–February). It coincides with Vasant Panchami or Shree Panchami, i.e., the fifth day of the bright fortnight of the lunar month of Magha. 1. What is Homa in relation to Hinduism? Homa ( homam, havan, Yajna,) refers to any Hindu religious ritual, in which offerings into a consecrated holy fire is the most important activity. In each and every ritual related to homa, the modus operandi or the procedure and the sacrificial items to the fire differ according to the occasions the ceremony, or by the benefit expected from the ritual. Procedures invariably involve - i. the kindling and consecration of the sacrificial fire 5 ii.