Basant Panchmi & Shri Panchmi : January 20, ,2010

Basant Panchami & Shri Panchmi :

January 20, 2010

This year happens to be in a great start for various reasons, one of them being the the Basant Panchmi -the birth of Goddess Saraswati and also Shri Panchmi - The day of Goddess Mahalaxmi. Both the goddesses are controller of almost everything in life. On this day we may energize or empower ourselves by chanting as much as possible the mantras relating to Goddess MahaSaraswati and Goddess MahaLakshmi, in whatever way possible according to one”s own convenience.

However, it is better to pray these two goddesses displaying the Lotus Hand Mudra – joining the two hands and spreading the fingers to form Lotus facing upwards – thus offering the goddesses the lotus seat – Kamalasana. If convenient one may offer water and milk also, i.e. if you are not busy in your general routine. A rosary of tulsi beads also highly desirable as it represents perseverance and consistency in sadhna or bhakti, wearing yellow clothes.

In the following two write-up, I am plesed to present to you the greatness of this day by describing them according to my ability:

Shri MahaLakshmi: Goddess of Wealth & Beauty

Goddess Lakshmi means good luck and represent prosperity, both material and spiritual. The word 'Lakshmi' is derived from the Sanskrit word Laksya, meaning 'aim' or 'goal', and a favourite of both women and men as in general parlance, she is the goddess of wealth. Worship of a mother goddess has been a part of Indian tradition since its earliest times. The feminine forms of the Absolute and Supreme are popular as goddesses. These female forms came to represent different feminine qualities and energies. While goddess Kali portrays the destructive energy, Durga the protective, Lakshmi the nourishing, and Saraswati the creative. Lakshmi being one of these mother goddesses is also addressed as mata (mother) instead of just devi (goddess).

Although she is worshipped daily, she is also worshipped with special emphasis on Diwali day, or Kojagari Purnima that comes in October as well as Shri Panchmi, which is coming on January 20, 1010. Like on the night of Diwali we may on this day install in our home the images of Lord Ganesha, Goddess Lakshmi and Goddess Saraswati to bring in prosperity with wisdom and ability of perfecting our lives. Goddess Lakshmi always stands tall on the right hand side of Lord Ganesha followed by Goddess Saraswati.

Lakshmi a beautiful woman of golden complexion, is depicted with four hands, either in a standing or in a sitting pose on a full-bloomed lotus in a pond full of water. She is holding a lotus bud, which stands for beauty, purity and fertility. Her four hands represent the four ends of human life: dharma or righteousness, kama or desires, artha or wealth, and moksha or liberation from the cycle of birth and death. For domestic worship, Lakshmi make the gestures of bestowing and absence of fear. She is provided with all ornamentation and is brilliant or pure gold in shade.

Cascading gold coins flowing from her hands suggest that the worshipper will be endowed of wealth. She wears gold embroidered red clothes. While red symbolizes activity, the golden embroidery indicates prosperity. Lakshmi is the Shakti of Lord Vishnu. One cannot claim to know God in his entirety without both the masculine and feminine attributes of the Divine. Female form is usually addressed first in these many divine-duos like Radha-Krishna, Sita-Ram, Uma-Mahesh, and Lakshmi-Narayan. As a female counterpart of Lord Vishnu, Mata Lakshmi is also called 'Shri', the female energy of the Supreme Being. She is the goddess of prosperity, wealth, purity, generosity, and the embodiment of beauty, grace and charm.

Two elephants are often shown standing next to the Goddess Lakshmi and spraying water. Goddess Lakshmi depicted thus is also called Gajlakshmi or Mahalakshmi. This denotes that ceaseless effort, in accordance with one's dharma and governed by wisdom and purity, leads to both material and spiritual prosperity.

The importance attached to the presence of Lakshmi in every household makes her an essentially domestic deity. Householders worship Lakshmi for the well being and prosperity of the family. Goddess Lakshmi governs North direction, and hence, she must be installed facing North. If north is not available, she can face East. It must be ensured that the image is installed with a solid wall behind that is without faults and afflictions as per Vaastu.

Shri MahaSaraswati – Gyan Goddess

Gyan – Education, Memory, Knowledge, Intelligence & Creativity are all governed by the fifth house in an horoscope and Devi Saraswati is controller of all these. Taking due astrological measures and propitiating or worshiping Goddess Saraswati can endow a person of these great gifts of life. One gains all these things including fame by offering worship to this Saraswati with the medium of Saraswati Yantra. Worrship of this yantra makes one learned, famous and praise from all.

Knowlege is power, for which we need to strengthen fifth house lord along with some other planets by wearing gems such as pukhraj for Jupiter and panna for Mercury. Alternatively, mantra or yantra can be used to enhance their effects.

Goddess Saraswati referred to as Vad Devi also (Goddess of Speech) and Saala Kaladhishtatri (Goddess of all Art Forms). Students and those in knowledge based career will perfrom well with good concentration and memory by pleasing Goddes Saraswati. Worship of Sarswati Yanta is very simple. The Yantra can be kept in the pooja room area. Pooja should be performed early in the morning after bath. Offer white flowers on lighting a lamp (in pure ghee). Recite the following sloka for at least 3 times or 9 times or even 108 times for best results.

Yaa Kundendu tushaara haara dhavalaa, Yaa shubhra vastraa vritha |

Yaa veenavara danda mandi takara, Yaa shwetha padma asana ||

Yaa brahmaachyutha shankara prabhritibhir Devaisadaa Vanditha |

Saa Maam Paatu Saraswatee Bhagavatee Nihshesha jaadyaapahaa ||

English Translation

"May Goddess Saraswati, who is fair like the jasmine-colored moon, and whose pure white garland is like frosty dew drops; who is adorned in radiant white attire, on whose beautiful arm rests the veena, and whose throne is a white lotus; who is surrounded and respected by the Gods, protect me. May you fully remove my lethargy, sluggishness, and ignorance."

A Yantra is an instrument engraved of sacred geometric shapes or mystical diagram used for fulfilling one’s desire. It is said that the 'Deities' reside in the Yantras and by performing 'Puja' or worship of Yantras, one can appease deity, remove the malefic effects of planets, and increase the flow of positive influences. Practising Gyan Mudra and Purn Gyan Mudra with the recitation of Gayati Mantra is a great help too.

Purify your soul and surrender yourself completely in devotion to the deity. Close your eyes and concentrate on the deity to bless you with wishes. In your own language, now with all sincerity, ask deity to grant you the desire of your life that you wanted to be fulfilled.

In Jyotish the Saraswati Yoga is formed by the planets Jupiter, Mercury and Venus. She is all brilliant and glorious like the Sun itself. She is also loving and caring like the Moon. She is also smart, quick and wise like Mercury or Budha as well as wiser and noble more like Jupiter or Brihspati.

Let us all chant:

“Aum Gum Ganapatye Namah”

“Aum Shri Shri Mahalakshmaye Namah”

“Aum Aiem Saraswatyeye Aiem Namah”