Kashyapa Sutras

Slide 1:Chinmaya Mission- Bal Vihar 10 February 2008

Slide 2: maho arnah sarasvati prachetayati ketuna| dhiyo vishvaa viraajati || �Vast is the ocean of Divine Knowledge, That illuminates the Universe, And brightens every pious thought� Rigveda 1.3.12 Sarasvati Puja is on February 12, 2005 The welcome to spring is celebrated in reverence to Goddess Saraswati on the fifth day of bright half in the month of Magha (January/February). This festival is also celebrated as Vasant Panchami. �Vasant� means yellow (such as of mustard flower) and �Panchami� means the fifth day. Vasant signifies the yellow bloom of crops and trees during this period in the Northern hemisphere, particularly Indian sub-continent. Traditionally, Vasant celebrations are characterized by wearing of clothes dyed in Vasant dye. Vasant Panchami has been observed as a festival for worship of Goddess Saraswati since the Vedic and Puranic age. On this day Brahma created Saraswati to dislodge the dumb insipidity of the creation. By bestowing a Veena in her hands, he allotted the function of speech through her to the world. She was thus named as �Veena Vadini� and �Vani Dayyani� (the Veena player and the awarder of speech). By the grace of Saraswati, the devotee is made conversant with good behavior, intelligence, influence, brilliance, music, speech, poetry, and differentiation between proper and improper. Therefore, there is the tradition of the worship of Goddess Saraswati on Vasant Panchami festival. The worship is with sweet smelling flowers and powdered sandalwood. Sri Krishna (an incarnation of Lord Vishnu in the 4rd millennium BC) also worshipped Saraswati on this day by virtue pf which he became an expert in sixteen arts and in all others. Many Hindus initiate their kids for education on this day so that they receive blessing from Goddess Saraswati after her worship. Students in particular pay homage to the goddess of knowledge, intelligence, wisdom and knowledge of all arts, science, music and dancing. In the past, many kings and rulers used to organize literary seminars and symposia: poets, dramatists and writers were felicitated and rewarded on this occasion. Great dramas of Kalidasa and other dramatists were played before the audience on this festival. Sarasvati Puja is on February 12, 2005 The welcome to spring is celebrated in reverence to Goddess Saraswati on the fifth day of bright half in the month of Magha (January/February). This festival is also celebrated as Vasant Panchami. �Vasant� means yellow (such as of mustard flower) and �Panchami� means the fifth day. Vasant signifies the yellow bloom of crops and trees during this period in the Northern hemisphere, particularly Indian sub-continent. Traditionally, Vasant celebrations are characterized by wearing of clothes dyed in Vasant dye. Vasant Panchami has been observed as a festival for worship of Goddess Saraswati since the Vedic and Puranic age. On this day Brahma created Saraswati to dislodge the dumb insipidity of the creation. By bestowing a Veena in her hands, he allotted the function of speech through her to the world. She was thus named as �Veena Vadini� and �Vani Dayyani� (the Veena player and the awarder of speech). By the grace of Saraswati, the devotee is made conversant with good behavior, intelligence, influence, brilliance, music, speech, poetry, and differentiation between proper and improper. Therefore, there is the tradition of the worship of Goddess Saraswati on Vasant Panchami festival. The worship is with sweet smelling flowers and powdered sandalwood. Sri Krishna (an incarnation of Lord Vishnu in the 4rd millennium BC) also worshipped Saraswati on this day by virtue pf which he became an expert in sixteen arts and in all others. Many Hindus initiate their kids for education on this day so that they receive blessing from Goddess Saraswati after her worship. Students in particular pay homage to the goddess of knowledge, intelligence, wisdom and knowledge of all arts, science, music and dancing. In the past, many kings and rulers used to organize literary seminars and symposia: poets, dramatists and writers were felicitated and rewarded on this occasion. Great dramas of Kalidasa and other dramatists were played before the audience on this festival.

Slide 3:In the fifth day (�PANCHAMI�) of the bright fortnight of the lunar month of �Magha� (January-February) of the Hindu Calendar VASANT = �Spring�, and �Yellow� VASANT PANCHAMI marks the end of Winter and the beginning of Spring in most parts of India and neighboring countries.

Slide 4:On this day, Brahma-ji created Devi Saraswati to remove ignorance and to make human beings wise. She was given four hands for mind, intellect, ego and alertness. Therefore, we worship Mother Saraswati � the Devi of wisdom, arts, education, discrimination Children are taught their first letters We also worship �Surya� (Sun) and Ma Ganga (Ganges River) especially in northern India to thank them for providing life giving energy and water

Slide 6:Lord Krishna worshipped Mother Saraswati this day and became a master of �Shodashakala� (16 arts) Dramas of Kalidasa and other famous dramatists were played for audiences this day Musicians, poets, dancers, artists organized celebrations and functions on this day to worship Devi Saraswati Pandit Madan Mohan Malviya innaugarated Kashi Hindu Vishwavidyalaya at Varanasi

Slide 7:Children are taught their first letters (especially in Bengal, Assam, Orissa, Bihar, Kerala etc). They are given a pen or a chalk to write the first letter. Big celebrations are held in Shantiniketan (a University in West Bengal) Books are placed before murtis of Devi Saraswati for her blessings They start with worshipping Saraswati, burning incense, applying �tilak� of sandalwood paste Brahmins are fed and honored and homage paid to ancestors (Pitr-tarpana)

Slide 8:People wear yellow clothes They make yellow garlands and offer it to Devi-Devatas and to guests Sweet-meats (deserts) are made yellow by adding saffron YELLOW REPRESENTS: Spirituality, Prosperity, Energy. Many of our Deities wear yellow clothes (�pitamambara�). Hindu Sadhus also wear �saffron� (yellow-orange) robes. In northern India, miles and miles of farmlands turn yellow from Mustard blooms

Slide 9:In northern India and Pakistan, Kite Flying contests are held � In memory of Hakikat Rai Puri of Sialkot People eat saffron-rice, suuji-halwa with saffron in it, have musical functions, wear marigold garlands