Interviewer:
Salutations, Gurudev.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Salutations, my son. Speak.
Interviewer:
In just two days, the worship of the Goddess of Knowledge, Mother Saraswati, will be celebrated in every home. I would like to learn more about this from you and also ask if you could recite the Anjali Mantra (offering prayer) for us.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Certainly. Saraswati is a goddess who is worshipped in every household. She is the presiding deity of knowledge. Therefore, whether the celebration is small or large, everyone who is a student or involved in learning performs Saraswati Puja. There is a deep-seated belief among people that worshipping Saraswati helps a child pass their exams or excel in their studies. This is the sentiment with which people perform this puja.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Now, there are different forms of the Goddess. The one you usually see in homes has two hands and sits upon a white swan (Hansa). She is depicted with two eyes. This is the household deity. Aside from this, there is another form of Saraswati Puja performed according to Tantric traditions. This occurs at the 51 Shakti Peethas (sacred pilgrimage sites). In the early morning, the puja performed at these 51 sites is dedicated to Mahasaraswati. We also call her Bhadrakali.
Interviewer:
Are you saying this happens at every one of the 51 Peethas?
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Yes, every single one. In the morning, Saraswati is worshipped. At noon, Goddess Vaishnavi or Lakshmi is worshipped. And at night, Kali is worshipped—symbolizing the cycle of creation, preservation, and dissolution. This is the practice at the major Peethas. At smaller sites, they might only perform one puja and leave. But if you go to Kalighat, for instance, you will see the Aarati and puja for Mahasaraswati held at dawn.
Interviewer:
Gurudev, I want to ask something. You mentioned that at the 51 Peethas, Mother Saraswati is worshipped first. But we know the 51 Peethas are associated with the body parts of Goddess Sati. What is the connection here?
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
The connection lies in the cycle of creation, preservation, and dissolution. All great sages, from Kapila Muni to Shiva himself, have worshipped Saraswati. There is \"Mahasaraswati,\" who is not typically worshipped in homes; she is worshipped by Tantrics or advanced spiritual seekers.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
The household Saraswati is described as youthful, radiant like the moon, with high breasts and a slender waist, holding a pen and a book in her lotus-like hands. This is the form described by the priests. Depending on one’s capacity, the puja is performed with either Panchaupachar (five items) or Sodashaupachar (sixteen items). Most people use five items for the home deity. It happens once a year.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
I always tell people that everyone should wake up and pray to Saraswati every morning. In many homes, the idol is not immersed; it is kept throughout the year and only immersed the following year when a new one is brought. Those who do this understand the importance of Saraswati. It isn’t just about \"passing school.\"
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Her meditation describes her as youthful and white-complexioned. However, in the Tantric form, she is different. While the household goddess has two eyes and two hands playing the Veena, the esoteric \"Hansa\" (swan) has a profound meaning. The word \"Hansa\" is related to the Sun. The breath you take in and out is governed by the \"Hansa\" residing in the Vishuddha Chakra (throat center). It is deeply connected to the Sun.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Now, regarding the Anjali Mantra (offering prayer) that is recited three times: \"Om Saraswatyai Namah Nityam, Bhadrakalyai Namo Namah, Veda-Vedanta-Vedanga-Vidhyasthānebhya Eva Cha. Esa Sachandana Gandhapuspāñjali Saraswatyai Namah.\" (Translation: Salutations to Goddess Saraswati and Bhadrakali. Salutations to the source of the Vedas, Vedanta, and all branches of knowledge. I offer this scented flower-offering to Goddess Saraswati.)
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Then there is the prayer: \"Saraswati Mahabhage, Vidye Kamala Lochane, Vidya-Rupe Vishalakshi, Vidyam Dehi Namostute.\" (Translation: O great Goddess Saraswati, the lotus-eyed Goddess of Knowledge, the embodiment of knowledge with large eyes, I bow to you, please grant me knowledge.)
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
As I mentioned, Bhadrakali is also a form of Mahasaraswati. In the Puranas, it is said she was worshipped in the netherworld (Patala) by many gods and sages. Then there is the eight-armed form of Mahasaraswati. Each hand holds a weapon: a bell, a spear, a plow, a conch, a mace, a discus, a bow, and an arrow. She is draped in tiger skin. This is the form worshipped in Tantric traditions. She manifested from the body of Goddess Gauri to support the world. During the battle between Goddess Durga and the demons, Mahasaraswati killed the powerful demons Shumbha and Nishumbha. The fourteen Manus (progenitors of humanity) also worshipped her.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Her weapons—the bell, spear, plow, mace, conch—all have significance. She wears a garland of skulls. This is the higher form of Saraswati that advanced seekers invoke. While the household goddess has two eyes, the Mahasaraswati of the Tantras has a third eye on her forehead. For children and students, the household prayer is sufficient. But we must look at the Puranas. When Lord Brahma was creating the four Vedas with his four mouths, who authenticated them? It was Mahasaraswati. On Brahma's right was Saraswati, and on his left was Savitri.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
\"Veda\" means knowledge. We study to gain knowledge. That is why we call Saraswati \"Veda\" or \"Veda-Gya.\" Brahma is the creator, Saraswati is the authentication, and Lord Ganesha was the scribe who wrote them down. Saraswati resides in many forms—as Bhadrakali, as Vishalakshi, as Mahasaraswati. The sage Kapila Muni worshipped her as Vishalakshi. If you ever go to Gangasagar, you will see a statue of Vishalakshi there.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
The poet Ramprasad once wrote: \"In the netherworld, you were Bhadrakali, worshipped by many gods with human sacrifices.\" This Bhadrakali is none other than Mahasaraswati. She resides in the throat as the \"Hansa\" (the breath) and on the tip of the tongue as speech. That is why we say \"Saraswati resides on the tongue.\" Every word we speak of knowledge is her grace.
Interviewer:
Friends, you just heard from Gurudev about the various forms and aspects of the Goddess of Knowledge, Mother Saraswati. I hope you found this enlightening.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
It is important for parents to teach this to their children. Nowadays, it rarely happens. Children should wake up, meditate on Saraswati, and pray to her before they sit down to study. People treat it as a once-a-year event, a big festival, and then forget her name for the rest of the year. This is our weakness. Every morning, after washing up and changing clothes, one should sit for a moment and pray to the Mother before starting their day. Keep Saraswati with you always. She isn’t just the \"Goddess of School\"; she is the speech you speak and the knowledge you possess.
Interviewer:
We have learned so much about Mother Saraswati today. Thank you, Gurudev.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Blessings to you.