Gnana Saraswati Temple is situated in a village called Basar in Nizamabad District. Basar is a village on the banks of Godavari River.
Gnana Saraswati Temple is a census town of Adilabad district in the state of Telangana. The village is about 50 kilometres from Nizamabad District. The temple is among the two famous Saraswati temples in India. Gnana Saraswati Temple is dedicated to Goddess Saraswati, the Goddess of Knowledge and Learning. A number of legends are associated with the Saraswati Temple, Basar.
History of Gnana Saraswati Temple
The legends state that after the Mahabharata war, Maharishi Vyasa and his disciples embarked on a pilgrimage. He decided to settle down in a cool and serene atmosphere. He reached the Kumaranchala hills on the banks of Godavari River. Here he meditated by preparing three small heaps as images of Saraswati, Lakshmi and Kali with his mystic power. It is said that, Saraswati appeared before him and granted blessings. Saraswati is the consort of Lord Brahma and the Goddess of Wisdom and Knowledge. However, Brahmanda Purana is completely of a different view.
It is believed that the poet Valmiki installed Saraswati and wrote Ramayana here. There is a marble image of Valmiki and his Samadhi near the temple. Other legends related to the Gnana Saraswati Temple reflect the belief that this temple is one of the three temples constructed near the confluence of the Manjira River and Godavari river by Ashtrakutas.
The historical lore proceeds with the view that, a king of Karnataka, Bijialudu ruled the province of Nandagiri with Nanded District as his capital in the sixth century. He was the person to have constructed the temple at Basara.
There are various myths about the Gnana Saraswati Temple had made it a popular holy place. In addition to that this ancient temple is also renowned for its beautiful architecture. The structural designs of Gnana Saraswati Temple dates back to the Chalukya period. The unique feature of the temple is that there are no carvings. The presiding deity is in a seated position with a Veena in hand and bedecked with turmeric. The temple is also an abode of Goddess Lakshmi, Maha Kali, Papahareswar and Pathaleswar.
Festivals at Gnana Saraswati Temple
Gnana Saraswati Temple is a place of adoration of Goddess Saraswati. The festivals celebrated in the temple are in reverence to the Goddess of Learning. During the Maha Shivaratri, Dussehra Navaratri and Vasant Panchami festivals a popular custom in the temple is bathe in the Godavari River and seek the blessings of the Goddess. Furthermore, children are brought to the temple before the beginning of their formal education to a learning ceremony called Akshara Abyasam. The important festival celebrated is Devi Navaratrulu.
The temple in Basara, Gnana Saraswati Temple is an easy place to visit from Hyderabad. The village is well connected through road and rail routes. Gnana Saraswati Temple can be reached by airways as the nearest airport is Hyderabad. Once reaching Hyderabad, one can travel by bus or private taxi.
Basara has a railway station and one can reach the village by Secunderabad junction and Mudkhed Junction. Road can also be another way to get to the village. Telangana Road Transport Buses are available from Hyderabad, Mahatma Gandhi Bus Station and from Jubilee Bus Station, Secunderabad. Buses are frequently available every half-hour. It is about 201 kilometres from Hyderabad-Basara, Nizamabad-Basar is 40 kilometres and Nirmal-Basara is not more than 70 kilometres.
Basar is a place which offers accommodation at various rates. Gnana Saraswati Temple also has its own accommodation arrangements which can be reserved by writing a letter to the temple authority.
