Heritage · Faith · Tradition
About the Temple
Introduction
Sri Gnana Saraswathi Temple at Basara, in Nirmal district, Telangana, is one of the most famous temples of Goddess Saraswati – the Goddess of knowledge, wisdom, speech and the arts – in India. It stands on the banks of the holy Godavari river. Above all, Basara is beloved across the Telugu states for Aksharabhyasam, the ceremony in which young children write their first letters in the presence of the Goddess.
The Goddess – Sri Gnana Saraswathi
The presiding deity is Sri Gnana Saraswathi, the Goddess of wisdom, worshipped together with Sri Mahalakshmi and Sri Mahakali, so that devotees receive the blessings of knowledge, prosperity and strength in one place. According to tradition, the image of the Goddess was shaped from the sand of the Godavari, and turmeric is offered to her as a special form of worship.
Sthala Puranam (Legend)
According to tradition, after the Kurukshetra war the sage Veda Vyasa set out in search of a peaceful place for meditation. He came to the banks of the Godavari at this spot and began his penance. Every day, after bathing in the river, he brought three handfuls of sand and shaped from them the forms of the three Goddesses – Saraswati, Lakshmi and Kali. Pleased with his devotion, the Goddess blessed him. Because of Vyasa's long stay here, the place was called Vyasara, which in time became Basara. A cave nearby is honoured as the place of Vyasa's meditation.
Aksharabhyasam
Basara is one of the most sought-after places for Aksharabhyasam – the auspicious first lesson of a child, usually performed between the ages of about two and five. Parents bring their children to write their first letters, often "Om" and the alphabet, on rice or a slate before the Goddess, with the guidance of the temple priests, praying that the child will be blessed with learning and wisdom throughout life. Thousands of families perform the ceremony here every year.
Festivals
- Vasantha Panchami (Sri Panchami, January–February): the birthday of Goddess Saraswati and the most auspicious day for Aksharabhyasam, drawing very large crowds.
- Dasara / Devi Navaratrulu (September–October): nine days of special worship, with the Moola nakshatra day especially sacred to Saraswati.
- Maha Shivaratri (February–March): special worship and devotees bathing in the Godavari.
Temple Timings
- The temple opens early in the morning and is open through the day and evening, with short breaks for rituals.
- Timings and Aksharabhyasam arrangements change on Vasantha Panchami and during Navaratri. Please check the official Devasthanam website before your visit.
How to Reach
By Train: Basar railway station, on the Secunderabad–Nizamabad–Mudkhed line, is a short distance from the temple.
By Road: Basara is about 35 km from Nizamabad and about 205 km from Hyderabad. TGSRTC buses run from Hyderabad, Nizamabad and Nirmal.
By Air: the nearest airport is Rajiv Gandhi International Airport, Shamshabad (HYD), about 210 km away.
Visitor Information
- Dress code: traditional, modest dress is recommended, especially for families performing Aksharabhyasam.
- Aksharabhyasam: tickets are available at the temple; on Vasantha Panchami and during Navaratri, arrive early as queues are very long.
- Godavari bath: many pilgrims bathe at the Godavari ghats before darshan; take care during high water.
- Nearby places: Vyasa cave, the Godavari ghats, and other temples of the Goddess of learning on this site – the Sri Sharadamba Temple, Sringeri and the Sri Mookambika Temple, Kollur – as well as, further down the Godavari, the Sri Sita Ramachandra Swamy Temple, Bhadrachalam.
