Vasant Panchami 2021

Vasant Panchami day is dedicated to Goddess Saraswati, the Goddess of knowledge, music, arts and Science. Goddess Saraswati is worshipped on the auspicious day of Vasant Panchami. Vasant Panchami is also known as Shri Panchami and Saraswati Panchami.

People worship Goddess Saraswati to get enlighten with knowledge and to get rid of lethargy, sluggishness and ignorance. This ritual of initiating education to children is known as Akshar-Abhyasam or Vidya-Arambham/Praasana which is one of the famous rituals of Vasant Panchami. The Schools and Colleges arrange pujas in the morning to seek the blessing of the Goddess.

Purvahna Kaal, which is the time between the sunrise and the midday, is considered to decide the day of Vasant Panchami. Vasant Panchami is celebrated on the day when Panchami Tithi prevails during Purvahna Kaal, due to which Vasant Panchami might also fall on Chaturthi Tithi.

Many astrologers consider Vasant Panchami as Abujha (अबूझ) day which is auspicious to start all the good work. According to this belief, the whole day of Vasant Panchami is auspicious to perform the Saraswati Puja.

Although there is no special time to perform Saraswati Puja on Vasant Panchami, one should make sure that the Puja is performed when the Panchami Tithi is prevailing. Many times, Panchami Tithi is not available for the whole day and hence we believe that it is important to do Saraswati puja within Panchami Tithi.

We suggest Saraswati Puja time during Purvahna kaal while Panchami Tithi is prevailing. Purvahna kaal falls between the sunrise and the midday which is also the time when most people perform the Saraswati Puja including the schools and colleges in India.

Saraswati Vandana on Vasant Panchami

Saraswati Ya Kundendu is the most famous Stuti dedicated to Goddess Saraswati and a part of the famous Saraswati Stotram. It is recited during Saraswati Puja on the eve of Vasant Panchami.

या कुन्देन्दुतुषारहारधवला या शुभ्रवस्त्रावृता
या वीणावरदण्डमण्डितकरा या श्वेतपद्मासना।
या ब्रह्माच्युत शंकरप्रभृतिभिर्देवैः सदा वन्दिता
सा मां पातु सरस्वती भगवती निःशेषजाड्यापहा॥
शुक्लां ब्रह्मविचार सार परमामाद्यां जगद्व्यापिनीं
वीणा-पुस्तक-धारिणीमभयदां जाड्यान्धकारापहाम्‌।
हस्ते स्फटिकमालिकां विदधतीं पद्मासने संस्थिताम्‌
वन्दे तां परमेश्वरीं भगवतीं बुद्धिप्रदां शारदाम्‌॥२॥