Sree kshetra Basara / Vasara / Vasara Brahmeshwar

Gnana Saraswathy Devi

 నమస్తే శారదే దేవి || సరస్వతి మతి ప్రదే ||

వసత్వా మమ జిహ్వాగ్రే || సర్వ విద్య ప్రద భవ ||

It means:

Salutations to Sharada Devi,Goddess Saraswati, the giver of intellect, Live at the tip of my tongue, Giver of all Knowledge.  Written by Paramhans Parivrajakacharya Shreemad VASUDEVANAND SARASWATI (TEMBE) SWAMI MAHARAJ.

Location:

Basara town is located in Mudhole Mandal in Adilabad district of Telangana state, India – 504101. The  village is maintained with beautiful  gardens around  the temple premises of the north Telangana region, which is 30-km from Nizamabad and is situated on the banks of River Godavari. It is located at a distance of about 220-km by road and 190-km by rail from Hyderabad.

Sthala Puranam ( Story related to the Place)

LEGEND NO 1 :

The legend says that after the Mahabharata war, sage Veda Vyasa went out on a pilgrimage in search of peace. He reached  the banks of river Godavari and meditated and  the Goddess who  appeared before him and granted her presence in the form of the divine trinity.The Goddess ordered the sage to place three handful of sand at three places everyday. Miraculously these sand dunes transformed into the idols of the divine trinity i.e., Saraswathi, Lakshmi, & Kali.These are the presiding deities of Basar today. Despite the presence of the trinity,the temple is dedicated to Goddess Saraswathi. Devi idol was installed here by Maharshi Vyasa.Thus, the original name of the place was “Vyasapuram”.

In due course of time this became “Basapura”.This in turn became “Basara. Sri Gnana-saraswati was installed by VyasamaharshI in a nearby hill called Kumarachalam. Vyasapuradevi petam became Vyasarapetam and this in turn is now known as Basarapetam. This same petam was called Purvagiri Petam of yore too synonymously.

LEGEND NO 2 :

Once upon time, Sage Veda Vyasa was caught in the famine in the Kashi (Varanasi), one of the most sacred place for Indians. Unable to control his appetite, he was about to curse Kashi City. Then, Goddess Annapoorna appeared and sought to mitigate his hunger, provided he would not curse Kashi, which was the abode of Shiva and all the deities. Vyasa relented and went for ablutions in Ganga before lunch along with thousands of disciples. After the lunch, Annapoorna forbid him from staying in Kashi, as he erred in his decision to curse this sacred place. 

Banished by the Goddess, he shifted to the other bank of Ganga to set up Vyasa Kashi. Later, in his quest to ward off the effect of his blunder, he came down to southern India, and searched for a suitable place to perform repentant penance to absolve karmic implications of his curse. 

In his search, he found a powerful place where a great centre of pure shaktha-power was found near Godavari River. When he completed penance in Dandaka Aranya on the banks of Godavari, he could not locate it. After locating the place, when he went again for his daily rituals to the river, he could find it again. Then finally, he realized that it was the great Saraswati Devi, who is the power of knowledge innate in him and all creatures. Then with the sands of Godavari River banks, he made an idol of Saraswati and installed at the place.The idol is called “Saikatha Vigraha”(meaning an idol made out of sand).The original idol is not there as it had been ravished by Rohillas(Islamic people) in the 17th century and what exists is an idol installed by Vidyaranya Swamy of Sringeri Peetham. 

Maharshi VedaVyas did his penance at the same place in a cave, near Saraswati. (This cave is called Vyasa Guha / VYAS GUFA)

Vyas Gufa entrance

Saraswathy Maa’s idol worshipped by Veda Vyas

Maharshi Veda Vyas

Appearance & Importance:

Gnana Saraswathy in Chandana mixed with turmeric alankaram for face, with silver eyes and Kumkuma adornments) This idol was made of sand has its face smeared with turmeric. Eating a little bit of this

turmeric paste, it is believed, will enhance one’s wisdom and knowledge. Maha Saraswathi Devi is in the form of Gnana Saraswathi.The Temple lies 1/2 mile away from the sacred Godavari river.Many saints and seers stay in the place in subtle forms, though the temple looks quite simple without any artistic embelishments.The place is invested with divine powers from the Satyalokam of Goddess Saraswathy.

This temple has a connection with the great Srividya Upasaka, Vidyaranya Swami.He had ordered vigrahas from Rajasthan for installation but the idols did not arrive on time and so he established his own vigraha beside the original ones. vyAsapura-gnAna-saraswati Peetham is one of the important spiritual nerve centres of Goddess Saraswathy.Notwithstanding, It remains an area filled with the direct spiritual light from Saraswathy Loka.The place finds its rightful mention in Markandeya and Brahmanda Puranams 11 amsas of saraswathy are: 1. Braahmi 2.Vedamaatha 3. Hamsini 4. Veenaadharini 5. Pustakadhaarini 6. Kaladevi 7. Mayuraarudini 8. Gnaanadaayini 9. Vaikahari 10.Paravani 11.Gaanapriya Saraswathy.

The Sanskrit word “Sara” means “essence” and “swa” means “self.” Thus Saraswathi means “the essence of the self.” Saraswathi is also regarded as the guardian of the truth. She is also called Smirtishakti (power of memory), Jnanashakti (power of knowledge), Kalpanashakti (power of forming ideas) and so on. Today, however, she is predominantly worshipped as a goddess of knowledge-Gnaanadevi Saraswathi is always represented as a goddess of dazzling white complexion draped in a white sari and seated on a white lotus. She is usually depicted with four arms . She holds a book and a rosary in Her rear two hands, while the front two hands are engaged in playing the Veena. The Goddess playing on the Veena, denotes mind and intellect. This symbol conveys that the seeker must tune his mind and intellect

in order to live in perfect harmony with the world. String instruments represent the letter O in Ohm, and stand for creative unfolding of every thing. Such depictions for harmonious living enables the individual to utilize acquired knowledge for the welfare of mankind Her right leg is shown slightly pushing against Her left leg. She uses a swan as Her vehicle. There is a peacock by Her side gazing at Her. A peacock depicts unpredictable behaviour, as its moods can be influenced by the changes in weather. Saraswathi uses a swan as a vehicle and not the peacock. This signifies that one should overcome fear, indecision, and fickleness in order to acquire true knowledge. This indicates that one must acquire and apply knowledge with discrimination for the good of mankind. Knowledge that is dominated by ego can destroy the world By sitting on a lotus, Saraswathi signifies that She is Herself rooted in the Supreme Reality, and symbolizes supreme knowledge. The white color symbolizes purity and knowledge. The white sari that the Goddess is wearing denotes that She is the embodiment of pure knowledge. The four arms denote Her

omnipresence and omnipotence. The two swans are depicted on the left side of the Goddess. A swan(paramaHamsa “annakili”) is said to have a sensitive beak that enables it to distinguish pure milk from a mixture of milk and water. A swan, therefore, symbolizes the power of discrimination, or the ability to discriminate between right and wrong or good and bad. “The Hamsa represent perfect union, balance and life. A constant repetition of the word “hamso” changes it to “Soaham”, which means “That I am”. Hence the hamsa is often identified with the Supreme Spirit or Brahman. The flight of the Hamsa also symbolizes the escape from the cycle of samsaara. The bird also has special connotations in the monistic philosophy of Advaita Vedanta – just as the swan lives on water but its feathers are not wetted by water, similarly an Advaitin tries to live in this material world full of Maya, but is unsoiled by its illusionary nature.. (Saraswathy veena)

 Nrusimha Saraswathy Swamy Miracle in Basara as per Chapter 13 of Sree Guru Charitra:

Lord Dattatreya under a tree in the Basara Temple

Lord Dattatreya

Maa Saraswathy with Veena on the Tree Top

The second incarnation of Lord Dattatreya , Sree Nrusimha sarasawathy Swamy visited Basara Kshetra after he left Triambakeshwar. According to chapter 13 of Sree Guru Charitra. Sree swamy blessed a Brahmin by relieving him from a severe colic (stomach ache) in basara kshetra. The story goes like follows: source chapter 13.of guru charitra English version e book http://www.sreedattavaibhavam.org/sree-gurucharitra/

Shri Guru then went to Tryambakeshwar, the place of penance of Goutam Muni. Shri Shankar was pleased by the penance of Goutam who brought Ganga (Godavari) on the earth for the benefit of the people. Shri Guru traveled by the Bank of Godavari and came to Manjrika. A learned Brahmin `Madhavaranya’ lived here. He adored `Narasimha’. Seeing that Shri Guru appeared just a `Narasimha’, he bowed to him and praised him in Sanskrit. Shri Guru was pleased and he appeared before him in his divine form. Madhavaranya prostrated before him and chanted prayers. Shri Guru then blessed him.

Shri Guru then went to Vasara Brahmeshwar. Here a Brahmin suffered from acute colic pain. He was rolling in the sand of the river due to severe pain. He had to be on fast for several days. Whenever he dined he had severe pain. He was intending to give up his life by drowning himself in the river and thus getting rid of the acute colic pain. Knowing his intentions, Shri Guru asked his disciples to bring the Brahmin to him. When he was brought before him, Shri Guru asked him, `Why are you committing suicide? This is a great sin. What is your misery?.’Brahmin – `I am burdensome on this earth. I dine once in a fortnight or a month, but I have to bear a very severe colic pain. The body lives on food and if food cannot be taken how can this body survive?

Shri Guru -`I shall give a medicine. You have a full meal today.’ The Brahmin was much encouraged with Shri Guru’s words. In the meanwhile the officer of the town came to the river for bath. Seeing Shri Guru, he bowed to him with reverence. Shri Guru inquired `May I know your name and whereabouts?’

The officer said, `I belong to Koundinya Gotra and am a Brahmin of Apastamb shakha. My name is Sayamdeo. I come from Kanchi. I am serving here as a Town – officer of a Muslim Ruler for one year. I feel myself very fortunate to see thy holy self today. Sins are wiped off by seeing the Ganga, heat of the body subsides by seeing the moon and poverty is destroyed by the favor of a Kalpa-Taru. But by seeing thyself along, all these three miseries are wiped off and one gets all the four valours.

Sayamdeo humbly expressed, `Gurudev, he dined yesterday after one month and subsequently he had severe colic pain. If he is given food today and if he dies, shall I not be held responsible for his death?’

Shri Guru – `I am giving medicine which should be fried in ghee and given to him. Besides give him food containing sugar and milk. Do not have any doubt in the mind.’

Sayamdeo agreed and further requested Shri Guru to grace his home by his presence and accept alms at his house. Shri Guru gladly accepted his invitation.

Shri Guru, three Brahmins and other disciples came to Sayamdeo. Sayamdeo’s wife Jakhai was a devoted wife. Both worshipped Shri Guru ceremoniously. They worshipped the disciples also. All had a happy dinner that day. The colic pain of the Brahmin disappeared instantly by the grace of Shri Guru. All were wonderstruck to see this miracle. Shri Guru blessed Sayamdeo saying, your family will flourish and devotion of Guru will be continued in the later generations of your family.

There is a four-sided monolith rock called “Vedavathi”, which produces different sounds on each side when struck. It is said to contain jewels of Sita Devi. There are eight ‘Pushkarnis’ spread across the village known as ‘Indra Teeratham’, ‘Surya Teeratham’, ‘Vyasa Teeratham’, ‘Valmiki Teeratham’, ‘Vishnu Teeratham’, ‘Ganesha Teeratham’, ‘Puthra Teeratham’ and ‘Shiva Teeratham’.

Festivals

Many people, take their kids to Basara for “Akshara Abhyasam” before commencing formal school education. Special poojas and celebrations are held at the temple during Maha Sivarathri, beginning 15 days before (Vasantha Panchami) and continuing 3 days after the festival. Devi Navarathrulu is celebrated for ten days during Dasara.

How to Reach:

It is a 3 hours drive via Nizamabad. There are frequent buses available from Hyderabad run by TSRTC . MSRTC.

Nearest Airport is Hyderabad Airport and Nearest Railway Station is Secunderabad Rly Station.

Variuos guest houses with all amenities are available which are maintained by TTD,VEMULAWADA TEMPLE,VIJAYAWADA TEMPLE , YADAGIRIGUTTA TEMPLE. At reasonable/ affordable prices.