New Delhi. Not only on Basant Panchami, on many auspicious occasions people worship Goddess Saraswati in their homes and temples. In such a situation, it becomes very important for you to know that there are some ancient and grand temples of Mother Saraswati in India, where you can visit any time of the year. Among such major temples, Savitri Devi Temple is located in Pushkar, Rajasthan. Apart from this, Saraswati Temple, Rajasthan (Sharada Peeth), Mata Saraswati Temple, Uttarakhand, Koothanur Maha Saraswati Temple, Tamil Nadu and Shri Shardaamba Temple of Karnataka are prominent.
Mata Saraswati Temple, Uttarakhand
Located near Mana village, just 3 kilometers away from Badrinath in Uttarakhand, this temple holds special significance in the Vedas and scriptures. There is a religious belief that this place is the birthplace of Goddess Saraswati. Here Saraswati river appears in the form of a stream, this is called Kalkal stream. It is said that this stream looks like a mouth, which symbolizes the divine origin of the goddess. According to legends, it was at this place that Maharishi Ved Vyas composed the Mahabharata and was visited by the Pandavas during their journey to heaven. There is also a unique rock named Bhima Shila nearby.
Saraswati Temple, Rajasthan (Sharada Peeth)
The magnificent temple made of white marble was built in 1959. It is a fine example of 20th century architecture and the Indo-Aryan Nagar style. Made of Makrana marble, this temple rests on 70 pillars and has an area of approximately 25,000 square feet. The peak of this temple is 110 feet high and has gold plated copper urns on it. Its structure is such that it is in line with the clock tower of Birla Institute of Technology and Science (BITS), where the Goddess of Knowledge and G.D. Birla’s statue shows them facing each other.
Savitri Devi Temple, Pushkar (Rajasthan)
Savitri Devi Temple, located on the top of Ratnagiri hill in Pushkar, Ajmer district of Rajasthan, is one of the most important pilgrimage sites in the country. Built at a height of about 750 feet, this temple is dedicated to Savitri and Gayatri, the wives of Lord Brahma. To reach this temple, devotees have to climb about 970 stairs. From here one can see a beautiful view of Pushkar Lake. There are three idols present inside this temple.
Koothanoor Maha Saraswati Temple, Tamil Nadu
Koothanoor Temple in Tamil Nadu, earlier known as Ambalpuri, is a very important place dedicated to Goddess Saraswati. According to folklore, due to a dispute between Lord Brahma and Saraswati, they had to be born on earth as brother and sister. Later Lord Shiva merged Saraswati with River Ganga, which now flows here as Araslar River. Raja Raja Chola donated this land to the poet Ottakkoothan, after whom the village was named Koothanoor. Here Goddess Durga is worshiped as the protector goddess of the village.
Sri Sharadamba Temple, Karnataka
The ancient temple located in Sringeri in the southern state of Karnataka was established by Adi Shankaracharya in the 8th century. Initially there was a standing statue of Shardamba (Saraswati) made of sandalwood. Later, during the 14th century, the Vijayanagara rulers and the 12th Jagadguru Sri Vidyaranya replaced the wooden idol with a seated gold idol. This temple is considered a major center of the goddess of learning in South India.
