Before enrolling their children in school, there is one place in Telangana that parents choose to visit, Basara Saraswathi Temple. Devotees come here not only from the two Telugu states, but also from Karnataka and Maharastra to conduct the Aksharabhyasam of their children.
Gnana Saraswati Temple is a temple of Goddess Saraswati located on the banks of Godavari River at Basara, Telangana, India. It is one of the two famous Saraswati temples in India, the other being in Jammu & Kashmir. Saraswati is the Hindu Goddess of knowledge and learning. Children are brought to the temple for Aksharabhyasam.
History : According to historians Maharishi Vyas, the author of the Mahabharatha and his disciples along with sage Viswamitra decided to settle down in a cool and serene atmosphere after the Kurukshetra War. They arrived at the forest of Dandakaryana for mediation. He began meditation on the banks of the river Godavari and felt that the place is very peaceful.
The divine Goddess devi Saraswathi is believed to have appeared before Veda Vyasa and instructed him to build the temples for the Shakti trio: Maha Saraswathi, Maha Lakshmi and Maha Kali. Maharshi Veda Vyasa did that by bringing three handfuls of sand and sculpting figures out of them. Since Maharishi Vyasa spent significant time in prayers, this place began to be known as “Vasara”. This later turned into Basara due to the influence of the Marathi language in the region.
There are four important days in the year when one can perform Aksharabhyasam at Basara Sree Gnana Saraswati Temple-- Vasanta Panchami also known as Siri Panchami, the fifth day after Amavasya (no moon day) in the Hindu month of Maagha marks the advent of spring season. The importance of Basant Panchami is that it is on this day, Saraswati is specially worshiped and children are first taught to write the alphabet. Vijaya Dasami is another day auspicious to conduct Aksharabhyasam.
Another important day for conducting Aksharabhyasam is Vyasa Pournami (Guru Pournami) which falls on full moon day in the Hindu month of Aashadam. This day is the birthday of Veda Vyasa. Shravana Pournami (Raakhi Pournami) is also considered an auspicious day and people throng Basara temple for performing Aksharabhyasam of their children.