Saraswati's festival

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the keeper of his schedule). Those of you with a Celtic ritual background will

immediately note many parallels between Saraswati and the Celtic Brigit. Both

are culture goddesses, both associated with milk and milk products, both merge

fire and water symbolism. Both are seen as "unhappy" in love -- Saraswati

battles constantly with Brahma (she saw him as father, not as spouse); Brigit

vows perpetual virginity, and is tortured by her father for not accepting any

of his choices of suitors. By VP, many yellow flowers are sprouting up in

India (especially the mustard flower, and the plum trees). Devotees of

Saraswati decorate with yellow flowers, and paint things yellow (slightly less

inauspicious than Saraswati's usual white, a color associated with renunciation

and death). Altars are set up for the Goddess, with images of swans or

peacocks, offerings of new books and school paraphernalia. Children are first

taught

the alphabet during VP, and given cookies shaped like letters, although

Saraswati prefers sour snacks over sweet ones -- lemony cakes and candies

please her, as does tamarind. Saraswati is symbolically placed on the tongue

of each devotee. Dawn is greeted with mantric chanting (the gayatri

espcially). New musical instruments and books are marked with red kumkum, and

worshipped as abodes of the Goddess. People consider what topics they wish to

study for the coming year, what creative projects they want help with, and they

ask Saraswati for healing. Tools used for earning one's living are blessed in

the Goddess's name, be they plows, computers, weapons, or foodstuffs. Here's a

short shloka used to invoke Saraswati: Saraswati maha bhage/ vidye kamala

lochane// Vishva roopa visha lakshi/ vidyam devi namostute// (Saraswati of

great gifts/ knowledge comes from your lotus

eyes// Taking all forms, and all-seeing/ grant us knowledge, O Goddess, we bow

to you//) And here, a simple ritual: Turn to the east: Goddess Gayatri,

keeper of the 24 syllable mantra! Dawn-giver, light-bringer, born from

Brahma's brow! Bearer of the crystal mala, sweet speaker, lead me to

enlightenment! Gayatri Devi, namaste! Facing the south, or the zenith where

the noon sun would be: Goddess Savitri, scholar and teacher! Noon-bright,

descending into mortal form like Vishnu! Bearer of the palm-leaf book, writer

of letters, inspire me with poetry! Savitri Devi, namaste! Turn to the west:

Goddess Saraswati, musician and artist! Effulgeant as the setting sun, making

melodies for Shiva's dancing feet! Bearer of the many-stringed veena, plucking

music from the ethers! Saraswati Devi, namaste! Facing the north, or the

nadir beneath the earth: Goddess Matangi, hidden and sorting through refuse!

Dark as night, unclean and yet still a source of beauty! Breaker of taboos,

bohemian, solitary, transforming the polluted! Matangi Devi, namaste! -- Len/

Black Lotus

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