Vasant Panchami 22 January

Saraswati Anang Siddhi

A day to reincarnate oneself

 Vasant Panchami is the festival dedicated to Goddess Saraswati, who is the Goddess of knowledge, language, music and all sorts of arts. She is the wife of Brahma and symbolizes creative energy and power in all its form, including longing and love. The season and festival also reflects the agricultural fields which are ripening with yellow flowers of mustard crop, which is associated with Saraswati’s favorite color. People dress in yellow saris or shirts or accessories, share yellow colored snacks and sweets.

This festival is also marked as the festival of God Kama, the Hindu deity of love. By remembering the loved one particularly one’s spouse or special friend people celebrate it with spring flowers. This day is linked with God Kama and its traditions have led scholars to call it “a Hindu form of Valentine’s Day”. Vasant Pancha is remembered as the day when Parvati approached Kama to wake up Shiva from Yogic meditation.

Vasant Panchami is associated with the emotions of love and emotional anticipation in Kutch (Gujarat), celebrated by preparing bouquet and garlands of flowers with mango leaves, as a gift. People dress in saffron, pink or yellow and visit each other. Songs about Krishna pranks with Radha, considered to mirror Kama-Rati, are sung. This is symbolized with Hindu deity Kamadev with his wife Rati. Lord Shiva is a master in the art of lovemaking and there is no equal in his skills as a passionate lover, yet there is one specific occasion where Kama Dev has to actively interfere in the life of Lord Shiva.

The Sanskrit word ‘Kaam’ is loosely translated into English as ‘Desire’. So Kama Dev then is the Hindu God of Desire or the equivalent of the Cupid from western mythology. After the tragic demise of His first wife Sati, Lord Shiva had decided to remain an ascetic, swearing off the pleasures and comfort of a householder’s life.

This was a fact well-known to every creature in this universe. One demon in particular – Tarakasura used this information to his greatest benefit. He performed great penance and pleased Lord Brahma enough to earn two boons. The first ensured that nobody created by Brahma can kill him and with the second boon Tarakasura wanted that no one except the son of Lord Shiva would be able to kill him. This boon practically made him immortal, because Shiva till then was without child and his decision to never re-marry and remain forever an ascetic, would ensure there would be no children who could kill Tarakasura.

Based on his virtual immortality, Tarakasura wrested control over all of the demon races. He became their undisputed leader and let loose a reign of terror in heaven, hell and earth. The other Gods found themselves helpless against the might of Tarakasura. Their only hope was to get Lord Shiva to break his vow of celibacy and produce child. This task was overwhelmingly difficult to achieve as there was no greater ascetic in creation who could rival the dedication with which Lord Shiva entered his meditation. Bound on all sides, the Gods turned to Kama Dev. They prayed to him to use his powers on Lord Shiva. A petrified Kama Dev refused to comply initially, but for the sake of all, he accepted the task.

He found Goddess Parvati and along with Her went to Mount Kailash – where Lord Shiva was in deep meditation. Using his art, Kama Dev managed to bring the spring season to Kailash. It was full of flowers, birds and bees, the environment in Kailash was transformed to a romantic paradise. Goddess Parvati started to gain Lord Shiva’s attention and Kama Dev took aim with his arrow of desire and fired it at Lord Shiva’s heart. The arrow hit its target and Lord Shiva’s meditation was broken. He was Parvati, but soon He realized that it was not spring and that He was being tricked. Being angry at the deception, He looked around and found Kama Dev hiding behind one of the bushes.

Kama Dev realized that he was caught and was paralyzed with fear and could not react or ask for forgiveness. Lord Shiva’s tempers shot up without control and his ‘third eye’ of destruction opened up. The energy released from this eye instantaneously reduced Kama Dev to ashes.

When his anger subsided and Goddess Parvati told Him of all that happened, Shiva asked Her assistance to revive Kama Dev. With his body destroyed, Kama Dev was revived in a formless manner and is thenceforth known as ‘Ananga Dev’ or the one without a body. In due course of time the passion between Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati evolved and ignited. The duo got married and begot a child named Kartikeya who killed Tarakasura and ended his reign of terror and chaos. The day when Kamdev shot his arrow at Lord Shiva is none other than Vasant Panchmi and from that day, Vasant Panchmi was also dedicated to Kamdev along with Goddess Saraswati.

Presented below are sadhanas related to both Goddess Saraswati and God Anang which should be performed by an individual for gaining knowledge, beauty, love and harmony in life. In other words, these Sadhanas are the means by which a person can live a complete and happy family life.

It is mandatory to obtain Guru Diksha from Revered Gurudev before performing any Sadhana or taking any other Diksha. Please contact Kailash Siddhashram, Jodhpur through Email , Whatsapp, Phone or Submit Request to obtain consecrated-energized and mantra-sanctified Sadhana material and further guidance,