Vijayawada, October 11, 2013: During Dasara festival, Aswiyuja suddha sashti, moola nakshatram has a special significance. The presiding deity at Indrakeeladri is adorned as Sri Sarswathi Devi on sixth day of the festival this year. Goddess Kanaka Durga is decorated as Saraswati Devi as she defeated Sumba and Nisumba.

She is attired in white silk saree (swetha vastra dharaini), and has a beautiful white swan as ‘vahana’ (vehicle). She brings in her hands a Veena (symbolising the arts) and a lotus (or a parchment - symbolising learning) and a rosary.

Her ‘vahana’ (vehicle) is a swan (or a peacock).

Moola Nakshatram is nakshatram of Sri Saraswati Devi who designed and planned ‘yuddha tantra’(war plan) for goddess Durga Devi to fight Mahishasura.

She is goddess of education, literature, and music, etc. are easily learnt with her blessings. With her ‘kripa kataksham’ (grace), even a fool can become a scholar. Vyasa, Valmiki, Kalidas etc were gifted Vakvaibhavam by her.

On this day, people especially students pray her for all these.

The sloka, “Chintamani gnana neela ghatakinyam tarikshtaha..” tells us that Chintamani Saraswati, Gnyana Sarswati, Neela Saraswati, Ghata Saraswati, Kini Saraswati, Antariksha Saraswati, Maha Saraswati are the seven forms in which Saraswati is spread in the universe.

Source: The Hindu, October 11, 2013