Gnana Saraswati Temple - Basara

Places Worth Visiting

The Datta, Ganesha, Eleavira, Pathaleswara, Anjaneya, Indra, Surya, Valmiki, Narayana, Vyasa temples are worth visiting.

There is Jeyambara tree, near the Gyana Saraswati temple under which Padukas (footwear) of Datta are preserved. Childless couples worship this holy tree in the hope of expecting a child.

A statue of Makkaji, in a bowing posture, is erected in this temple. To the north of the hill, there is a cave named after Narahari Maluka. Here, an eminent person called Natha Panthnatha Dhundisutha Narahari Maluka had performed penance and composed ‘Navanatha Bhakti Sar’ in Marathi.

There is a big boulder called Vedavati, which produces four different kinds of sounds when beaten.

There is also Astha Teertha Sarovaram, meaning ‘octane of holy ponds’, which are located in Papaharini. These eight ponds are named after Indra, Surya, Vyasa, Valmiki, Ganesha, Vishnu, Pathra and Shiva.

Indra Teertham

A Puranic episode states that Durvasa Muni went to swargalok (heavens) taking with him a garland offered by Saraswati and presented it to Indra. When Indra nonchalantly threw the garland away, the infuriated sage cursed Indra, whereby Indra would lose his powers and turn into a leper. Subsequently, Indra was defeated by the demons and also became a leper. As per the guidance of Brihaspati, the Guru of Angels, Indra took bath on the eastern side of the pond and worshipped Saraswati and was later restored to his kingship. Hence the east part of the pond is called as Indra Teertham.

Surya Teertham

Once, when the great sages were performing Yagna, Surya, the sun god, was eager to take his ‘havirbhaga’ (the portion that is offered to gods) as he was very hungry. Indra was very furious to observe this anomaly and attacked Surya with his Vajrayudha and cut off his thousand rays . Hence, the sun was reduced to a mere black hole. Surya came down to earth and took a bath in the sarover, on the southeast end, and performed penance here for Adishakti to regain his lost powers. Hence the southeast end came to be known as Surya Teertham.

Vyasa Teertham

Vyasa bathed in the southern side of this holy pond – this segment came to be called Vyasa Teertham.

Valmiki Teertham

Valmiki, the hunter, was initiated into the Rama Mantram by sage Narada. Valmiki dipped in the holy lake on its south-western part. He worshipped Saraswati. He composed Ramayana, one of the two great epics that Hindus consider sacred. The south-western part of the pond is thus called Valmiki Teertham.

Vishnu Teertham

Lord Vishnu took the form of Mohini to distribute ‘Amruth’ to angels, but not before taking a dip in the west side of this pond. Thus the west side of this pond was named as Vishnu Teertham.

Ganesha Teertham

Vinayaka prayed Lord Shiva to allow him to receive the ‘Prathama Pooja’ (first worship). Shiva instructed Vinayaka to take bath in this holy lake. Subsequently, Vinayaka took a bath in the northwest of the pond and became eligible for the first worship. The northwest part of the pond is now called Vinayaka Teertham. An idol of Vinayaka can be seen on the way to the temple from Basara on the hilly road.

Puthra Teertham

King Dasaratha was childless for quite a long time. He visited the pond and bathed on the northern end. Subsequently he was blessed with four sons, Rama, Laxmana, Bharatha and Shathrugna. Hence, the north end came to be called Puthra Teertham. Sri Rama visited Basara during his Aranyavas and prayed to Goddess Saraswati.

Shiva Teertham

SatiDevi, Lord Shiva’s wife, had immolated herself during ‘Daksha Yagna’. Desolate at the death of his wife, Lord Shiva came to this pond and took a holy bath on the North-Eastern segment of the lake. Hence, this part of the pond came to be known as Shiva Teertham. There is a Shiva temple one mile north of the Saraswati temple. The presiding Lord Shiva is known as 'Papanaseswara'.

Saraswati Teertham

This teertham is located in the center of the sarovar. It is believed that Ganga mingles in the center of the pond. The divinity of the Astha Teertha Sarovar is narrated in the ‘Brahmanda Purana’, which speaks that a dip here relieves people from their sins.