Saraswati Day In Bali

29/10/2022 01:28

Hindus believe Saraswati day is the day of the decline of knowledge that came down to mankind for prosperity, progress, peace, and the improvement of humanity's humanity. That is why Sarawati day is an important day for Hindus, especially for school students and education practitioners. Hindu Dharma in Bali celebrates every 210 days or 6 months of the year using Balinese calendar calculations on Saturday, Umanis, Watugunung.

Fun Activities to Do on Saraswati Day

On Saraswati day, worship is offered to Goddess Saraswati. This worship is mostly done by the students. Every student must be busy preparing for the prayer ceremony in the morning. They did it in their respective schools and continued to other temples after that. The temple which is one of the most favorite Jagatnatha temples in the city center. On this day, all books, ejects, libraries and stationery at school, at the temple, at home or in the office are mostly placed in the ceremonial place. Every school is closed on Saraswati Day due to a myth that does not allow students to write and read.

Meaning of Saraswati Day

The legend describes that Saraswati is the Goddess as the wife of Brahma. Saraswati is the Goddess who protects/maintains knowledge, consciousness (Widya), and literature. Hindu Dharma in Bali believes that because of the grace of Dewi Saraswati, they become civilized and cultured human beings.

Dewi Saraswati is depicted as a goddess sitting on a lotus with a swan (Hamsa) or peacock, four arms with a sitar/veena and ganatri in both right hands, left hand carrying a library/book and the other left hand. playing guitar carrying zither/veena and ganatri in both right hand, hand carrying library/books and other left hand playing veena or blessed.

The Knowledge of the Symbols of Goddess Saraswati

Some meanings and symbols that are important for knowledge:

1. White skin, meaning as the basis of knowledge (Vidya) which is white, clean and holy.

2. Books/libraries in the left hand, meaning: All forms of knowledge are secular. But although vidya (spiritual knowledge) can lead us to moksha, but avidya, secular knowledge should not be ignored. As the Isavasya-Upanishad explains: "We transcend hunger and thirst through avidya, then only through vidya to pursue and attain moksha."

3. Veena, which means: art, music, culture and sound AUM, is also a symbol of harmony of mind, Buddhism, life with the natural environment.

4. Akshamala/ganatri/tasbih on the right, meaning: Spiritual knowledge is more meaningful than secular sciences (on the left). But no matter how important books and teachings of various sciences without sincere appreciation and devotion will be in vain or in vain.

5. Beautiful and rosy face means: A symbol of stupidity and worldly luxury that is very stunning but misleading (avidya).

6. Goose (Hamsa), symbolizes: Can filter water and separate which is dirt and which is edible, which is good and which is bad, even though it is in dirty and murky water or mud, (symbol of vidya).

7. Peacock means: beautiful hairy, beautiful and brilliant even though its habitat is in the forest. And together with the swan means as a vehicle (a tool, a device, a messenger of His).

8. Lotus flower / Lotus means: can grow well and produce beautiful flowers even though they live in dirty water.