| Lately I’ve been really busy covering some philosophy lectures at a local college. It has meant that I have had almost no time to prepare and keep up to date with the celebrations. It is always in the last minute that I send out emails to friends to announce the celebrations. I suppose it might not be a problem though, as long as I still manage to do it somehow.1 | |
 |
Today is Vasant Panchami Day and I’ve just researched it and am desperately trying to find a good way to recognize the day in a last minute kind of way. It makes me think of the fact that most Hindus who are really celebrating today do it wholeheartedly and as a result of intense preparations. It is most likely the preparations that make the day special. The leading up to festivities and the anticipation of the good times ahead builds up the spirit that Hindus are filled with today. They are worshiping the Goddess Saraswati. She is the Goddess of knowledge and learning. She also stands for creativity and inspiration. So, I thought I’d celebrate by learning about her since the day is supposed to be a fruitful day in terms of learning new things. Hindu priests often make children read out the word ‘OM’ today. I tried it with my four-year-old son Nemo who said ‘the first letter is O and the second one is M’ but needed help to put it together. My one-year-old daughter Norma took the paper from me and spent some time scribbling on it followed by scribbling all over her pyjamas and on the sofa. |
The meaning of the syllable ‘OM’ (AUM) is interesting. It is sometimes compared to the Hebrew ‘Amen’ and might mean something like ‘yes, verily, so be it. 2 |
|
| ‘Uttering the monosyllable Aum, the eternal world of Brahman, One who departs leaving the body (at death), he attains the superior goal’ 3 |
|
1: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Saraswati.jpg 3: Bhagavad Gita 8.13 |
|