SHARADA - THE GODDESS OF EDUCATION

By Shylaja Gopalkrishna Aithal

Urva, Mangaluru.

I always have a great fascination for the Goddess of Education ever since I read a story when I was
young. Let me narrate the story briefly. There was a stupid child born to a well-read Brahmin.
Surprisingly, the boy was so dull that nothing read got into his head. No amount of teaching helped him.
Everyone gave up efforts and ridiculed him as good for nothing. Frustrated, the boy focused on praying
the Goddess of Learning vigorously day and night. She refused to budge. Finally the boy cut his ill-fated
tongue and offered it as a sacrifice towards the cause of education. Such was the intensity of devotion
and heights of sacrifice the Goddess commanded from a disciple before granting him vidya, of course,
through a Guru!

Ii is said sharadi poojithasthwam asi Sharada. Since the deity is being worshipped in nine
avataras on nine days during Navarathri festival in Sharadruthu, She is known as Sharada. Durga Shruthi
sayssarvasya budhiroopena janasya hridi samsthithe . She is visualized in every person as Buddhi.
She is an abundance of wisdom and is an authority over everything needed for learning. She is
recognized in different forms and is known by various names such as Bharathi, Saraswathi and
Sharadadevi. She is the personification of Shabdabrahma and Nadabrahma. Known as
Gaanaswaroopini and Veenapusthakadharini, She is the architect of music and literature. Panchashath
varnabhedaihi - that is by means of 56 letters She is Lipiswaroopini. An ultimate authority over vaak
meaning speech, She is Vaageeshwari. She is the author of science and technology and is an all -round
inspiration for all investigations, inventions and innovations. Above all, vaajebhihi vaajini meaning
rice out of rice, She is the nutrition that is required for the brain. No doubt Sharada is supreme,
governing the special portfolio of education.

Every child is made to invoke the blessings of Sharadadevi at the time of vidyaarambha by chanting

Namasthe Sharadadevi Kashmirapuravasini

Thwaamaham praarthaye nithyam vidyabudhim cha dehi me .

All earnest students will do well to recite this shloka every day. On the last three days of Navarathri to
end on the Vijayadashami day people of all ages do Pusthakapooja. Any task commenced on this
auspicious day is said to be blessed with the required concentration and is bound to succeed. This is not
to suggest to my young readers that these are short-cuts to educational success which can be achieved
only through single minded dedication to the cause. Education is power. Just as dams across rivers
streamline flow of water so as to generate power, rituals like prayer and puja help channelize
concentration which manifests itself in academic excellence. Faith in God helps build up confidence
needed to acquire this feat. May the Divine Mother bless all her children profusely in every way!

- Jai Sharadamathe-