Saraswati : Goddess of Learning
Many westerners wonder that why Indians across religious lines are obsessed with
Saraswati. You can visit any liberal school, educational institution , spiritual or cultural centre across the country. You come across to see idol or painting of Goddess Saraswati installed in the premises.
Well! Goddess Saraswati is goddess of learning and wisdom. She is giver of
knowledge and wisdom. Before learning something as per Indian culture one take blessing from her to achieve success. For hardliners, she may be Hindu deity but some of the best professionals who are not Hindus endorsed it for a driving force behind their success. For eg : Baba Allahuddin of Maihar gharana who taught world-renowned Pundit Ravishanker, the famous sitarist and Aliakbhar khan, the sarod player was an ardent worshipper of the goddess . You have M.F. Hussein, the world-renowned painter who believes her as a unifying force between scholars and artistes. You may find writers,
teachers, and professionals of all hues praying to her in articles, books, and their creative works for making them what they are.
Indian students communities constantly pray to her to let them pass their exams with flying colors. Saraswati in simple manner means Knowledge and wisdom and all treat it similar to life force. You may never find any sensible Indian speaking ill of his or her teacher, defecating any educational book or learning manner. These things are exclusive domain of ignorant hardliners who are good for nothing. Sociologists and educationalists explain that India is a knowledge oriented country. Here you may find an illiterate worker toiling hard to make his children study well. Even the present top class of the nation got their position because of good Education.
Knowledge is so much respected here that every teacher in a rural part is given respect and love. You can read about scholars who may have done something creative and have won laurels of the world but they will still respect their teachers and attribute their success to them. From Swami Vivekanand to present day motivation gurus like Dr.Deepak Chopra and Robin Sharma all have supported knowledge as a way to freedom. Business magazines have explained that this knowledge intensive approach has made a way to new technological edge over developed economies like China or Some of the European nations.
Education was always an integral part of Indian way of life. Right from great Indus valley civilisation to present age of Information technology boom, it had a subtle place in every body’s life. Sadly, negative western influence and corrupt governments have stopped its growth in so many manners. There are many excellent scientists, academicians and writers who work abroad because they did not get the requisite support from the government. Imagine some of the top scientists working in excellent institutions like N.A.S.A. and research institutions are Indians! You may have schools and the students but not sufficient number of teachers. If there are teachers then there may not be proper schools and resources. However, this has never demotivated any one from pursuing higher Education.
Everybody who is in global position shall endorse this fact Every parent aspires his or her child to learn to stay alive. It is some way related to inherent survival instinct. This is one of the reasons why so much emphasis is on knowledge and wisdom. In simple words, every one makes sacrifices to get knowledge from country’s first person to the lowest ranked worker! There fore Saraswati is prayed and loved by people belonging to all faiths!