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{{short description|Hindu temple in Telangana, India}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2015}}
{{Use Indian English|date=March 2015}}
{{Infobox Hindu temple
| name = Gnana Saraswati Temple
| image = Basar Temple view 02.jpg
| image_upright =
| alt =
| caption =
| map_type = India Telangana#India
| map_caption = Location in Telangana
| coordinates = {{coord|18|52|40|N|77|57|23|E|type:landmark_region:IN|display=inline,title}}
| native_name = {{lang|te|శ్రీ జ్ఞాన సరస్వతి దేవస్థానము}}
| country = [[India]]
| state = [[Telangana]]
| district = [[Nirmal]]
| location = [[Basara, Telangana|Basara]]
| elevation_m = 579
| deity = [[Saraswati]]
| festivals= Saraswati Puja
| architecture = [[South Indian]]
| temple_quantity =
| monument_quantity=
| inscriptions =
| established =
| creator =
}}
'''Gnana Saraswati Temple''' ({{lang-te|శ్రీ జ్ఞాన సరస్వతి దేవస్థానము}}) is a [[Hindu temple]] of [[Goddess Saraswati]] located on the banks of [[Godavari River]] at [[Basara, Telangana|Basara]], [[Telangana]], [[India]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/17898376.cms|title = Literacy campaign launched in AP | Hyderabad News - Times of India}}</ref> It is one of the two famous Saraswati temples in the [[Indian subcontinent]], the other being [[Sharada Peeth]]. Saraswati is the [[Hindu]] Goddess of knowledge and learning. Children are brought to the temple for the learning ceremony called as [[Akshara abyasam]].

Basara is a census town in the [[Nirmal district]] in the state of Telangana.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://newdistrictsformation.telangana.gov.in/uploads/gos-circulars/1476129948200223.Nirmal.pdf|title=Nirmal District|access-date=18 Oct 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161019094550/http://newdistrictsformation.telangana.gov.in/uploads/gos-circulars/1476129948200223.Nirmal.pdf|archive-date=19 October 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref> It is about {{convert|30|km|0|abbr=on}} from [[Bhainsa]],{{convert|15.5|km|0|abbr=on}} from [[Dharmabad]], {{convert|34.8|km|0|abbr=on}} from [[Nizamabad district|Nizamabad]], {{convert|96.0|km|0|abbr=on}} from [[Nanded district|Nanded]], {{convert|70|km|0|abbr=on}} from district headquarters [[Nirmal]], and {{convert|205|km|0|abbr=on}} from [[Hyderabad, India|Hyderabad]].

==History==
According to Mahabharatha, [[Maharishi]] [[Vyas]] and his disciples and sage [[Viswamitra]] decided to settle down in a cool and serene atmosphere after the [[Kurukshetra War]]. In the quest for a peaceful abode, he came to [[Dandaka]] forest and, pleased with serenity of the region, selected this place. Since Maharishi Vyasa spent considerable time in prayers, the place was then called "Vasara" and turned into Basara due to the influence of the [[Marathi language]] in this region.{{Citation needed|date=October 2020}}

It is also believed that this temple is one of the three temples constructed near the confluence of the [[Manjira]] and [[Godavari River|Godavari]] rivers.

Historically, 'Bijialudu' a [[Karnataka]] king, who ruled the province of [[Nandagiri]] with [[Nanded]] as his capital in the sixth century, constructed the temple at Basara. In the 17th century, the idols of the temple were reinstated by a chieftain of Nandagiri (Nanded) subsequent to destruction caused by Muslim invaders.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.bharatonline.com/andhra-pradesh/travel/adilabad/saraswathi-temple.html|title=Saraswati Temple Basara - Saraswathi Temple of Basara, Sarasvati Temple Basar Andhra Pradesh|website=www.bharatonline.com|access-date=2019-07-07}}</ref>

==The Temple today==

[[File:basara-ghat.jpg|thumb|265px|Photo of the river Godavari, behind/adjacent to the temple, taken on 30 April 2011.]]

[[File:Goddess Saraswati beside Godavari river.jpg|thumb|Goddess Saraswati beside Godavari river]]

Many pilgrims come to Gnana Saraswati Temple Basara to perform the "Akshara abhyasam" ceremony for the children before they start formal school education. The children perform the exercise of letters, and devote books, pens, pencils notebooks to the goddess of knowledge. The [[Puja (Hinduism)|Puja]] at the temple starts at 4 am in morning with Abhishekam which carries on for an hour. At 5 o'clock they start the Alankarana whereby the new sarees are adorned to the goddesses. The whole atmosphere is very pious and pure. At 6 am, in the rays of the morning sun, the aarti starts at the temple after which the prasadam is given to the devotees.

Special poojas and celebrations are held at the temple during [[Maha Shivaratri]], beginning 15 days before (Vasantha Panchami) and continuing 3 days after the festival. Devi Navarathrulu is celebrated for ten days during [[Navratri|Dasara]].

The temple also has a [[Kali|Mahakali]] idol situated on the 1st floor very near to the main temple. Devotees often go to the nearby mountain which has an Idol of Goddess Saraswati on the top of the rock. The image of Lakshmi stands besides the Goddess Saraswati in the sanctum sanctorum. Due to the presence of Saraswati, Lakshmi and Kali, Basara is considered as the abode of the divine trinity.

==Transport==
The temple is located about 210 kilometers (via road) from the nearest city [[Hyderabad]]. It is well connected by district buses, run by [[Telangana State Road Transport Corporation|TSRTC]]. [[Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation|MSRTC]] buses also run from Hyderabad, [[Nanded]], etc. The nearest railway station to the temple is Basara Railway Station, located about 2.4 km away.

==See also==
*[[List of Hindu temples in India]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
{{commons category|Gnana Saraswati Temple, Basar}}
* [http://www.wikimapia.org/#lat=18.8779859&lon=77.9566938&z=18&l=19&m=a&v=2 Wikimapia]
* [http://basaraTemple.org BasaraTemple.org]
* [https://1temples.com/basara-gnana-saraswati Basara Temple Timings]

{{Hindu Temples in Telangana}}

[[Category:Hindu temples in Adilabad district]]
[[Category:Saraswati temples]]

Gnana Saraswati Temple - Revision history

Ajay Kumar: Creating a new article