Love and Ceremony: A Daughter’s Ode to Saraswati 

An evocative poem, by Dr Roopali, exclusively for Different Truths, is about a child’s love for Saraswati, the Goddess of Learning, awakens creativity and hope.

Oh, Goddess of Learning
stilled in marble
the mighty lotus holds
you and the primordial Veena.
Adorning your feet are adoring celestial swans.
 
Your four hands grasp
the book of all knowledge.
the pot of water the source of life
and a rosary
to count the continuity of time. 
 
You ruled my father and my mother’s home 
I grew up with you. 
You were everywhere. 
On the strings of Mother’s sitar
in my fingers on the tabla
in the voice of father’s songs
In the tinkling anklet of sister’s dancing feet
and in the colours of our painting palette.
 
Through woodcut figures
on my desk you watched over me. 
scribbled in Bangla
a gift and a blessing
from an old aunt.
That was a long time ago.  
 
Mid-morning on Basant Panchami  
we bathed you
with milk and turmeric and 
installed you with great love and ceremony. 
 
Remember, how we stole
yellow and white flowers
from the temple compound to please you? 
The empty ink bottle
we ceremoniously filled
with water and milk
and a bit of honey
awaiting your indelible divine writing. 
 
All other mortal pens lay inert. 
Washed clean for a new beginning.
 
On this day, every year,
our soldier father morphed into a solemn priest.
Ringing a tiny brass bell
and uttering mantras from handwritten paper!
Tong-tong-tong Saraswati. 
We laid out our books before you
fervently praying
 “Lift us up oh Mother Goddess. Get us good marks.”
“Om-om-om Saraswati Namaha”, we chanted. 
Our books piled at your altar
we romped at play 
on swings all day.
 
Mother dressed in red and white
looked just like you.
With many fruits
heaped on a silver plate
and your favourite
the green oblong ber fruit right on top. 
 
Trees and carts gleam
with green and gold sweet bers
heralding your coming. 
In spring when the marigold blooms
and the fragrant Hasna Hena fills the night air 
you descend to remind us
of the songs and rhythms
and music of the universe. 
 
Goddess Saraswati, we invoke you. 
Without you, we are pieces of clay. 
Perform our pran pratishtha 
make our hearts beat like Shiva’s dumroo. 
Impregnate our restless mind
and reveal to us the divine.

Your Veena, dear celestial Goddess
Is the harmony and rhythm of life.
Shower on us, Oh Mother Saraswati
Your wisdom
Let the strings of your Veena
string together peace 
and humankind.

Picture design by Anumita Roy