Gnana Saraswati Temple

Sri Gnana Saraswathi Devi Temple is situated on the banks of river Godavari at Basar, a census town in Adilabad district, Telangana.

The presiding deity of this temple is Goddess Saraswathi, the goddess of knowledge and learning. There is also an idol of Goddess Lakshmi, who is beside the deity of Goddess Saraswathi.

Sri Gnana Saraswathi Devi Temple also has a separate shrine for Goddess Mahakali, which is located very near to the main temple.

As the temple has the presence of Goddess Saraswathi, Goddess Lakshmi and Goddess Mahakali, the temple is called as Divine Trinity.

Sri Gnana Saraswathi Devi temple is considered to be one of the two very famous temples of Goddess Saraswathi in India.

The other temple of Goddess Saraswathi is located at Jammu and Kashmir. It is said that a Karnataka king named Bijialudu, who ruled Nandagiri, a village in Telangana, constructed this temple.

Children are brought to this temple to perform Akshara abyasam, a traditional religious ceremony in which the child is given the initiation of education before they start their formal school education.

Many pilgrims come to Gnana Saraswati Temple Basar 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 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 Dasahara.

The temple also has a 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.