Basar - A Rare Temple of Goddess Saraswathi

Jnaana Saraswathi Temple

In our country we find very few temples of Goddess Saraswathi which are of very ancient origin. Out of two such famous temples dedicated to Goddess Saraswathi one which can be easily accessed is in the Adilabad district of Telangana State in a prominent place called Basar. Situated on the Banks of holy river Godavari, Goddess at Basar is known as Jnaana Saraswathi the one who bestows knowledge. It is the only ancient temple (more than 5000 years old) in the entire South India that is dedicated to the Goddess of Learning Sri Saraswathi.

(Jnaana Saraswathi - Basar)

Legend behind the Temple...

According to the sthala purana (local legend), it is said that Sage Sri Veda Vyasa of Mahabharata fame went on a pilgrimage as part of his spiritual pursuit after the Kurukshetra war. During the course of his journey, he reached Basar, situated on the banks of the holy river Godavari in the Dandakaranya region. Finding this place incredibly peaceful and serene for his penance, he settled down to meditate.

It is believed that the Divine Mother appeared before him and ordained him to install the idols of the Shakthi trio: Maha Saraswathi, Maha Lakshmi, and Maha Kali. Accordingly, Sage Sri Veda Vyasa brought three handfuls of sand from the riverbed and began worshiping the Divine Mother. Miraculously, these sand heaps transformed into the solid idols of Goddess Lakshmi, Saraswathi, and Kali. Due to the presence of Sage Sri Veda Vyasa, who stayed at this place from then on, the area initially came to be known as Vyaasapuri. Over time, the name evolved phonetically into Vasara, and ultimately into Basara or Basar.

Though it is a sacred kshetra of the Shakthi trio, the site became universally renowned as a Saraswathi kshetra dedicated to the Goddess of Learning, known here as Goddess Gnana Saraswathi. The presiding deity, Goddess Saraswathi, is depicted in a seated position holding her sacred musical instrument, the Veena, in two hands. As a unique marvel, the sand idol is beautifully bedecked with turmeric paste. The separate shrines of Maha Lakshmi and Maha Kali are located close by, just a short distance away. 

The Jnana Saraswathi Temple at Basar is globally famous for a sacred ritual known as Aksharabhyasam—the formal initiation of a young child into education. Countless devotees bring their children to this temple, especially on the auspicious day of Vasantha Panchami, to perform the Aksharabhyasam ceremony in the firm belief that it will bless them with immense prosperity in their education and life-long learning.

Festivals at Basar

Grand celebrations are hosted at this Saraswathi temple on the occasions of Vasantha Panchami and Maha Shivarathri, which typically fall during the months of January and February. The temple also celebrates the Devi Navarathri festival and Dussehra with great fervor during September and October. On these sacred occasions, thousands of pilgrims take a holy dip in the river Godavari before seeking the divine blessings of Goddess Gnana Saraswathi.

How to Reach Basar?

Though the temple historically fell under the Adilabad District administration, it is geographically much closer to Nizamabad town in northern Telangana (formerly part of Andhra Pradesh). Basar is excellently connected by both rail and road networks.

• By Road: Nizamabad is well-connected via National Highway 7 (NH-7). State transport buses (TSRTC/APSRTC) operate numerous services to Basar, connecting it to all major towns and cities. By road, Basar is located 210 km from Hyderabad, 55 km from Nizamabad, and 70 km from Nirmal. Nanded in Maharashtra is situated just 80 km away.

• By Rail: Basar is prominently featured on the Indian Railway map, situated along the Hyderabad–Manmad section of the South Central Railway zone at a distance of about 30 km from Nizamabad. All passenger and express trains operating on this route provide a scheduled halt at the Basar railway station.

• By Air: The nearest airport is Rajiv Gandhi International Airport in Hyderabad, which is an international gateway located approximately 210 km away from the temple.

Stay and Accommodation

For a single-day itinerary, an overnight stay may not be necessary, as pilgrims can comfortably return to the nearby city of Nizamabad or Hyderabad by nightfall. For travelers wishing to stay overnight, there are several hotels and guest houses available—including accommodations managed by the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD)—offering clean lodging options to devotees at a reasonable cost.

For More Details...

Executive Officer,
Sri Gnana Saraswathi Devasthanam,
Basara Village, Mudhole Mandal,
Nirmal District (formerly Adilabad), Pin - 504101,
Telangana (formerly Andhra Pradesh), India 

Sri Krishnaarpanamasthu

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