Saraswati, the Hindu goddess of knowledge and music, is worshipped each year on Basant Panchami.
Basant Panchami is a Hindu festival that celebrates the arrival of Spring through the worship of Saraswati, the goddess of knowledge and music. On this day, Ma Saraswati is worshipped with great fervor and devotion, especially by students in educational institutions across India. In addition, many young children are given their first lesson in writing on this holiday through a ritual called haathe-korii. Since this auspicious holiday is coming up in just a few days on Friday, we are presenting the lyrics and English translation to one of Bollywood’s only homages to goddess Saraswati: maataa sarasvatii shardaa from Alaap (1977).
As many of you probably know, bhajans dedicated to Saraswati are a rare commodity in the arena of Bollywood cinema. The majority of the film industry’s references to Hinduism focus on Vishnu in the form of Krishna and his consort Radha. What is the reason behind Bollywood’s obsession with Radha and Krishna? The most obvious answer is that the love stories presented in Hindi films lend themselves easily to comparisons to the romance shared between these two figures of Hinduism. Bollywood heroes can identify with flirtatious Krishna who uses his charm to seduce Radha whose delicate coyness resembles that of Bollywood heroines. An austere deity like Saraswati, symbolizing wisdom and education, finds little glamor in an industry that is driven primarily by themes based on love and romance.
In what context does Saraswati receive prominence in Hrishikesh Mukherjee’s Alaap (1977)? Tuned by Jaidev in Raga Bhairavi, a version of this bhajan sung by Yesudas, Madhurani, and Dilraj Kaur opens the film as Amitabh Bachhan prays to Saraswati for her blessings at the music school where he studies classical vocal. This bhajan also concludes the film when a version sung by Lata Mangeshkar and Dilraj Kaur is reprised on Rekha singing along with her son for her husband Amitabh who has contracted a severe case of tuberculosis. The homage to Saraswati is fitting in Alaap because the film’s plot is driven in part by music. In Alaap, Amitabh Bachhan desires to become a classically trained vocalist against the wishes of his conservative father Om Prakash who refuses to accept music as a legitimate profession. He pressures Amitabh to become a lawyer like himself and the ensuing resentment leads to a bitter conflict between father and son that culminates in a tragic conclusion.
As the holiday of Basant Panchami approaches with its celebration of learning and new beginnings, we hope that you enjoy this beautiful bhajan and our English translation provided below. May Ma Saraswati bless all of us in our academic and musical pursuits during the upcoming year. Until next time…
-Mr. 55
P.S. This non-filmi Saraswati Vandana recorded by Lata is also divinely enchanting: yaa kundendu tushaar haar dhavalaa.
Amitabh Bacchan looks pious in white during prayers to Ma Saraswati in a music school in Alaap (1977)
Mata Saraswati Sharda: Lyrics and Translation
maataa sarasvatii sharadaa,
Mother Saraswati,
he maataa sarasvatii sharadaa!
Oh mother Saraswati!
vidyaadaanii dayaanii dukh-harinii
You are the giver of knowledge, the goddess of compassion, and the remover of sorrow.
jagatajananii jvaalaamukhii
You are the fire-mouthed mother of this world.
maataa sarasvatii sharadaa!
Mother Saraswati!
kiije sudrishTi
Please cast an auspicous glance upon us,
sevak jaan apnaa
and know us as your humble servants.
itnaa vardaan diije
Please grant us these boons:
taan, taal, aur aalaap
musical mastery of passagework, rhythm, and preludes.
buddhii ala.nkaar, sharadaa
Knowledge is your jewel, Saraswati.
he maataa sarasvatii shardaa!
Oh mother Saraswati!
Glossary
maataa: mother; sarasvatii: Hindu goddess of learning and music; sharadaa: another name for Saraswati; vidyaadaanii: giver of knowledge; dayaanii: goddess of compassion; dukh-harinii: remover of sorrow; jagatjananii: mother of the world; jvaalaamukhii: fire-mouthed; sudrishTii: auspicious glance; sevak: servant; vardaan: boon; taan: musical passagework; taal: rhythm; aalaap: prelude to a raag; buddhii: knowledge; ala.nkaar: jewel, ornamentation.
Rekha sings a reprise of this bhajan with her son for her ailing husband Amitabh in the conclusion of Alaap (1977)
Mr. & Mrs. 55 - Classic Bollywood Revisited! 
Interesting post. Congrats on becoming well known Mr and Mrs 55! U guys are an accomplished lot! I’m quite staggered and very impressed that u guys manage to make time to run this blog, given the onerous nature of your other activities, full time uni students and also dashing about the place making documentaries on health care in Nigeria…..it must be like shuttling between worlds Mrs. 55….like phasing in and out of totally different mental zones, witnessing so much want and struggle one moment, and writing about Bollywood golden oldies the next. Bollywood is not all lightness and frivolity- far from it, but it’s like simultaneously immersing yourself in very different spheres of activity. Perhaps the delightful and lovable qualities of classic bollywood are further enhanced given the nature of your other activities.
Lovely post! Thank you for sharing this beautiful writeup.
Good choice & commentary !
I’ve always wondered why Saraswati does not have as much visibility as some other gods & goddesses. Perhaps learning & intellect & wisdom rank low in the practical transformation of spirituality & religion. And this is reflected in our films too? You have rightly explained it. What still ‘rankles’ is this invisibility Despite the heavy reliance of B-films on music & song ! Ironical, wouldn’t you say ?!
Alankara just means decoration. In the context of this poem, I wonder if alankaar refers to the figures of speech that is highly valued in Sanskrit literature and Saraswathi was after all the presiding deity of Sanskrit literature.