Significance
The fourth and final day of Saraswati Puja during Navratri is known as Saraswati Visarjan day. Saraswati Visarjan is also known as Saraswati Udvasan. In Goa, Maharashtra and Karnataka, Saraswati Puja starts with Saraswati Avahan on Maha Saptami and ends on Vijayadashami with Saraswati Udasan or Visarjan.
Saraswati Puja calendar:
Saraswati Puja Avahan – Maha Saptami – Triratna vratam starts in Andhra Pradesh.
Saraswati Puja (main puja) – Durga Ashtami
Saraswati Uttara Puja – Mahanavami
Saraswati Visarjan or Udasan – Vijaya Dashami
History
Saraswati is found in almost every major ancient and medieval Indian literature from 1000 BC to 1500 AD. She has remained significant as a goddess from the Vedic age through modern times of Hindu traditions. In Shanti Parva of the Hindu epic Mahabharata, Saraswati is called the mother of the Vedas, and later as the celestial creative symphony who appeared when Brahma created the universe. In Book 2 of Taittiriya Brahmana, she is called the mother of eloquent speech and melodious music. Saraswati is the active energy and power of Brahma.
How to Celebrate
At the beginning of any pooja, such as Goddess saraswat pooja, the presiding deity is first invoked in a murti for the purpose of worship. At the end of the pooja, the presiding deity (Saraswati) is requested to depart from the murti. "Visarjan" is a Sanskrit word that refers to this final rite and act of respectfully requesting departure. The murti is viewed as a temporary body and is then returned to Nature by submersion into running water, such as a lake, river or the sea. The act is not necessary for inaugurated (pratishthit) permanent murtis found in Hindu temples.
In order to understand the practice of Visarjan, we must first understand the concept of worship in the Hindu faith. The worship of the Almighty in Sanatan Dharma may be through the 'Saakaar' (with form) or 'Niraakaar' (formless). The Niraakaar method requires no physical depiction, or object and meditation (dhyaan) is a form of this kind of worship. The Saakaar method requires a physical medium such as a murti through which the Almighty is venerated and 'Pooja' or 'Archana' are forms of this act of worship. Most often, murtis are made primarily from clay and straw so that it could be returned to Nature from which it came. This practice shows that Hindus respect the environment and Nature and it is consistent with good "green" practices today.
