Auspicious Dates and time for Aksharabhyasam in 2023
Vidyarambh Muhurat/ Aksharabhyasam Muhurat 2023:
‘Akshara’ means letters (alphabets) in Sanskrit and ‘abhyasam’ means practice. Aksharabhyasam is a traditional religious function of Hindus. It is also known as ‘Vidyaarambham’ which literally means starting of education. In this function a child is given initiation for writing / education. With this function the child is ready to receive formal education in a school. The function is performed in different ways in different regions of India.
Chant Sri Saraswathi Stotras to get blessings of goddess.
Auspicious Dates and Timings for Aksharabhyasam in 2023:
January 2022:
Featuring Gyan Yug Diwas: Maharishi’s New Year Celebration
February 2022:
Featuring Vasant Panchami: Bestowing wisdom, knowledge and enlightenment
March 2022:
Featuring Maha Shivaratri: Promoting progress in life
April 2022:
Featuring Vasantik Navaratri: Bestowing wealth, prosperity, health, longevity, and knowledge
May 2022:
Featuring Akshaya Tritiya: Day of Lasting Achievements
June 2022:
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July 2022:
Featuring Guru Purnima: Bestowing fullness of life
August 2022:
Featuring Krishna Janmashtami Enlivening skill in action
September 2022:
Featuring Shardiya Navaratri: Bestowing wealth, prosperity, health, longevity, knowledge and intelligence
October 2022:
Featuring Dipavali: Bestowing wealth, prosperity and bliss
November 2022:
Featuring Deva Prabodhini: Day of Awakening to enliven the creative impulses of Natural Law
Basant Panchami 2022/Vasantha Panchami 2022:
Many people prefer Akshrabhyasam on Vasanta panchami as it is Known as Birthday Goddess Sarawathi.
She is the Personification of knowledge arts,Science ,Creativity.She is invoked by those seeking divine clarity in their pursuit of knowledge, such as students or academics. In Hindu tradition, books are considered the embodiment of Saraswati and considered sacred. Saraswati has also been associated with music.
Aksharabhyasam Procedure:
Engage a priest and fix an auspicious day / time. Invite close relatives.Light up lamp / deepam in the puja mandir and be seated in a comfortable way / place. When the priest starts chanting mantras, keep do as per instructions.
Normally the child sits in his father’s or maternal uncle’s lap for ‘aksharabhyasam’. The child is made to hold a plate full of rice grains spread on it or a slate. The person in whose lap the child sits, holds its hand (normally right hand) and makes him / her write the first letters which are either ‘AUM’ or ‘Om Namah Sivaya‘ in regional language after the pooja is performed by the priest.
At the end of the puja, offer naivedyam like Rice kheer / payasam.
Items required for Aksharabhyasam:
Pooja Samagri:
Slate, Slate pencil, Coconut, 1 Kg Rice, Flowers, Garlands, Turmeric, Kumkum, Betel leaves, Betel Nuts.
Mantra should written on slate:
The child parent will hold the baby’s hand and rewrite the letters “Om Namah Sivaya Siddam Namah”,’AUM’.
The ideal age for Aksharabhyasam:
2 years 6 months. All required Pooja materials are available on the temple premises.
Highly Preferred days for Aksharabhyasam/Vidyarambam:
Akshaya Tritiya
Vasantha Panchami (Goddess Saraswati Birthday)
Guru Purnima
Garuda Panchami
Vyasa Purnima/ Buddha Purnima
Moola Nakshatra star day during Navaratri festival
Purnima day
Ekadasi day
Dwadasi day
Panchami day
Famous Temples for Aksharabhyasam:
Sringeri Sarada Peetam in Karnataka Kanipakam Varasiddi Vinayaka Swami Temple in AP Kollur Mookambika in Karnataka
Basara Saraswati Temple in Telangana
Koothanur Saraswathi Temple in Tamil Nadu
Tirumala Purohit Sangam
Any Hyagreeva Sannidhi
Wargal Saraswathi Devi Temple in Telangana
Why does Saraswathi ride a swan?
Saraswati usually uses a swan as her vehicle. It is said that the sacred swan has a sensitive beak that enables it to distinguish milk from a mixture of milk and water. Therefore swan symbolizes the power to discriminate between good and bad, right and wrong, the valuable and useless.
To Perform Aksharabhyasam/Special Akshara Srikaramat Basara Temple:
Aksharabhyasam timings – 7.30 a.m to 12.00 noon and 2.00 p.m to 6.30 p.m. Temple remains closed from 12 noon to 2.00 p.m.
For performing the ritual in the main temple premises in front of the main deity of Goddess Saraswati, buy Aksharabhyasam (special pooja) ticket for Rs.1000/- (subject to change). The temple opens daily at 4.00 a.m and tickets are sold from 4.00 a.m to 4.30 a.m.
The ritual is performed in mass and hundreds of families are crowded / seated inside the main temple.
An important point to note. This is performed in mass and hundreds of families are seated inside the main temple. The temple priest gives instructions in the mike before starting the pooja. Concentrate and follow the instructions carefully so that you can easily and successfully complete the pooja.
It will be very congested inside and a bit noisy too. You would find it difficult to sit properly due to crowd. Adjust yourself and try to sit at ease. Keep all the required items in your lap. And let your child sit in his / her father’s or in the lap of other family member who accompanies you. By doing so, you may feel convenient while performing the function.
Mantras will be chanted in the mike by the priest. Repeat the same and do as instructed in the mike. After the pooja is over, go in lines, give the slate along with the rice spread on it to the priest who is seated on a platform. He will make your child write ‘OM’ on the slate. You can then continue in the line, have darshan of Goddess Saraswati and move out.
You can even perform the function at any place within the temple premises but outside the sanctum sanctorum. Ticket for ordinary Aksharabhyasam pooja is Rs.100/-.
For performing the function in the main temple premises in front of the main deity of Goddess Saraswati, buy Aksharabhyasam (special pooja) ticket for Rs.1000/- (subject to change). The temple opens daily at 4.00 a.m and tickets are sold from 4.00 a.m to 4.30 a.m.
Akshara Srikaram Auspicious dates and time in 2022:
14 Nov 2.03 AM
17 Nov 9.57 AM
22Nov 9.38 AM
5Dec 1.23 AM
8Dec 1.12 AM
27Jan 9.10 AM
3Feb 8.42 AM
7Feb 9.09 AM
7Feb 11.40 AM
11Feb 8.10 AM
12Feb 8.49 AM
12Feb 11.20 AM
14Feb 11.12 AM
18Feb 8.25 AM
Basara Aksharabhyasam Pooja Benefits:
It is believed that the child will have Bright future
The child will be blessed with good knowledge.
No age restriction on the Aksharabhyasam Muhurtham
Even school going children can perform Aksharabhyasam.
Sringeri Temple Timings for Aksharabhyasam Muhurtham:
Timings: 8:00 AM to 1:00 PM
Ticket Cost: Rs.250 for one child and parents
Location: Sri Sharadamba Temple
Sringeri Aksharabhyasam Booking
No advance booking is required.
The seva ticket can be purchased at the temple counter by paying Rs.250.
Aksharabhyasa Requirements
Child should be between the age of 2.5 years and 5 years.
Child should be able to understand and speak well.
Bring with you a writing slate and chalk.
Recommended Dress Code:
Men – Dhoti/Kurta Pyjama. Women – Saree/Chudidar/Half Saree.
Best days to perform Sringeri Aksharabhyasam(Aksharabhyasam Muhurtham)
Aksharabhyasa is performed on all days other than Amavasya.
Auspicious days for Aksharabhyasam: Akshaya Tritiya, Vijaya Dasami, Lalita Panchami, Moola Nakshatra Day and Thursdays.There will be huge crowds on festival days and during April-May.
Sringeri Aksharabhyasa Procedure:
Aksharabhyasam Muhurtham Time needed: 30 minutes.Performed in Groups.
The pooja is performed in groups inside Sharadamba Temple. Headed by Temple Priest.The temple priest will provide clear instructions on how to perform the pooja. Child writing the letters. The temple priest will hold the child’s hand and write the letters.
Sharadamba Darshanam:
Have darshan of Sri Sharadamba after the pooja for a successful aksharabhyasa (Aksharabhyasam Muhurtham) of your child.