- Gnana Saraswati Temple is a Hindu temple of Goddess Saraswati located on the banks of Godavari River at Basar.
- It is one of the two famous Saraswati temples in India, the other being in Jammu & Kashmir. Saraswati is the Hindu Goddess of Knowledge and Learning. Children are brought to the temple for the learning ceremony called as Akshara abyasam.
- Basar is a census town in the Adilabad district in the state of Andhra Pradesh, India. It is about 30 km (19 mi) from Bhainsa, 50 km (31 mi) from Nizamabad, 70 km (43 mi) from Nirmal, and 205 km (127 mi) from Hyderabad.
- According to legend, Maharishi Vyasa and his disciples and sage Śuka decided to settle down in a cool and serene atmosphere after the Kurukshetra War.
- In the quest for a peaceful abode, he came to Dandaka forest and, pleased with serenity of the region, selected this place. After his ablutions in the Godavari, Maharishi Vyasa used to bring three fistful of sand and place it in three small heaps and made images of Saraswati, Lakshmi and Kali with his mystic power and later conducted prayers.
- This idol made of sand has its face smeared with turmeric. Eating a little bit of this turmeric paste, it is believed, will enhance one's wisdom and knowledge.
- Since Maharishi Vyasa spent considerable time in prayers, the place was then called "Vasara" and turned into Basara due to the influence of the Marathi language in the region.
- However, according to the Brahmanda Purana, the poet Valmiki installed Saraswati and wrote Ramayana here. There is a marble image of Valmiki and his Samādhi near the temple.
- It is also believed that this temple is one of the three temples constructed near the confluence of the Manjira and Godavari rivers by Ashtrakutas.
- Historically, 'Bijialudu' a Karnataka king, who ruled the province of Nandagiri with Nanded as his capital in the sixth century, constructed the temple at Basara.
- Many pilgrims come to Basara 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 Dasara.
- The temple also has a Mahalakshmi 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.
- The outer walls and the four gopurams were constructed in the period of Sri Veera Narasimharayar in twelfth century.
- The 120 feet (37 m) high main gopuram and the 100 pillar mandapam were constructed by Krishnadevaraya, the Vijayanagara king in 1516. Mr.Ramanathan Nattukkottai Chettiyar of Devakkottai, developed the structure as it is today by spending one million dollars in 1912.
- There is a lamp inside the inner sanctum that is constantly flickering despite the lack of air movement inside.
- The air-linga can be observed to move even when the priests close off the entrance to the main deity room, which does not have any windows.
- One can see the flames on several ghee lamps flicker as if blown by moving air. The linga is white and is considered Swayambhu, or self-manifested.
- Kalahasti is surrounded by two sacred hills. The Durgamba temple is on the northern hill. On the south hill there is the shrine of Kannabeswara, in memory of the Sage Kannappa, who offered his eyes to the Lord.
- There is also a temple dedicated to Lord Subramanya on one of the surrounding hills.
- The main linga is untouched by human hands, even by the priest. Abhisheka (bathing) is done by pouring a mixture of water, milk, camphor, and panchamrita. Sandal paste, flowers and the sacred thread are offered to the utsava-murti, not the main linga.
- The temple is also associated with Rahu and Kethu (of the nine grahams or celestial bodies in the Indian astrological scheme).
- The river Suvarnamukhi takes the northerly course at Sri Kalahasthi almost washing the west wall of the famous temple .
- Inside this very large temple, situated between two steep hills Sripuram and Mummidi-cholapuram, is the Sivalinga set to represent the element of Vayu.
- This temple is considered as the Kailash of the South or Dakshin Kailash. Saivaite saints of the first century sang about this temple. This temple is one of the most impressive Siva temples in India.
- Vishwakarma brahmin Sthapthis who sculpted this temple need to be eulogized for their excellent architectural cognizance.
- This temple features an enormous, ancient gopuram (entrance tower) over the main gate. The tower is 36.5m (120 ft) high. The entire temple is carved out of the side of a huge stone hill. The initial structure of this temple was constructed by the Pallava dynasty.
- The Chola kings and the Vijayanagara kings also gave great help for the temple development. Like other great temples, the construction period of Sri Kalahasthi temple lasted centuries.
- Around the tenth century, the Chola kings renovated the temple and constructed the main structure.
