Sarasvati

Saraswati Saraswati, goddess of knowledge God of learning, the arts, and rivers Devanagari: सरस्वती Sanskrit Transliteration: Sarasvatī Affiliation: Devi Consort: Brahmā Mount: swan, peacock

In Hinduism, Saraswati (Sanskrit सरस्वती sarasvatī) is the goddess of learning, knowledge and the arts such as music, literature and speech. She was originally regarded as a river goddess, characterized by creative, purifying, and nourishing properties. Along with Lakshmi and Durga, Sarsvati is one of the goddesses who represent the female counterparts of the gods in the Trimurti: she is the consort of Brahma, the Hindu god of creation.

Function

Early Conception

The Rigvedic hymns dedicated to Saraswati mention her as a mighty river with creative, purifying, and nourishing properties. This river flows down to earth from heaven. She is praised for her ability ot cleanse and fertilize. She is the earliest example of a goddess associated with the river in the Indian tradition, a role which would later be assumed by Ganga and Jumna, the feminine personification of the Ganges. The best theory regarding the mighty Vedic Sarasvati River states that it was formed by the present headwaters of the Yamuna River. In ancient times, after they had left the Himalayan foothills, the waters of the Yamuna turned west instead of east at Paonta Saheb. Next, the river flowed southwest across the Punjab and Haryana regions along the course of the modern Ghaggar-Hakra River in a pathway roughly parallel to the smaller Indus River to its west. The Sutlej flowed further east than it does today, and joined the Sarasvati somewhere near Bahawalpur. Eventually, the wide river emptied into the Rann of Kutch, which at the time was a more integral part of the Arabian Sea.

The Vedas attributed Sarasvati with two major functions. First, she bestowed bounty, fertility and riches upon her worshippers. Her waters enriched the land enabling the production of food, her waters supporting life in the dry climate of Northwest India. Secondly, Sarasvati in the form of running water represented purity. Considering the Vedic fixation upon purity, it is not surprising that rituals were often performed on the banks of the Sarasvati river, which were held to be sacred. Because of her association with purity, Sarasvati was also associated with medicine and healing: in the Satapatha-brahmana she is invoked to heal sickness, and in the Rg-Veda she is related tot he Svinas, twin gods associated with healing.

Along the course of the Sarasvati, the Harappan Civilization developed. The earliest known examples of writing in India have been found in the ruined cities that line the now dry riverbed of the ancient waterway. Some have postulated that the goddess Saraswati gained her role as personified communication and the giver of knowledge due to the role of the Sarasvati River in the development of written language in ancient India. The worship given to Sarasvati as the river personified indicates that the Aryans had come to identify their culture with a specific location and were beginning to settle into a sedentary way of life

Between 2000 B.C.E. and 1700 B.C.E., seismic activity caused the waters of the river's two main sources to change course. The Sutlej moved course westward and became a tributary of the Indus River. The Yamuna moved course eastward and became a tributary of the Ganges. The tremendous loss of water which resulted from these movements caused the once mighty river to become sluggish and dry up in the Thar Desert without ever reaching the sea. Without any water for irrigation or transportation, the dense population of the river basin soon shifted east with the waters of the Yamuna to the Ganges River valley. Late Vedic texts record the river as disappearing at Vinasana (literally, "the disappearing"), and as joining both the Yamuna and Ganges as an invisible river. Some claim that the sanctity of the modern Ganges is directly related to its assumption of the holy, life-giving waters of the ancient Sarasvati.

Recently, archaeologists using satellite images have been able to trace the course of the river. A small channel of water flows near Kurukshetra. A nearby signboard denoting the former path of the once great Sarasvati River can be seen along the main highway (GT road). There is currently one river in India called Saraswati; it flows from the west end of the Aravalli Hills into the east end of the Rann of Kutch.

Later Conceptions

As the centuries passed, Sarsvati's connection with the river became deemphasized, and her current characteristics bear little resemblance to the early goddess. Later Vedic literature (such as the Brahmanas) associates or equates Sarasvati with Vac, the goddess of speech. Numerous epithets note this connection such as Vagdevi ("goddess of speech"), Jihvagravasini ("dwelling in the front of the tounge") and Saddavasini ("she who dwells in sound"). It is this speech which sets human beings apart from animals, and so Sarsvati becomes connected with the higher faculties of the intellect, which render humans truly unique within creation.

This came to extend beyond speech and into learning, culture, and wisdom as well. Sarsvati is not just the sound of speech, but also the intellgence and thought which makes speech possible. This is evident once again by examining her epithets, including Smrtisakti ("the power of memory"), Jnanasakti ("the power of knowledge") and Kalpanasakti ("the power of forming ideas"). Sarsvati is the ability which distinguishes humans as beings of reason.

Hence comes Sarsvati's connection with science, learning and art. She is considered the inspiration for the various arts and sciences. She is the accumulated product of human thought, including most importantly the Vedas, as is evident in her epithet Vedagarbha ("womb of the Vedas"). She is manifest in places where knowledge is disseminatd, such as schools or libaries. She also provides inspiration for poets and artists, who praise her and ask for her help. All in all, she represents the richness of human society.

This has lead to a number of epithets which suggest primordial or cosmic associations for Sarsvati's powers. This evident in epithets which refer to her as a sort of universal mother, such as Jagamata ("mother of the world") and Visvarupa ("containing all forms within her"). Since the faculties which she protects have allowed humans to establish dominion over other beings, she has bestowed them with a godlike nature, which suggests she herself controls the highest powers of the cosmos.

As a river/water goddess, Saraswati symbolizes fertility and prosperity. She is associated with purity and creativity, especially in the context of communication, such as in literary and verbal skills. In the post-Vedic age, She began to lose her status as a river goddess and became increasingly associated with literature, arts, music, etc. Her name literally means "the one who flows", which apparently was applied to thoughts, words, or the flow of a river (in Sanskrit: "dhaara-pravaah"). Saraswati is also associated with anurāga, the love for and rhythm of music which represents all emotions and feelings expressed in speech or music. It is believed that children born with that name will prove to be very lucky in their studies.

Sarasvati does maintain some characteristics of her earlier history in connection to water. She is associate with clouds and thunder, and is considered the patron deity of rain. Vamana-Purana 40.14 connects Sarasvati to the clouds which produce rain as well as water in general.

Attributes

Appearance

Goddess Saraswati is often depicted as a beautiful woman with snow-white skin. She is sometimes said to be smeared in sandalwooed paste. She is dressed either in pure white, which are fiery in their purity. She is often seated on a white lotus (although Her actual vahana is believed to be a swan), which symbolizes that she is founded in the experience of the Absolute Truth, and that although rooted in mud, she rises above it. Thus, she not only has the knowledge but also the experience of the Highest Reality. She is mainly associated with the color white, which signifies the purity of true knowledge. Occasionally, however, she is also associated with the colour yellow, the colour of the flowers of the mustard plant that bloom at the time of her festival in the spring. She is not adorned heavily with jewels and gold, unlike the goddess Lakshmi, but is dressed modestly—perhaps representing her preference of knowledge over worldly material things.

She is generally shown to have four arms, which represent the four aspects of human personality in learning: mind, intellect, alertness, and ego. In one hand she holds a book, which is the sacred Vedas, representing the universal, divine, eternal, and true knowledge as well as her perfection of the sciences and the scriptures. In another hand she holds a garland (mala) of white pearls, representing the power of meditation and spirituality. In another hand she holds a pot of sacred water, representing her creative and purificatory powers. Her fourth hand holds the veena, a lute-like musical instrument that represents her perfection of all arts and sciences.

A white swan(hamsa) is often located next to her feet. The sacred swan, if offered a mixture of milk and water, is said to be able to drink the milk alone. The swan thus symbolizes discrimination between the good and the bad or the eternal and the evanescent. For Hindus the swan also traditionally symbolizes spiritual transcendece and perfection. Due to her association with the swan, Goddess Saraswati is also referred to as Hamsa-vahini, which means "she who has a swan as her vehicle". Her seat upon the swan marks her transcendence over the imperfections of the physical world. Sometimes a peacock is shown beside the goddess. This peacock represents arrogance and pride over its beauty, and by having a peacock as her mount, the Goddess teaches Hindus not to be concerned with external appearance and to be wise regarding the eternal truth. She is usually depicted near a flowing river, which may be related to her early history as a water goddess. The swan and her association with the lotus flower also point to her ancient origin.

Consorts

Hindu goddesses are most always paired with a male consort who has comparable traits. Sarasvati's consort is Brahma, the Hindu god responsible for the creation of the universe. In some myths, Sarasvati is also said to be Brahma's daughter. In his desire to create the world, Brahma went into meditation, dividing his body into two: one half male, the other a female, which is Sarasvati. Brahma promptly became smitten with his other half, and made love to her, creating the demigod Manu, who in turn created the world. Other myths suggest that Sarasvati originated from the tounges located in the various heads of Brahma when he created the world by way of creative speech. In this way, she is linked to be the creative sound, AUM, which allows humanity to take on a unique dimension within Brahma's creation.

Another legend involving Sarasvati and Brahma tells of a great fire-sacrifice (or yajna) which was about to take place on Earth with the sage Brahmarishi Bhrigu serving as the high priest. It was decided that the greatest among all gods would be made the presiding deity, and so Bhrigu set off in order to find which god was greatest among the Trinity of Brahma (creator), Vishnu (preserver) and Shiva (destroyer). When he came to Brahmā, the god was so immersed in the music played by Sarasvati that he could hardly hear Bhrigu's calls. The enraged Bhrigu promptly cursed Brahmā, pronouncing that no person on Earth would provide worship to him ever again. This legend is given as an explanation for the deficit in worship given to Brahma when compared to his counterparts in the Trimurti.

The Brahma-vaivarta-Purana links Sarasvati with Krishna, who is held in that text to be the ultimate reality. Here Krishna is said to have divided himself into male and female, purusha and prakriti, referring respectively to the spirit and matter which are necessary for creation. Krishna's female half takes on five dynamic powers, or shaktis. One of these is Sarasvati, whose role is to pervade reality with insight, knowledge and learning.

Sarasvati is also linked with the preserver God Vishnu. She is sometimes said to be his tounge, or else held in his mouth. This renders her his co-wife along with Lakshmi. She represents spiritual, ascetic or religious well-being compared to Laksmhi more worldly well-being in the form of wealth and political power. As such, these two wives do not get along well. According to Brahma Vaivarta Purana 2.6.13-95, the quarreling of Sarasvati and Lakshmi along with Vishnu's third wife Ganga impells Vishnu to give Ganga to Shiva and Saraswati to Brahma.

Origins and context in Hinduism

In the Rig-Veda (6,61,7), Saraswati is credited, in association with Indra, with killing the serpentine being Vritraasura, a demon which hoarded all of the earth's water and so represents drought, darkness, and chaos. She is often seen as equivalent to other Vedic goddesses such as Vak, Savitri, and Gayatri. Saraswati represents intelligence, consciousness, cosmic knowledge, creativity, education, enlightenment, music, the arts, and power. She is not only worshipped for secular knowledge, but for the true divine knowledge essential to achieve moksha. She is also referred to as Shonapunya, a Sanskrit word meaning ‘one purified of blood’.

In some Puranas (like Skanda Purana) she is associated with Shiva and in some Tantras with Ganesha.

Saraswati Stuthi states that she is the only Goddess to be revered by all the three great gods of Hinduism, Brahmā, Vishnu, and Shiva as well as the asuras (demons), the gandharvas (the divine musicians), and the nagas (the divine serpents).

The original (spiritual) forms of devas including Saraswati are present in the spiritual world:

"In the centre [of Vaikuntha] reside the deities of fire, sun and moon, Kurma-avatara, Ananta Sesha, and Garuda, the master of the three Vedas. The Vedic hymns and all sacred mantras also stay in that holy place, which is made of all the Vedas, and which is known in the Smriti-sastra as the yoga-pitha."

Rupa Gosvami elaborates: "Accompanied by Goddess Lakshmi and other associates, the catur-vyuha expansions headed by Lord Vasudeva are manifest in the eight directions, beginning with the east. In the directions beginning with the southeast, the palaces of Lakshmi, Saraswati, Rati, and Kanti respectively are situated."

According toVedanta she is considered to be the feminine energy and knowledge aspect (shakti) of Brahman, as one of many aspects of Adi Shakti.

Saraswati murti for Vasant Panchami celebrations in Bengal

Worship

Saraswati is worshipped during Navaratri. In South India, Saraswati Puja is a very important festival. Major Saraswati Poojas of South India are at Kollur Temple (in Karnataka), Chottanikkara Temple and Panachikad Temple in Kerala. The last three days of Navaratri starting from Mahalaya Amavasya (the New Moon day) are dedicated to the goddess. On the ninth day of Navaratri (Mahanavami), books and all musical instruments are ceremoniously kept near the gods early at dawn and worshipped with special prayers. No studies or any performance of arts is carried out, as it is considered that the Goddess herself is blessing the books and the instruments. The festival is concluded on the tenth day of Navaratri (Vijaya Dashami) and the goddess is worshipped again before the books and the musical instruments are removed. It is customary to study on this day, which is called Vidyarambham (literally, Commencement of Knowledge).

Today in Sarsvati's special puja is celebrated in North India in the early spring. On this day she is worshipped by school children and university students in the form of images. Special demonstrations of culture are conducted. Pens, musical intruments and teachers are formally worshipped. At Banares University, there is a procession of faculty and students, since the day corresponds to the founding of that instiution.

By paying homage Sarsvati, worshippers expect blessings of eloquence, wisdom, poetic inspiration and artistic skill. She promotes long life and success to philosophers, scholars, scientists and artists, who are her most special devotees. She is also trusted to remove defects in speech by granting charm and musicality ot the voice.

During Vasant Panchami, which comes either at the end of January or the beginning of February, prayers and pujas are offered to her, especially by artists, musicians, scientists, doctors, and lawyers.

In Pushkar in Rajasthan, a temple has been constructed in her name on a mountain higher than that of Lord Brahmā.

External links

• Sarasvati Puja celebration at Siddhachalam, NJ (North America)- Sunday, May27 2007
• Basar Saraswathi temple in Andhra Pradesh
• Goddess Saraswati Mantra
• Goddess Saraswati
• Saraswati, Goddess of Learning
• Contemplation of Saraswati - The Flowing Waters of Divine Poetry
• Goddess Saraswati Prayer for Kids
• Weekly podcast on Vedic Chanting and Vedic Mythology with stories from the Puranas
• Saraswati Puja celebration at Edison, NJ (North America)

References

ISBN links support NWE through referral fees

• Arya, Ravi Prakash. "New Discoveries About Vedic Sarasvati" Indian Foundation for Vedic Science, 2005. ISBN 978-8187710295
• Kinsley, David. "Hindu Goddesses: Vision of the Divine Feminine in the Hindu Religious Traditions" University of California Press, 1988. ISBN 978-0520063396
• Ludvik, Catherine. "Sarasvati - Riverine Goddess of Knowledge: From the Manuscript-carrying Vina-player to the Weapon-wielding Defender of the Dharma" Brill Academic Publishers, 2007. ISBN 9004158146
• Nagar, Shantilal. "Sarasvati: The Goddess of Learning and Wisdom" BR, 2005. ISBN 978-8176464864

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