Mother Goddess Goddess of knowledge, education, learning, speech, arts, music, poetry, purification, language and culture[1][2] Personification of theSaraswati River
Saraswati (Sanskrit:सरस्वती,IAST:Sarasvatī), also spelled asSarasvati, is one of the principalgoddesses inHinduism, revered as the goddess of knowledge, education, learning, arts, speech, poetry, music, creativity, purification, language and culture.[1][2][7] Together with the goddessesLakshmi andParvati, she forms the trinity of chief goddesses, known as theTridevi.[8][9][10] Saraswati is apan-Indian deity, venerated not only in Hinduism but also inJainism andBuddhism.[10][11]
She is one of the prominent goddesses in theVedic tradition (1500 to 500 BCE) who retains her significance in later Hinduism.[1] In theVedas, her characteristics and attributes are closely connected with theSaraswati River, making her one of the earliest examples of ariver goddess in Indian tradition. As a deity associated with a river, Saraswati is revered for her dual abilities to purify and to nurture fertility. In later Vedic literature, particularly theBrahmanas, Saraswati is increasingly identified with the Vedic goddess of speech,Vac, and eventually, the two merge into the singular goddess known in later tradition. Over time, her connection to the river diminishes, while her association with speech, poetry, music, and culture becomes more prominent. Inclassical and medieval Hinduism, Saraswati is primarily recognized as the goddess of learning, arts and poetic inspiration, and as the inventor of the Sanskrit language.[2][1] She is linked to the creator godBrahma, either as his creation or consort. In the latter role, she represents his creative power (Shakti), giving reality a unique and distinctly human quality. She becomes linked with the dimension of reality characterized by clarity and intellectual order.[1] Within the goddess-orientedShaktism tradition, Saraswati is a key figure and venerated as the creative aspect of theSupreme Goddess.[12][13] She is also significant in certainVaishnava traditions, where she serves as one ofVishnu's consorts and assists him in his divine functions.[14][1] Despite her associations with these male deities, Saraswati also stands apart as an independent goddess in the pantheon, widely worshipped as acelibate goddess, without a consort.[15]
She is portrayed as a serene woman with a radiant white complexion, dressed in white attire, representing the quality ofsattva (goodness). She has four arms, each holding a symbolic object: a book, a rosary, a water pot, and a musical instrument known as theveena. Beside her is her mount, either ahamsa (white goose or swan) or a peacock.[1] Hindu temples dedicated to Saraswati can be found worldwide, with one of the earliest known shrines beingSharada Peeth (6th–12th centuries CE) inKashmir.[16] Saraswati continues to be widely worshipped across India, particularly on her designated festival day,Vasant Panchami (the fifth day of spring, and also known as Saraswati Puja and Saraswati Jayanti in many regions of India), when students honor her as the patron goddess of knowledge and education.[1][17] Traditionally, the day is marked by helping young children learn how to write the letters of the alphabet.[18]
In Buddhism, she is venerated in many forms, including the East AsianBenzaiten (辯才天, "Eloquence Talent Deity").[19][20] In Jainism, Saraswati is revered as the deity responsible for the dissemination of theTirthankaras' teachings and sermons.[21]
Etymology
Saraswati is a Sanskrit fusion word ofsaras (सरस्) meaning "pooling water", but also sometimes translated as "speech"; andvati (वती), meaning "she who possesses". Originally associated with the river or rivers known as Saraswati, this combination, therefore, means "she who has ponds, lakes, and pooling water" or occasionally "she who possesses speech". It is also a Sanskrit composite word ofsarasu-ati (सरसु+अति) which means "one with plenty of water".[22][23]
The word Saraswati appears both as a reference to a river and as a significant deity in theRigveda. In initial passages, the word refers to theSaraswati River and is mentioned as one among several northwestern Indian rivers such as theDrishadvati. Saraswati, then, connotes a river deity. In Book 2, the Rigveda describes Saraswati as the best of mothers, of rivers, of goddesses.[23]
Her importance grows in the later Vedas composed after theRigveda as well as in the laterBrahmana texts, and the word evolves in its meaning from "waters that purify", to "that which purifies", to "vach (speech) that purifies", to "knowledge that purifies", and ultimately into a spiritual concept of a goddess that embodies knowledge, arts, music, melody, muse, language, rhetoric, eloquence, creative work and anything whose flow purifies the essence and self of a person.[23][24]
Names and epithets
19th Century Mysore Painting of Saraswati.
Saraswati (Sanskrit:Sarasvatī) is known by many names. Some examples of synonyms for Saraswati include Sharada (bestower of essence or knowledge),[1]Brahmani (power of Brahma), Brahmi (goddess of sciences),[25] Bharadi (goddess of history), Vani and Vachi (both referring to the flow of music/song, melodious speech, eloquent speaking respectively), Varnesvari (goddess of letters), Kavijihvagravasini (one who dwells on the tongue of poets).[26][1]
Other names include:Ambika, Bharati, Chandrika,Devi, Gomati, Hamsasana, Saudamini, Shvetambara,Subhadra, Vaishnavi, Vasudha, Vidya, Vidyarupa, and Vindhyavasini.[27]
In theTiruvalluva Maalai, a collection of fifty-five Tamil verses praising theKural literature and its authorValluvar, she is referred to as Nāmagal and is believed to have composed the second verse.[28][29]
Outside Nepal and India, she is known inBurmese asThurathadi (သူရဿတီ,pronounced[θùja̰ðədì] or[θùɹa̰ðədì]) orTipitaka Medaw (တိပိဋကမယ်တော်,pronounced[tḭpḭtəka̰mɛ̀dɔ̀]), in Chinese asBiàncáitiān (辯才天), in Japanese asBenzaiten (弁才天/弁財天) and inThai asSuratsawadi (สุรัสวดี) orSaratsawadi (สรัสวดี).[30]
Literature
In Hinduism, Saraswati has retained her significance as an important goddess, from theVedic age up to the present day.[31] She is praised in theVedas as a water goddess of purification, while in theDharmashastras, Saraswati is invoked to remind the reader to meditate on virtue, and on the meaning (artha) of one's actions (karma).
In Vedic literature
Rigveda
Saraswati, 3rd century CE with veena,Manasa-Mandsaur area.
Saraswati first appears in theRigveda (c. 1500 – 1000 BCE), the most ancient source of theVedic religion. Sarawsati holds significant religious and symbolic value in the Rigveda, as a deified entity embodying attributes of abundance and power. Primarily linked with the celestial domain of Waters (Apas) and the formidable Storm Gods (Maruts), this deity forms an integral triadic association alongside the sacrificial goddessesIla and Bharati within the pantheon.[32]
Saraswati is described as a loud and powerful flood who roars like a bull and cannot be controlled.[33] She was associated with theMilky Way, indicating that she was seen as descending from heaven to earth.[34]
The goddess is mentioned in many Rigvedic hymns, and has three hymns dedicated to her (6:61 exclusively, and 7:95–96 which she shares with her male counterpart, Sarasvant).[32] InRigveda 2.41.16 she is called: "Best of mothers, the best of rivers, best of goddesses".[35]
As part of theApas (water deities), Saraswati is associated with wealth, abundance, health, purity and healing.[36] In Book 10 (10.17) of theRigveda, Saraswati is celebrated as a deity of healing and purifying water.[37] In theAtharva Veda, her role as a healer and giver of life is also emphasized.[38] In various sources, including theYajur Veda, she is described as having healedIndra after he drank too muchSoma.[39]
Saraswati also governsdhī (Rigveda 1:3:12c.).[40]Dhī is the inspired thought (especially that of therishis), it is intuition or intelligence – especially that associated with poetry and religion. Saraswati is seen as a deity that can grantdhī (Rigveda 6:49:7c.) if prayed to.[32] Since speech requires inspired thought, she is also inextricably linked with speech and with the goddess of speech,Vāc, as well as with cows and motherhood.[41] Vedic seers compare her to a cow and a mother, and saw themselves as children sucking the milk ofdhī from her.[42] In Book 10 of theRigveda, she is declared to be the "possessor of knowledge".[43] In later sources, like theYajur Veda, Saraswati is directly identified with Vāc, becoming a deity called Saraswatī-Vāc.[44]
In theBrahmanas, Saraswati-Vac's role expands, becoming clearly identified with knowledge (which is what is communicated through speech) and as such, she is "the mother of theVedas" as well as the Vedas themselves.[45] TheShatapatha Brahmana states that "as all waters meet in the ocean...so all sciences (vidya) unite (ekayanam) in Vāc" (14:5:4:11).[46] TheShatapatha Brahmana also presents Vāc as a secondary creator deity, having been the first deity created by the creator godPrajapati. She is the very instrument by which he created the world, flowing forth from him "like a continuous stream of water" according to the scripture.[46] This is the basis for the Puranic stories about the relationship betweenBrahma (identified with Prajapati) and Saraswati (identified with Vāc).[47]
In otherRigvedic passages, Saraswati is praised as a mighty and unconquerable protector deity. She is offered praises and compared to a sheltering tree inRigveda 7.95.5, while in 6:49:7 cd she is said to provide "protection which is difficult to assail."[48][49] In some passages she even takes a fiercesome appearance and is called a "slayer of strangers" who is called on to "guard her devotees against slander".[50] Her association with the combative storm gods called Maruts is related to her fierce fighting aspect and they are said to be her companions (atRigveda 7:96:2c.).[51]
Like Indra, Saraswati is also called a slayer ofVritra, the snake like demon of drought who blocks rivers and as such is associated with destruction of enemies and removal of obstacles.[52] TheYajur Veda sees her as being both the mother of Indra (having granted him rebirth through healing) and also as his consort.[53]
In Book 2 ofTaittiriya Brahmana, Saraswati is called "the mother of eloquent speech and melodious music".[26]
Mahabharata
Saraswati in theMahabharata, one of the two great epics of Hindu literature composed between 400 BCE and 400 CE, undergoes a transformation, marking her evolution from a river to a fully developed goddess of speech and knowledge.[54]
As a River
As a river, Saraswati in theMahabharata appears in a more subdued form compared to her powerful and overflowing depiction in the Vedic hymns. She emerges atPlaksha (Prasravana), disappears into the sands atVinasana, and then reemerges in several places, ultimately reaching the ocean atPrabhasa. This representation reflects an attempt to reconcile the historical drying up of the river with its continued importance in religious thought. TheMahabharata preserves the grandeur of theSaraswati River by presenting a mythologised geography that both recalls her past and reinterprets her course in accordance withDharma. Her flow is depicted as being guided by divine will, avoiding the unrighteous and serving the pious. The epic also universalizes her identity by attributing her name to multiple rivers, reinforcing her Rig Vedic epithetsaptasvasar and declaring, "all rivers are Saraswati-s."[55]
Religiously, Saraswati's banks become lined with numeroustirthas, which are sites of pilgrimage and sacrifice. While thePanchavimsha Brahmana describes sacrificial rituals along her course, theMahabharata expands upon this, transforming her river into a vast pilgrimage route filled with sacred sites. This shift marks a broader transition in religious practice—from complex Vedic sacrifices performed exclusively byBrahmins to more accessible devotional practices open to a wider public, including women. The act of visiting Saraswati'stirthas is often equated with the merit of Vedic sacrifices, thus preserving Vedic authority while adapting to new religious contexts.[56]
As a Goddess
Saraswati on a Lotus throne playing veena, sandalwood, Mysore, 18th century CE
As a goddess, Saraswati takes on a more humanized form in theMahabharata for the first time. While theRigveda andBrahmanas occasionally depictedVac in human-like terms, Saraswati in the epics appears as a woman of great celestial beauty and merit. The first verse of each book of theMahabharata invokes the divine, including Saraswati, as part of its traditional opening salutation:
Her role also changes in theMahabharata, as she fully merges with Vac, becoming the embodiment of speech itself. While still occasionally called Vac (12.306.6) and Vani (3.132.2), Vac as a distinct entity fades, with Saraswati taking its place. Saraswati is called the mother of the Vedas in theShanti Parva Book of the epic.[23]Narayana tellsNarada (12.326.5), "Behold goddess Saraswati, the mother of the Vedas, established in me," affirming her as the source of divine knowledge. She is said to enter the body (12.306.6), dwell on the tongue (12.231.8), and is even calledVishnu's tongue (6.61.56). Saraswati is deeply revered by sages. When appearing toYajnavalkya, she is adorned with vowels and consonants, resonating with the sacredOm (12.306.14). She also manifests before sage Tarkshya, who praises her celestial form and seeks her guidance. Saraswati explains that she has risen from theAgnihotra to resolve priests' doubts, asserting that only a learnedshrotriya may perform the ritual. She describes the rewards of offerings, purity through Vedic knowledge, and the origins of beauty. When Tarkshya asks aboutMoksha, she speaks of study, gifts, vows, and yoga but shifts focus to celestial realms and the cosmic tree of paradise.[57]
Saraswati also gains divine relationships that further integrate her into theHindu pantheon. In theMahabharata, her familial roles and origin vary across different chapters. She is described as the daughter ofBrahma, (ṛtā brahmasutā sā me satyā devī saraswatī, 12.330.10) a connection echoing Vac's relationship withPrajapati in the Brahmanas. Another account states that she originated from the Grandfather's (Pitamaha's) Lake, (pitāmahasya sarasaḥ pravṛttāsi saraswatī, 9.41.29) reinforcing her link to Brahma, who is referred to as the Grandfather. In another passage, she is described as the celestial creative symphony who appeared when Brahma created the universe.[23] Her husband varies in different chapters—she is said to be the wife ofManu (5.115.14) and also of the sage Matinara, whom she chooses after his twelve-year sacrifice on her banks (1.90.25–26), bearing him a son, Tamsu (1.90.26, 28). Additionally, she acts as a surrogate mother to Sarasvata, a son of sageDadhichi (9.50.9-11).[58]
TheMahabharata also contains several stories featuring Saraswati. In theSthanu Tirtha myth (9.42), Saraswati, caught between two rival sages—Vishvamitra andVasishtha—favours Vasishtha and is ultimately cursed by Vishvamitra to flow with blood. This myth aims to glorify her tirthas, as later, sages purify her waters, depriving demons who had drunk from them. In compassion, Saraswati transforms into Aruna ("reddish"), allowing the demons to bathe in her and attain heaven.[59] In theSarasvata Tirtha myth (9.50.9-11), Saraswati plays a maternal role, raising Sarasvata. During a twelve-year drought, when sages had forgotten theVedas, Saraswati sustained her son by feeding him fish. After the famine, Sarasvata restored the lost scriptures by teaching them anew, reaffirming Saraswati's role as a nurturer of wisdom.[60]
Ramayana
In the epicRamayana, when therakshasa brothersRavana,Vibhishana andKumbhakarna, performed a penance to propitiate Brahma, the creator deity offered each a boon. The devas pleaded with Brahma to not grant Kumbhakarna his boon. Brahma called upon his consort Saraswati, and instructed her to utter that which the devas desired. She acquiesced, and when the rakshasa spoke to invoke his boon, she entered his mouth, causing him to say, "To sleep for innumerable years, O Lord of Lords, this is my desire!". She then left his form, causing him to reflect upon his misfortune.[61]
Puranic literature
Saraswati remains an important figure in the later medievalPuranic literature, where she appears in various myths and stories. Many Puranas relate the myth of her creation by the creator god Brahma and then describe how she became his consort. Sources which describe this myth includeMarkandeya Purana,Matsya Purana (which contains the most extensive account),Vayu Purana andBrahmanda Purana.[62] Other Puranas give her slightly different roles and see her as the consort of other gods, such as Vishnu. In various Puranas, rites for her worship are given, and she is mainly worshiped for her command over speech, knowledge, and music.[63]
Puranas like theMatsya also contain iconographic descriptions of Saraswati, which provide the basis for her classic four armed form holding a book (representing the Vedas),mala,veena, and a water pot while being mounted on aswan (hamsa).[64]
Origin myths
Saraswati with attendants, marble sculpture, c. 900 CE
Saraswati is described asayonija, meaning that she was not born from any womb and was divinely manifested. ThePuranas present various accounts of the origin (samudbhava) of Saraswati.[65]
According to theBrahma Vaivarta Purana andDevi Bhagavata Purana, Saraswati is one of five primary manifestations of MulaPrakrti (Primordial Nature) or theShakti ofBrahman, each serving a distinct role in creation. At the onset of creation, the Atman divided into two—its right half became the Male principle, and the left half became Prakrti. Through the divine will ofSri Krishna (Para-Brahman in this context, not an avatara of Vishnu), Prakrti assumed five forms:Durga,Radha,Lakshmi, Saraswati, andSavitri. Saraswati, associated with the mythologicalSaraswati River, became the goddess of speech (Vach) and knowledge. Another version within the same Puranas describes Saraswati emerging from the tip ofSri Krishna's Shakti during creation. She appeared as a luminous maiden (Kanya), adorned in yellow garments, bearing aveena and a sacred scripture. She is thus revered as Vani, the presiding deity of allshastras. This account also depicts Shakti manifesting as Lakshmi andRadha.[65]
TheVayu Purana offers a different perspective, stating that fromBrahma's concentrated anger, a being (Purusha) was born with a half-male, half-female body. This being, Samkara, was commanded to divide itself. The Male aspect further divided into elevenRudras, while the Female aspect split into a white and black form. Saraswati is identified as a manifestation of the white half, also known as Gauri. Another account in the Vayu Purana describes Saraswati's emergence during the Visvarupa Kalpa, when Brahma meditated and Saraswati, encompassing all forms, appeared as a divine gau (cow) with four mouths, four horns, four eyes, four hands, and four teeth—symbolizing Prakrti, the primordial source of the universe (jagadyonih).[65]
TheBrahmanda Purana, in itsLalitopakhyana section, narrates that GoddessTripura Sundari created three cosmic eggs. From one egg emerged Saraswati (Gira) along withShiva, while the others birthed two divine pairs:Ambika andVishnu from one, andSri (Lakshmi) and Brahma from the other. Tripura Sundari then paired Saraswati with Brahma, Ambika with Shiva, and Sri with Vishnu, forming divine consorts. A similar account appears in thePradhanika Rahasya of theDevi Mahatmya (part of theMarkandeya Purana). Here, Mahalaksmi embodies the three gunas (cosmic qualities), manifesting as Mahakali (tamasika), Mahasaraswati (sattvika), and herself (rajasika). Each created a divine pair: Mahalaksmi created Brahma and Sri (Lakshmi), Mahakali createdRudra and Trayi (Saraswati), and Mahasaraswati createdVishnu andUma (Parvatirasvati was then given to Brahma, Gauri to Rudra, and Sri to Vishnu.[65]
TheMatsya Purana (Adhyaya 3) describes Saraswati as the manasa putri (mind-born daughter) of Brahma. When Brahma sought to create the universe, he meditated, causing his body to split into a male and female half. The female half materialized as Saraswati, whom Brahma regarded as hissvatmaja (daughter born from his own self). Other Puranas, including theBhagavata Purana, Brahmanda Purana,Brahma Purana,Padma Purana, andSkanda Purana, also mention Saraswati in this capacity.[65]
Association with Brahma
12th-century Brahma and Saraswati as a couple at Hoysaleswara Temple, Halebidu, Karnataka, India.
Saraswati and Brahma share a complex and multifaceted relationship in thePuranic tradition, with different texts presenting varying perspectives. The Puranas describe three primary associations between them:[65]
As the mind-born daughter of Brahma, Saraswati, in theBrahma Purana,Padma Purana, andSkanda Purana, is regarded as a virgin goddess, without any spouse.[65] The birth of Saraswati from the mind of Brahma is also described in theBrahmanda Purana (chapter 43), in which after her creation Saraswati is tasked to reside on tip of the tongue of all beings, a river on the earth and as a part of Brahma.[67] TheBrahmanda Purana acknowledges her solely as Brahma's daughter but, in theLalitopakhyana section of the text, a different origin is given to Saraswati in which Goddess Tripurasundari created and gave Saraswati to Brahma as his consort.[65]
The accounts where Saraswati is solely considered Brahma's consort, found in theBrahma Vaivarta Purana, states that Saraswati was originally created from the tip of the tongue of theShakti (Yosit) ofSri Krishna (Supreme God in this context, not an avatara of Vishnu). Krishna gave her toVishnu as his wife, but after a quarrel with her co-wifeGanga, Vishnu transferred Saraswati to Brahma and Ganga toShiva. TheDevi Bhagavata Purana contains similar story.[1] TheLalitopakhyana andPradhana Rahasya mention that Saraswati was created by Tripura Sundari and given to Brahma as his wife.[65]
In narratives where Saraswati is depicted as both the daughter and spouse, the portrayal varies. TheMatsya Purana narrates that Saraswati emerged from the left side of his body for the purpose of creation.[68] Brahma, upon seeing Saraswati, was captivated by her beauty and developed multiple heads to gaze her. Despite her initial reluctance, she consented and he made her his spouse, and they remained together in the lotus temple for a hundred divine years. From their union,Svayambhuva Manu—the first mortal human—was born.[69][67] After that, Brahma felt shame, curses the love-godKama and his sons are left to create the world. In theMatsya Purana, while Brahma is criticised for his actions, the union is also justified, as human logic cannot be directly applied to divine beings, particularly when creation is at stake.[70][65] In theBhagavata Purana, the marriage of Brahma and Saraswati is explained in a way that avoids direct filial relations. According to the text, Brahma creates Saraswati and develops desire for her. However, feeling ashamed for desiring her, he gives up his life. Brahma then manifested in a different body, and he marries Saraswati, who was created by the previous Brahma.[71][72][73]
The motif of Brahma desiring his own daughter is a recurrent theme in the Puranic tradition, potentially derived from the Brahmanical myth ofPrajapati's desire forUshas. However, the identity of the daughter in these narratives is not consistently Saraswati and varies. This desire is generally depicted as transient, with Brahma either overcoming it himself out of shame, by cursing Kama, being restrained by Shiva—paralleling the Vedic account of Rudra restraining Prajapati—or facing the daughter's outright refusal, resulting in no union.[74][69] A notable instance occurs in theShiva Purana, where Saraswati rejects Brahma's advances, curses him, and subsequently departs.[75]
Another symbolic representation of Saraswati's association with Brahma is the belief that she resides in his mouth. This concept appears in several Puranas, including thePadma Purana, whereVishnu praises Saraswati as residing in Brahma's mouth. A similar reference is found in theMatsya Purana, whereGauri is praised in the same manner. A direct reference to this belief appears in theSaraswati Rahasya Upanishad, which describes Sarawati as a divine swan residing in the lotus-mouth of the four-faced Brahma.[65]
Saraswati, Savitri, and Gayatri
Sculpture of Brahma with Savitri and Gayatri
The goddesses Saraswati, Savitri, andGayatri are closely associated with Brahma and one another in thePuranas, but their connection is very inconsistent. Some texts consider these three goddesses to be identical. According to theMatsya Purana (Adhyayas 3, 4),Saraswati, Savitri, Gayatri, Brahmani and Shatarupa are different names of the same deity. TheMatsya Purana (Adhyaya 66) andPadma Purana (V.22.176–194) state that Saraswati and Gayatri are interchangeable names for the same goddess. Similarly, in theSkanda Purana (VI.46), both Gayatri and Savitri are listed as synonyms of Saraswati,[76] although the same text also mention Savitri and Gayatri as distinct individual.[67] TheVaraha Purana also considers Saraswati, Savitri and Gayatri to be the same.[77]
Other Puranic texts treat Saraswati, Savitri, and Gayatri as three separate deities:[65]
TheBrahma Purana lists them among the five daughters of Brahma.
In thePadma Purana andSkanda Purana, Gayatri and Savitri are described as female companions of Saraswati.
ThePadma Purana also describes Saraswati as Brahma's virgin daughter, while Savitri and Gayatri are mentioned as his wives. According to this narrative, Brahma had two consorts—Savitri and Gayatri. When Savitri failed to arrive for a ritual atPushkara, Brahma wed Gayatri in her absence to complete the ritual. In response, Savitri, feeling aggrieved, pronounced a curse restricting his worship to Pushkara, though she later reconciled with Gayatri, establishing a harmonious relationship.[67] Similar account is found in theSkanda Purana, where the two wives are Savitri and Gayatri and are not connected to Saraswati.[77]
In certain texts, Gayatri is called the "Mother of theVedas" (Taittiriya Pratishakhya 17.308d–309a), while Savitri is also described as "the mother of the four Vedas" (Brahma Purana II.1.39c). Saraswati, in turn, is regarded as "the presiding deity of knowledge" (ibid. 31b) and "the embodiment of all branches of learning" (ibid. 31c). Thus, similar to the Vedic goddesses Bharati andIla, Saraswati, Savitri, and Gayatri are all connected to the domain of knowledge (vidya, jnana, Veda).[65]
In a third category of accounts, Savitri is identified with one of the two while remaining distinct from the other. In certain traditions, Savitri is identified with Gayatri, as seen in theDevi Bhagavata Purana, where Saraswati and Savitri are enumerated among the fivePrakritis. Conversely, select chapters of theSkanda Purana equate Savitri with Saraswati, thereby positioning Gayatri as her co-wife.[78] A chapter in theSkanda Purana also recounts a myth featuring both Saraswati and Gayatri. It narrates about Brahma's infatuation with his daughter Vac (a rare instance where Vac is distinguished from Saraswati in the Puranic corpus). As a consequence of this transgression, Brahma was slain byShiva, only to be later revived through the penance of Saraswati and Gayatri.[66][75]
Association with Vishnu
A sculpture of Vishnu with goddesses Lakshmi (left) and Saraswati (right), from current-day Bangladesh at theChicago Art Institute.
Other than Brahma, Saraswati has also been associated with the preserver godVishnu, a connection which might stem established connection of Saraswati and Indra from theRigveda (VI.49.7).[79] In many sculpture of Vishnu common during mediaeval era, particularly in the region ofBengal, Saraswati replacesBhumi as his second wife, making Saraswati the co-wife of the goddessLakshmi. Both of these goddesses flank Vishnu and assist him his role.[67][14]
However, conjugal relationship between Saraswati and Vishnu is rarely found elsewhere in the Puranas—barring two. According to theBrahma Vaivarta Purana (II.6) andDevi Bhagavata Purana (IX.6), Saraswati was initially the wife ofNarayana or Vishnu.[79] In theDevi Bhagavata Purana, Saraswati is described as one of Vishnu's three wives, alongsideLakshmi andGanga. A conflict arose when Saraswati, angered by Ganga's playful glances at Vishnu, accused her of stealing his affection. Vishnu remained neutral, while Lakshmi attempted to mediate. In her jealousy, Saraswati cursed Lakshmi to be born as theTulasi plant. In retaliation, Ganga cursed Saraswati to become a river, and Saraswati reciprocated with the same curse, declaring that sinners would cleanse their sins in Ganga's waters. Vishnu then decreed that Saraswati would exist in three forms: one part with him, another as a river on earth, and the third as Brahma's consort.[80][81]
If Saraswati is not associated with Vishnu as his wife, then concept of Saraswati as "the tongue of Vishnu" gained prominence in the Puranas. TheMatsya Purana states that whenVamana assumed his cosmic form, Satya became his speech, and Saraswati became his tongue (Matsya Purana 246.57). TheVamana Purana also refers to Saraswati as "the tongue of Vishnu" (Vamana Purana 32.23). TheBrahma Purana describes Vishnu as "holding Saraswati in his mouth" (Brahma Purana 122.71c).[65]
Puranic Narratives of Saraswati's River Aspect
Depiction of Saraswati from a market in Bengal (19th century, pre-1895 CE). TheBritish Library curator's summary states, "Saraswati, the goddess of learning and knowledge, is seated on the banks of a river. Her feet rest on a lotus flower, a palm leaf manuscript to represent the vedas is next to her and she holds a vina. Her mount, a swan, is positioned nearby."
In theRigveda, Saraswati is primarily depicted as a river goddess, embodying fertility and purity, and is revered as the personification of the Saraswati River. Her role as the nurturing, life-giving force of the river is celebrated in hymns, where she is described as "the best of mothers, of rivers, and of goddesses."[82] A Rigvedic prayer also describes her as 'the best of mothers, of rivers and of goddesses'.[82] However, as Saraswati's association with knowledge, speech, and culture grew in prominence through the later Hindu texts, her direct connection with the physical river diminished. Despite this, the Puranas sustain Saraswati's riverine character by incorporating new narratives that preserve her role as a cosmic river in addition to her expanded identity.[1]
The story of Saraswati becoming a river is introduced in the Srishti Khanda ofPadma Purana as well as inSkanda Purana. In the Skanda Purana, after the events of theTarakamaya War, thedevas deposited their arsenal of weapons at the hermitage ofDadhichi. When they sought the return of these weapons, the sage informed them that he had imbibed all of their power with his penance, and offered his own bones instead, which could serve as the source of new weapons. Despite the objections of the deities, the sage sacrificed himself, and his bones were employed in the manufacture of new arms byVishvakarma. The sage's son,Pippalada, upon hearing these events, sought to wreak his vengeance on the devas by performing a penance. A mare emerged from his right thigh, which in turn gave birth to a fiery man, Vadava, who threatened to be the doom of all of creation.Vishnu convinced Vadava that his best course of action would be to swallow the devas one by one, and that he should begin by consuming the primordial water of creation, which was the foremost of both the devas and the asuras. Vadava wished to be accompanied to the source of these waters by a virgin, and so Saraswati was dispatched for his purpose, despite her reluctance. She took him toVaruna, the god of the ocean, who then consumed the being. For good measure, Saraswati transformed into a divine river, flowing with five channels into the sea, making the waters sacred.[83]
In the Padma Purana, it is stated that there was a terrible battle between the Bhargavas (a group ofBrahmanas) and the Hehayas (a group ofKshatriyas). From this, an all-consuming fire calledVadavagni was born, which threatened to destroy the whole world. In some versions, a sage named Auva created it.Indra, Vishnu, and thedevas visited Saraswati, requesting her to deposit the fire in the western ocean, to protect the universe.[84][85] Saraswati told Vishnu that she would only agree to assist them if her consort,Brahma, told her to do so. Brahma ordered her to deposit the Vadavagni in the western ocean. Saraswati agreed, and accompanied byGanga, she left Brahmaloka, and arrived at SageUttanka'sashrama. There, she metShiva, who had decided to carry Ganga. He gave the Vadavagni in a pot to Saraswati, and told her to originate from theplaksha tree. Saraswati merged with the tree, and transformed into a river. From there, she flowed towardsPushkara. Saraswati continued her journey towards the ocean, and stopped once at Pushkarini, where she redeemed humans from their sins. At last, she reached the end of her journey, and immersed the fire into the ocean.[86][87]
Shakta texts
19th century South Indian painting of Raja-Matangi with veena and parrot
Saraswati is a key figure in the Indian goddess centered traditions which are today known asShaktism. Saraswati appears in the PuranicDevi Mahatmya (Glory of theGoddess), a central text for Shaktism which was appended to theMarkandeya Purana during the 6th century CE.[88] In this text, she is part of the "triple goddess" (Tridevi) along withMahakali, andMahalakshmi.[13] In Shaktism, this trinity (the Shakta response to the maletrimurti of the other Hindu sects) is a manifestation ofMahadevi, the supreme goddess (and the highest deity out of which all deities, male or female, are born), which is also known by other names like Adi Parashakti ("Primordial Supreme Power").[89][90]
According to theDevi Mahatmya, this supreme goddess is the primordial creator which is supreme formless (nirguna) consciousness (i.e.parabrahman, absolute reality) and the tridevi are her main saguna ("with form", manifest, incarnated) emanations.[91] MahaSaraswati is said to be creative and active principle (which isRajasic, energetic and active), while Mahalakshmi is the sustainer (sattvic, "goodness") and Mahakali is the destroyer (tamasic, "darkness").[91]
In other influential Shakta texts, such as theDevi Bhagavata Purana and theDevi Upanishad, Saraswati (along with all Hindu goddesses) is also said to be a manifestation of the supreme Mahadevi.[12]
InTantric Shakta sources, Saraswati takes many forms. A key tantric form isMatangi, a deity considered to be the "Tantric Saraswati". Mātaṅgī retains many attributes of Saraswati, like music and learning, but is also associated with defeating enemies, disease, pollution/impurity, and outcasts (chandalas).[92] She is often offered half eaten or leftover food and is green in color. Matangi is also part of the Shakta set of goddesses known as the tenMahavidyas.
Matangi is important inShri Vidya Shaktism, where she is also known as the dark blue Shyamala ("dark in complexion") and is a manifestation ofLalita Tripurasundari'sJñana Shakti (wisdom power), having arisen out of Lalita's sugarcane bow.[93] She is celebrated in the holiday Syamala Navaratri and is seen as Lalita's prime minister. There are various chants and odes (stotras) to this deity, perhaps the most important being theŚrī Śyāmalā Daṇḍakam by the great Indian Sanskrit poetKalidasa.[94][95]
Symbolism and iconography
Iconography of Saraswati: the goddess depicted with herveena, swan, peacock, crystaljapamala and lotus. (Two images: above, atile mural inKerala, below, a sculpture incultured marble in Karnataka).
The Saraswati is often depicted as a beautiful woman dressed in pure white, often seated on a whitelotus, which symbolizes light, knowledge and truth.[96] She not only embodies knowledge but also the experience of the highest reality. Her iconography is typically in white themes from dress to flowers to swan – the colour symbolizing Sattwa Guna or purity, discrimination for true knowledge, insight and wisdom.[1][97]
Her dhyana mantra describes her to be as white as the moon, clad in a white dress, bedecked in white ornaments, radiating with beauty, holding a book and a pen in her hands (the book represents knowledge).[98]
She is generally shown to have four arms, but sometimes just two. When shown with four hands, those hands symbolically mirror her husband Brahma's four heads, representingmanas (mind, sense),buddhi (intellect, reasoning),citta (imagination, creativity), andahamkāra (self consciousness, ego).[99][100] Brahma represents the abstract, while she represents action and reality.
The four hands hold items with symbolic meaning – apustaka (book or script), amālā (rosary, garland), a water pot and a musical instrument (vīnā).[1] The book she holds symbolizes theVedas representing the universal, divine, eternal, and true knowledge as well as all forms of learning. Amālā of crystals, representing the power of meditation, inner reflection, and spirituality. A pot of water represents the purifying power to separate right from wrong, the clean from the unclean, and essence from the inessential. In some texts, the pot of water is symbolism forsoma – the drink that liberates and leads to knowledge.[1] The most famous feature on Saraswati is a musical instrument called aveena, represents all creative arts and sciences,[99] and her holding it symbolizes expressing knowledge that creates harmony.[1][101] Saraswati is also associated withanurāga, the love for and rhythm of music, which represents all emotions and feelings expressed in speech or music.
A hamsa – either aswan or a goose – is often shown near her feet. InHindu mythology, the hamsa is a sacred bird, which if offered a mixture of milk and water, is said to have a unique ability to separate and drink the milk alone, and leave the water behind. This characteristic of the bird serves as a metaphor for the pursuit of wisdom amidst the complexities of life, the ability to discriminate between good and evil, truth from untruth, essence from the outward show, and the eternal from the evanescent.[99] Due to her association with the swan, Saraswati is also referred to asHamsavāhini, which means "she who has a hamsa as her vehicle". The swan is also a symbolism for spiritual perfection, transcendence andmoksha.[97][102]
Sometimes acitramekhala (also calledmayura,peacock) is shown beside the goddess. The peacock symbolizes colorful splendor, the celebration of dance, and – as the devourer of snakes – the alchemical ability to transmute the serpent poison ofself into the radiant plumage ofenlightenment.[103]
Forms and avatars
Many differentavatars and forms of Saraswati have been attested in scriptures.
She is venerated as Maha Saraswati in the Kashmir Shakti Peetha, as Vidhya Saraswati in Basara and Vargal, and as Sharadamba in Sringeri. In some regions, she is known by her twin identities, Savitri andGayatri.
InShaktism, she takes herMatrika (mother goddess) avatar asBrahmani. Saraswati is not just the goddess of knowledge and wisdom, but also the Brahmavidya herself, the goddess of the wisdom of ultimate truth. Her Mahavidya form isMatangi.
Vidya, she is the formless concept of wisdom and knowledge in all of its aspects.
Savitri, She is the personification of purity, the consort of Brahma
Maha Saraswati
In some regions of India, such asVindhya,Odisha, West Bengal andAssam, as well as east Nepal, Saraswati is part of theDevi MahatmyaShakta mythology, in theTridevi ofMahakali,Mahalakshmi and Maha Saraswati.[13][104] This is one of many different Hindu legends that attempt to explain how the Hindutrimurti of gods (Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva) andgoddesses (Saraswati, Lakshmi and Parvati) came into being. VariousPurana texts offer alternate legends for Maha Saraswati.[105]
Maha Saraswati is depicted as eight-armed and is often portrayed holding a Veena while sitting on a white lotus flower.
Hermeditationverse given at the beginning of the fifth chapter theDevi Mahatmya is:
Wielding in her lotus-hands the bell, trident, ploughshare, conch, pestle, discus, bow, and arrow, her lustre is like that of a moon shining in the autumn sky. She is born from the body ofGauri and is the sustaining base of the three worlds. That Maha Saraswati I worship here who destroyed Sumbha and other asuras.[106]
Maha Saraswati is also part of another legend, theNavshaktis (not to be confused withNavdurgas), or nine forms of Shakti, namely Brahmi, Vaishnavi, Maheshwari, Kaumari, Varahi, Narsimhi, Aindri, Shivdooti, and Chamunda, revered as powerful and dangerous goddesses in eastern India. They have special significance onNavaratri in these regions. All of these are seen ultimately as aspects of a single great Hindu goddess,Durga, with Maha Saraswati as one of those nine.[107]
Mahavidya Nila Saraswati
In Tibet and parts of India, Nila Saraswati is sometimes considered as a form ofMahavidyaTara. Nila Saraswati is not much a different deity from traditional Saraswati, who subsumes her knowledge and creative energy in tantric literature. Though the traditional form of Saraswati is of calm, compassionate, and peaceful one: Nila Saraswati is theugra (angry, violent, destructive) manifestation in one school of Hinduism, while the more common Saraswati is thesaumya (calm, compassionate, productive) manifestation found in most others. In tantric literature of the former, Nila Saraswati has 100 names. There are separate dhyana shlokas andmantras for her worship inTantrasara.[31]She is worshipped in parts of India as an incarnate or incarnation of Goddess Tara but mostly outside India. She is not only worshipped but also been manifested as a form of Saraswati.[clarification needed][citation needed]
A carved idol of the crowned goddess Sharada from late-9th century Kashmir
The earliest known shrine dedicated to goddess worship in Kashmir is Sharada Peeth (6th–12th centuries CE), dedicated to the goddess Sharada. It is aruinedHindu temple and ancient centre of learning located in present-dayAzad Kashmir. The goddess Sharada worshipped in Sharada Peeth is a tripartite embodiment of the goddessShakti: Sharada (goddess of learning), Saraswati (goddess of knowledge), and Vagdevi (goddess of speech, which articulates power).[108]Kashmiri Pandits believe the shrine to be the abode of the goddess.[16] In line with the Kashmiri Pandit belief that springs which are the abode of goddesses should not be looked at directly, the shrine contains a stone slab concealing the spring underneath, which they believe to be the spring in which the goddess Sharada revealed herself to therishiShandilya. It advanced the importance of knowledge and education in Kashmiri Pandit culture, which persisted well after Kashmiri Pandits became a minority group in Kashmir.[109]
Saraswati temple atPilani in North Indian style (above), and South Indian style (below). Her temples, like her iconography, often resonate in white themes.
There are many Hindu temples dedicated to Saraswati around the world. Some notable temples include
One of the most famous festivals associated with Saraswati is the Hindu festival of Vasant Panchami. Celebrated on the 5th day in the Hindu calendar month ofMagha, it is also known asSaraswati Puja and Saraswati Jayanti in India.
In south India
InKerala andTamil Nadu, the last three days of theNavaratri festival, i.e., Ashtami, Navami, and Dashami, are celebrated as Saraswati Puja.[112]
The celebrations start with thePuja Vypu (Placing for Worship). It consists of placing the books for puja on the Ashtami day. It may be in one's own house, in the local nursery school run by traditional teachers, or in the local temple. The books are taken out for reading, after worship, only on the morning of the third day (Vijaya Dashami). It is calledPuja Eduppu (Taking [from] Puja). On the Vijaya Dashami day, Kerala and Tamil Nadu celebrate theEḻuthiniruthu or "Initiation of writing" for children, before they are admitted to nursery schools. This is also calledVidyarambham. The child is often ritually taught to write for the first time on rice spread in a plate with their index finger, guided by an elder of the family, or by a teacher.[113]
InAssam,Odisha, West Bengal andTripura, Saraswati is worshipped on Vasant Panchami, a Hindu festival celebrated every year on the 5th day in the Hindu calendar month ofMagha (about February). Hindus celebrate this festival in temples, homes and educational institutes alike.[114][115]
In north, west, and central India
In Bihar andJharkhand,Vasant Panchami is commonly known asSaraswati Puja. On this day, Saraswati is worshipped in schools, colleges, educational institutes as well as in institutes associated with music and dance. Cultural programmes are also organised in schools and institutes on this day. People especially students worship Saraswati also in pandals (a tent made up of colourful clothes, decorated with lights and other decorative items). In these states, on the occasion of Saraswati Puja, Saraswati is worshipped in the form of idol, made up of soil. On Saraswati Puja, the idol is worshipped by people andprasad is distributed among the devotees afterpuja. Prasad mainly consists ofboondi (motichoor), pieces of carrot, peas and Indian plum (ber). On the next day or any day depending on religious condition, the idol is immersed in a pond (known as Murti Visarjan or Pratima Visarjan) after performing a Havana (immolation), with full joy and fun, playing withabir andgulal. After Pratima Visarjan, members involved in the organisation of puja ceremony eatkhichdi together.[citation needed]
InGoa, Saraswati Puja starts with Saraswati Avahan on Maha Saptami and ends on Vijayadashami with Saraswati Udasan or Visarjan.[116]
In 2018, theHaryana government launched and sponsored the annual National Saraswati Mahotsav in its state, named after Saraswati.[117]
Watugunung, the last day of thepawukon calendar, is devoted to Saraswati, goddess of learning. Although it is devoted to books, reading is not allowed. The fourth day of the year is called Pagerwesi, meaning "iron fence". It commemorates a battle between good and evil.[118]
Saraswati is an important goddess in Balinese Hinduism. She shares the same attributes and iconography as Saraswati in Hindu literature of India – in both places, she is the goddess of knowledge, creative arts, wisdom, language, learning and purity. InBali, she is celebrated on Saraswati day, one of the main festivals for Hindus in Indonesia.[119][120] The day marks the close of 210 day year in the Pawukon calendar.[121]
On Saraswati day, people make offerings in the form of flowers in temples and to sacred texts. The day after Saraswati day, isBanyu Pinaruh, a day of cleansing. On this day, Hindus of Bali go to the sea, sacred waterfalls or river spots, offer prayers to Saraswati, and then rinse themselves in that water in the morning. Then they prepare a feast, such as the traditionalbebek betutu andnasi kuning, that they share.[122]
The Saraswati Day festival has a long history in Bali.[123] It has become more widespread in Hindu community of Indonesia in recent decades, and it is celebrated with theatre and dance performance.[121]
Southeast Asia
Saraswati was honoured with invocations among the Hindus ofAngkorian Cambodia.[124] She and Brahma are referred to in Cambodianepigraphy from the 7th century onwards, and she is praised by Khmer poets for being the goddess of eloquence, writing, and music. More offerings were made to her than to her husband Brahma. She is also referred to asVagisvari andBharati in the Khmer literature of the era ofYasovarman, Hindu king of theKhmer Empire.[124]
In Buddhism, Saraswati became a prominent deity which retained many of her Vedic associations, such as speech, texts, knowledge, healing and protection. She also became known as the consort ofManjushri, the bodhisattva of wisdom (prajña). According to Miranda Shaw'sBuddhist Goddesses of India:
Saraswati's association with the intellectual sphere assured that she would find favor among Buddhists, who highly value wisdom and its servants: mental clarity, reasoning ability, memorization, and oratorical skill. Saraswati thus has an affinity withPrajñaparamita, the goddess of perfect wisdom. They may be in voked by the same mantra, reflecting the kinship between the wisdom goddess and the patroness of learning.[125]
Shaw lists various epithets for Saraswati used by Buddhist source including: "Emanation of Vishnu," "Gandharva Maiden," "Swan Child," "Daughter of Brahma", "Lady of the Lake", "Sister of the Moon", "Goddess of Speech", "Divine Lady Who Empowers Enlightened Speech", "Goddess Rich with the Power of Adamantine Speech", "Bestower of Understanding", "Goddess of Knowledge", and "Wisdom Goddess."[125]According to Shaw, Buddhist depictions of Saraswati are influenced by Hindu ones. A popular depiction is called "Lady of the Adamantine Lute" (Vajravina) which is described by Shaw as.
a white, two-armed epiphany in which she plays her supernal lute, or vina. The instrument is made of lapis lazuli and has a thousand strings capable of eliciting every musical note. Saraswati's melodies pervade the universe and delight all types of beings in accordance with whatever is most pleasing to their ears. She sits with ankles crossed and knees raised in a distinctive posture suitable for balancing a musical instrument.[126]
Saraswati's earliest appearance in a Buddhist text is in the 1st century CEMahayanaGolden Light Sutra (of which there are different versions / translations). This text is first attested in a Chinese translation in 417 CE and includes an entire chapter devoted to the goddess, which is our best source for the earliest Buddhist depictions of Saraswati.[127]
In theGolden Light Sutra
A Japanese depiction of Saraswati as a protector deity with eight arms holding various weapons (c. 1212), University Art Museum,Tokyo University of the Arts
In theGolden Light Sutra (Suvarṇaprabhāsa Sūtra), Saraswati appears and pays homage to the Buddha. As Shaw writes, she then "promises that she will grace the preachers of the scripture with eloquence, oratorical power, perfect memory, inconceivable knowledge, penetrating wisdom, illumination, skill in liberating others, scholarly expertise in every field, proficiency in all the arts, merit, prosperity, and long life."[128]
Saraswati's chapter in theGolden Light Sutra presents three main aspects of the goddess. First, it presents her as a goddess of eloquence and speech, then it presents her as a healing goddess who teaches a ritual which includes a medicinal bath, finally it presents Saraswati as a goddess of protection and war.[129] Ludvik mentions that the earliest version of theGolden Light Sutra (the translation by Dharmaksema) actually only includes the first depiction.[129] The early Chinese Buddhist translators chose to translate her name as "great eloquence deity" (大辯天) the later translations by Yijing use "Eloquence Talent Goddess" (Biancai tiannu), though phonetic translations were also applied (e.g. Yijing's "mohetipi suoluosuobodi").[129]
In theGolden Light Sutra, Saraswati is closely associated witheloquence, as well as with the closely connected virtues ofmemory andknowledge.[130] Saraswati is also said to help monks memorize the Buddhistsutras and to guide them so they will not make mistakes in memorizing them or forget them later. She will also help those who have incomplete manuscripts to regain the lost letters or words. She also teaches adharani (a long mantra-like recitation) to improve memory.[131] TheGolden Light goes as far as to claim that Saraswati can provide the wisdom to understand all the Buddhist teachings and skillful means (upaya) so that one may swiftly attain Buddhahood.[132]
In some versions of theGolden Light Sutra, such as Yijing's, the goddess then teaches anapotropaic ritual that can combat disease, bad dreams, war, calamities and all sorts of negative things. It includes bathing in a bath with numerous herbs that has been infused with a dharani spell. This passage contains much information on ancientmateria medica andherbology.[133] Ludvik adds that this may be connected to her role as healer of Indra in theYajur Veda and to ancient Indian bathing rites.[134]
In the latter part of theGolden Light's Saraswati chapter, she is praised as a protector goddess by the Brahman Kaundinya. This section also teaches a dharani and a ritual to invoke the goddess and receive her blessings to obtain knowledge.[135] In latter sections of Kaundinya's praise, she is described as an eight armed goddess and compared to a lion. The text also states that is some recites these praises, "one obtains all desires, wealth and grain, and one gains splendid, noble success."[136] The poem describes Saraswati as one who "has sovereignty in the world", and states that she fights in battlefields and is always victorious.[137] The hymn then describes Saraswati's warlike eight-armed form. She carries eight weapons in each hand – a bow, arrow, sword, spear, axe,vajra,iron wheel, andnoose.[138]
Kaudinya's hymn to Saraswati in Yijing's translation is derived from theĀryāstava ("praise of she who is noble"), a hymn uttered by Vishnu to the goddess Nidra (lit. "Sleep", one of the names applied toDurga) found in theHarivamsha.[139] As theGolden Light Sutra is often concerned with the protection of the state, it is not surprising that the fierce, weapon-wielding Durga, who was widely worshiped by rulers and warriors alike for success in battle, provides the model for the appearance assumed by Saraswati, characterized as a protectress of the Buddhist Dharma.[140]Bernard Faure argues that the emergence of a martial Saraswatī may have been influenced by the fact that "Vāc, the Vedic goddess of speech, had already displayed martial characteristics. [...] Already in theVedas, it is said that she destroys the enemies of the gods, the asuras. Admittedly, later sources seem to omit or downplay that aspect of her powers, but this does not mean that its importance in religious practice was lost."[141]
Other Indian Mahayana sources
A statue of Vajraśāradā, a classic Buddhist form of Saraswati,Pala Period (8th century CE),Indian Museum, Kolkata
In some laterMahayana Buddhist sources like theSādhanamālā (a 5th-century collection of ritual texts), Saraswati is symbolically represented in a way which is similar to Hindu iconography.[20] The description of the deity (here called Mahāsaraswatī) is as follows:
The worshipper should think himself as goddess Mahāsaraswatī, who is resplendent like the autumn moon, rests on the moon over the white lotus, shows thevarada-mudrā in her right hand, and carries in the left the white lotus with its stem. She has a smiling countenance, is extremely compassionate, wears garments decorated with white sandal-flowers. Her bosom is decorated with the pearl-necklace, and she is decked in many ornaments; she appears a maiden of twelve years, and her bosom is uneven with half-developed breasts like flower-buds; she illumines the three worlds with the immeasurable light that radiates from her body.[142]
In theSādhanamālā, the mantra of Saraswati is: oṃ hrīḥ mahāmāyāṅge mahāsarasvatyai namaḥ
TheSādhanamālā also depicts other forms of Saraswati, including Vajravīṇā Saraswatī (similar to Mahāsaraswatī except she carries aveena), Vajraśāradā Saraswatī (who has three eyes, sits on a white lotus, her head is decorated by a crescent and holds a book and a lotus), Vajrasaraswatī (has six hands and three heads with brown hair rising upwards), and Āryasaraswatī (sixteen-year-old girl carrying the Prajñapramita sutra and a lotus).[143]
Saraswati is also briefly mentioned in theesotericVairochanabhisambodhi Sutra as one of the divinities of the western quarter of the Outer Vajra section of theWomb Realm Mandala along withPrithvi, Vishnu (Narayana),Skanda (Kumara),Vayu,Chandra, and their retinue. The text later also describes the veena as Saraswati's symbol.[144][145] The Chinese translation of this sutra renders her name variously as 辯才 (Ch.Biàncái; Jp.Benzai, lit. "eloquence"),[146] 美音天 (Ch.Měiyīntiān; Jp.Bionten, "goddess of beautiful sounds"),[147] and 妙音天 (Ch.Miàoyīntiān; Jp.Myōonten, "goddess of wonderful sounds"[148]).[149] Here, Saraswati is portrayed with two arms holding a veena and situated between Narayana's consort Narayani and Skanda (shown riding on apeacock).
Saraswati was initially depicted as a single goddess without consort. Her association with the bodhisattva of wisdomManjusri is drawn from later tantric sources such as theKṛṣṇayamāri tantra, where she is depicted as red skinned (known as "Red Saraswati").[150]
In various Indian tantric sadhanas to Saraswati (which only survive in Tibetan translation), herbija (seed) mantra is Hrīḥ.[151]
Nepalese Buddhism
Saraswati is worshiped inNepalese Buddhism, where she is a popular deity, especially for students. She is celebrated in an annual festival called Vasant Pañcami and children first learn the alphabet during a Saraswati ritual.[152] In Nepalese Buddhism, her worship is often combined with that ofManjusri and many sites for the worship of Manjusri are also used to worship Saraswati, including Svayambhu Hill.[152]
In East Asian Buddhism
Japanese illustration of Benzaiten (Saraswati) riding a dragon
Veneration of Saraswati migrated from the Indian subcontinent to China with the spread of Buddhism, where she in known as Biàncáitiān (辯才天), meaning "Eloquent Devī", as well as Miàoyīntiān (妙音天), meaning "Devī of Wonderful Sounds".[153]
She is commonly enshrined in Chinese Buddhist monasteries as one of theTwenty-Four Devas, a group of protective deities who are regarded as protectors of the Buddhist dharma. Her Chinese iconography is based on her description in theGolden Light Sutra, where she is portrayed as having eight arms, one holding a bow, one holding arrows, one holding a knife, one holding a lance, one holding an axe, one holding a pestle, one holding an iron wheel, and one holding ropes. In another popular Buddhist iconographic form, she is portrayed as sitting down and playing apipa, a Chinese lute-like instrument.[154] The concept of Saraswati migrated from India, through China to Japan, where she appears asBenzaiten (弁財天, lit. "goddess of eloquence").[155] Worship of Benzaiten arrived in Japan during the 6th through 8th centuries. She is often depicted holding abiwa, a traditional Japanese lute musical instrument. She is enshrined on numerous locations throughout Japan such as the Kamakura'sZeniarai Benzaiten Ugafuku Shrine or Nagoya'sKawahara Shrine;[156] the three biggest shrines in Japan in her honour are at theEnoshima Island in Sagami Bay, theChikubu Island in Lake Biwa, and theItsukushima Island in Seto Inland Sea.
In Japanese esoteric Buddhism (mikkyo), the main mantra for this deity is:
Saraswati in an 18th-century CE Tibetan artwork, holding astick zither
In theIndo-Tibetan Buddhism of theHimalayan regions, Saraswati is known asYangchenma (Tibetan:དབྱངས་ཅན་མ,Wylie:dbyangs can ma,THL:yang chen ma),[159] which means '"Goddess of Melodious Voice". She is also called the Tara of Music (Tibetan:དབྱངས་ཅན་སྒྲོལ་མ,Wylie:dbyangs can sgrol ma,THL:yang chen dröl ma) as one of the 21Taras. She is also considered the consort ofManjushri,bodhisattva of Wisdom.[160][161] Saraswati is the divine embodiment & bestower of enlightened eloquence & inspiration. For all those engaged in creative endeavours in Tibetan Buddhism she is a patroness of the arts, sciences, music, language, literature, history, poetry & philosophy.
Saraswati also became associated with the Tibetan deityPalden Lhamo (Glorious Goddess) who is a fierce protector deity in theGelugpa tradition known as Magzor Gyalmo (the Queen who Repels Armies).[162] Saraswati was theyidam (principal personal meditational deity) of 14th century Tibetan monkJe Tsongkhapa, who composed a devotional poem to her.[163][164]
Tibetan Buddhism teaches numerous mantras of Saraswati. Her seed syllable is often Hrīṃ.[165] In asadhana (ritual text) revealed by the great Tibetan female lamaSera Khandro, her mantra is presented as:[166]
Oṃ hrīṃ devi prajñā vārdhani ye svāhā
In South East Asian Buddhism
InBurmese Buddhism, Saraswati is worshipped asThurathadi (Burmese:သူရဿတီ), an importantnat (Burmese deity) and is a guardian of the Buddhist scriptures (Tipitaka), scholars, students and writers.[167][168][169][170][171] Students in Myanmar often pray for her blessings before their exams.[170]: 327 She is an important deity to the esotericweizzas (Buddhist wizards) of Burma.[172][173]
In ancientThai literature, Saraswati (Thai:สุรัสวดี;RTGS: Suratsawadi) is the goddess of speech and learning, and consort of Brahma.[174] Over time, Hindu and Buddhist concepts merged in Thailand. Icons of Saraswati with other deities of India are found in old Thaiwats.[175] Amulets with Saraswati and a peacock are also found in Thailand.
In Jainism
Saraswati Pata. The painting is divided into nine parts. In three central panels a temple enshrining Saraswati and hervahana,Hamsa, are depicted. Other panels are filled with attendants, musicians, dancers andJain monks.Jain style, Gujarat, 1475–1500.National Museum, New Delhi.
Saraswati is also revered inJainism as the goddess of knowledge and is regarded as the source of all learning. She is known as Srutadevata, Sarada, and Vagisvari.[176] Saraswati is depicted in a standing posture with four arms, one holding a text, another holding a rosary and the remaining two holding theVeena. Saraswati is seated on a lotus with the peacock as her vehicle. Saraswati is also regarded as responsible for dissemination oftirthankars sermon.[21] The earliest sculpture of Saraswati in any religious tradition is the Mathura Jain Saraswati fromKankali Tila dating from 132 CE.[177]
See also
Aban, "the Waters", representing and represented by Aredvi Sura Anahita.
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