Sarasvati

Sarasvati

"rich in waters", "flowing"

In Hinduism Sarasvati is the goddess of knowledge, learning and wisdom, the patroness of sciences, arts and music. Together with Lakshmi and Parvati, they are the consorts of the Trimurti deities — Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva — and help them in creating, maintaining and dissolving the universe. Sarasvati is also known as Bharati (eloquence), Shatarupa (existence), Vedamata (mother of the Vedas), Brahmi, Sharada, Vagishvari and Putkari. As Vac, she is the goddess of speech.

Sarasvati is first mentioned in the Rigveda. In later texts, she is identified with the creator of Sanskrit and gives Ganesha a pen and ink. Sarasvati is also worshiped in Jainism and some branches of Buddhism.

Sarasvati is also known as the sacred river, which is mentioned in the Rigveda and post-Vedic texts. It is believed that the goddess Sarasvati was initially a personification of the river, which later, by analogy with Ganga (the Ganges), developed into an independent deity.

Veneration

The goddess has her own festival, known as Sarasvati Puja, held on the first day of spring. During the festival, worshippers dress in yellow robes symbolizing wisdom and prosperity. The Goddess’s Statues are decorated with yellow silk, and believers ask for blessings for their books, pens, and musical instruments. This time is considered favorable for the beginning of literacy education for children, the brahmins receive the best food and worship of ancestors is held. Sarasvati is also venerated along with other goddesses during the all-India Navaratri celebration. Musicians often turn their prayers to her before concerts and students before exams.

Sarasvati and Brahma

Despite the fact that Brahma is one of the most important deities in Hinduism, he is rarely worshiped. This fact is explained in various legends and one of them is associated with Sarasvati’s curse. The curse was the result of a misunderstanding. One day, while waiting for his wife to begin an important religious ceremony, and not wanting to be unpunctual, Brahma asked the gods for advice. To help him, the gods created a new female form, Gayatri, so that the ceremony could be started without delay. When Sarasvati appeared and saw her husband in the company of another woman, she became angry and cursed him to never be revered by people.

Some Hindus believe that all living creatures descended from the union of Brahma and Sarasvati, starting with Manu, the first man. More precisely, Sarasvati's son was the rishi Sarasvata, fed by her abundant waters, he was able to survive the Great Drought and become a carrier of Vedic knowledge.

Bengali Vaishnavas consider Sarasvati to be Vishnu's wife.

Images

Traditionally, Sarasvati is depicted as a beautiful young girl with white skin, dressed in a white sari (a symbol of purity), edged with blue. She rarely wears jewelry, emphasizing her indifference to material goods. She usually sits on a lotus pedestal, or on her vahana, swan or goose, in a four-armed form. In her hands she holds a Vedic text written on a palm leaf, a ritual vessel with water, a lotus and a wine (musical instrument). There are also variations with rosaries of white pearls and varada-mudra.

The river-prototype

It is believed that today Sarasvati river exists in its metaphysical form. It metaphorically forms the confluence of the other sacred rivers Ganga (the Ganges) and Yamuna, known as Triveni Sangam and being the greatest place of pilgrimage. There is no consensus on which river was Sarasvati’s prototype. There are several versions:

• Ghaggar-Hakra is a seasonal river in India and Pakistan – many linguistic, archaeological and historical data point in favor of this river;
• Helmand and its inflow Argandab are rivers in Afghanistan mentioned in the Avesta. Helmand was named Harahvayti, which is the Avestan equivalent of Sarasvati. Helmand is described in the texts of the Avesta in a similar way to Sarasvati’s description in the Rigveda;
• Sarasuti is a small modern river.