Saraswati, the Goddesses and her significance
Saraswati is the goddesses of knowledge and wisdom. She is also the goddesses of music and poetry. She is believed to be the consort of the Lord Brahma. Considered as the mother of Sanskrit language she is identified in different forms, Bharati (eloquence), Shatarupa (existence), Vedamata (mother of the Vedas), Brahmi, Sarada, Vagisvari, and Putkari. Saraswati first appeared in the Rigveda and, in later religious texts.
Goddesses of Wisdom
Sanskrit word Sara means ‘essence’ and saw means ‘self’. Thus Saraswati implies ‘the essence of self’. Talking about her appearance she is framed playing a musical instrument called Veena. She plays the music of love and life. The Goddesses is seen flaunted in White Sari – the symbol of purity and sits on a White Swan – symbolizing Sattwa Guna, purity and discrimination. She is a prominent figure in Buddhist iconography–the consort of Manjushri.
There are many temples in Nepal dedicated to Saraswati. Behind the hilltop of Swyambhunath, there is a temple dedicated to Manjusri or Saraswati – the Goddess of learning.
In Hindu Religion, there are several mantras chanted during worship of Goddesses Saraswati.
Saraswati Namasthubhyam Varade Kamarupini Vidhyarambam Karishyami Siddhir Bavathume Sadha
Significance of Ma Saraswati
- Saraswati sits on Lotus, which signifies she is herself originates from the supreme purity and offers divine knowledge. Her white sari denotes that she is the embodiment of pure knowledge.
- Two of her front hands denotes her activity in the physical world and the other two denotes her presence in the spiritual world. Each of the four hands reveals something:
- Front Right Hand: denotes mind
- Front Left Hand: denotes intellect
- Rear Left Hand: denotes consciousness
- Rear Right Hand: denotes ego
- Meditation on Saraswati Yantra is considered to be much beneficial for artists and students.
- The Goddess is framed playing a musical instrument, Veena. It conveys that a human must tune his mind and intellect properly to live in perfect harmony with the world.
- There is a great festival called “Saraswati Puja” celebrated during Vasanta Panchami (in the month of January/February) dedicated to her divine knowledge in Sanskrit and Music.
Mantra of Swarswati
ॐ श्री सरस्वती शुक्लवर्णां सस्मितां सुमनोहराम्।। कोटिचंद्र प्रभा मुष्ट पुष्ट श्रीयुक्तविग्रहाम्। वह्निशुद्धां शुकाधानां वीणापुस्तकमधारिणीम्।। रत्न सारेन्द्र निर्माण नव भूषण भूषिताम्। सुपूजितां सुरगणैब्रह्मविष्णुशिवादिभि:।। वन्दे भक्तया वन्दिता च मुनीन्द्रमनुमानवै:।