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For the Vedic river, see Saraswati River. The Sarasvati River ( Sanskrit: sa सरस्वती नदी sárasvatī nadī) is one of the chief Rigvedic rivers mentioned in ancient Hindu
Saraswati
Learning, the Arts, Music, and river
Devanagariसरस्वती
AffiliationDevi
MantraOm Eim Saraswatyei Swaha
ConsortBrahma
Mountswan, peacock
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Sarasvati (pronounced as [sə. Devi ( Devanagari: देवी) is the Sanskrit word for Goddess, used mostly in Hinduism. A mantra ( Devanāgarī मन्त्र (or mantram is a religious or mystical syllable or poem typically from the Sanskrit language Brahma is the Hindu god ( deva) of creation and one of the Trimurti, the others being Vishnu and Shiva. Swans are Birds of the family Anatidae, which also includes geese and Ducks Swans are grouped with the closely related geese in The term peafowl refers to Gallinaceous Birds classified within the genera Rheinardia Argusianus Afropavoand Pavo rəs. ʋə. t̪iː]; Sanskrit: सरस्वती, sarasvatī; Malay: Saraswati; Thai: Sarasawati) is the Hindu goddess of knowledge, music and the arts. Sanskrit (sa संस्कृता वाक् saṃskṛtā vāk, for short sa संस्कृतम् saṃskṛtam) is a historical The Malay language ( ISO 639-1 code MS is an Austronesian language spoken by the Malay people and people of other ethnic groups who reside in the Thai (th ภาษาไทย, transcription: phasa thai, transliteration:; pʰāːsǎːtʰāj is the national and Hinduism is a religious tradition that originated in the Indian subcontinent. Devi ( Devanagari: देवी) is the Sanskrit word for Goddess, used mostly in Hinduism. Saraswati has been identified with the Vedic Saraswati River. The Sarasvati River ( Sanskrit: sa सरस्वती नदी sárasvatī nadī) is one of the chief Rigvedic rivers mentioned in ancient Hindu She is alternately considered either the daughter or the consort of Brahma, the Hindu god of creation. Brahma is the Hindu god ( deva) of creation and one of the Trimurti, the others being Vishnu and Shiva. Thus, with the goddesses Lakshmi and Parvati or Durga, she forms the Tridevi ("three goddesses"), who are consorts of the male trinity of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva, respectively. Lakshmi or Mahalakshmi (pronunciation; Sanskrit: लक्ष्मी lakṣmī) is the Hindu Goddess of Wealth Parvati ( Sanskrit: Pārvatī sa [[wiktपार्वती पार्वती]] sometimes spelled Parvathi or Parvathy, is a Hindu In Hinduism, Durga ("the inaccessible" or "the invincible" or Maa Durga (Mother Durga is a form of Devi, the supreme Goddess The Trimurti ( English: ‘three forms’ Sanskrit: trimūrti) is a concept in Hinduism "in which the cosmic functions of creation Brahma is the Hindu god ( deva) of creation and one of the Trimurti, the others being Vishnu and Shiva. For other meanings see Vishnu (disambiguation. Vishnu ( IAST viṣṇu Devanagari विष्णु (honorific Shiva:(pronunciation; Sanskrit: शिव Śiva, lit "Auspicious one" One of the Trimurtis Shiva is the supreme God in the Shaiva Saraswati's children are the Vedas, which are the oldest sacred texts of Hinduism. "Veda" redirects here For other uses see Veda (disambiguation. Hinduism is a religious tradition that originated in the Indian subcontinent.

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Sarasvati as a river

Main article: Sarasvati River

The Rigvedic hymns dedicated to Sarasvati mention her as a mighty river with creative, purifying, and nourishing properties. The Sarasvati River ( Sanskrit: sa सरस्वती नदी sárasvatī nadī) is one of the chief Rigvedic rivers mentioned in ancient Hindu The Rigveda ( Sanskrit sa ऋग्वेद ṛgveda, a compound of ṛc "praise verse" and veda "knowledge" "Riverine" redirects here For the use of that term in Maritime geography, see there The best theory regarding the Vedic Sarasvati River states that it was formed by the present headwaters of the Yamuna River. The Sarasvati River ( Sanskrit: sa सरस्वती नदी sárasvatī nadī) is one of the chief Rigvedic rivers mentioned in ancient Hindu For the goddess of the river who is sometimes called Yamuna see Yami The Yamuna (Sanskrit यमुना In ancient times, after leaving 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. Punjab ( ਪੰਜਾਬ پنجاب, पंजाब پنجاب also Panjab (پنجاب meaning "Land of the Five Rivers") (c Haryana (हरियाणा Punjabi: ਹਰਿਆਣਾ hərɪjaːɳaː is a state in northern India. The Ghaggar-Hakra River is a believed to be an intermittent river in India and Pakistan that flows only during the Monsoon season The Indus River { Sanskrit: सिन्धु Sindhu; Urdu: urd {{Nastaliq سندھ}} Sindh; Sindhi: snd The Sutlej flowed further east than it does today, and joined the Sarasvati somewhere near Bahawalpur. The Sutlej River (alternatively spelled as Satluj River (ਸਤਲੁਜ शतद्रु or सुतुद्री, ستلج and सतलुज is the longest Bahawalpur (also Bhawalpur or Bhawulpore) (بہاولپور is the capital city of Bahawalpur District located in, Punjab Pakistan Eventually, the wide river emptied into the Rann of Kutch, which at the time was a more integral part of the Arabian Sea. The Rann of Kutch is a seasonally marshy region located in the Thar Desert biogeographic province in Gujarat state of northwestern India The Arabian Sea ( Arabic: بحر العرب transliterated: Baḥr al-'Arab Sanskrit: सिन्धु सागर transliterated:

Along the course of the Sarasvati, the Harappan Civilization developed. The Indus Valley Civilization (Mature period 2600&ndash1900 BCE abbreviated IVC, was an ancient Civilization that flourished in the Indus River basin 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. India, officially the Republic of India (भारत गणराज्य inc-Latn Bhārat Gaṇarājya; see also other Indian languages) is a country 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. Communication is the process of conveying information from a sender to a receiver with the use of a medium in which the communicated information is understood the same way

Between 2000 B. C. and 1700 B. C. , seismic activity caused the waters of the river's two main sources to change course. An earthquake is the result of a sudden release of energy in the Earth 's crust that creates Seismic waves Earthquakes are recorded with a Seismometer The Sutlej moved course westward and became a tributary of the Indus River. The Sutlej River (alternatively spelled as Satluj River (ਸਤਲੁਜ शतद्रु or सुतुद्री, ستلج and सतलुज is the longest The Indus River { Sanskrit: सिन्धु Sindhu; Urdu: urd {{Nastaliq سندھ}} Sindh; Sindhi: snd The Yamuna moved course eastward and became a tributary of the Ganges. For the goddess of the river who is sometimes called Yamuna see Yami The Yamuna (Sanskrit यमुना The Ganges (ˈgænʤiːz also Ganga, Devanāgarī: hi गंगा in most Indian languages) is the major river in the Indian subcontinent 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. The Thar Desert ( Hindi: थार मरुस्थल also known as the Great Indian Desert, is 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. For the goddess of the river who is sometimes called Yamuna see Yami The Yamuna (Sanskrit यमुना 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. For the goddess of the river who is sometimes called Yamuna see Yami The Yamuna (Sanskrit यमुना 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).

Maha Saraswati

Maha Saraswati is the presiding Goddess of the Final episode of Devi Mahatmya. The Devi Mahatmya ( Sanskrit: devīmāhātmyam, sa देवीमाहात्म्यम् or "Glory of the Goddess " is a Hindu Here she is a part of the trinity of Maha Kali, Maha Lakshmi and Maha Saraswati. She is depicted as eight-armed. Her dhyana shloka 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. Dhyāna in Hinduism See also Dhyana in Hinduism In Hinduism dhyana is considered to be an instrument to gain self knowledge separating maya from A Sanskrit term shloka (श्लोक also spelt sloka specifically denotes a metered and often rhymed poetic verse or phrase She is born from the body of Gowri and is the sustaining base of the three worlds. Satī (Devanagari सती the feminine of sat "true" or Dākshāyani is a Hindu goddess of marital felicity and longevity she is worshipped particularly The Maha Saraswati I worship here who destroyed Sumbha and other asuras. In Hinduism In Hinduism, the Asura ( Sanskrit: असुर are a group of power-seeking deities sometimes referred to as Demons or sinful [1]

Mahavidya Nila Saraswati

Nilasaraswati is another form of Mahavidya Tara. Mahavidyas ( Great Wisdoms) are aspects of Devi in Hinduism. The Ten Mahavidyas are known as Wisdom Goddesses Mahavidyas ( Great Wisdoms) are aspects of Devi in Hinduism. The Ten Mahavidyas are known as Wisdom Goddesses In Hinduism, the Goddess Tara ( Sanskrit: Tārā, Devanagari: तारा) meaning "star" is the second of the There are separate dhyana shlokas and mantras for her worship in Tantrasara. Dhyāna in Hinduism See also Dhyana in Hinduism In Hinduism dhyana is considered to be an instrument to gain self knowledge separating maya from A Sanskrit term shloka (श्लोक also spelt sloka specifically denotes a metered and often rhymed poetic verse or phrase A mantra ( Devanāgarī मन्त्र (or mantram is a religious or mystical syllable or poem typically from the Sanskrit language The Tantrasara is a work attributed to Abhinavagupta, the most famous historical proponent of the Trika or Kashmir Shaivism philosophy of Hinduism. [2]

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. In the early Vedic religion, Vritra ( Sanskrit: वृत्र ( Devanāgarī) or Vṛtra ( IAST) "the enveloper" was an Asura In Hinduism In Hinduism, the Asura ( Sanskrit: असुर are a group of power-seeking deities sometimes referred to as Demons or sinful A drought is an extended period of months or years when a region notes a deficiency in its water supply Chaos (derived from the Ancient Greek, Chaos) typically refers to Unpredictability, and is the antithesis of Cosmos. She is often seen as equivalent to other Vedic goddesses such as Vak, Savitri, and Gayatri. Gayatri (गायत्री gāyatrī is the feminine form of gāyatra, a Sanskrit word for a song or a hymn 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’. Sanskrit (sa संस्कृता वाक् saṃskṛtā vāk, for short sa संस्कृतम् saṃskṛtam) is a historical

In some Puranas (like Skanda Purana) she is associated with Shiva and in some Tantras with Ganesha. For other meanings see Purana (disambiguation. The Puranas ( Sanskrit: sa पुराण purāṇa, "of ancient times" Skanda Purana, one of the major eighteen Puranas, a Hindu religious text is the largest Purana and is devoted mainly to the life and deed of Kartikeya Shiva:(pronunciation; Sanskrit: शिव Śiva, lit "Auspicious one" One of the Trimurtis Shiva is the supreme God in the Shaiva Tantra ( Sanskrit: तन्त्र; " Weave " denoting continuity) tantricism or tantrism is any of several esoteric Ganesha ( Sanskrit: sa गणेश Gaṇeśa) also spelled Ganesa or Ganesh and also known as Ganapati, Vinayaka, and Pillaiyar

According to Brahma Vaivarta Purana 1. Brahma Vaivarta Purana, ( IAST brahma-vaivarta purāṇa) one of the major eighteen Puranas, a Hindu religious text is divided into four parts 6. 13-95 Vishnu has three wives, who constantly quarrel with each other, so that eventually, he keeps only Lakshmi, giving Ganga to Shiva and Saraswati to Brahma. For other meanings see Vishnu (disambiguation. Vishnu ( IAST viṣṇu Devanagari विष्णु (honorific Lakshmi or Mahalakshmi (pronunciation; Sanskrit: लक्ष्मी lakṣmī) is the Hindu Goddess of Wealth The Ganges (ˈgænʤiːz also Ganga, Devanāgarī: hi गंगा in most Indian languages) is the major river in the Indian subcontinent Brahma is the Hindu god ( deva) of creation and one of the Trimurti, the others being Vishnu and Shiva.

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. Deva (देव in Devanagari script pronounced as /'d̪evə/ is the Sanskrit word for "god Deity " Vaikunta (Sanskrit वैकुण्ठम् or Paramapadham is the abode of Lord Vishnu. Fire is the heat and light energy released during a Chemical reaction, in particular a combustion reaction. The Sun (Sol is the Star at the center of the Solar System. "Kurma" is also an alternative transliteration of Korma. In Hindu ( Vedic) tradition Shesha (Śeṣa in IAST transliteration Devanagari: शेष is the king of all nagas, one of the primal GARUDA is India's Grid Computing initiative connecting 17 cities across the country 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. A mantra ( Devanāgarī मन्त्र (or mantram is a religious or mystical syllable or poem typically from the Sanskrit language Smriti (Sanskrit स्मृति " that which is remembered " refers to a specific body of Hindu religious Scripture [3]

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. Rupa Goswami ( 1489 - 1564 CE is a devotional teacher poet and philosopher from the Gaudiya Vaishnava tradition of Hinduism. For the Kushan king see Vasudeva I. For the book by Narendra Kohli see Vasudeva (book. In the directions beginning with the southeast, the palaces of Lakshmi, Saraswati, Rati, and Kanti respectively are situated. For other uses see Rati (given name and Rati (Norse mythology. [4]

According to Vedanta she is considered to be the feminine energy and knowledge aspect (shakti) of Brahman, as one of many aspects of Adi Shakti. Vedanta ( Devanagari: sa वेदान्त Vedānta) is a spiritual tradition explained in the Upanishads that is concerned with the Self-realisation Shakti, meaning sacred force, power, or energy, is the Hindu concept or personification of the divine feminine aspect sometimes referred Brahman ( bráhman-, Nominative bráhma sa ब्रह्म is a concept of Hinduism. Shakti, meaning sacred force, power, or energy, is the Hindu concept or personification of the divine feminine aspect sometimes referred

Other associations

As a river/water goddess, Saraswati symbolizes fertility and prosperity. Fertility is the natural capability of giving life As a measure "Fertility Rate" is the number of children born per couple person or population Wealth derives from the old English word "weal" which means "well-being 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 known as Benzaiten in Japan. Benzaiten ( 弁[[wiktionary 才|才]] 天, 弁[[wiktionary 財|財]] 天) is the Japanese name of the goddess Saraswati; there

Iconography

Saraswati (Thuyathadi in Burmese) represented in Bamar fashion, seated on a hamsa, and holding scriptures of the Tipitaka, by a river.
Saraswati (Thuyathadi in Burmese) represented in Bamar fashion, seated on a hamsa, and holding scriptures of the Tipitaka, by a river. The Burmese language (မြန်မာဘာသာ myà̃mà bàθà MLCTS: myanma bhasa) is the official Language of Burma. The Bamar ( bəmà lùmjó also called Burman) are the dominant Ethnic group of Burma, constituting approximately 68% (30000000 of the population The Hamsa (हंस in Sanskrit and often written hansa) is a Swan or Goose, often considered to be the Mute Swan ( Cygnus

The Goddess Saraswati is often depicted as a beautiful, white-skinned woman dressed in pure white often seated on a white Nelumbo nucifera lotus (although Her actual vahana is believed to be a swan), which symbolizes that she is founded in the experience of the Absolute Truth. Nelumbo nucifera is known by a number of common names including Indian lotus, sacred lotus, bean of India, and sacred water-lily 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. For the prepared condiment see Mustard (condiment. For other uses of the term "mustard" see Mustard. 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. Lakshmi or Mahalakshmi (pronunciation; Sanskrit: लक्ष्मी lakṣmī) is the Hindu Goddess of Wealth

She is generally shown to have four arms, which represent the four aspects of human personality in learning: mind, intellect, alertness, and ego. Alternatively, these four arms also represent the 4 vedas, the primary sacred books for hindus. The vedas, in turn, represent the 3 forms of literature:

The four hands also depict this thusly — prose is represented by the book in one hand, poetry by the garland of crystal, music by the veena. The pot of sacred water represents purity in all of these three, or their power to purify human thought.

She is shown to hold the following in her hands:

A white swan 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. 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".

She is usually depicted near a flowing river, which may be related to her early history as a river goddess. The swan and her association with the lotus flower also point to her ancient origin.

Sometimes a peacock is shown beside the goddess. The 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.

Festivals

Saraswati festival on Dasashwamedh Ghat in Varanasi, India, January 2007
Saraswati festival on Dasashwamedh Ghat in Varanasi, India, January 2007

Saraswati Puja is performed on the 5th day of Magha month of Hindu Calendar( Also known as Basant Panchami). Varanasi ( Sanskrit: वाराणसी Vārāṇasī, pronunciation) also commonly known as Benares ( or Banaras (बनारस India, officially the Republic of India (भारत गणराज्य inc-Latn Bhārat Gaṇarājya; see also other Indian languages) is a country

In several parts of India, generally states to the south, Saraswati Poojas are conducted during Navaratri - a 9 day long festival celebrating the power of feminity. Navratri is celebrated in all goddess-temples of India- esp with great pomp and splendor in south and east India. 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). All students are traditionally required to study a part of all that they have learn till that day, and also to start the study of something new on the same day. Gurus ( Preceptors) are worshipped on this day as embodiments of Saraswati. In major part of India this Navratri is associated with Goddess Durga, but down South is celebrated as Saraswati Puja.

Temples

Major temples for the goddess are in Basara Town ( Andhra Pradesh, www. BasaraTemple. org) Shringeri (Karnataka), Pushkar (Rajastan), Panachikkad (Kerala), South Paravoor (Kerala). Though temples for saraswati are rare, there are some minor temples in Kumbakonam,Koothanur (Tamilnadu), Basar, Nuzvid(Krishana Dt. . )(Andhra Pradesh), Bharathi temple (known as Kollam Bharathi locally) near Atmakur, Kurnool Dist in Andhra, shradapeth (ruins) (kashmir) Also Deupatan, Kamalakshi, Thimi, Bhadrakali ,Gairidhara in the Kathmandu region have her temples.

The Worship of Goddess Saraswati

The goddess's abode is mentioned as being in the state of Kashmir, among the Himalayas. This article is about the geographical region of greater Kashmir Her favorite fruit is supposed to be the apple.

In hindu mythology, great significance is attached to offering honey to this goddess, as honey is representative of perfect knowledge.

A Prayer to Goddess Saraswati – Saraswati Vandana Mantra

Yaa Kundendu tushaara haaradhavalaa, Yaa shubhravastraavritha
Yaa veenavara dandamanditakara, Yaa shwetha padmaasana
Yaa brahmaachyutha shankara prabhutibhir Devaisadaa Vanditha
Saa Maam Paatu Saraswatee Bhagavatee Nihshesha jaadyaapahaa

English Translation:

"May Goddess Saraswati, who is fair like the jasmine-colored moon, and whose pure white garland is like frosty dew drops; who is adorned in radiant white attire, on whose beautiful arm rests the veena, and whose throne is a white lotus; who is surrounded and respected by the Gods, protect me. Saraswati Vandana Mantra is an important Hindu Mantra that is recited for higher knowledge and wisdom May you fully remove my lethargy, sluggishness, and ignorance. " [1]

Other meanings

See also

Notes

  1. ^ Sankaranarayanan, S. A mantra ( Devanāgarī मन्त्र (or mantram is a religious or mystical syllable or poem typically from the Sanskrit language , Glory of the Divine Mother (Devī Māhātmyam), p183
  2. ^ Kinsley, David, Tantric Visions of the Divine Feminine p 98
  3. ^ Padma Purana, Uttara-khanda 256. 23
  4. ^ Laghu Bhagavatamrta 5. 288-290

References

Further reading

External links

Dictionary

Saraswati

-proper noun

  1. (Hinduism) The Hindu goddess of knowledge and the arts.
  2. A legendary river in the Rigveda.
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