Goddess of Knowledge - Saraswathy

Saraswathy is worshiped as the Goddess of knowledge, music, arts, wisdom and learning from ancient Vedic times to this day. Like Shakti to Shiva , Lakshmi to Vishnu, Saraswathy is to Brahma. Thus she is one of the Tridevi. Tridevi  is the feminine part of the Trinity - Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva. Brahma creates, Vishnu maintains and Shiva Destroys (recycles and regenerates). 

In Mahabharatha, Saraswathy is called the mother of vedas. She is the celestial creative symphony who appeared when Brahma created the Universe. 

The name Saraswathy is a combination of two sanskrit words sara meaning essence and swa meaning oneself. So Saraswathy means 'essence of oneself'. Another explanation is Saraswathy is a composite sanskrit word Surasa-vati, meaning "one with plenty of water". This is in reference to a verse in Rigveda, where Saraswathy is referred as the 'best of mothers, of rivers, of goddesses'. In book 10 of Rigveda, she is celebrated as a feminine deity with healing, purifying powers and abundant flowing waters (River Saraswathy). In the Brahmanas which was written after Rigveda, Saraswathy's importance grew from the water that purifies to knowledge that purifies. She was celebrated as the goddess of knowledge, music, arts, wisdom, learning, speech, creativity and to anything that purifies and clarifies the essence and self of a person. 

Saraswathy is depicted as a beautiful woman with four arms, dressed in white and seated on a white lotus. The color white symbolise satva guna - represents purity, insight and wisdom.   White lotus is a symbol of enlightenment. Thefour arms symbolically represent the four heads of Brahma - manas, buddhi, chitha, ahamkara. Brahma is the abstract and Saraswathy, the experience of the highest reality. Saraswathy holds a book, a mala (rosary), a water pot and a veena ( a musical instrument) in her hands. The book represents Vedas and all forms of learning. The mala represents the power of meditation, inner reflection and spirituality. Pot of water represents purifying power or Soma - the drink that liberates and leads to knowledge. Veena represents all creative arts and sciences (the knowledge that creates harmony).

A hans or swan at her feet symbolises the ability to discriminate between good and bad. Swan is also a symbol of spiritual perfection, transcendence and moksha. Sometimes a peacock is also seen beside Saraswathy, which represents the colourful splendour and celebration of dance and also symbolises the transmutation of the poisonous self (peacock being a snake eater) into the radiant plumage of enlightenment. Saraswathy is always depicted as sitting near a river. 

In North India Vasanth Panchami is celebrated in her honour, the fifth day of spring in the month of Magha (February). Young children start their education on that day. In Kerala and TamilNadu, the last three days of Navarathri is celebrated as Saraswathy Puja.

Saraswathy is revered by the Jains and Buddhists as well. She is also worshiped in Nepal, Japan, Bali and Myanmar.