Sarasvati Notebook

In Hinduism Saraswati is the goddess of knowledge, music, arts, science and technology. She is the consort of Brahma, also revered as His Shakti. The name Saraswati came from "saras" (meaning "flow") and "wati" (meaning "a woman"). So, Saraswati is symbol of knowledge; its flow (or growth) is like a river and knowledge is supremely alluring, like a beautiful woman. She is mainly associated with the colour white, which signifies the purity of true knowledge. In her hands, she is holding the veena, a musical instrument that represents her perfection of all arts and sciences. Saraswati is also associated with anurāga, the love for and rhythm of music which represents all emotions and feelings expressed in speech or music. A hamsa or swan is often located next to her feet. The sacred bird, if offered a mixture of milk and water, is said to be able to drink the milk alone. It thus symbolizes discrimination between the good and the bad or the eternal and the evanescent. Due to her association with the bird, Saraswati is also referred to as Hamsavahini, which means "she who has a hamsa as her vehicle". She is usually depicted near a flowing river, which may be related to her early history as a river goddess. Mantra या कुंदेंदु तुषारहार धवला, या शुभ्र वस्त्रावृता | या वीणावर दण्डमंडितकरा, या श्वेतपद्मासना || या ब्रह्माच्युतशंकरप्रभ्रृतिभिर्देवै: सदा वन्दिता | सा मां पातु सरस्वती भगवती नि:शेष्य जाड्यापहा || She, who is as fair as the Kunda flower,the moon, and a garland of Tushar flowers; She, whose hands are adorned by the excellent veena, and whose seat is the pure white lotus; She, who is constantly praised and glorified by Brahma, Vishnu, Mahesh and other divinities; O Mother Goddess, remove my mental inertia!