Saraswati Vandana

Saraswati is the Goddess of leaning, awareness, creativity and wisdom. The Sanskrit word sara means essence and swa means self. And lastly ti is verb that completes the word by giving it a meaning. Thus Saraswati means the essence of the self.

Saraswati is represented in Hindu mythology as the divine consort of Lord Brahma, the Creator of the universe. Since awareness and understanding is necessary for creation, Saraswati symbolizes the creative power of Brahma the ever-expanding consciousness. Goddess Saraswati is worshipped by all persons interested in knowledge, especially students, teachers, scholars, and scientists

In Her popular images and pictures, Goddess Saraswati is generally depicted with four arms (some pictures may show only two arms), wearing a white sari and seated on a white lotus. She holds a book and a rosary in Her rear two hands, while the front two hands are engaged in the playing of a lute (veena). Her right leg is shown slightly pushing against Her left leg. She uses a swan as Her vehicle. There is a peacock by Her side gazing at Her. This symbolism illustrates the following spiritual ideas:

The lotus is a symbol of the Supreme Reality, and a white lotus also denotes supreme awareness that comes after enlightenment. By sitting on a lotus, Saraswati signifies that She is Herself rooted in the Supreme Reality, and symbolizes Absolute Awareness beyond which there is no existence. The white color symbolizes purity of awareness. This is symbolic. All the colors emerge as rainbow from white light as the process of refraction. And when the rainbow colors return to the origin the source of existence once again the color is white. All the colors are absorbed in oneness through Enlightenment. The white apparel that the Goddess is wearing symbolizes purity of awareness and understanding through all layers of consciousness and now she has attained to the state of beyondness.

The four arms denote Her omnipresence and omnipotence. The two front arms indicate Her activity in the physical world and the two back arms signify Her presence in the spiritual world. The four hands represent the four elements of the inner personality. The mind (manas) is represented by the front right hand, the intellect (buddhi) by the front left hand, the conditioned consciousness (chitta) by the rear left hand, and the ego (ahankara) by the rear right hand. The left side of the body symbolizes the qualities of the heart and the right side symbolizes activities of the mind and intellect. A book in the rear left hand signifies that knowledge acquired must be used with love and kindness to promote prosperity of mankind. The rosary signifies concentration, meditation, and contemplation, leading to samadhi, or union with God. A rosary in the rear right hand representing ego conveys that true knowledge acquired with love and devotion melts the ego and results in liberation (moksha) of the seeker from the bondage to the physical world.

The Goddess is shown playing a musical instrument that is held in Her front hands, which denote mind and intellect. This symbol conveys that the seeker must tune his mind and intellect in order to live in perfect harmony with the world. Such harmonious living enables the individual to utilize acquired knowledge for the welfare of all mankind. Two swans are depicted on the left side of the Goddess. A swan is said to have a sensitive beak that enables it to distinguish pure milk from a mixture of milk and water. A swan, therefore, symbolizes the power of discrimination, or the ability to discriminate between right and wrong or good and bad. Saraswati uses the swan as Her carrier. This indicates that one must acquire and apply knowledge with discrimination for the good of mankind. Knowledge that is dominated by ego can destroy the world . A peacock is sitting next to Saraswati and is anxiously waiting to serve as Her vehicle. A peacock depicts unpredictable behavior as its moods can be influenced by the changes in the weather. Saraswati is using a swan as a vehicle and not the peacock. This signifies that one should overcome fear, indecision, and fickleness in order to acquire true knowledge.

This is condensed in the following composition by Taoshobuddha

Saraswati Vandana

My heart soars to a new horizon beyond time and space As finite hands fold in gratitude And lip chant Om Saraswate..e...e Namah A new life force surges through the veins And the fingers pulsate to compose

O! Goddess of learning! Wisdom! Aspiration! Awareness! And Dhyana! O! Saraswati; Dwell in my being and flow in Thy pristine nectarine radiance As compassion to inspire the travellers along the path

O! four- fold Kalakamini the reservoir of art forms O! Sharda the white clad Goddess of pure sublimity O! Mystical one the enchanter of the entire cosmos Flow through my being forever as innocence Innocence that captivates and Opens the door to the unknown and unknowable And then allow the bliss to overflow In many a myriad forms Also shine like the radiance of a thousand sun That I be thy instrument in myriad forms!!!

Many a myriad salutations O! white clad Goddess of Purity Guide my being as I invoke thy form sublime

O! Saraswati the Goddess of learning, and knowing, Wisdom and awareness too. Thy form therefore, implies the essence of the self. As the Creator of the universe.

O Celestial One! you are the creative power of Brahma. As depicted with four arms clad in a white And seated on a white lotus. O! Saraswati embody thy pure sublime form With a book, and a rosary in hands, Thy two front hands ever play a lute (veena). Thus creating musical symphony As I witness thy right leg slightly that pushes against left one. And a swan adorns as Thy vehicle. While a peacock too by Thy side gazes. And as I continue to meditate thy form sublime and pure Wisdom dawns as thy grace incessant!

A vision opens - Symbols though, these represent divine essence Lotus a symbol of the Supreme Reality, While its white color denotes supreme knowledge. Sitting on a lotus, remember, Saraswati signifies She is, Herself, rooted in the Supreme Reality, Supreme reality that symbolizes supreme knowledge The white color symbolizes purity and knowledge. While the white apparel that adorns the Goddess embodies purity of knowing and sublimity of awareness. Thus continues meditation as jewels surface The four arms, remember, manifest Her omnipresence and omnipotence essence. The two front ones indicate Her activity in the physical world While the rear ones signify Her presence in the spiritual world. And four hands represent the four elements of the inner being The mind or manas represented by the front right hand, the intellect or buddhi by the front left one, While conditioned consciousness or chitta by the rear left one, And the ego or ahankara by the rear right hand.

The left side of the body symbolizes the qualities of the heart While the right symbolizes activities of the mind and intellect. A book in the rear left hand signifies Knowledge acquired, must be used with love And kindness too for the prosperity of mankind. The rosary signifies concentration, meditation, And contemplation, that leads to Samadhi, or union with God. A rosary in the rear right hand representing ego Ever conveys that true knowledge acquired with love And devotion melts ego thus resulting in liberation Or moksha of the seeker from the bondage to the physical world.

Vibrating a musical instrument held in Her front hands, Indeed signify mind and intellect. Thus conveying the seeker the tenets of harmony! Forget not to tune the mind and intellect That is the way to live in total harmony with the world. Such harmonious living enables one to utilize Awareness and acquired knowledge for the humanity. Two swans depicted on the left side of the Goddess Represent something mystically sublime. With a sensitive beak Swan distinguishes pure from impure A swan, therefore, symbolizes the power of discrimination, Or the ability to discern right from the wrong or good from bad. Thus continues journey towards the realm of the beyond

Saraswati uses the swan as Her carrier. Thus indicating that one must acquire and apply knowledge With awareness for the good of humanity. Knowledge dominated by ego can destroy the finite and infinite. A peacock next to Saraswati awaits anxiously To serve as Her vehicle ever. A peacock represents unpredictable behavior As its moods can be influenced by the changes in the weather.

Saraswati instead uses a swan as her vehicle not the peacock. Remember therefore to overcome fear, indecision, And fickleness to reach the realm of awareness. Therefore, I vow down to you many a myriad times! Om Saraswateee Namah!! Om Shardayeee Namah!!