Narayan Ravi - Mumbai

Navarathri Shakti Series

Shakti series part 7: Saraswati, the fountain of knowledge.

Saraswati is the Goddess of knowledge & wisdom. She is the active energy & power of Lord Brahma, the creator. Saraswati is venerated as both a river & as a Goddess. 'Sara' in Sanskrit means 'essence' & 'swa' means 'self'. Hence the name Saraswati means 'essence of the self'. It can also be taken to be a combination of the Sanskrit words 'Surasa-wati' meaning 'the one with plenty of water', in the context of Her being a river goddess.

The Saraswati river is no longer believed to exist in the physical/material form. Her existence is only mythical. At the Triveni Sangam in Allahabad, Saraswati is believed to invisibly join Ganga & Yamuna - a confluence of India's 3 holiest rivers. The Kumbh Mela is held here every 12 years, & the Padma Purana says - 'One who bathes & drinks there where the Saraswati, Ganga & Yamuna join enjoys liberation. Of this there is no doubt'.

The Rigveda praises Saraswati as follows:

अम्बितमे नदीतमे देवितमे सरस्वति |

Meaning: Saraswati is the best of mothers, rivers & goddesses.

Saraswati is known by many names - 'Vani' (Speech), 'Vakdevi' (The goddess who bestows the gift of speech), 'Veena pustaka dharini' (the one holding a veena & a book in Her hands), 'Shweta Padmasana' (the one who sits on a white lotus).

She is mainly worshipped during the last 3 days of Navaratri - Saptami, Astami & Navami. Books,musical instruments, (sometimes even weapons - in case of defence personnel), farming implements are all kept for worship on the night of Astami & worshipped on Navami, also called Saraswati Puja or Ayudha puja (Ayudha meaning weapon or tool) as symbols of Saraswati. They are taken out after worship on Vijayadasami. This is when children begin their formal education by learning to write their first letters & this is considered the most auspicious day to begin learning in any field - be it music, dance or any art form. Saraswati is also worshipped on the day of Vasant Panchami.

May Mahasaraswati bless us all with Her infinite knowledge,wisdom & purity of thought. Jai Mata Di