In Hinduism, Saraswati (Devanagari: सरस्वती, Bengali: সরস্বতী), also known as Brahmi and Brahmani, is the goddess of wisdom, knowledge, music, art and expression, and in the Shaktidharma denomination she is revered as the supreme Creatrix of the universe. She is the consort of Brahma, and part of the Tridevi, along with Lakshmi and Parvati. The goddess is also revered by the Jains of west and central India.
Etymology[]
Saraswati is the assimilation of the Sanskrit words सरस (saras) "water, lake" and वती (vati) "owning, possessing". The word is derived from Proto-Indo-European *sáras-vat-ī, meaning "marshy". The name Brahmi means "Origin".
Iconography[]
Sarswati is often depicted as a beautiful woman dressed in white, seated on a white lotus or swan. She is frequently associated with white, which symbolizes purity. Occasionally, she is also associated with the yellow mustard plant that blooms in spring.
Saraswati generally is depicted with four arms, which represent the four aspects of human personality in learning: mind, intellect, alertness, and ego. In her arms, she is shown carrying a veena, Hindu prayer beads (mālā), the four Vedas, and a pot of holy water. Compared to Lakshmi, who is nearly always depicted with extravagant jewelry and clothes, Saraswati is shown clad in simple jewels and gold.
Gods and goddesses of Hindu mythology | |
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Trimurti | Creator: Brahma • Preserver: Viṣṇu • Destroyer: Śiva |
Tridevi | Creatrix: Saraswati • Preservatrix: Lakshmi • Destructrix: Kali |
Main Devas | King: Indra • Sun: Surya • Moon: Chandra • Fire: Agni • Wind: Vayu • Ocean: Varuna • Sky: Dyaus • War: Murugan • Wealth: Kubera • Love: Kama • Death: Yama • Rain: Parjanya • Remover of Obstacles: Ganesh |
Other Devas | Recorder of Fate: Chitragupta • Counsellor to Gods: Brihaspati • Architect of the Universe: Vishvakarman |
Navagrahas | Sun: Surya • Moon: Chandra • Mercury: Budha • Venus: Shani • Mars: Mangala • Jupiter: Brihaspati • Saturn: Shukra |
Main Devis | Motherhood: Pārvatī • Earth/Nature: Prithvi • Love: Ratri • Dawn: Ushas • Night: Rati |
Other Devis | Mother of the Gods: Aditi • Dusk: Saranyu • Death: Yami • Beauty: Shachi • River Ganges: Ganga |