After Kali n Druga, comes Sarswati!

by TruthSeeker Mon Sep 28, 2015 10:04 pm

Fools are those who think of them as Goddesses with multiple hands. None of the other religions is as advanced as Hinduism.

Saraswati

Last in this series of “Process of Seeking Truth”, is the symbolism of Goddess Saraswati. Once we have “invoked raw energy” within us [Ma Kaali], a human “directs” this energy positively [Ma Durga], and then only one is ready to experience the Absolute Truth [Goddess Saraswati].

Saraswati Pooja ends the trilogy of three Goddesses in the process of seeking Truth which Hindus practice every year with different names across different regions [Durga Pooja, Navaratri, Vijaydashami].

What appears as mere idol worship has deep philosophical eternally practical meanings in Hinduism. Through the worship of these 3 Goddesses, a human is reminded of the process one needs to practice throughout the year in order to achieve Truth.

Goddess Saraswati, who she really is:

http://sss.vn.ua/india/murtis/saraswati2.jpg
http://osaka.cool.ne.jp/elvis175/benzaiten/benzaiten.jpg

Meaning of Saraswati	Her name literally means "the one who flows", which apparently was applied to thoughts, words, or the flow of a river (in Sanskrit: "dhaara-pravaah"). There was an important river in ancient India of this name (Vedic Saraswati River). Saraswati is the goddess of everything that flows: water, words (and knowledge, by extension), speech, eloquence, and music. Saraswati is known as Benzaiten in Japan; Thuyathadi in Burma.
Symbolism	Goddess Saraswati is often depicted as a beautiful woman dressed in pure white often seated on a white lotus (although Her actual vahana is believed to be a swan), which symbolizes that she is founded in the experience of the Absolute Truth. Thus, she not only has the knowledge but also the experience of the Highest Reality.
White Color	She is mainly associated with the color white, which signifies the purity of true knowledge. Occasionally, however, she is also associated with the color yellow, the color of the flowers of the mustard plant that bloom at the time of her festival in the spring. She is not adorned heavily with jewels and gold, unlike the Goddess Lakshmi, but is dressed modestly — perhaps representing her preference of knowledge over worldly material things.
Swan	A white swan is often located next to her feet. The sacred swan, if offered a mixture of milk and water, is said to be able to drink the milk alone. The swan thus symbolizes discrimination between the good and the bad or the eternal and the evanescent. Due to her association with the swan, Goddess Saraswati is also referred to as Hamsa-vahini, which means "she who has a swan as her vehicle".
Peacock	Sometimes a peacock is shown beside the goddess. The peacock represents arrogance and pride over its beauty, and by having a peacock as her mount, the Goddess teaches Hindus not to be concerned with external appearance and to be wise regarding the eternal truth.
4 Hands holding following Objects of Symbolism	She is generally shown to have four arms, which represent the four aspects of human personality in learning: [list=margin-top:0in] []Mind []Intellect []Alertness, and []Ego. [/list] Alternatively, these four arms also represent the 4 vedas, the primary sacred books for Hindus.
1. Book in one hand	The vedas, in turn, represent the 3 forms of literature: Poetry - the Rigveda contains hymns, representing poetry Prose - Yajurveda contains prose Music - Samaveda represents music. Prose (Yajurveda) is represented by the book in one hand. A book representing the universal, divine, eternal, and true knowledge as well as her perfection of the sciences and the scriptures.
2. Crystal Garland	Poetry (Rigveda) is represented by the garland of crystal; A mala (rosary) of crystals, representing the power of meditation and spirituality.
3. Veena	Music (Samaveda) is represented by the veena. 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.
4. Pot of sacred water	The pot of sacred water represents purity in all of the three above, or their power to purify human thought. A pot of sacred water, representing creative and purifying powers.
Benzaiten (弁才天, 弁財天)	Benzaiten (弁才天, 弁財天) is the Japanese name of the Goddess Saraswati. Worship of Benzaiten arrived in Japan during the 6th through 8th centuries, mainly via the Chinese translations of the Sutra of Golden Light, which has a section devoted to her. She is also mentioned in the Lotus Sutra. The characters used initially to write her name, read "Biancaitian" in Chinese and "Bensaiten" in Japanese (辯才天), reflected her role as the goddess of eloquence. Because the Sutra of Golden Light promised protection of the state, in Japan she became a protector-deity, at first of the state and then of people. Lastly, she became one of the Seven Gods of Fortune, and the Sino-Japanese characters used to write her name changed to 弁財天 (Benzaiten), which reflects her role in bestowing monetary fortune. Sometimes she is called Benten, although this name refers to the goddess Lakshmi. In the Rig-Veda (6.61.7) Sarasvati is credited with killing the three-headed Vritra, also known as Ahi ("snake"). This is probably one of the sources of Sarasvati/Benzaiten's close association with snakes and dragons in Japan.