The Goddess of Art, Saraswati : A Beginner’s Guide
The goddess Saraswati is the Divine Mother of the Universe. Another sublime version of Devi, Kali, Lakshmi, Parvati, and more.
She grants boons to her devotees in the form of being gifted in music, writing, painting, drawing, and all of the Arts. Thus, Saraswati is known as the Goddess of Arts.
But she is not just limited to the arts. She can also grant her devotees the Wisdom to see the true nature of reality, …and she does give this to those who ask and worship her!
Saraswati is also known as the goddess of learning and is worshiped specifically for that purpose so that students are blessed with fruitful studies.
She is depicted iconically on her swan or on her White Lotus.
She has a veena in her hands which is an ancient instrument from India that sounds from another world. It is one of the most beautiful instruments.
Saraswati is known for being absolutely beautiful and having a beautiful complexion and is adorned with jewels. She is also one of the oldest mentioned Devi’s in the scriptures. She is mentioned in the Rig Veda.
As Lord Brahma’s consort, she is the ruler and Divine mother of the universe. She's worshiped heavily in India and abroad, especially during Saraswati Puja.
But my favorite thing about Saraswati is, she is part of what I call the Devi Power Club, known as the Tridevis made up of Ma Kali, Lakshmi Ma and Saraswati Devi.
In this post, we will dive into all kinds of great information on Saraswati and how she can help you!
We’ll cover the following topics:
Who is Saraswati
The Symbolism of Saraswati
Saraswati and Hinduism
Saraswati and the Arts
Invoking Saraswati with Mantras, prayers and rituals
Who is Saraswati?
Saraswati represents the power of knowledge that can overcome ignorance and bring enlightenment to mankind. Her presence in temples symbolizes the importance of education in Hinduism.
She is believed to be an embodiment of divine knowledge that helps us understand our true nature and purpose in life.
The worship of Saraswati is said to bring peace, prosperity, good luck and success in all endeavors.
Saraswati is a Hindu goddess of knowledge, music, art, wisdom, and learning. People seek her blessings for success in their studies or creative pursuits in music and art. It is believed that by invoking her name one can gain clarity of thought, wisdom and insight into any matter.
She is often depicted as a beautiful woman dressed in white with four arms. Her four hands represent the four aspects of human personality in learning: mind, intellect, alertness and ego.
Saraswati is also known as the “Goddess of Wisdom” and her blessings are sought by students before exams or any other important event.
The Symbolism of Saraswati
Saraswati is often depicted in Hindu iconography as a beautiful and graceful goddess, seated on a white lotus flower in a serene and peaceful pose.
She is typically shown holding a stringed instrument called a veena, which represents the harmony and balance of the universe.
In some depictions, she is also shown holding a book, which represents the knowledge and wisdom that she embodies. This book is a representation of the ancient Vedas.
Her white lotus has a beautiful significance and interpretation by many. One story of the symbolism of her white lotus is this:
“Have you noticed the beautiful lower rises from the soil beneath, through muddy water, and comes out into the light and fresh air? Its pristine beauty amazes us. Likewise, even if we sometimes see negative things around us, we should not get drawn to that, but rise above it all to the light or to the positive things.”
https://www.the-whitelotus.com/stories/significance-of-the-white-lotus/
Other symbols associated with Saraswati include the swan, which represents purity and discrimination, and the peacock, which represents beauty and grace.
https://www.drikpanchang.com/hindu-goddesses/saraswati/goddess-saraswati.html
In summary, the iconography of Saraswati is beauty incarnate filled with rich and diverse symbolism. They reflect her many roles and attributes as a goddess of creativity, knowledge, and wisdom.
The Significance of the Goddess’ Many Arms
Most Gods and Goddesses in Hinduism are portrayed with 4, 8, 16, and more arms. Usually, the most popular pictures portray them with 4 arms and each arm represents a very significant meaning and something that we can learn from.
“Goddess Saraswati’s four arms symbolize a variety of concepts:
Her immanence and transcendence
Her front arms depict the Goddess’ activity in the material realm while the back arms activity in the spiritual realm
The four elements of inner life which include mind, intellect, ego, and Consciousness”
https://www.hinduamerican.org/hinduism-in-depth/saraswati-symbolism
And here is another version of her appearance and iconography with 8 arms:
“Maha Saraswati is depicted as eight-armed sitting on a white lotus flower. There She is wielding in Her hands the bell, trident, ploughshare, conch, pestle, discus, bow and arrow. All these suggests that Maha Saraswati was not mere the goddess of knowledge and arts.”
https://www.thestatesman.com/supplements/8thday/saraswati-beyond-myths-legends-1502736101.html
The Significance of Saraswati in Hinduism
Saraswati is one of the three major goddesses in Hinduism, along with Kali or Parvati and Lakshmi.
She is often depicted in the company of the other two, forming a powerful trinity of feminine energy.
Saraswati is also closely associated with Vishnu, the preserver god. In some stories, she is seen as his wife or consort, and together they represent the balance of creativity and preservation that sustains the universe.
In other stories, Saraswati is seen as a form of Vishnu himself, representing his divine knowledge and wisdom.
Shiva is also sometimes associated with Saraswati. Shiva is seen as the supreme yogi, and Saraswati represents the spiritual knowledge and insight that he embodies.
“She is the goddess of speech. Saraswati first appears in the Rigveda and, in later religious texts, she is identified as the inventor of Sanskrit and, appropriately, gives Ganesha the gifts of pen and inks. She is also a patron of the arts and sciences, and the wife of Brahma, even if the Bengal Vaisnavas considered her first the wife of Vishnu. Sarasvati is also worshipped as the goddess of learning in Jainism and by some Buddhist sects.”
https://www.worldhistory.org/Sarasvati/
Festivals for Saraswati in Hinduism
One of Saraswati’s major festivals is called Vasant Panchami. It is a day completely dedicated to Saraswati
“People worship Goddess Saraswati to get enlightened with knowledge and to get rid of lethargy, sluggishness, and ignorance.
This ritual of initiating education to children is known as Akshar-Abhyasam or Vidya-Arambham/Praasana which is one of the famous rituals of Vasant Panchami. Schools and colleges arrange pujas in the morning to seek blessing of the Goddess.” https://www.drikpanchang.com/festivals/vasant-panchami/vasant-panchami-puja-date-time.html
Mother Worship of Saraswati in West Bengal
I have also witnessed this as a widely celebrated holiday in West Bengal where Mother worship prevails. Here, Saraswati puja is one of the most widely celebrated festivals of the year, and is a time when students and teachers alike come together to honor the goddess of learning and wisdom.
During the festival, people decorate their homes and public spaces with colorful flowers and intricate designs and offer prayers and offerings to Saraswati in hopes of gaining her blessings and guidance.
In schools and universities, students set up altars to the goddess and offer books and other items related to learning as offerings.
Overall, the worship of Saraswati in Bengal and other parts of India is a testament to the enduring power and significance of this important Hindu goddess.
Saraswati and the Trinity of Goddesses
As mentioned earlier, Saraswati is often seen as part of a trinity of goddesses that includes Kali and Lakshmi.
While each of these goddesses has her own distinct attributes and qualities, they are all seen as expressions of the divine feminine, and together they represent the full spectrum of feminine energy.
Kali is often seen as the fierce, destructive aspect of the divine, associated with death and rebirth.
Lakshmi, on the other hand, represents wealth, abundance, and prosperity.
Saraswati, meanwhile, represents the wisdom, creativity, and knowledge that are necessary for spiritual growth and enlightenment.
While the three goddesses are often depicted together, they are also sometimes seen as separate entities with distinct roles and attributes.
Kali, for example, is often associated with the dark moon, while Saraswati is associated with the full moon.
Lakshmi is associated with the waxing moon, representing the growth and abundance that she brings.
Together, these goddesses form a powerful triad that represents the cyclical nature of life, death, and rebirth.
The relationships between Saraswati and other Hindu deities are complex and multifaceted.
Again, it is key to remember that together, these deities represent the full spectrum of feminine energy!
They are the creative, destructive, and transformative forces of this universe.
Saraswati, Goddess of the Arts
Saraswati's patronage of the arts has had a profound influence on music, literature, and visual art in India and beyond.
Indian classical music, in particular, is closely associated with the goddess, as she is considered the presiding deity of music and her veena, the stringed instrument she is often depicted playing, is a symbol of this association.
Many Indian classical musicians believe that Saraswati's blessings are essential to their musical practice, and they often begin their performances with a prayer to the goddess.
Saraswati's influence extends to literature as well. The Saraswati Mahal Library in Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu, is one of the oldest libraries in Asia and is named after the goddess. The library is home to thousands of manuscripts, many of which are ancient and rare, and it is considered a treasure trove of Indian literary and intellectual heritage.
In visual art, Saraswati is often depicted as a serene and ethereal figure, radiating wisdom and knowledge. Her image is found in sculptures, paintings, and other artworks throughout India and beyond.
Beyond India, Saraswati's influence can be felt in the arts of other cultures as well. For example, in Bali, Indonesia, where Hinduism is the dominant religion, Saraswati is worshipped as the goddess of knowledge and is associated with the traditional Balinese art of dance-drama.
Saraswati's patronage of the arts has been a major factor in shaping Indian cultural traditions and has influenced artistic practices in other parts of the world as well.
Her presence is felt not only in the arts but also in meditation and spiritual practices, where she is believed to bestow clarity of thought and inspiration to those who seek her blessings.
This is what we will dive into next!
Invoking Saraswati
I encourage you to seek out Saraswati's wisdom and inspiration in your own creative pursuits.
I highly recommend getting a picture of Saraswati and hanging it in the room you need or using your creative energy. Whether it is related to studies, spiritual practice, and any of the arts, invoking her name will help us reach our highest potential.
If you have an altar or a shrine, I always recommend putting a small murti of her on it or nearby. The more gods and goddesses blessings our mind asks for and associates with, I really believe this will bear some beautiful fruit.
Apart from her association with education, Saraswati is also considered to be a spiritual guide, who can help individuals on their path to self-discovery and enlightenment.
In meditation and spiritual practices, she can bestow clarity of thought and inspiration to those who seek her blessings.
Meditation is a powerful tool for achieving spiritual growth, and Saraswati is believed to be a guardian of this practice.
By invoking her name during meditation, one can receive the inspiration and guidance needed to deepen their spiritual practice.
Here are some of my favorites mantras for invoking Saraswati that anyone can use:
Saraswati Mantra
ॐ ऐं नमः॥
Om Aim Namah॥
Saraswati Mantra
ॐ ऐं क्लीं सौः॥
Om Aim Kleem Sauh॥
Mahasaraswati Mantra
ॐ ऐं महासरस्वत्यै नमः॥
Om Aim Mahasarasvatyai Namah॥
Saraswati Mantra
ॐ ऐं ह्रीं श्रीं वाग्देव्यै सरस्वत्यै नमः॥
Om Aim Hreem Shreem Vagdevyai sarasvatyai Namah॥
Saraswati Mantra
ॐ अर्हं मुख कमल वासिनी पापात्म क्षयम्कारी
वद वद वाग्वादिनी सरस्वती ऐं ह्रीं नमः स्वाहा॥
Om Arham Mukha Kamala Vasini Papatma Kshayamkari
Vad Vad Vagvadini Saraswati Aim Hreem Namah Svaha
Saraswati Gayatri Mantra
ॐ ऐं वाग्देव्यै विद्महे कामराजाय धीमहि।
तन्नो देवी प्रचोदयात्॥
Om Aim Vagdevyai Vidmahe Kamarajaya Dhimahi।
Tanno Devi Prachodayat॥
Listen to the Saraswati Sahasranama Stotram
How Saraswati can help you?
By invoking her name, we can gain clarity of thought, wisdom, and insight into any matter. Saraswati's blessings are sought by students, artists, writers, and anyone seeking knowledge or creative inspiration.
She can help us in our spiritual life through meditation and contemplation.
Her presence is felt in many aspects of modern Hinduism, where people continue to worship and seek her blessings.
Through her grace and blessings, Saraswati can help us achieve success in our studies, creative pursuits, and in our spiritual growth. All we have to do is ask. This is the case really with any of the Gods and Goddesses, we just have to ask and they will help us. Hence, the importance of learning more about them and repeating their mantras.
I will leave you with a beautiful story of Holy Mother, Swami Vivekananda and Saraswati.
First, Sri Ramakrishna said of Holy Mother: “Sarada is an incarnation of Saraswati [the goddess of learning]. She was born to bestow Knowledge on others. She has hidden her physical beauty lest people look upon her with impure eyes and thus commit sin.” …
A dear devotee of Sri Ramakrishna named Surendra had a dream “he saw himself seated on the lap of Ramakrishna. The luminous form of a goddess appeared and said: “Take this mantra”.
“Who are you?” - Surendra asked.
“I am Saraswati”, - replied the goddess. She then uttered the mantra and asked Surendra to repeat it at least 108 times a day. But Surendra never repeated that mantra. … He reported this to Swamiji.
Swamiji said: “In fact, this dream is true. Go on repeating the mantra, and then you will see: the goddess, who gave the mantra, will appear before you in a physical form. She is an incarnation of Bagala* and is now in the form of Saraswati”.
"I don’t understand what you mean”, - said Surendra.
Swamiji reassured him: “You will understand in time. You will see that the external form is calm and benign, but the inner form is formidable. The form of Saraswati is very calm and serene”.
Surendra replied: “I don’t believe all these things”.
“Whether you believe it or not, go on repeating the mantra. It will do you good”, - Swamiji advised. …
After many years after this initial incident, Surendra met Holy Mother and received initiation from her … “he was amazed to discover that the dream-mantra and the Mother’s mantra were the same. He then realized the truth of Swamiji’s words.”
(Swami Chetanananda “Sri Sarada Devi and Her Divine Play”, Vedanta Society of St. Louis 2015, pp. 18, 485, 610)
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Much Love! Much Light!
I’m cheering you on in your spiritual quest!
Heather Hathaway, M.Ed.
