WORSHIP OF DEVI SARASWATI ON VASANT PANCHAMI

VASANT PANCHAMI 

It has been a tradition to worship Devi Saraswati, considered the goddess of knowledge and wisdom, on Vasant Panchami day. It is believed that Saraswati emerged on this auspicious day.

SARASWATI IN RIG VEDA

The Rig Veda contains references to both Saraswati, the river and Saraswati, the goddess.

In a hymn in Mandala 1,  composed by sage Madhuchanda (son of Vishwamitra), Devi Saraswati is addressed as “Dhivavasu” which literally means whose wealth is wisdom  or intellect or noble thoughts. 

पा॒व॒का न॒: सर॑स्वती॒ वाजे॑भिर वाजिनी॑वती । 

य॒ज्ञं व॑ष्टु धि॒याव॑सुः ॥

Pavaka na Saraswati Vajebir  Vajinivati

Yagnam Vanstu Dhivavasuh:

The sage praises Saraswati as purifier of mind and thoughts (Pavaka), as the possessor of food, power and nourishment, as the provider of food power and nourishment and, as mentioned above, the goddess of wisdom, the real wealth .

ORIGIN OF SARASWATI 

Goddess Saraswati believed to have emerged from Brahma to provide the wisdom and knowledge necessary to bring order to the chaotic, newly created universe. She represents the vital force of knowledge, speech, and art that Brahma required for creation. 

DEPICTION 

Devi Saraswati is usually depicted sitting on a white lotus, wearing white garments.. Her face too is white in colour radiating purity and brightness.

Everything associated with her is white. In the popular Saraswati Vandana sloka, "Ya Kundendu Tushara Hara Dhavala," 

(या कुन्देन्दु तुषार हार धवला), the terms Kunta (jasmine) , Indu (full moon), and Tushara  (snow) are used to describe the divine, immaculate, and pure white complexion of Goddess Saraswati, symbolizing her essential nature of purity, knowledge, and calmness. Dhavala refers to the color - White, dazzling white and very bright.

She is shown playing the stringed musical instrument Veena, which is in the shape of a female tortoise and hence gets the name Kachchapi.  In the other two hands she is shown holding a book of palm leaves which represents the four Vedas and prayer beads (Akshar mala).

VAHANAS OF DEVI SARASWATI 

The Vahana (Vehicle) of Devi Saraswati is the Swan or Hamsa. Initially Devi was shown riding on a peacock but gave it up later because of the pride-ness associated with peacock and adopted a graceful, mild in nature Swan. 

Swan is also associated with the Neer Ksheer Vivek  (नीर-क्षीर विवेक),  the ability to separate the good from the bad, truth from falsehood etc. It symbolizes profound wisdom, discrimination, and spiritual discernment, essential for clear judgment.

Devi is also sometimes shown to ride on a deer.  The deer represents the scholarly nature of Saraswati, as deer skin is traditionally used by sages for meditation mats. 

However, according to a different version as mentioned in the Aitareya Upanishad, deer is not her Vahana but the Goddess herself transformed into a red deer named Rohit. This form symbolizes purity, knowledge, and grace, often linking her to the wisdom sought by sages.

SAPTA SARASWATI 

In Tantrik tradition, Devi Saraswati is also worshipped in seven different forms known as Sapta Saraswati. The names and the specific motive. The details 

Chintamani Saraswati ( for wish fulfilment), Gnyana Saraswati, ( for wisdom and  enlightenment), Neela Saraswati  ( for protection from enemies),

Ghata Saraswati  (  for success and removing obstacles), Kini Saraswati (supporter of heavenly musicians) , Antariksha Saraswati (universal wisdom, knowledge, and creative inspiration) and Maha Saraswati ( for learning, mastery in speech and consciousness).

MATANGI 

Interestingly in one particular form of 

Devi, she is considered as an out caste. Goddess Saraswati, in her form as Matangi,  is considered as Chadalini, associated with impurities. While Saraswati governs conventional learning, Matangi governs the mystical, intuitive, and spoken aspects of knowledge,

She is depicted in emerald green colour, seated on a red lotus, accompanied by a parrot and holding a sword and a human skull, playing a lute  instead of a verna.  Sometimes she is shown with her male consort Matang Bharav.

IN POPULAR LITERATURE

The great Sanskrit scholar Kalidasa begins his most revered composition Shyamala Dandakam with a prayer to Devi Saraswati (Matangi).  Similarly in Tamil both Kambar, who wrote the Ramayana in Tamil, and Otta Koothar, a contemporary of Kambar, were great devotees of Devi Saraswati. While Kambar composed the famous Saraswati Anthadhi (the first of its kind), Otta Koothar built a temple for Saraswati at Koothanur near Tiruvarur in Tamil Nadu.

AUTHOR' S NOTE

Sri Sharadamba Temple in Sringeri, Karnataka, is one of the most prominent shrines dedicated to Goddess Saraswati, the goddess of knowledge, wisdom, and arts. Established by Adi Shankaracharya, it is the presiding deity of the Sringeri Sharada Peetham, the first of the four cardinal Advaita Vedanta monasteries. 

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