Her Mantra Form
Om Aim Shreem Hreem Saraswatyai Namaha
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Om Aim Saraswatyai Namaha
(this is the root mantra - above includes Shreem and Hreem that invokes Lakshmi and Parvati also)
(this is the root mantra - above includes Shreem and Hreem that invokes Lakshmi and Parvati also)
Japa Mala
The recommended japa mala is usually rudraksa or sphatika (crystal). As far as the rudraksha mala goes, the mala is supposed to be created out of 4 face or 6 face (or both) beads. 4 Mukhi rudraksha stands for Brahma, Saraswati's "other half". 6 Mukhi rudraksha stand for the energy and consciousness of Ganesha and Kartikeya. All energies having to do with learning, becoming skillful, and getting to the goal and completing the task.
With the Sphatika (crystal) mala, just a round bead will do.
With the Sphatika (crystal) mala, just a round bead will do.
Her Modern Form
Her Traditional Form
Saraswati Name Meaning
Saraswati is the Goddess of all learning, as well She represents mainly the learning of the highest of knowledge and wisdom: Truth. In Sanskrit, the word sara means essence and swa means "self". Depending on how one chooses to translate it, Saraswati can be taken to mean either that "She is the True Essence of (what you feel to be) the self" or the "Self is the Essence." She Represents your very own Infinite Self, which is the Same Self that Operates all beings, whether plants, bugs, people, souls, etc. There is one Self that flows through all of life and She is It.
Saraswati Image Meaning
Saraswati is represented in Hinduism as the Divine Consort (Inseparable Power) of Lord Brahma, the Creator of the universe. Without Her, He is nothing and without Him, She is nothing. They are the Same Being seemingly appearing as the Two, consciousness and energy. All that is created comes from the Knowledge of Existence itself manifesting into the minutia of forms, thus, Saraswati symbolizes the creative power and Divine Understanding of Brahma. Goddess Saraswati is typically worshipped by all people interested in (lower/basic) knowledge, especially students, teachers, scholars, and scientists. Her name is often found in schools all over India, or in the learning or cultural sections of a temple, both within and outside of India. However, even the saints approach Her to Understand Her Mystery.
Goddess Saraswati is generally depicted with four arms (sometimes two), wearing a white sari and seated on a white lotus. She holds the Vedas (Knowledge of everything, stemming from the Truth) and a rosary in Her rear two hands, while the front two hands are engaged in the playing of a lute (veena). Her right leg is shown slightly pushing against Her left leg, indicating that Her spiritual Reality is beyond, but still in contact with and affect on the physical. She uses a swan as Her vehicle. There is a peacock by Her side gazing at Her.
This symbolism illustrates the following spiritual ideas:
White Lotus
The lotus is a symbol of the Supreme Reality, and a white lotus also denotes the Supreme Knowledge gained by Absolute Purity and Virtue. By sitting on a lotus, Saraswati signifies that She is Herself rooted in the Supreme Reality, and symbolizes the Reality and the Flow of the Supreme Knowledge.
White Sari
The white color symbolizes purity and knowledge. The white sari that the Goddess is wearing denotes that She is the embodiment of pure knowledge. This is Her clothing. She is wrapped in purity, virtue, truth, and wisdom. To know Her is to become completely Pure and Dharmic.
Four Arms
The four arms denotes Her OmniPresence and Omnipotence, and constant skillful means to express HerSelf in all of the Dimensions of Life. The two front arms indicate Her activity in the physical world and the two back arms signify Her presence in the spiritual world, indicated by what She is also holding in Her Hands.
Four Hands
The four hands represent the four elements of the inner personality. The mind (manas) is represented by the front right hand, the intellect (buddhi) by the front left hand, the conditioned consciousness (chitta) by the rear left hand, and the ego (ahankara) by the rear right hand. In one interpretation, the left side of the body symbolizes the qualities of the heart and the right side symbolizes activities of the mind and intellect. There are other interpretations that may reverse this or explain it differently.
What She is Holding (indicates full mastery or non-egioc control over)
A book in the rear left hand signifies that knowledge acquired must be used with love and kindness to promote prosperity of mankind. The mala signifies concentration, meditation, and contemplation, leading to samadhi, or union with God. A mala in the rear right hand representing ego conveys that true knowledge acquired with love and devotion melts the ego and results in liberation (moksha) of the seeker from the bondage to the physical world. The Goddess is shown playing a musical instrument that is held in Her front hands, which denote mind and intellect. This symbol conveys that the seeker must tune his/her mind and intellect in order to live in perfect harmony with the world. Such harmonious living enables the individual to utilize acquired knowledge for the welfare of all mankind.
Swan
A swan is depicted near the Goddess which symbolizes the power of discrimination, or the ability to discriminate between right and wrong or good and bad, or what is closest to God's Ultimate Truth and Being and that which is opposite. Saraswati uses the swan as Her carrier/vehicle. This indicates that one must acquire and apply knowledge with discrimination for the good of humankind. Knowledge that is dominated by ego can destroy the world.
Peacock
A peacock is sitting next to Saraswati and is anxiously waiting to serve as Her vehicle. A peacock depicts unpredictable behavior as its moods can be influenced by the changes in the weather. Saraswati is using a swan as a vehicle and not the peacock. This signifies that one should overcome fear, indecision, and fickleness in order to acquire True Knowledge. In addition, sometimes the citramekhala or mayura (peacock) represents the celebration of life. It also represents the capacity to devour poisonous snakes, which represents the alchemical ability to transmute and transform negativity into the vibrancy of life (symbolized by its radiant plumage).
Goddess Saraswati is generally depicted with four arms (sometimes two), wearing a white sari and seated on a white lotus. She holds the Vedas (Knowledge of everything, stemming from the Truth) and a rosary in Her rear two hands, while the front two hands are engaged in the playing of a lute (veena). Her right leg is shown slightly pushing against Her left leg, indicating that Her spiritual Reality is beyond, but still in contact with and affect on the physical. She uses a swan as Her vehicle. There is a peacock by Her side gazing at Her.
This symbolism illustrates the following spiritual ideas:
White Lotus
The lotus is a symbol of the Supreme Reality, and a white lotus also denotes the Supreme Knowledge gained by Absolute Purity and Virtue. By sitting on a lotus, Saraswati signifies that She is Herself rooted in the Supreme Reality, and symbolizes the Reality and the Flow of the Supreme Knowledge.
White Sari
The white color symbolizes purity and knowledge. The white sari that the Goddess is wearing denotes that She is the embodiment of pure knowledge. This is Her clothing. She is wrapped in purity, virtue, truth, and wisdom. To know Her is to become completely Pure and Dharmic.
Four Arms
The four arms denotes Her OmniPresence and Omnipotence, and constant skillful means to express HerSelf in all of the Dimensions of Life. The two front arms indicate Her activity in the physical world and the two back arms signify Her presence in the spiritual world, indicated by what She is also holding in Her Hands.
Four Hands
The four hands represent the four elements of the inner personality. The mind (manas) is represented by the front right hand, the intellect (buddhi) by the front left hand, the conditioned consciousness (chitta) by the rear left hand, and the ego (ahankara) by the rear right hand. In one interpretation, the left side of the body symbolizes the qualities of the heart and the right side symbolizes activities of the mind and intellect. There are other interpretations that may reverse this or explain it differently.
What She is Holding (indicates full mastery or non-egioc control over)
A book in the rear left hand signifies that knowledge acquired must be used with love and kindness to promote prosperity of mankind. The mala signifies concentration, meditation, and contemplation, leading to samadhi, or union with God. A mala in the rear right hand representing ego conveys that true knowledge acquired with love and devotion melts the ego and results in liberation (moksha) of the seeker from the bondage to the physical world. The Goddess is shown playing a musical instrument that is held in Her front hands, which denote mind and intellect. This symbol conveys that the seeker must tune his/her mind and intellect in order to live in perfect harmony with the world. Such harmonious living enables the individual to utilize acquired knowledge for the welfare of all mankind.
Swan
A swan is depicted near the Goddess which symbolizes the power of discrimination, or the ability to discriminate between right and wrong or good and bad, or what is closest to God's Ultimate Truth and Being and that which is opposite. Saraswati uses the swan as Her carrier/vehicle. This indicates that one must acquire and apply knowledge with discrimination for the good of humankind. Knowledge that is dominated by ego can destroy the world.
Peacock
A peacock is sitting next to Saraswati and is anxiously waiting to serve as Her vehicle. A peacock depicts unpredictable behavior as its moods can be influenced by the changes in the weather. Saraswati is using a swan as a vehicle and not the peacock. This signifies that one should overcome fear, indecision, and fickleness in order to acquire True Knowledge. In addition, sometimes the citramekhala or mayura (peacock) represents the celebration of life. It also represents the capacity to devour poisonous snakes, which represents the alchemical ability to transmute and transform negativity into the vibrancy of life (symbolized by its radiant plumage).
---The above descriptions were taken from Pandit Bansi's explanation, and other sources, but modified a little bit.----
What does a deity represent?
A soul progresses through various challenges in life, all meant to help refine, purify, and reintroduce the Greater Universal Truths (Just the Way Things Are) to its more limited networks of (mis)understanding. As new insights are gleaned, one sees how to live in greater accord with this Universal Truth. Whether or not the soul does so is another story which indicates whether or not one is up to the task to become a living Being of that Insight, Truth, Love, Peace, and Revelation.
A Deity represents the highest manifestation of a particular way that the Universal Truth manifests into form to participate in the physical, subtle, and spiritual dimensions of life. If Saraswati represents ultimate purity, then every impurity one has indicates just how much out of alignment one is. If Shiva represents the Highest State of Spiritual or Cosmic Consciousness, then every single way that one relates with oneself as a human body with all of those egoic infirmities indicates just how out of attunement one is.
Having some glimmer of any higher consciousness whilst living the hardened, encased, and ignorant human life in the pursuit of more temporary material pleasures as a way of gaining some peace, security or happiness and love is not the way to live the Divine Life as it is meant to be. If Lakshmi represents the Highest State of Abundance, then thinking that one is in poverty of goodness, lack of power, insufficient material objects is the indication of just how out of attunement ones soul is with the Ultimate Truth of Her Being.
To become like a deity is a lot of work that requires a lot of non-fluctuating intention and Truth-oriented life direction. To become like God, one must work towards that. It does not "just happen." If one's life is perfectly expressing a Divine Trait, any Trait, one will be Enlightened in That Way. If one is not enlightened, but believes to be in possession of a Divine Trait, one should think again and realign with the Truth Pursuit.
A Deity represents the highest manifestation of a particular way that the Universal Truth manifests into form to participate in the physical, subtle, and spiritual dimensions of life. If Saraswati represents ultimate purity, then every impurity one has indicates just how much out of alignment one is. If Shiva represents the Highest State of Spiritual or Cosmic Consciousness, then every single way that one relates with oneself as a human body with all of those egoic infirmities indicates just how out of attunement one is.
Having some glimmer of any higher consciousness whilst living the hardened, encased, and ignorant human life in the pursuit of more temporary material pleasures as a way of gaining some peace, security or happiness and love is not the way to live the Divine Life as it is meant to be. If Lakshmi represents the Highest State of Abundance, then thinking that one is in poverty of goodness, lack of power, insufficient material objects is the indication of just how out of attunement ones soul is with the Ultimate Truth of Her Being.
To become like a deity is a lot of work that requires a lot of non-fluctuating intention and Truth-oriented life direction. To become like God, one must work towards that. It does not "just happen." If one's life is perfectly expressing a Divine Trait, any Trait, one will be Enlightened in That Way. If one is not enlightened, but believes to be in possession of a Divine Trait, one should think again and realign with the Truth Pursuit.
Her Yantra Form
Saraswati Raga - Her Melody
This is Saraswati's Manifestation as Notes of Sound, traditionally called a Raga (composition of notes).
2 Raga versions
Her Traditional Raga - Carnatic
Notice the Subtle differences and how they influence your state/energy.
Her Primordial Power
"JyotiSwarupa" means the Ultimate Form of Light (Jyoti). As the supreme light, she imparts to
the sun its power to reveal a form, and to the sentient being, the desire to discover the formless.
the sun its power to reveal a form, and to the sentient being, the desire to discover the formless.
Ways to Increase Your Blissful Connection to Her
Quick Note:
Austerities are not done as punishment; rather, it comes from a sincere place deep within the heart where the soul longs for deeper connection
to the Divine and it is realized that the normal routine of life is distracting oneself from that Greater Ideal. These distractions are
ways in which the mind continues to play the superficial game of life, preventing one from surrendering more
powerfully and keeping one from diving deeper into the Supreme Ocean of Bliss, Truth, Light, and Love.
An austerity therefore is an attempt to dedicate all of one's focus, heart, love, and energy on Bliss.
Typically, a few (3-5 average level intensity) austerities in a row must be performed in
order to release one's consciousness towards the blissful and unitive domains of God.
Austerities are not done as punishment; rather, it comes from a sincere place deep within the heart where the soul longs for deeper connection
to the Divine and it is realized that the normal routine of life is distracting oneself from that Greater Ideal. These distractions are
ways in which the mind continues to play the superficial game of life, preventing one from surrendering more
powerfully and keeping one from diving deeper into the Supreme Ocean of Bliss, Truth, Light, and Love.
An austerity therefore is an attempt to dedicate all of one's focus, heart, love, and energy on Bliss.
Typically, a few (3-5 average level intensity) austerities in a row must be performed in
order to release one's consciousness towards the blissful and unitive domains of God.