Religious Articles
ŠRI ŠARAŠWATI	Return to Articles Index
In Her manifestation as the Goddess of Learning, Ãdi Parãšakti, the Divine Mother, is known as Šri Saraswati, the presiding Deity of all branches of knowledge. Šri Saraswati is variously known as Sakala Kalã Vãni, Vidya Swarupini, Vãk Devi etc. all of which highlight Her most prominent attribute as the Goddess who confers on her devotees, felicity with words or skills for realizing the Supreme Knowledge. Out of an infinite number of species in the Universe the Divine Mother has bestowed the ability to speak on human beings only, with the specific objective of enabling them to acquire the Supreme Knowledge by properly utilizing words. Accordingly those blessed souls who have an understanding of the purpose of this special Divine gift, will be inclined to utilize words, both spoken and written, in furtherance of Her Divine goal only. Out of these mahãtmas, a chosen few like Mooka Kavi or Kãlidãsa or Ãdi Šankara, receive Her blessings in full measure and compose beautiful and profound poems, by reading which the entire humanity is benefited. Šri Saraswati is usually depicted with four arms, seated on a white lotus, clad in a white garment, carrying aksha mãla and pustaka (book) respectively in two arms and holding a veena by the other two arms. Her white garment stands for purity and those blessed by Her will have crystal clear intellect enabling them to gain the Supreme Knowledge. Each letter of the alphabet denotes a distinct sound and Aksha Mãla or ‘garland of letters’ is made of all individual letters in the alphabet. This garland signifies that She resides in each letter or sound denoted by it. The pustaka (book) in Her hand symbolically represents the collection of all words made out of these letters and sounds. The music generated by Veena, among all the musical instruments, is considered as Nãda Brahman or the Supreme Spirit manifesting as Sound. The ninth and last day of Devi Nava Rãtri is a special day for the worship of Sri Saraswati. This day is also known as Ãyudha Pooja Day. On this day devotees place in the altar books or other implements or instruments of their respective occupations and worship Šri Saraswati, invoking Her in the books or implements or instruments placed in the altar and seeking Her blessings. On the following day (Vijaya Dašami Day), after worshipping the books or implements or instruments once again, devotees remove those from the altar and re-commence their pursuit of Knowledge in their respective fields. Vijaya Dašami Day is considered very auspicious for Vidyãrambham or initiating children to Learning and Šri Saraswati is sure to lead those children to victory and success.
Top	Return to Articles Index
OM PEACE, PEACE, PEACE

Bulletin Board