या कुन्देन्दुतुषारहारधवला या शुभ्रवस्त्रावृता या वीणावरदण्डमण्डितकरा या श्वेतपद्मासना। या ब्रह्माच्युत शंकरप्रभृतिभिर्देवैः सदा वन्दिता सा मां पातु सरस्वती भगवती निःशेषजाड्यापहा॥१॥
Salutations to Devi Saraswati,
Who is pure white like Jasmine, with the coolness of Moon, brightness of Snow and shine like the garland of Pearls; and Who is covered with pure white garments, Whose hands are adorned with Veena (a stringed musical instrument) and the boon-giving staff; and Who is seated on pure white Lotus, Who is always adored by Lord Brahma, Lord Acyuta (Lord Vishnu), Lord Shankara and other Devas, O Goddess Saraswati, please protect me and remove my ignorance completely.
Maa Saraswati is called the mother of all Vedas. Maa Saraswati is the repository of Brahma’s all knowledge and intelligence.
Maa Saraswati also has another popular form – Gayatri. Gayatri was so much attracted by the brilliance of Sun God Surya, that she dissolved herself to become the Gayatri Mantra dedicated to Surya.
Maa Saraswati is known by another name – Vagdevi. Brahma gave this name to her because she is the epitome of oratorical speech and sound.
The reason why Brahma grew four heads was that he was so allured with the beauty of Saraswati, he wanted to look at her whichever direction she was.
Maa Saraswati is also called Shatarupa, a goddess with multiple forms. She used to take forms of different animal to escape from the infatuation of Brahma because of her beauty
In the eastern part of India, Maa Saraswati is considered the daughter of Lord Shiva and Maa Durga. Goddess Lakshmi, Lord Ganesha and Karthikeya are considered as her siblings.
In Tibet and parts of India, Nilasaraswati is sometimes considered as a form of Mahavidya Tara. Nila Saraswati is not much a different deity from traditional Saraswati, who subsumes her knowledge and creative energy in tantric literature.
In Buddhist iconography, Maa Saraswati is considered as the consort of Manjushri.
The Lotus on which Maa Saraswati sits, is considered as a symbol of supreme knowledge.
The Veena that Maa Saraswati holds, does not only symbolize harmony, but also symbolizes intelligence and intellect.
In Rigveda Goddess Saraswati is Best of mothers, best of rivers, best of goddesses, Sarasvatī.
Saraswati acquires the same significance for early Indians, as like Mother Ganga.
Saraswati is known by many names in ancient Hindu literature. Some examples of synonyms for Saraswati include Brahmani (power of Brahma), Brahmi (goddess of sciences), Bharadi (goddess of history), Vani and Vachi (both referring to the flow of music/song, melodious speech, eloquent speaking respectively), Varnesvari (goddess of letters), Kavijihvagravasini (one who dwells on the tongue of poets).
About 4000 years ago in India, a river flew by the name of Saraswati. It was an earthly form of Maa Saraswati. Parashuram, the 6th avatar of Lord Vishnu, purified himself in this river after ending the Kshatriyas.
