Sarasvati’s association with rivers diminishes in later Hinduism. While some late sources still link her to rivers, her characteristics and appearance increasingly diverge from those of a river goddess.
Identification with Vagdevi
In the Brahmanas, Sarasvati is consistently identified with Vagdevi, the goddess of speech. The precise connection between Sarasvati and Vagdevi remains unclear. Perhaps it stemmed from the centrality of sacred speech in Vedic rituals conducted on the banks of the Sarasvati River. Sarasvati gradually becomes associated with speech, learning, culture, and wisdom. Post-Vedic references rarely mention her earlier identity as a river goddess.
Mythological Origins
In later Hinduism, Sarasvati is sometimes said to have been born from Brahma. Desiring creation, Brahma meditates, his body splitting into male and female halves. Enamored by his female half, Sarasvati, Brahma desires her, they mate, and from this union, the demigod Manu emerges, who then creates the world. Similar accounts appear in the Brahma-vaivarta-purana and the Devi-bhagavata-purana, where Krishna, identified with absolute reality (brahman), divides into male (purusha) and female (prakriti) aspects for creation. Sarasvati, one of his five saktis (dynamic powers), embodies insight, knowledge, and learning. Some texts describe Sarasvati emerging from the tip of Krishna’s sakti’s tongue, appearing as a lovely girl adorned in yellow garments, jewels, and holding a book and vina (lute). Sarasvati’s origin is also linked to Brahma’s mouths (he has four or five heads), where she manifests during the world’s creation through divine speech.
Association with Vishnu and Lakshmi
Sarasvati is also associated with Vishnu, sometimes as his tongue or residing in his mouth. This association makes her Lakshmi’s co-wife in many myths. Sarasvati represents spiritual, ascetic, or religious pursuits, contrasting with Lakshmi’s embodiment of worldly well-being, wealth, power, and fertility. Some texts even depict tension between the two goddesses, reflecting a conflict between sensual enjoyment (bhukti) or dharma and spiritual liberation (mukti) in Hinduism.
Retaining Earlier Characteristics
Despite Sarasvati’s transformation in later Hinduism away from her river goddess origins, she retains some earlier characteristics. For instance, she is associated with clouds, thunder, rain, and is considered the deity presiding over rain. In the Vamana-purana, she moves through clouds, producing rain, and is identified with all waters. Sarasvati’s link with Soma and water suggests her role in nourishing life and promoting fertility. Although she is no longer solely a river goddess, Sarasvati pervades creation through life-giving and purifying water forms such as rain, rivers, and ponds.
Predominant Association with Speech
In later tradition, Sarasvati’s predominant association is with speech. Even in the Rig-veda, she is hailed as the impeller of true and sweet speech, arousing noble thoughts. Epithets like Vagdevi (goddess of speech), Jihvagravasini (dwelling on the tongue’s front), Kavijihvagravasini (dwelling on poets’ tongues), Sabdavasini (dwelling in sound), Vagisvari (mistress of speech), and Mahavani (possessing great speech) underscore her connection to speech and creative sound. Speech holds profound importance in Hinduism, encapsulated in the syllable ‘om’ and the concept of creation arising from sabda-brahman (ultimate reality as sound). Mantras, comprising words or sounds, are revered for their potent spiritual power, equating the pronunciation of a mantra with invoking the deity itself.
Embodiment of Thought and Intellect
Moreover, Sarasvati embodies thought and intellect. She is not just coherent speech but also the intelligence and memory underlying speech. Epithets like Smrtisakti (power of memory), Jnatasakti (power of knowledge), Buddhisaktisvarupini (form of intellectual power), Kalpanasakti (power of imagination), and Pratibha (intelligence) highlight her association with human reasoning and creativity. Sarasvati is revered as the patroness of science, learning, and knowledge, reinforcing her role as the goddess of speech and intellect.
Cosmic Goddess
Beyond her cultural associations, Sarasvati is revered as a cosmic goddess whose functions extend to creating worlds. Titles like Jaganmata (mother of the world), Shakti Roopini (embodiment of power), and Visvarupa (containing all forms) elevate her status to encompassing cosmic powers. Her iconography depicts her with four hands, holding a book, lute (vina), rosary, and water pot, symbolizing her dominion over the arts, sciences, and spiritual knowledge.
Transcendental Nature
Sarasvati’s transcendental nature is symbolized by her vehicle, the swan, a creature associated with spiritual transcendence in Hinduism. Her seated posture on a lotus further signifies her purity and detachment from the mundane world’s imperfections. She inspires humanity to rise above physical limitations through cultural creation, embodying ideals of beauty, grace, and intellectual refinement.
Worship and Festivals
Devotees worship Sarasvati, seeking blessings of eloquence, wisdom, poetic inspiration, artistic skill, and removal of speech defects. While she is believed to grant wealth, long life, and worldly pleasures, Sarasvati’s primary role is promoting success among philosophers, scholars, and artists. Today, Sarasvati’s worship is celebrated across North India in early spring. Schools and universities establish her images, and cultural programs honor her influence on learning and the arts.
