Saraswathi is described as a a deity, and escort of Brahma(with four heads and acts as a creator). This name goes back to the most ancient of Vedas, Rigveda. The name existed from then on until the modern day. She has been evolved into a spiritual concept of a goddess that embodies knowledge, arts, music, melody(the sequence of a single note or tune), muse(an inspiration for an artist or a thoughtful lady), language, rhetoric(the art of good writing exploiting the figures of speech etc), eloquence, creative work and anything whose flow purifies the self of a person. She not only embodies knowledge but also the experience of the highest reality.

There are several names for her, but about twelve names are most popular. Bharathi, Saraswathi, Hamsavahini, Sarada devi, Vageswari, Kaumudi Jagadhikhyatha, Budhamana, Varadayini,Chandrakanthi, Bhuvaneswari, Brahmachaarini. The names are different in different countries in far east(Japan, Indonesia, Cambodia, Bali) and Burma(Myanmar) and Tibet. She is worshiped by not only Hindus, but by Jains, and Buddhists. There are several famous temples for her not only in different parts of India, but in all those countries. In India, one most famous one is Sri Sringeri Sarada peetham in Karnataka. She is worshiped on special festive days allocated to her.

Also there is a river called Saraswathi which is believed to be dried up now as it cannot be seen, because it joins Ganges from underneath.

She is often depicted as a beautiful woman dressed in pure white, often seated on a white lotus, which symbolizes light, knowledge and truth. Her iconography is typically in white themes from dress to flowers to swan – the colour symbolizing Sattwa Guna or purity, discrimination for true knowledge, insight and wisdom. The swan and white lotus are the symbols of knowledge. She sometimes is seated on white lotus and other times on a swan with Veena in her hands(representing music). Sometimes she is also depicted with a peacock showing her connection with the art of dancing. Saraswati is called the mother of the Vedas. In Book 2 of Taittiriya Brahmana, she is called “the mother of eloquent speech and melodious music”. Saraswati is the active energy and power of Brahma. Her dhyana mantra describes her to be as white as the moon, clad in a white dress, bedecked in white ornaments, radiating with beauty, holding a book in her hand(the book represents knowledge).

Vidya or education or knowledge is divided into two types. One is called Paravidya(Knowledge that teaches about the indefinable, nameless and formless Brahman which is the whole and sole existence and nothing else either in this universe or anywhere else. The eternal, truth, knowledge and bliss - the whole and complete). The other type is Aparaa vidya, which means or depicts anything one comes across in the schools and universities teaching different specialties,or the sixty four different types of arts that exist in the world, making one to earn a place in the society and earn their livelihood, but is no good to get out of the humdrum of the human life with all its pitfalls and does not show a way out of it. The more the person tries to escape from the miseries the more he will be lumbered with. So what is the connection with all this to Saraswthi?

From the time the child learns the alphabet until the time he attains the salvation the grace of Goddess Saraswthi is required. Without learning the the alphabet and the language and the communication skills, a child cannot grow up into a man, nor can he think what is the cause for human misery and how to get out of it. Reading broadens the mind and opens up multiple avenues for the seeker of the truth about “SELF”. The inspiration for the right direction and the search for a real spiritual teacher who is proficient in Vedic literature begins then. So at every step an element or a facet of Goddess Saraswathi is required. Otherwise the person is deaf, dumb and blind (not physical blindness) because he will be roaming in ignorance and very much equal to a dead person. So let all the children know the importance of Mother Saraswathi/Vedamatha, meditate on her, chant her mantras for concentration and be successful in this life and acquire salvation as quickly as possible. Let all grown ups teach their children about the importance of the Goddess and the glory of our ancient Vedic literature.