Saraswati (Sarasvati) - The Hindu Goddess of Learning: An In depth View

Namaste, Hari Om,

Om Aim Saraswati Namaha.

Who is this elegant and pure site to behold? Why does she have a swan as her vehicle? What does she do in relations to the other forms of God within Hinduism? Where can I learn more?

Behold your quest for knowledge as an inclination of your inward journey. Below information will be fruitful for any spiritual aspirant as the details reflect our personal lives through personifications.

The best way to climb is always the simplest way, meditate on what you have read. read something, dont think about it, but rather close your eyes and look within.

Regarding Saraswati, you can read about her in various scriptures within Hinduism. For example the Srimad Devi Bhagvat talks about her various stories and how she came to be.

An even easier place to read about her is online of course;

I skimmed through wikipedia and its well written so its a good source http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saraswati.

http://hinduism.about.com/od/hindugoddesses/p/saraswati.htm this is also good.

There are many puranas that show her stories as well but you can also here some information from my side.

Growing up as a Hindu you were taught to pray and meditate upon Saraswati Mata, it was to do good in school as she is coined as the Goddess of learning. But we associate her with school and learning etc. But she also tames our mind, speech and intellect to become deeper thinkers. Her abilities control our very own thoughts, before a speech, writing a paper or something where I know speech can effect the outcome, I pray and meditate upon her.

Many artists pay homage to her before playing any instrument, even classical dancers like my wife.

She plays a major part in many of the ithihas (or history) of Hindu scriptures.

But when you are trying to tame your mind and speech, Saraswati Mata will help. But heed my great advice, do not approach her with wants or needs, do not ask for things (yes we tend to do this sometimes). God knows the past, present and future, what you may want may not be good for you or in a loving benefit towards your path. We must meditate upon the pure form of the Ishta Dev we are inclined too, but if you dont have one, no worries. You can meditate upon the Brahman (not to be confused with Brahmaa etc.).

Some more important information below;

I found this on yahoo as well regarding the Swan;
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The sacred swan, if offered a mixture of milk and water, is said to be able to drink the milk alone. The swan thus symbolizes discrimination between the good and the bad or the eternal and the transient.

Sometimes she is shown riding a peacock. The peacock represents arrogance and pride over its beauty, and by having a peacock as her mount, the goddess teaches not to be concerned with external appearance and to be wise regarding the eternal truth.

Hamsa, or Swan, is the vehicle of Hindu Goddess Saraswathi. In Hinduism, Goddess Saraswati is the goddess of knowledge, learning and art. Interestingly, a Hindu saint who rises above the thoughts of death and birth and constantly meditates on Brahman is referred as Parama Hamsa.

A famous shloka on Hamsa talks about the symbolism and significance of this majestic bird.

'Oh! Hamsa! Being the auspicious vehicle of Goddess Saraswathi, you carry learning and art upon your shoulders. Give us that discriminating wisdom for which you are famous, such as your proverbial ability to separate the substance of milk from water.'

Swan can glide on water without getting its feathers wet. With the help of Brahman knowledge we can live in the materialistic world without accumulating dusts of materialism.

Swan can also soar up into the sky from the water body. This symbolizes the need to easily rise above earthly ties. A true yogi needs to perfect these two qualities.

But the greatest quality of Swan is its capacity to separate milk from water. With Brahman knowledge, a person is capable of adapting this quality of Swan and it will help him to swim across the ocean of 'Samsara.'

The white color of the swan is also the symbol of excellence. In Hindu mythology, the white colored Hamsa, the vehicle of Goddess Saraswathi, lives in the Manasarovar Lake near the Kailash Mountain. In mythology, the bird is mute and its diet consists of pearls.

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Om Swaraswati Mata Namaha
- SimpleHinduBhai