Maa Saraswati

Saraswati is the hindu goddess of knowledge, music, arts and science. She is the companion of Brahma, also revered as his Shakti (power). It was with her knowledge, that Brahma created the universe. She is a part of trinity "Saraswati", "Lakshmi" and "Parvati". All the three forms help trinity "Brahma", "Vishnu" and "Shiva" in the creation, maintenance and destruction of the Universe. The Goddess is also revered by believers of the Jain religion of west and central India.

Saraswati is known as a guardian deity in Buddhism who upholds the teachings of Gautama Buddha by offering protection and assistance to practitioners. She is known in Burmese as Thurathadi or Tipitaka Medaw, in Chinese as Biàncáitiān, in Thai as Surasawadee and in Japanese as Benzaiten. In the East Indian states of Bihar, West Bengal, and Orissa, Saraswati is considered to be a daughter of Durga along with her sister Lakshmi and her brothers Ganesha and Karthikeya.

Goddess Saraswati personifies knowledge and purity. She is described as very beautiful - her face radiating joy, peace, serenity, and tranquility. She wears white clothes and she has Rajhamsa - the swan - as her vehicle. In her hands she holds the Veena (a musical instrument) and the Book. She also bestows blessing and hope in the hearts of her devotees. The book and the musical instrument represent science and art respectively, every science and every art. If anyone wants to excel in his/her studies, scholarship, research, arts of music, painting, or writing, etc. etc. one must worship Mother Saraswati for achieving the highest excellence. Her white clothes reflect purity, simplicity, and fearlessness; and the swan represents the state of Paramahamsa - the highest Yogic state of union with God.