Goddess Saraswati – Bestower of Arts, Music, and Education
Goddess Saraswati is universally recognized in Hinduism as the Goddess of learning and knowledge. Students in any and all fields of learning pray to Saraswati for success in completion of their studies. Saraswati is the companion of Lord Brahma (the creator). She represents speech (Vach), the mechanism or divine energy with which Brahma created the universe.
The importance of Goddess Saraswati (saras = fluid, wati = easily, i.e. easily flowing energy) is her ability to bring into manifestation the concept of Creation thought by Brahma in his thoughts. The words (or Vach) spoken by Brahma to create the universe is indeed Saraswati. The Vasant Panchami festival is traditionally celebrated to honor Goddess Saraswati and seek her blessings…
The Goddess Gayatri is synonymous with Goddess Saraswati in the sense that Gayatri is another form of Saraswati. Hence, the Gayatri Mantra is indeed the best invocation for Goddess Saraswati. Legend has it that Saraswati appeared as Gayatri in order to assist Brahma in the completion of an important yagna being conducted in homage to the Sun God (Surya Devataa).
Invocation and Mantras for Goddess Saraswati
An invocation to Goddess Saraswati is as follows – she who holds the (musical instrument) veena in her hands and opens the channels of learning for her disciples. Saraswati is also revered as the Goddess of music and creative (particularly, the spoken) arts.
yaa kundendu tushhaar haara dhavalaa yaa shubhravastraavR^itaa .
yA vINaavarada.nDa ma.nDitakaraa yaa shvetapadmaasanaa .
या कुन्देन्दु तुषार हार धवला या शुभ्रवस्त्रावृता ।
या वीणा वरदँड मँडित करा या श्वेतपद्मासना ।