APPEARANCE OF SARASWATI

Literally, Saraswati means SARAH - Knowledge, STHANAMYASYAH ASTITI. Thus, Saraswati is the goddess who rules all kinds of knowledge without worshipping her no one can be a learned person. Hence followers of other religious also worship Saraswati, though the name and appearance may differ slightly. Appearance of Saraswati is thus described in the scriptures :

SHUKLAM BRAMHAVICHARASA RA PARMADYAM JAGADVYAPINEEM

VEENAPUSTAK DHARINIMABHAYADAM JADYANDHAKARA PAHAM |

HASTE SPHATIKA MALIIKAM VIDADHI PADMASANE SAMSTHITAM |

VANDE TAM PARAME SHVAREEM 

BHAGWATEEM BUDDHI PRADAY SHARDAM ||

Meaning : Wearer of the white clothes giver of the power to reflect the essence of Brahma, supreme power, holder of veena (Lyre), book, beaded rosarry, the benevolent Goddess is seated on a lotus. I respectfully pray the Goddess who gives us knowledge.

SIGNIFICANCE OF BOOK AND VEENA (LYRE)

Noted sage Bhartrihari writes that without literature and music, a man is not more than an animal. Hence the book and veena in the hands of Saraswati teach that if the humans wish to do away with their bruteness, knowledge of literature and music is must for them. Hence, Goddess Saraswati is shown with a book and Veena the symbols of literature and music respectively.

BREADED ROSARY

The ultimate goal of knowledge is salvation. Salvation is possible only with unification with God. And rosary is a means for unification with God. But why a rosary of white beads only? It is so because white beads depict spotless purity. Thus it teaches us to rise above the blemishes of passion, anger, greed, ego, lust, envy, enimity etc. and make our mind as spotless as the beads. Similar teaching are given by the the lotus seat and swan vehicle of the Goddess Saraswati.