Saraswati is the daughter of Lord Shiva and Goddess Durga. It is believed that
goddess Saraswati endows human beings with the powers of speech,
wisdom and learning. She has four hands representing four aspects
of human personality in learning: mind, intellect, alertness and
ego. She has sacred scriptures in one hand and a lotus – the symbol
of true knowledge – in the second.With her other two hands she
plays the music of love and life on a string instrument called the
veena. She is dressed in white – the symbol of purity –
and rides on a white swan – symbolizing Sattwa Guna or
purity and discrimination. Saraswati is also a prominent figure in
Buddhist iconography - the consort of Manjushri.
The learned and the erudite attach greater importance to the
worship of goddess Saraswati. As a practice, only educated people
worship her for knowledge and wisdom. They believe that only
Saraswati can grant them 'moksha' - the final liberation of the
soul.
Saraswati's birthday - Vasant Panchami - is a Hindu festival
celebrated every year on the 5th day of the bright fortnight of the
lunar month of Magha. Hindus celebrate this festival with
great fervor in temples, homes and educational institutes
alike.
The following prayer is recited on this day:
"May Goddess Saraswati,
who is fair like the jasmine-colored moon,
and whose pure white garland is like frosty dew drops;
who is adorned in radiant white attire,
on whose beautiful arm rests the veena,
and whose throne is a white lotus;
who is surrounded and respected by the Gods, protect me.
May you fully remove my lethargy, sluggishness, and
ignorance."<!--/gc-->